The search to choose a poet for the title of Rashtrakavi (national poet) has begun with the government setting up a 14-member committee headed by writer and former judge Ko. Chennabasappa.
The last Rashtrakavi of Karnataka was G.S. Shivarudrappa and the title has not been conferred on anyone after his death in 2013.
K.A. Dayanand, Director, Kannada and Culture Department, said a circular on the formation of the search committee had been issued and meetings would begin soon. Besides officials, the committee would have writers and heads of various government-appointed Kannada bodies.
Mr. Chennabasappa told The Hindu that the committee would present a “democratic and judicious opinion” after wide consultations. “It will not be an arbitrary or one man’s decision, but one arrived at after consultations with all concerned people,” he said.
The first Rashtrakavi title was conferred on Manjeshwar Govinda Pai in 1949, long before the unification of Karnataka in 1956. His most notable work was Golgotha , which centred around the story of crucifixion. Jnanpith Award winner Kuvempu was conferred the title in 1964. After his death, Shivarudrappa became Karnataka’s Rashtrakavi in 2006.
The title is given to a writer for a lifetime.
