Southern States - Karnataka   

Dilemma over Kuvempu's poem, award

By K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

BANGALORE Dec. 21. The Government is set to launch the year-long birth centenary celebrations of the Jnanpith Award winner, Kuvempu, from December 29 throughout the State. However, the Cabinet's approval is reportedly awaited for according the status of "Nada Geethe" to Kuvempu's famous poem, "Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujaathe" and instituting a national literary award after him with a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh.

The Government has through an official order declared that the year beginning December 29, 2003 to December 28, 2004 would be observed as "Kuvempu Janma Shatamanotsava". But it is silent on the above two issues. The Government is aware that if "Nada Geethe" was given the status of the national anthem or national song, it cannot afford to overlook Constitutional obligations involved. On the issue of the award, it is not sure whether it violates any norms as the prize amount exceeds the limit for any award instituted by the Union Government.

The earlier governments, which instituted Basava Sri and Chowdaiah Award, wanted to confer the first Basava Sri Award, which carried a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, on Nelson Mandela, former South African President. The Chowdaiah Award carried a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh. But they were forced to reduce the cash prize to Rs. 1.5 lakh for each award.

In the light of this experience, the cash prize for the Kuvempu Award is not likely to exceed Rs.1.5 lakh. "The Directorate of Kannada and Culture sounds optimistic about observing the celebrations the way it wants it to be and there is a thinking that the issue of `Nada Geethe' and the huge expenditure involved for the celebrations are negligible. But the Department of Kannada and Culture appears to have been cautious on both the counts," sources point out. The launching of the celebrations is scheduled for December 29 here and it will conclude at Kuppalli in Shimoga district on December 28, 2004.

The cost of holding the event is said to be over Rs. 1 crore. This includes publication of the complete works of Kuvempu, translations of his selected works into English and Hindi, and holding programmes on the poet's life and works.

The celebrations will be marked by the release of Kuvempu's epic work, "Ramayana Darshanam", an anthology of his poems, "Kindarajogi", a volume of his important plays, a first-day cover with his portrait on it, a colourful official calendar with 12 exclusive photographs of the poet and two audio cassettes, and a musical version of his selected poems.

On the apprehensions expressed that the celebrations would cost the exchequer over Rs. 6 crore and how the Government could cover the expenses with the stipulated funds of Rs. 1 crore, the Director of Kannada and Culture, Y.K. Muddu Krishna, told The Hindu that a majority of the programmes would be sponsored by the State Tourism Development Corporation, Mysore Sales International Ltd., Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, and some cultural forums.

"The Government has asked Bangalore University to provide land for establishing the Kuvempu Research Centre with an estimated outlay of Rs. 5 crore."

On the general feeling that the Government was giving more importance to Kuvempu's birth centenary than what was given to Shivarama Karanth, Da.Ra. Bendre, and Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, Mr. Muddu Krishna said it was a wrong notion.

The birth centenary of all these three literary stalwarts was observed in a befitting manner. The Government had published the works of Karanth and was planning to develop two parks in Udupi. Besides publishing books, it had organised public functions and set up trusts in memory of Da. Ra. Bendre and Masti Venkatesh Iyengar in Dharwad and Masti village in Kolar district respectively. The Government had spent a substantial amount on the celebrations, he said.

Mr. Muddu Krishna said there were no hurdles for giving the official status to Kuvempu's poem and the Government would constitute an expert committee to choose a befitting tune to it. Public opinion would also be sought.

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