Kuvempu's stolen medal not found, replica may be sought

Prez may be urged to give new Padma Vibhushan medal for display

The chances of recovering the Padma Vibhushan medal conferred on poet laureate Kuvempu, which had been stolen, seem bleak. So, the Rastrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana, Kuppalli, is now chalking out plans to obtain a replica of the medal from the President of India.

The medal had been taken away from the attic of the house-turned-memorial of the poet at Kuppalli in Thirthahalli taluk on the night of November 23 last year. Revanasiddappa, the prime accused who was arrested, told police during interrogation that he might have lost the medal in the forest while fleeing from the memorial after stealing it.

The police had conducted a search operation for the medal using metal detectors in the forest, but in vain.

The Pratishthana has sought information on the procedure to obtain the replica, from the office-bearers of the Delhi Karnataka Sangha. Pratishthana secretary Kadidal Prakash has communicated with Sangha secretary C M Nagaraj over the issue. The Pratishthana plans to write to the President for the medal replica.

Prez can give replica

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Prakash said, “We don’t know whether the President can give a replica of the medal in case of loss or theft. So, we have asked the Delhi Karnataka Sangha to provide us information on this after consulting the President’s office. We will take a suitable step based on their response. If we fail to get the replica, we have decided to ask skilled artists to design a medal resembling the Padma Vibhushan, to be displayed in the memorial.”

Two medals presented by the University of Mysore to Kuvempu had also been stolen. Police had nabbed three persons in connection with the case.