'Confer Rashtrakavi title on Kayyara'

Veteran Kannada litterateur Nadoja Dr Kayyara Kinhanna Rai must be conferred with the title of ‘Rashtrakavi’.

The Karnataka government should present him the Karnataka Rathna Award and recommend his name for the Padmashree award, said Kannada Sahitya Parishat former President  Harikirishna Punarooru.

Addressing a press meet in Mangalore on Wednesday, Punarooru said that a committee 'Nadoja Dr Kayyar Kinhanna Rai - 100 Janmashathamanothsava Samithi' has been formed to celebrate the 99th birthday of the litterateur and prepare for his centenary birthday.
The celebrations will be held at 'Kavitha Kuteera,' in Badhiyadka, the house of the great litterateur on June 8.

The programme will be inaugurated by Kannada Activist Vattal Nagraj and Kannada Sahitya Parishat Former President  Harikirishna Punarooru will preside.

Health Minister U T Khader, Minister for Forest and Ecology Ramanath Rai, Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake, Former Union Minister B Janardhan Poojary among others will be the chief guests.

Punarooru said that Kinhanna Rai is a legend. He has worked immensely for implementing the Mahajan Commission report with regard to Kerala-Karnataka border issues and also for the development of Kannada literature.

There is a need to set up ‘Nadoja Dr Kayyara Kinhanna Rai Prathisthana,’ a library comprising of all his works and also a committee to re-publish all his works. There is also a need to set up of a Chair in his name in Mangalore and Hampi Universities and constituting of an award in his name. A proposal has been submitted to Karnataka government with this regard, he said.