BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has named playback singer S Janaki, space scientist Dr K Kasturirangan, jurist M N Venkatachalaiah and Kannada literary organisation Kannada Sahithya Parishat for the Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards. A total of 59 distinguished people or institutions are given this high honour. But the selection committee seems to have committed an unintended blunder by nominating such great people for the award now.
These awardees should have got the award long, long ago, not now. Take the example of Janaki. Who has not heard her melodious voice? She is in the league of greats like Lata Mangeshkar. Many lesser singers have got awards decades ago. Honouring Janaki with the Rajyotsava Award now is actually an insult to the nightingale of Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu cinema. Janaki rejected the Padma award conferred by the Centre some years ago, but has gracefully accepted the Karnataka award.
Same is the case with Venkatachalaiah, the former chief justice of India. He is one of India’s most respected jurists, known for his impeccable character and integrity. The Karnataka government should have honoured him long ago. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2004. A state award 10 years later makes no sense.
Kasturirangan is a legend in space science. Under his chairmanship, ISRO scaled new heights. As a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, he did good work and backed Kannada initiatives. As a member of the Planning Commission of India too, he did a good job. Down to earth, Kasturirangan has been heading several high-profile committees across India. He is a recipient of India’s second highest honour Padma Vibhushan and got the Padma Shri way back in 1982.
The Kannada Sahitya Parishat may not be what it used to be decades ago. However, it has always been in the vanguard of the Kannada movement, and conducted itself with dignity and responsibility. All the above deserve the Karnataka Ratna and not mere Rajyotsava Awards. The selection committee headed by poet Channaveera Kanavi should have told the government that these people are too big for the award.
Realising that we have not honoured them in the past is good, but we should not announce awards just to correct our mistakes.