Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri
Moodbidri, Aug 23: The fact that centenarian Vidwan B Chandraiah has been honoured with the Chavundaraya Endowment Award is a testament to the fact that there is no age limit for literary service, said retired high court judge Justice Padmaraja Nemichandra Desai.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Chavundaraya and Dr Siddalingaiah Endowment Award presentation ceremony organised by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat at the Sri Krishnaraja Parishat Mandir in Bengaluru by lighting the lamp.
The state-level Chavundaraya Award for the year 2024, which includes a cash prize, was conferred on senior litterateur and centenarian Vidwan B Chandraiah for his achievement in creating works in modern Kannada literature based on ancient Jain literature. The award for 2025 was presented to D N Akki from Vijayapura. Meanwhile, senior litterateur and researcher from Bengaluru, Dr H R Swami, was honoured with the Dr Siddalingaiah Literary Endowment Award.
Expressing a sense of fulfilment, awardee Vidwan Chandraiah said that receiving an honour like the Chavundaraya Award for his literary service at the age of 100 has brought him immense satisfaction. He sang Udayavayithu ondu goodithu harida hirimeya Kannada, a song of hope he had written when he was an employee of the Khadi Commission in Madikeri during the time of Kannada Rajyotsava. He shared a poignant moment, stating that his wife Sarojini, who was very happy about this honour, passed away just a day before the award ceremony. However, accepting the award with the detachment taught in the Gita, he expressed happiness in fulfilling his wife's wish.
The chief guest of the event, Bengaluru University Kannada study centre professor Prof Rajappa Dalavayi, presented the awards and said that the life of Siddalingaiah, who was instrumental in banning the Ajalu practice, was an adventurous song.
Gamaki scholar Tekkekere Subrahmanya Bhat introduced the honourees. He highlighted Chandraiah's unique contribution of translating Ratnakaravarni's Bharatesha Vaibhava from Sangatya to Bhamini Shatpadi for Kannada literature, adding that his literary service even in his twilight years is exemplary.
Endowment donor, retired newspaper editor and writer Dr Padmaraja Dandavati delivered the keynote address, noting that Chandraiah is being recognised and honoured, albeit belatedly.
Endowment donor Ramakumari Siddalingaiah explained the intent behind conferring the Dr Siddalingaiah Endowment Award on achievers who have worked towards human dharma and humanity.
Awardees D N Akki and Dr H R Swami shared their thoughts on the occasion. Parishat administrative officer K A Dayananda, who presided over the function, delivered the introductory remarks.
The programme commenced with the state anthem. Shanthakumari K R welcomed the gathering, while Dhananjay of Chandana channel compered the event and proposed the vote of thanks.
Felicitation by Moodbidri Jain Math seer
Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Panditacharyavarya Swami of the Sri Jain Math in Moodbidri, where Vidwan B Chandraiah had served as a teacher, congratulated him on receiving the prestigious Chavundaraya Award for his unique contribution to Jain literature. A week prior to the award presentation, the seer had visited Chandraiah's residence in Bengaluru and felicitated the Chandraiah-Sarojini couple. On this occasion, the seer also recalled Chandraiah's long-standing service as the editor of the Math's monthly magazine, Vivekabhyudaya.