Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 12: ‘Karnataka Ratna’ awards for the years 2008 and 2009 respectively, were conferred on leading Kannada activist and litterateur, De Javare Gowda, who is more popularly known as Dejagow, and Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade. The awards were handed over by chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, at a function organized in the city on Wednesday May 11. The function was presided over by state home minister, R Ashok.

The chief minister recollected the great contributions made by these two eminent personalities, who he said, have remained an inspiration to a large section of the population. “They are our jewels, as they are invaluable,” he said. He also hailed the social service initiatives launched by Dr Heggade through various institutions functioning under the banner of Dharmasthala group. He felt that the state would have progressed much more, if the entire funds under rural development initiatives were handed over to Dharmasthala Trust over the past decade.

Addressing the gathering after receiving the award, Dejagow hailed Yeddyurappa for starting new universities, and also for his proposal to start Janapada University. At the same time, he demanded a place of prominence for Kannada in the state, and wanted English to remain a secondary language. For this to happen, he mooted the idea of levying some kind of levy on institutions which adopt English as the medium of instruction. He lamented lack of conviction on the part of union ministers hailing from the state towards providing classical language status and facilities for Kannada language.

Dr Heggade said that the central government has been considering a proposal to entrust the onus of managing all the Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institutes (RUDSET) that will be set up henceforth, to Dharmasthala Trust. He said that in tune with the proposal of the Prime Minister to set up RUDSETs in all districts, Dharmasthala had set up RUDSET Academy in Bangalore.