Tejaswi-themed Lalbagh flower show draws large crowds

Celebrated Kannada writer and thinker K. P. Poornachandra Tejaswi’s deep connection with literature, nature, and the Malnad landscape has taken centre stage at Lalbagh’s Republic Day Flower Show, themed ‘Tejaswi Vismaya’.

The floral exhibition, which will run till January 26, brings to life the environment he cherished and the many facets of his life.  

Life and works

Inside the Glass House and its surroundings, the displays trace different phases of Tejaswi’s life, including his childhood, education, and personal influences. Excerpts from a letter he wrote to his father, Kuvempu, a towering Kannada literary figure, are showcased. There is also information on his mentors and ideological influences, including his contemporaries, Shivaram Karanth and Ram Manohar Lohia, and his parents. His writings on environmental degradation and conservation form the central theme of the exhibition, with several of his books displayed. 

Outside the Glass House, a heart-shaped horticultural installation and honeybee sculptures near Tejaswi’s statue symbolise his ecological concerns. A large red rose elephant installation accompanied by a tortoise has been placed opposite the Glass House near the hill area, which represents his house in the Malnad region.

GI crops

The exhibition also includes a special display of Karnataka’s GI-tagged crops, rare and exotic fruit plants, and an insect exhibit featuring butterflies, honeybees, and beetles, organised under the K.P. Poornachandra Tejaswi Foundation. 

This year’s theme drew a large number of visitors, many of whom told The Hindu that the exhibition brought back memories of books they had cherished. Rashmi M., a student who visited the exhibition with her friends, said the arrangements had been designed in a way that clearly conveyed Poornachandra Tejaswi’s legacy. A European couple who also visited the show appreciated the overall management of the event.

On January 16, the flower show recorded a total footfall of 39,790 visitors. This included 15,590 adults, 4,750 children, and 18,960 school students. Ticket sales on the day amounted to ₹6,78,560.