MANGALURU: ‘Gilivindu project’, the renovation of Karnataka’s first ‘Rashtra Kavi’ (national poet) late M Govinda Pai’s house in his native town in Manjeshwar in Kasargod district in Kerala, will be completed and dedicated to the nation by the end of December.
Gilivindu project, envisaging transformation of the house into a public memorial, was implemented jointly by Kerala and Karnataka governments at a cost of Rs 5 crore.
“The memorial, once completed, will become a literature and culture hub of both states,’’ president of Rashtra Kavi Govinda Pai Memorial Trust (RGPMT) M Veerappa Moily said.
He was interacting with mediapersons after presiding over a preparatory meeting organised at Manjeshwar Govinda Pai memorial Centre on Sunday. After the death of Rashtra Kavi Govinda Pai (1883-1963), the house was handed over to the government to facilitate its transformation into a memorial building. Rashtra Kavi Govinda Pai Memorial Trust (RGPMT), was launched in 2008.
Under Gilivindu project, it was decided to renovate the crumbling house and transform it into a museum. The museum also will have space for Pai’s vast collection of books. Close to the museum, an auditorium ‘Bhavanika’ has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore. Three guest houses-- Vaishaki, Saketha and Anand--, an open theatre, a library, an archives record room, a study room for researchers, a kitchen and dining hall were accommodated on the same compound.
Gilivindu project was completed with funds released under corporate social responsibility (CSR) of ONGC, MRPL and BPCL companies, he said.