Karnataka CM, Deputy CM launch book on Bengaluru

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar launched the book “Unboxing Bengaluru” at the CM’s home office Krishna in the city on Thursday.

Siddaramaiah pointed out that the authors of the book Prashant Prakash and Malini Goyal would be organising “Bengaluru Habba” (festival), which is due in December.

The festival, which used to take place in March earlier, is emerging as a bid to showcase Bengaluru’s history and evolution into a cosmopolitan hub. On the occasion, Siddaramaiah said that it would have been better if the book was also available in Kannada.

“It would have been an even greater joy if the book ‘Unboxing Bengaluru: The City of New Beginnings’ was released in Kannada as well as English. The fact that Prashant Prakash and Malini Goyal would be organising ‘Bengaluru Habba’ is a matter of immense happiness as well. ‘Bengaluru Habba’ would be provided with every support from the government,” he said.

Shivakumar pointed out that Bengaluru was famous for Karaga, a nine-day festival, which is accompanied by rallies and Kadlekai Parishe, the annual peanut fair.

“As part of Bengaluru Habba, more than 300 events will take place in over 45 locations of Bengaluru city from December 1 to 11. The Bengaluru Habba will be celebrated in the first fortnight of December every year from now on. The programmes will be based on 12 different themes including art, literature, heritage, culture, technology, environment, dance, music and theatre. The festival will be aimed at promoting Bengaluru as a brand to the outside world,” he said.

Minister for Information Technology and Bio-Technology (IT-BT) Priyank Kharge was also present on the occasion.