Kasargod: Karnataka Presents Coveted Pampa Award to Centurion Kayyara Kinhana Rai at his Hometown

By Robert D’Costa
Bellevision Media Network

Kasargod, 9 Jun 2014: At the joint aegis of Karnataka state Kannada and culture department, Karavali Samskrutika Pratistan ® (a Kannada linguistic minority cultural and literary organization in Kerala state) and Nadoja award recipient Kayyara Kinhanna Rai birth centenary celebration Committee, Badiadka, the birth centenary of renowned litterateur, poet, freedom fighter, children’s litterateur Nadoja Kinhana Rai was held at a glittering function nearby his ancestral house Kavita Kuteera, Peradala, Badiadka, near here was held on Sunday June 8 at 2.30pm.

 
The renowned Kannada novelist, poet and litterateur Na D’Souza, Karnataka state forests and Dakshina Kannada (DK) district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai, Karnataka state health and family welfare minister U T Khader, Karnataka state Kannada and culture minister Umashree, Karnataka Kannada and culture department director K A Dayanand, Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty, Kasargod District Commissioner Mohammed Shagir, Manjeshwar former MLA Kunjambu, DK Deputy Commissioner’s representative Puttur sub-division AC Krishnamurti, Karnataka Kannada Sahitya Academy assistant director Chandrahas Hegde and others were chief guests of the occasion.

 
Karnataka minister Ramanat presided the programme and conferred Pampa Award, the topmost coveted award to Nadoja Kinhana Rai.  The award comprised Rs 3 lac and public honor.

 
Na D’Souza in his introductory address said that centurion Kinhana Rai is a multifaceted personality who has contributed immensely in sphere of Kannada literature, children’s literature, poetry, India’s freedom struggle, staunch Gandhian, progressive farmer, disciplined teacher etc.  His struggle to unite Kasargod with Karnataka was exemplified in his literature and poetry that would ignite the spark of patriotism among Kannadigas.  Although, he had lived all his life in a remote village of Peradala now in Kerala administered Kasargod district, that was formed when the nation was divided into linguistic states. 

 
 
Na D’Souza further said that Kinhana Rai got the most coveted Pampa Award at the time when the people have forgotten a centurion who had toiled his entire life for the sake of Kannada in hostile environment under Kerala rule, said D’Souza.

 
The minister Ramanat in his presidential address said that Kinhana Rai is the true son of Kannada homeland by taking the struggle of uniting Kasargod district with Karnataka alive in distant land of Peradala, Badiadka.  One should get inspiration from Kinhana to excel in any mission by putting on zeal and efforts.  He further said that Kinhana lives many more years to receive Kannada Ratna.

 

 
The minister Umashree said that it’s tragic that centurion Kinhana Rai remained unnoticed for so long.  Even though, Kinhana was conferred with several awards form state institutions, social welfare and voluntary organizations, Pampa Award that is the topmost literary award of Karnataka was at last conferred on his birth centenary.  He has imprinted his name in the annuals of Karnataka for his extraordinary contributions in every sphere.

 
The minister U T Khader said that Kinhana Rai is the role model for new generation of Kannadigas because he has left behind his legacy in his works.

 
MLA Shakuntala who was inspired by the literary contributions of Kinhana Rai in her childhood said that Kinhana lives many more years and the youth gets inspired by his books.

 
Dharmapal Jadav and Nataraj Sharma, who were close associates of Kinhana Rai and his entire family, were felicitated on the same occasion.

 
Akhila Karnataka Tulu Koota felicitated Kinhana Rai during the programme.

 
The most awaited moment came when Kinhana Rai spoke with clarity about Kannada’s get poet Pampa and the gathering was listening intensely, when he emphasized on the greatness of Pampa and humbly acknowledged that he was not worthy to speak about him.

 
Kinhana’s son Dr Prasanna Rai, lecturer of St Philomena College, Puttur and group presented the prayer song. Kinhana’s son retired Vijaya Bank general manager Durgaprasad Rai welcomed the gathering.