For the first time in the State, seven “parameters” have been framed to pick a person for the Rashtrakavi title.
A 14-member search committee, headed by writer Ko. Channabasappa, has come out with these parameters for selecting a “person of highest stature” to the prestigious position, which is held by a writer for lifetime.
Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Mr. Channabasappa clarified that the title of Rashtrakavi had nothing to do with “court poet”. The first Rashtrakavi title was conferred on Manjeswhar Govinda Pai in 1949, when the State was under the Madras Presidency. It is akin to the title of “poet laureate”.
Jnanpith Award recipient Kuvempu was conferred the title of Rashtrakavi in 1964, and the next Rashtrakavi was G.S. Shivarudrappa. Rashtrakavi is not a constitutional or legislative post. It is an honour bestowed on a distinguished writer, he said.
Public opinion
Chairman Kannada Book Authority Banjagere Jayaprakash said this was to make the selection process broad-based and democratic. Interested among the public could suggest names of writers by January 27, and letters had been despatched to over 100 senior writers so as to enable them to suggest names by January 29, he said. Mr. Channabasappa also clarified that the opinion of writers and public is not binding on the committee. “It is just a mechanism to elicit opinion of a larger group,” he asserted.
Rashtrakavi is not a constitutional or legislative post. It is an honour bestowed on a distinguished writer.
