State government’s prestigious Basava Puraskara was presented to former president A P J Abdul Kalam in a function organised in front of Vidhana Soudha on Friday evening.
The award comprises Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a memento. The government has been giving this award since 2000. Cash component of the award has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to mark golden jubilee celebrations of Karnataka.
Speaking after accepting the award, Kalam said the money received as part of the award will go to the poor and the needy.
“This is the moment which I will cherish forever. Basavanna, great social reformer, wanted people be free from sufferings and pain. The money I received will reach such special people of this country”, he said.
Referring to Basavanna’s saying Kayakave Kailasa, Kalam said “Basavanna’s message should reign across the globe. Everyone should follow his message. All human beings can get long lasting peace if they give up their ego, raise above their self and serve others without any expectation,” he said. Kalam also appreciated chief minister H D Kumaraswamy for his village stays.
He impressed the audience, particularly children, by saluting them in Kannada in the beginning of his speech. He also recited two of Basavanna’s vachanas in Kannada.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said many of his pro-people programmes during the last 20 months in the office were the result of Kalam’s guidance.
“Kalam had told me to visit schools of all villages where I stay. I followed his suggestions without fail. If I had succeeded in bringing light in lives of have-nots, it was because of inspiration that I got from him”, he said.
BSY ABSENT
Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s absence was conspicuous at Basava Puraskara presentation ceremony. Moreover none of the BJP ministers attended the programme.
However, no reason for Yediyurappa’s absence was announced in the function. According to Yediyurappa’s officer on special duty there was no particular reason for his absence. “The deputy chief minister was on tour in Mysore.
He visited his native place Bookanakere in KR Pet taluk and Chamundi hills in Mysore,” he said.
