Sadhanakeri beckons, yet again

Sadhanakeri beckons, yet again

Raju S Vijapur

Sadhankeri, a lake which was once the source of inspiration for poet laureate Da Ra Bendre, situated opposite the late poet’s residence at Sadhankeri Layout (South Dharwad), has an important place in the world of Kannada literature and culture.

This lake is ubiquitous, as a subject or a metaphor, in many of the poems written by Bendre. Sadhankeri’s quiet, but beautiful surroundings, the poet’s inseparable bond with the lake, and the intense pain of losing dear ones are all interwoven in Bendre’s poetry. Over the years, this culturally important lake began to lose its charm. It was partially encroached upon and a portion of this lake became the dumping yard for domestic waste. As the lake’s degradation reached its peak, people started saying ‘Barabyado Sadhankerige’ (‘Don’t come to Sadhankeri’), twisting Bendre’s famous quote ‘Baro Sadhankerige’ (Sadhankeri beckons), highlighting how polluted the lake had become. But now, the lake is all spruced up, thanks to the efforts of the Central and the State governments, which have developed the poet’s favourite haunt at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore under the ‘Baro Sadhankerige Project.’ Today, boating, beautiful fountains and the latest amusement equipment all make for an entertaining experience for the visitor at Sadhanakeri. What’s more, this a plastic-free zone too. The ‘Baro Sadhankerige Project’ was mooted in 2006 to revive the lake and it was completed this year. The idea of reviving the lake was mooted by the then Tourism minister B Shriramulu, on his visit to the poet’s house at Sadhankeri in 2006. Work began in 2007. The project had many teething problems. Though there was no dearth of funds, work came to a stop soon after it was launched. Later, a group of writers and artists led by local political leaders impressed upon the government to resume work. This is the first natural tourist spot in the country developed in the name of a Jnanpeeth Award winning poet. Poet Bendre, who effectively used colloquial Kannada to explore new possibilities in literature during the ‘Navodaya’ period, an important phase in Kannada literature that followed ‘Hosagannada’ in 1950s, made an important contribution to Kannada literature for five decades by penning the most touching poems. No wonder then, that the revival of Sadhankeri has brought much joy to lovers of Kannada literature. Take Shivanand Kelaginmani, a Kannada professor from Kuvempu University, who visited the lake recently, for instance. He is thrilled by the possibility of unwinding at this culturally significant lake, even while reciting Bendre’s verse. Project details As part of the rejuvenation project, a pathway and a strong bund have been constructed around the lake. The 2.5-metre- wide pathway has been made for morning walkers. There’s also a picturesque garden on the North side of the lake. A thick grove has also come up around the lake, which has now become a must-visit cultural and tourist spot for anyone who visits Dharwad. The only lacuna, some feel, in the newly developed lake is the absence of Bendre’s statue. Officials point out that they are consulting with the government to install Bendre’s statue in the lake premises.