Six eminent Tulu personalities bag state Tulu Sahitya Academy awards

Six eminent Tulu personalities bag state Tulu Sahitya Academy awards

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 17, 2012: The Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy conferred its annual honorary and book awards on six eminent Tulu personalities at a special awards ceremony held in Town Hall on June 16. 

The academy conferred awards on Bola Chittaranjan Shetty (literature), Seetharam Shetty (theatre), T. A. Shrinivas (cinema), Puttige Padmanabha Rai (novel writing), Ashok Alva (story writing), and Ratnakar Rao Kavoor (play writing).

The Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy Honorary Award comprises a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, a memento, a shawl, and traditional gifts. The Book Award comprises a cash prize of Rs. 5,000, a memento, a shawl, and traditional gifts. 

Folk researcher Bannanje Babu Amin inaugurated the event, and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLA Krishna J. Palemar gave away the awards. 

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Kateel said that the academy takes pains to identify genuine achievers for its award, owing to which the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy awards are indeed prestigious. 

In his address, Mr. Palemar said that the state government has always taken an interest in the preservation of Tulu tradition and culture. The BJP-led state government has not only earmarked funds for the academy, but has also set up the Beary Sahitya Academy. He also promised to release Rs. 10 lakh from his MLA fund for the construction of the Tulu Bhavan. 

Hampa Nagarajayya released a book called Kavigalu Kanda Tulunadu on this occasion. Besides, a revamped version of the academy website was also launched. 

Among the dignitaries present were Mayor Gulzar Banu, MLC Ganesh Karnik, DK ZP President Shailaja Bhat, Udupi ZP President Katpady Shankar Poojary; and film director Ram Shetty.