BANGALORE: Eminent Kannada scholar and former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University M M Kalburgi was presented with the Nrupatunga award jointly instituted by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat and the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) at a function organised in the city on Tuesday. The award carries a cash prize of Rs5 lakh along with a citation.
Sangamesh Menasinakai of The New Indian Express received the Arulu Sahitya Award along with eight more awardees in various fields like children’s literature, poetry, theatre and Kadambari carrying a purse of Rs 10,000.
Accepting the award, Dr Kalburgi stated that mistakes committed by the earlier government officials which affected Kannada must not be repeated. “I thank my students for their support.” he said. The award is a result of Rs 1.5 crore deposit made by the BMTC. The cash award is presented from the interest accrued on the deposit. The award was presented to Kalburgi today by Home and Transport Minister R Ashok along with Nallur Prasad, Kannada Sahitya Parishat president and K R Srinivas , BMTC MD.
Other luminaries from the Kannada Culture field were also present.
Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had sent a message wishing the awardees and promising to focus more on the development of Kannada language in various districts of the state.
“Our state transport department is committed to supporting the cause of Kannada Culture. Thanks to our efforts, there is a picture of a BMTC bus which has the name written in Kannada in the Urban Development Ministry in Delhi today,” said Ashok.
He stated that the BMTC had also given a donation of `2 crores to the Jayadeva Heart Hospital besides providing a dialysis machine to Victoria Hospital for free treatment.