Govind Karjol, Minister for Kannada and Culture, announced here on Saturday that the Government had released Rs. 60 lakh for translation of administrative records of Peshwas into Kannada.
Inaugurating a book awards function organised by the Kannada Book Authority, he said that the administrative records of Peshwas pertained to Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag, Haveri, Dharwad and Uttara Kannada districts that were under Maratha rule.
Correspondence of Tipu Sultan and Kittur Chennamma with the British Government was available in the British Library and attempts were being made to secure them, he said.
Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party Government was doing its best to promote Kannada and culture, he said that while previous governments were earmarking Rs. 15 crore for Department of Kannada and Culture, the BJP Government had set aside over Rs. 200 crore. Presiding over the programme, chairman, Kannada Book Authority Siddalingaiah said that, draft on Kannada book policy had been submitted to the Government and Mr. Karjol had convened a meeting on May 8 to discuss and finalise it.
Vasanth Kulkarni, recipient of Dr. Anupama Niranjana Medical Literature Award urged the Government to set up a medical literature academy to promote literature on medical issues in Kannada.
Sahitya Bhandara of Bangalore and Lingayat Adhyayana Samsthe, Sri Thontadarya Math of Gadag received the Best Publication Award for 2009 and 2010 respectively.
‘Cinema Yana' by K. Puttaswamy, ‘Choukattinache' by Chidananda Sali, ‘MTR Yajnappa' by P.N. Mayya, ‘Devaru Manushyarada Dina' by B. Peer Basha, ‘Kere Karaguva Samaya' by R. Manjunath, ‘Chinnara Chilipili Gana' by Jeenahalli Siddalingappa, ‘Tibara' by Ashok Alwa, ‘Drishya' by M.S. Murthy, ‘Haaduva Rekhe' by N. Marishamachar, ‘Sri Lakshmisha Mahakaviya Jaimini Bharata' by A.R. Sethurama Rao, ‘Jahiratugalalli Mahila Prathinidhikarana' by B.G. Kalavathi, and ‘Pappi Kotru Baapu' by Anand V. Patil received the Pustaka Sogasu Award for 2009.
