Moily gets Moortidevi award

Pratibha Patil, the president of India will present the prestigious Moortidevi Award of Bharatiya Jnanpith to Dr M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Law and Justice for his outstanding work on Shri Ramayan Mahanveshanam on Thursday, March 18.

Moily is a rare politician-literary figure. An established writer in Kannada, he has authored, to date, four novels, three collections of poetry, three plays, collections of essays, besides his five-volume magnum opus Shri Ramayana Mahanveshanam. He was also awarded Second Father Kamil Bulke Ramayana International Award 2007. He is now penning another epic poem on Draupadi titled Shrimudi Parikramanam which is likely to be published within a year. His two volumes of ‘Musings On India’ is a collection of essays and lectures on Indian history, culture, and society. He has launched a Magna-Opus-Unleashing India in five Volumes. First two volumes ‘Road Map for Agrarian Wealth Creation’ and the second the ‘Water-Elixir of Life’ have already been published.

On of his major novels, Kotta, has been produced as a telefilms in both Kannada and Hindi, directed by M.S.Sathyu. His novels ‘Kotta and ‘Tembrare’ have been translated into Hindi, English, and many other Indian languages; parts of his ambitious epic have been translated into Hindi and Tamil. The English translation of the entire work is currently in the press.

As a writer, Moily is noted for his concern for the marginalized classes, authenticity of depiction, and skilful craftsmanship. His major works are always preceded by extensive research and discussion with concerned experts. Hence his works have a distinct place of their own in Kannada.

Many awards and honours have come seeking him, a few of which are: ‘Al Ameen Sadbhavana Award’(2000), ‘Devaraja Urs Prashasti (2001), ‘Aryabhata Award’(2001), and ‘Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Award (2002). Honorary Doctorate Degrees by Mangalore University (2009) and Russian Academy and National Law School University, Hyderabad have been bestowed on him.