Literature, cultural knowledge a must: Dinesh Amin Mattu
5th May Literary Fest
Dharwad, May 27: Senior journalist and Chief Minister’s former media advisor Dinesh Amin Mattu said that those who do not have the knowledge about literature and culture of the land would not become complete persons.
Speaking on “Contemporary movements and students view” at a two-day 5th May Literary Fest organized by the Ladai Publication of Gadag, Chittara Balaga of Dharwad and Kavi Publication at Papu Auditorium here on Sunday, Mattu said that those who have the knowledge of literature and culture would not even become harmful. As Vajpayee was in close contact of literature, it was not possible for him to become harmful like Modi, he said.
A students movement started in a hostel in Ahmedabad in 1977 has grown in a big way and it had caused the downfall of Indira Gandhi. This was the strength of the students’ movement. It was responsible for a political change in the country in 1983. It was not started just from one movement. Students were closely observing the farmers movement, linguistic movement, dalit movement, political and boycott of election and others. Most of the dalits had opposed the Mandal Commission report. But they did have neither any benefit nor any loss out of it, he said.
Those who have the literary touch would have human values. It is very difficult to speak to Bhaktas because they do not know literature and history. They do not want others to speak about the government. But they have faith on dictatorship. Even the petrol prices are increasing, there are students who support it, he said.
The biggest problem among students is they would not read history. Rohith Vemula death is not suicide. But it is a sacrifice. After that incident, students movement gained importance in the country. Students movement should become a process. Unfortunately, those who are elected in the organization have been taking wrong decisions. That should not happen, he added.
JNU student Anirban Bhattacharya, students leader Benkikere and others spoke on the occasion.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
