BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday presented different state-level awards to those who have contributed to Karnataka’s culture at a colourful function organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture.
On the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “It (selection of awardees) is not an easy job. There is so much talent in the state that it is a difficult process. However, the Congress government has ensured that those who have contributed greatly to the state’s culture have been honoured.”
In all, 13 awardees for the year 2013 were felicitated at the programme.
The winners included M M Kalaburgi (Basava Award), Pandit Ramnarayan (T Chowdaiah Award), M Saraswati Gowda (Dana Chintamanai Attimabbe Award), Mallanagouda Gurugowda Biradar (Prof K G Kundanagara Literary Award), Balachandrashastri Hiremath (Kumaravyasa Award), Rajalakshmi Tirunarayan (Nijaguna Purandara Award), Padmini Ramachandran (Shantala Natya Award), Fakkirappa Varavi (Dr Gubbiveeranna Award), K T Shivaprasad (Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award), Basanna Monappa Badiger (Jakanachari Award) and Mukhaveene Anjanappa (Janapadashri Award).
However, Vatal Nagaraj (Sangolli Rayanna Award) and S K Vasumati (Santha Shishunala Shariff Award) were not present to receive the awards.
Athlete M R Poovamma was also honoured with the Rajyotsava Award for 2014, as she was abroad representing the country during last year’s ceremony.
Later, addressing the gathering, Kalaburgi said there was a need to ensure that literary talent in the state is promoted at the national level. “For instance, Kuvempu, who is known for his great literary works, was not given a national award. The department must ensure that literary talent from the state is promoted at the national level. This will be a great source of motivation to them,” he said.
Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree, principal secretary of the department N Nagambika Devi, director of the department K A Dayanad and others were present on the occasion.