'Academy award honour to Nayari community'

Though illiterate, she is intelligent; though economically poor, she is rich with her knowledge of folklore. She is Kamalakka of Kartattu of Chitrapadi village, who was selected for the Karnataka Janapada Academy award for the current year.
Kamala Nayari, 80, is an expert in reciting folk songs. Inspired by hundreds of folk stories of her grandmother in her childhood, Nayari developed the expertise of taking anybody to the folk world with her unique skills. She is an expert in reciting timely songs during paddy replantation, auspicious occasions like marriage, etc.
Interacting with Deccan Herald, Kamalakka shared her childhood memories. She said she was admired and attracted by yakshagana in her childhood, and she learnt ‘bhagavathike’ just by listening to them in yakshagana bayalatas. “I used to memorise the stories and songs being recited by my grandmother. I got married when I was just 13. I lost my husband when I was 40. I had to work in neighbourhood on daily-wage basis to look after my children. Even then, I used to recite those songs, and the fellow-workers encouraged me after listening to my songs,” she explained.
When asked about her selection to the Academy award, Kamalakka exhibited her usual humbleness by saying that it is an honour to the Nayari community. “The children of nowadays say that they do not want “grandma’s stories”. There was a time when children used to sleep only after listening to “ajji kathe”. Children should get such focus to be cultured in the right direction,” she said.
Kamalakka had been honoured 20 years back when Maravanthe hosted 4th Kundapur Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelana. After this, there has been no recognition for her.
Kamalakka’s son Vittal Nayari, a graduate and a teacher said his mother got the award because of Dr A V Navada, who was a faculty in Kundapur Bhandarkar’s College. “Dr Navada has published a book comprising the folk stories and songs of my mother, which has been a gift for the present generation. My mother got the award without any publicity,” he said.