Dear Editors,

Just finished reading all of Sangama Ugadi Issue. Editors need to be congratulated on a job well done.

Surabhi Rao’s “Chaitrada Kogile” provides an aesthetic beauty to the cover page and prompts the reader to venture inside. The opening messages from the President and each of the editors is full of enthusiasm, hope and desire to excel in their assignments. Sangama is in good hands!

A veteran of many short stories, Triveni Rao’s “Mareechike…” is another good one with a message. “Dhoni Saagali…” from Anupama Mangalavede is engrossing. She easily gains admission to the “Talent Pool of Sangama Writers”.   Once started both these stories prompt the readers to reach the finishline easily. I was particularly pleased to read Anuradha Arun’s “Odeyar’s contribution to Carnatic Music”. Not many people are aware of his immense treasure of knowledge and this article admirably fills the deficit. Thanks to Sharada Byanna for a good eye witness narration, in her characteristic style, of the events from the 73rd Kannada Sammelana held at Shimoga. Nalini Maiya’s keen observation of the muslim cultural influence  in Sri. Nissar Ahmed’s writings is commendable. Aahithanala’s (Dr. Naga Aithal) glimpses into Sri. Masti’s life and literary works is well done and I am looking forward to read his recently published  book, “Kannadamara Chethana”. Prakash Hemavathi is a very talented writer. But he needs to modify and adapt his style, especially his very lengthy narrations dwelling into history, to a magazine like Sangama. His style, oftentimes, is more opt for a novel . Sangama is published twice a year and the gap between the issues is pretty wide for a story to be broken up into serial parts. “Dindima” may be a good place for the serials as it is published several times a year. Subraya Maiya provides a welcome comical interlude in his “Udhara Nimittam”.  I have always enjoyed reading Suptadeepti’s kavanas and her contributions for this issue are welcome additions and are superb.  Indushekar, Sridevi Sudhakar, Dattamurthy, Prakash Hemavathy, Srinivasa Rao, Nalini Maiya, Prathima Nagaraj, and Triveni Rao have also contributed kavanas which read good and provide variety to the magazine. They should continue to write more kavanas. Jayaswamy’s analysis of Bangalore’s growth or demise is nice to read and Jayaram’s reminiscences of a function he arranged gives an apt behind the scenes trials and tribulations.

Kids have done a superb job. Hats off to Topgi kids for their two articles. A good amount of research in their articles is very evident. Survat’s choice to be a professor, Manisha’s understanding of good manners, Nishita’s emphasis on Arts, Music, and Academics, Aakash’s idea of a good holiday, Akash’s Dragon tale, and Chaitra’s understanding and narration in a style of her own of Ugadi celebrations in India, all make an excellent reading. Talent is pretty evident in their writings and they need to be encouraged. Like Triveni Rao, I would like to see them attempt to write in Kannada also. Perhaps that is too much to ask, but we can never underestimate our kids. They might take up the challenge! The poems, “How I write” by Surabhi, “The Dress” by Niyata, “Tornadoes and Hurricanes” by Medha, and “Rainy Days” by Adithi are unbelievably good. Congratulations to all these kids on a job well done!

I should thank Chandra Dheerendra and Sharada Byanna for pointing out a glaring mistake in my PADARANGA. For explanation for 17 across, I have mentioned ‘Tagaru’ as one of Vishnu’s incarnations!!!! It should have been ‘Handhi’. Perhaps, age is catching up with me faster than I would like. I apologize for the mistake and request the editors to convey to the readers via one of their e-mails or mails. Also, they could provide my telephone #, 847-680-0458, if they need to contact me (e-mail id: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

In closing, I would like to congratulate the editorial team for SANGAMA on a job superbly executed and to near perfection. I am sure the treats would be even more sweeter in the upcoming issues!

Annapur Shivakumar

I wanted to tell you, what a wonderful job you both did on bringing out the Sangama Ugadi edition. It has come out very nice. I am enjoying reading the lEkhana, kaThe and kavana. I enjoyed the both stories from both of you.

Also thank you for publishing Akash's story and my kavana gaLu.

Thanks again and keep up the good work...

-Sridevi