"Kannada literature had deep influence on Indian thought"

President Pratibha Patil on Thursday paid glowing tributes to Kannada literature and said it had deeply influenced Indian thought.

Speaking after honouring Union Law Minister and writer M Veerappa Moily with the Moortidevi Award for his work Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam, she said: “There have been great literary works in Kannada literature from ancient times, which have had a deep influence on Indian thought. Its ‘Vachana Sahitya’ is literature for the common man in simple language and is unique.”

Patil said she had been told that Kannada literature had received the highest number of Jnanpith awards, besides many Sahitya Akademi awards and pointed out that the Moortidevi Award, instituted by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, was yet another acknowledgement of the significant ongoing works in Kannada literature.

Praising Moily’s work, she said: “As a writer, Moily forayed into many forms of writing. His literary armoury consists of novels, books of poems, collections of essays and plays, including his magnum opus “Mahanveshanam””.

Full report here Deccan Herald

"Literature important in building enlightened society"

President Pratibha Patil on Thursday, March 18, said that literature plays an important role in building a strong and enlightened society.

Addressing the gathering after presenting the prestigious Moortidevi Award to Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily, Patil said: "Our aim is to build a strong nation and an enlightened society. In achieving this, literature plays an important role."

"While literature definitely requires a sound knowledge of language, it is much more than a command over the grammar and vocabulary of the language. Literature is a summation of the vast knowledge and imagination of the human race and it encapsulates the philosophy, values and traditions of a civilization," she added.

Presidnt Patil said that India has a long history of literature that covers the social, ethical, economic as well as political approaches. "We indeed have a long history of literature in our country that covers the social, ethical, economic as well as political approaches and dilemmas faced by individuals, communities and nations," she said.

Full report here Sify

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.