K P Rao awarded Balavana Award for connecting Kannada and other Indian languages to technology

Kinnikambala Padmanabha Rao, a retired professor from Manipal Institute of Technology was awarded the Balavana Award at Balavana in Puttur.  K. P. Rao, has been credited with the development of the Kannada keyboard and software to use Kannada language on computers. The award is given annually, by the district administration, on K. Shivaram Karanth’s birth anniversary to people for their exemplary contribution to society. K. Shivarama Karanth was an Indian polymath, and a novelist. He wrote in Kannada. He was also a playwright and an ecological conservationist. He was popularly called the “Rabindranath Tagore of Modern India. Rao mentioned on this occasion that it is Shivaram Karanth’s understanding of linguistics that led him to write so many literary works. Puttur MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, while presenting the award said that “Mr. Rao is among those who have contributed toward Kannada and other Indian languages being used in computers and smart phones. It is really an honor for me to present the award to him”.

MLA Matandoor also inaugurated Shivaram Karanth’s reading room in Balavana, which has been restored by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). This room, adjoins the house, where Karanth wrote most of his literary works. District in-charge Minister S. Angara, Puttur City Municipal Council president K. Jeevandhar Jain, Municipal Commissioner Madhu S. Manohar and Puttur Assistant Commissioner Yatish Ullal took part in the event.