The Karnataka government on Thursday announced the recipients of the Rajyotsava awards, which include former Union Minister Margaret Alva, former Chief Justice of India HL Dattu and former Olympics sprinter Kenneth Lawrence Powell.
The awards, which are usually given away on November 1, was delayed this year due to by-polls in five constituencies in the state in the first week of November and the subsequent demise of Union Minister and MP Ananth Kumar.
Veteran Congress leader and former Rajasthan and Uttarakhand governor Margaret Alva receives the award for social service. Hailing from Karwar in Uttara Kannada, Alva was elected to the Rajya Sabha six times from 1974.
Justice HL Dattu, meanwhile, receives the award in the judiciary category. He is currently the head of the National Human Rights Commission and has served as the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, Chhattisgarh High Court and the Supreme Court of India.
Sprinter Kenneth Lawrence Powell receives the honour 54 years after his appearance at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, lining up alongside Milkha Singh in the 400m relay team. A feared fast bowler from Kolar, Powell is also the recipient of the Arjuna Award in 1965.
The list of awardees also includes Kalmane Kamegowda, an 82-year-old shepherd from Mandya, who is credited with afforesting a hillside area in the district, including filling up 14 ponds. He has been conferred the award for his service to the environment.
Sandalwood actor Jai Jagadish and National Public School founder KP Gopalkrishna are among the other winners of the highest civilian honour in the state.
The awards will be given away at the Vidhana Soudha on Thursday evening by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. The winners will receive a prize of Rs 1 lakh, a gold medal and a citation.
Here is the full list of awardees:
Literature: M.S. Prabhakar (Kamaroopi), Hasan Nayeem Surkod, Cha. Sarvamangala and Chandrashekhar Talya.
Theatre: S.N. Rangaswamy, Puttaswamy and Pampanna Kogali.
Music: Annu Devadiga. Dance: M.R. Krishna Murthy.
Folk Art: Gurava Koraga, Ganga Hucchamma, Channa Malle Gowda, Sharanappa Booter, Shankramma Mahadevamma, Basavaraj Alaguda and Choodamani Ramachadra.
Sculpture: Yamanappa Chitragar and Basappa Kalappa Kanchagar.
Fine Art: Basavaraj Revanasiddappa Uppina.
Sport: Kenneth Powell, Vinay V.S., Chetan R. Yakshagana: Hiriyadka Gopal Rao and Seetaram Kumar Kateel. Bayalata: Ms Yallavva Roddappanavar and Bheemaraya Boragi.
Film: Bhargava, Jai Jagadish, Rajan and Datturaj.
Education: Geeta Ramanjum, A.V.S. Murthy, Dr K.P. Gopalkrishna and Shivanand Koujalagi. Engineering: Prof C.E.G. Justo.
Complex Arts: R.S. Rajaram, Major Pradeep Arya, C.K. Jorapur, Narasimhaiah, D. Surendra Kumar, Shantappanavar P.B., Namashivaya Reguraj, P. Ramdas and M.J. Brahmaiah.
Journalism: G.N. Ranganath Rao, Basavaraj Swamy and Ammembala Anand.
Co-operation: C. Ramu.
Social Service: Anand C. Kundar, Rachappa Hadapad, Krishnakumar Poonja and Ms Margaret Alva.
Agriculture: Mahadevi Annarao Vanade and Mookappa Poojar.
Environment: Kalmane Kamegowda.
Organisations: Ranga Durai Hospital.
Medicine: Dr Nadagouda J.V., Dr Seetharam Bhat, Dr P. Mohan Rao and Dr M.G. Gopal.
Judiciary: Justice H.L. Dattu.
Non-resident Kannadiga: Dr A.V. Shetty.
Freedom fighter: Basavaraj Bisaralli.