Family members of M.M. Kalburgi have refused to accept the Basavashri Award that was announced posthumously to the research scholar by Murugha Mutt of Chitradurga.
In a letter to Murugha Mutt seer Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi said the family was unable to overcome from the shock of the scholar’s death, and under such circumstances receiving the Basavashri Award would not be proper. However, she has expressed her gratitude to the Mutt for selecting Kalburgi for this award. Murugha Mutt had announced the award to Kalburgi considering his contributions to the field of research in Kannada. Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru told The Hindu they had not yet extended an official invitation to the Kalburgi family for the award presentation ceremony.
The family members had written the letter based on media reports.
However, the Mutt representatives would visit the Kalburgi family soon, and based on their response further decision would be taken, the seer said.