Folk scholar and Kannada writer Go.Ru. Channabasappa was felicitated on occasion of his 85th birthday here on Sunday.
His admirers and well-wishers, who have set up the Go.Ru.Cha. Abhinandana Samiti, organised the programme and presented the writer with a cheque for Rs. 11,11,111. Nine of his books, collections of his writings, were released on the occasion.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was to inaugurate the function, sent a message through Minister for Co-operation H.S. Mahadev Prasad as he was on a tour to Bagalkot district. In his message, Mr. Siddaramaiah appreciated Mr. Channabasappa’s contribution to the field of folk arts and commended his role in starting the Karnataka Folklore University in Haveri and his pioneering work at the Karnataka Janapada Academy.
The former Minister B.L. Shankar said that apart from academic work, Mr. Channabasappa’s social work in developing his village, Gondedahalli, as a model Gandhian village was pioneering. The writer’s initiative — ‘Obba Kannadiga – Ondu Rupayi’ — to collect funds for the Kannada Sahitya Parishat was based on Gandhian principles, he said.
Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Taralabalu Math seer Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swami and Suttur Math seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami were present.
