Kannada literature deep influence on Indian thought: Pratibha Patil

Speaking after honouring Union Law Minister and writer M Veerappa Moily with the Moortidevi Award for his work “Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam”, she said: “There have been great literary works in Kannada literature from ancient times, which have had a deep influence on Indian thought. Its ‘Vachana Sahitya’ is literature for the common man in simple language and is unique.”

Patil said she had been told that Kannada literature had received the highest number of Jnanpith awards, besides many Sahitya Akademi awards and pointed out that the Moortidevi Award, instituted by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, was yet another acknowledgement of the significant ongoing works in Kannada literature.

Praising Moily’s work, she said: “As a writer, Moily forayed into many forms of writing. His literary armoury consists of novels, books of poems, collections of essays and plays, including his magnum opus “Mahanveshanam””.

India’s future
The President said what the present day India has to learn from the “Ramayana” is to build a nation out of many voices, many cultures and many peoples.

“Clearly, Moily’s vision, the values of secularism and multi-culturalism are essential for the future of India. When we talk of the future, we cannot forget that it is the youth who are destined to play a major role in taking India forward, and making it a developed nation.”
Patil also praised Moily for his literary contributions and said he has the exceptional distinction of being a prolific writer and a person actively involved in public life. “He is, indeed, a rare combination of a politician and a literary figure. His own life has been remarkable.

“He has constantly struggled against odds and through perseverance and hard work, he has overcome constraints to achieve success.” Moily said he was now writing a classical epic poem on Draupadi called “Shreemudi Parikramanam”. “Writing is my oxygen and source of energy in sorrows and joys. This has continued to be my companion along with my beloved wife,” he remarked even as he said his wife, Malathi, was his greatest critic who cleared every page he wrote.

“Nobody writes for an award but awards function act as incentives for the writer to have confidence in himself and continue his work more zealously.”
Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Sri Sri Ravishankar spoke on the occasion praising the works of the Union minister.