Mysore, Nov. 2 (KK&KMC)- The 55th Kannada Rajyothsava was celebrated in City with grandeur yesterday.

Medical Education and District In-Charge Minister S.A. Ramdas, who unfurled the National Tricolour and the State flag at the Town Hall premises, pledged on the occasion to make Mysore district 100 per cent literate by Oct. 31, 2011.

"We will have to work towards attaining total literacy in the next one year," Ramdas said and added, "It is not the duty of the government alone. Nor can the elected representatives attain the target on their own. We will need the co-operation for all."

A survey of the illiterates in the district will be conducted and the services of retired teachers having the experience and expertise will be utilised to make people in villages literate and provide quality education to children.

Announcing on the occasion that the next Rajyotsava Day (Nov. 1, 2011) will be celebrated as a Reading Day, Ramdas said that on that occasion, the neo-literates will be made to read Kannada newspapers for two hours.

"Each literate person must aim to make at least five persons in his or her village literate," he said.

Suggesting a new initiative, Ramdas urged the district administration to distribute Kannada books at all functions organised by them instead of spending on garlands and bouquets.

"Though Rajyotsava is celebrated throughout the State, the specialty of Mysore is that it has a temple dedicated to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, built during the time of the Maharajas," Ramdas pointed out.

Earlier, Ramdas, MP H. Vishwanath, Deputy Commissioner Harsha Gupta, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal, Mayor Sandesh Swamy, MLA Tanveer Sait, MLC Thontadarya and others offered prayers at the temple of Bhuvaneshwari in the palace.

A procession to mark the Rajyotsava celebration was taken out by the students of St. Philomena's High School, Savithri Convent, D. Banumaiah Boys and Girls High School and Govt. High School, Ghousianagar. The rally commenced from Town Hall, passing through K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, Irwin Road, Ashoka Road and ending at the Town Hall. Various folk dance and cultural troupes added colour to the procession.

KSRP, CAR, DAR, Traffic, City Civil, Women's Police, Mounted Company, Fire Force and Home Guards also participated in the rally.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore