The State government chose 57 persons and seven organisations for the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 18 categories for 2012.
Litterateurs H.S. Raghavendra Rao and Bolwar Mohammand Kunhi; theatre persons Chindodi Bangaresh and Sundar Raj; noted artists Pa. Sa. Kumar and K.N. Ramachandran; silver medallist in 2012 London Paralympics H.N. Girisha; cine artist B. Jaya; centenarian Sudhakara Chaturvedi; and Senior Assistant Editor of The Hindu (Gulbarga) T.V. Sivanandan were among the 57 award winners announced by the State government.
Basis of selection
Minister for Kannada and Culture Govind M. Karjol told presspersons here on Wednesday that a selection panel, headed by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, chose the winners on the basis of merit, social justice and representation of all districts. “The award carries a purse of Rs.1 lakh, a 20-gm gold medal, a shawl, citation and a memento each,” he said.
Admitting that there were pressures from various quarters, he, however, said the committee selected award winners in strict compliance with the guidelines. It had adhered to the yardstick of a minimum age of 50 and a minimum period of public service, which was introduced last year.
Sports an exception
Norms were relaxed in the field of sports. The awards will be presented on Thursday at the Kannada Rajyotsava function at the Ravindra Kalakshetra.
Initial estimate
It had been decided to confer awards to 50 persons following the model adopted last year. “However, the number was increased to 57 to mark the 57th anniversary of the unification of Karnataka,” he said.
The following is the list of Rajyotsava Award winners this year: Literature: H.S. Raghavendra Rao, Bolwar Mohammad Kunhi, Niranjanawali Shettar, Satyananda Patrota, Janagere Venkataramaiah
Theatre: Chindodi Bangaresh, N.S. Murthy, Altaf, M.K. Sundarraj
Music and Dance: Hanumanthappa Basappa Thimmapura (music), Mysore Mahadevappa (music), Nandini Eshwar (dance)
Folklore: Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekara, Yellavva Basappa Madara, Nagari Siddaiah, Vemagal D. Narayanaswamy, Palandira Devaiah, Shivarudrappa Revanasiddappa Mudhola, Pundalika Poojari, Ramesh Kalladka, Sangappa Phakeerappa Hoogara
Art and Sculpture: P.S. Kumar, K.N. Ramachandran, Krishnappa Ramappa Badigera
Sports: H.N. Girisha, Prakash Gurusiddappa Yaragatti
Yakshagana: Gode Lakshminarayana Hegde, Radhabai Maruthi Madara
Film and Television: S.D. Ankalagi, B. Jaya
Education: Bhashyam Swamy, B.K. Hiremath
Science and Technology: G.S. Paramashivaiah, Sagar Dugani
Yoga: C.V. Rudraradhya, Amminagowda Shivanagowda, Eshwar Menasinakai
Media: E.V. Sathyanarayana, S.K. Sheshachandrika, Gopala Prahlada Rao Nayak, T.V. Sivanandan, S. Shantaram
Social Service: Tatyarao Kamble, P.N. Benjamin, Arvind Sitaram, Basavalinga Pattadevaru
Agriculture: Vasanthanarayan Kulkarni
Environment: Shankara Kumbi, H.C. Sharat Chandra
Horanadu Kannadigas: Linganna Kalburgi, Puttaswamy Gudigar, D. Umapathi
Other fields: R.L. Kashyap, N.G. Karur, Hiremagalur Kannan, C.V. Kerimani, Sudhakar Chaturvedi
Associations and organisations: Arunodaya Samsthe (Gadag), Karnataka Andhara Kshemabhyudaya Samsthe (Bangalore), Rangashree (Bangalore), Karnataka Engineers Academy (Bangalore), New Horizon Educational and Cultural Trust (Bangalore), Spoorthidhama (Udupi), Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali (Mumbai).