Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 20: The poetry manuscript Me?akka??ida Batti by poet Anitha P Takode has been selected for the prestigious Gavisiddha N Ballari Kavya Award for 2025. The award is instituted annually by the Gavisiddha N Ballari Sahitya, Samskrutika Kala Mattu Grameena Abhivrudhi Seva Samsthe (R) in Koppal, which invites poetry manuscripts from across the state and selects two deserving works each year.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 6,000 and a citation and will be presented during the Gavisiddha N Ballari Literary Festival to be held in Koppal in November, informed Mahesh Ballari, coordinator of the trust.
Anitha, who is also a short story writer and columnist, has made significant contributions to Kannada literature. She earned her MA from Mumbai University with first class distinction, winning the M B Kukyan Gold Medal. In 2019, she was felicitated at the world-renowned Dasara Kavigoshti held at Mysore Palace.
She has published eight works so far. Her research paper Suvarnayuga, based on Jay C Suvarna for her PhD coursework, received the Shodhasiri Award by Dr Leela B of Mumbai University and also won the Vikas Book Prize from Dr Vishwanath Karnad Foundation.
Her short story collection Nivaalisibitta Koli received the 2022 K Vasudevacharya Datty Award from Kannada Sahitya Parishat and the Padmavati Venkatesh Datty Puraskar from Manikya Prakashana, Hassan. Her work Mohana Taranga won the Kannada and Culture Department’s cash award for 2019–20.
Her poetry manuscript Antarangada Mridanga has won the Smt Sushila S Shetty Memorial Kavya Award from Jagajyoti Kalavrunda, Mumbai, and the Allama Sahitya Award from Janaspandana Trust (R), Suvvi Publications, Shikaripura.
In 2025, she also received the Arate Nagamma Sheshappa Poojari Memorial Award from the Chembur Karnataka Sangha.
Anitha is currently pursuing her PhD under the guidance of Dr G N Upadhya at Mumbai University.