Mangaluru: Author-researcher Dr Indira Hegde and multilingual theatre and cine artiste Winnie Fernandes have been selected to receive the Rani Abbakka award (prashasti) and honour (puraskara), being given annually by the department of Kannada and culture and Veerarani Abbakka Utsava Samiti.
Dr Indira Hegde and Winnie Fernandes
This has been announced by Samiti working president Dinakar Ullal. The panel of jury for selection was headed by Dr Amrith Someshward.
Both honours carry a cash purse of Rs 20,000 each and a memento. They will be conferred at the finale on the second day of two-day Abbakka Utsave scheduled to be held in the PU College at Thumbe in Bantwal taluk on May 24 and 25.
Dr Indira Hegde hails from Yelatturguttu of Kinnigoli and currently resides in Bengaluru. She has many years of service and research in the literary field to her credit.
Fernandes, a resident of Kulshekar, has performed in theatre, TV and movie fields in Konkani, Kannada and Tulu for many years. She has also made a name as a singer.
The Abbakka honours have been given to achievers every year since 1997. So far 46 persons have been honoured. A sports meet as part of the Utsava will be held on Jan 18, say the organizers.
