Well-known Gandhian S.N. Subba Rao has been chosen for the first-ever Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award, instituted this year by the Karnataka Government.
Eighty-five-year-old Mr. Rao, who was born in Bangalore, joined the Quit India Movement when he was 13 and went on to dedicate his life to Gandhian ideals. He has been associated with several organisations including the Student Congress and the Rashtra Seva Dal.
Mr. Rao came in contact with the late N.S. Hardikar in 1948 and worked with him for years. He was closely associated with several national leaders including Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and K. Kamaraj. One of his best-known works is his attempt to bring Chambal valley dacoits to the mainstream by setting up Mahatma Gandhi Seva Ashram in the valley. He is credited with reforming 654 dacoits.
Speaking to reporters, Minister for Information R. Roshan Baig here on Tuesday said that Mr. Rao would be conferred the award on October 2 at a function in Bangalore. He will be presented a citation and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh.
Mr. Baig said that Gandhi Jayanti would be celebrated at all district headquarters. Four books on Gandhiji – Namma Tata Gandhi , Grandpa Gandhi , Karnatakadalli Mahatma Gandhi Hejjegalu and Gandhi Jeevana Sandesha – will be released on the day. A play based on H.S. Nagaveni’s novel Gandhi Banda will be staged after the award ceremony.
