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Three people from Shivamogga — former legislator and socialist leader Konandur Lingappa, writer and critic Rajendra Chenni, and folk artist B. Takappa Kannur — have been chosen for the Karnataka Rajyotsava award this year. Mr. Lingappa, who represented the Tirthahalli constituency in the Legislative Assembly in 1972, is a follower of noted socialist leader Shantaveri Gopala Gowda. Mr. Lingappa entered public life fighting for the rights of landless farmers. All through his career, he remained the voice of the voiceless and continued the legacy of his mentor Mr. Gopala Gowda. Mr. Chenni, retired professor of English, taught literature to students of the Kuvempu University for decades. Mr. Chenni is known for actively participating in people’s movements in Karnataka. He has written several books, including Traditions of Modernity, a comparative study of T.S. Eliot and Gopalakrishna Adiga. His other noted works include Desivada, Karulaballiya Sollu, and Speaking for Someone. He has also worked on academic panels, including the one constituted to frame the State education policy. Mr. Takappa, hailing from Kannur in Sagar taluk is a noted Dollu Kunitha artist and has trained many others in this field. Along with his associates, he began the Kanneshwara Janapada Kala Sangha, through which he performed in many countries. Mr. Takappa also worked as the chairperson of the Karnataka Janapada Academy. The State government will honour the recipients of the awards in Bengaluru on Saturday.
