Mangaluru: Senior writer and former President of Kannada Book Authority, SG Siddaramaiah conferred the 2015 Beary Sahitya Academy Honourary Awards on, BM Haneef, Mohammed K Matha and Mohammed Ali Uchil. The Dr Mohammed Doddamane memorial award for Beary Adhyayan was conferred on Yakub Khader Gulmadi and Dr Sushila P Upadhyaya memorial award, Mahila Sahitya Award was conferred on Mariam Ismail Ullalbail. The award function was held at the Town Hall here, on April 16.
Speaking on this occasion, SG Siddaramaiah said, “It is the duty of the academies to protect and encourage languages as they represent us and out culture. In order to preserve our culture, we need to protect our language.”
Minister for Kannada and Culture, Umashree said, “There are 15-20 lakh people who speak Beary language in the state. Beary should be made popular by writing it in the Kannada script. Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy has identified land and had submitted a proposal seeking funds for a Beary Bhavan. Necessary steps will be taken in this direction. Further, women writers should be encouraged and 33% of grants should be reserved for writers.”
District Minister In-charge, B Ramanath Rai congratulated the winners. Minister for Health and Family Welfare, UT Khader, Fisheries Minister, Abhaychandra Jain, MLC Ivan and others were also present.