Rastrakavi Manjeshwar Govinda Pai’s 125th birth anniversary was celebrated at Nuthana Ravindra Mantapa at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College here on Monday. In a ceremony organised by Rastrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodana Kendra, Kavyalaya Prakashana in Mysore and MGM College in association with the Academy of General Education in Manipal, a consolidated form of plays and poems of the veteran litterateur was released.

Addressing the gathering after releasing the “Samagra Kavya” veteran poet and fighter for gadinadu kannadigas popularly known as Nadoja, Kayyara Kinnanna Rai said that language should not be the victim of regional barriers and poets and writers flourishing in the languages other than their mother tongue can be observed in undivided Dakshina Kannada district for centuries.

Honourary Director of Manipal Institute of Communication and veteran journalist Dr M V Kamath released  “Samagra Natakagalu”, the consolidated form of plays written by the late poet. Registrar of AGE K K Pai, Dr M V Kamath, and Kayyara Kinnanna Rai were honoured on the occasion. Dr C K K Murthy of Kavyalaya Prakashana, Prof Muralidhar Upadhyaya, Prof Shivaji Joise and Principal of MGM College Dr Jayprakash Mavinkuli were also present on the occasion.