Kasaragod: Author, Poet and veteran freedom fighter, Kayyar Kinhanna Rai, passed away at the age of 100 at his residence at Badiadka here on August 9.
Kayyar Kinhanna Rai was born on June 8, 1915 to Duggappa and Deyyakka Rai. His given name is unique since it includes the Kannada alphabet which is used very rarely in written Kannada of today and is absent in the English alphabet which often leads to various other transliterations of his given name such as Kinyanna and Kinnanna. Rai published his first handwritten journal, Susheela, at the age of 12. He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and also participated in the freedom movement of India. During this period he married Unyakka and is a father to eight children.
Kayyar Kinhanna Rai celebrated his 100th birthday on June 8, 2015. He had recieved various awards and honours such as Karnataka Sahitya Academy award – 1969, National Award for Best Teacher – 1969, Honorary Fellowship by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (1970), President of 67th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Mangalore in 1998, Pejawar Award in literature – 2004, Alva’s Nudisri Award – 2005, Adarsha Ratna Award – 2006, Nadoja (Teacher of the State) Award – 2006, Karnataka Ekikarana (Unification) Award – 2007, Honorary Fellowship by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat – 2009 and the 1st Karnataka Gadinada Ratna Award.
Rai has been a campaigner for the merger of Kasaragod district into Karnataka. One of his main goals is to seek the implementation of the Mahajan Committee Report, which urged the inclusion of the northern part of Kasaragod district into Karnataka. He founded the Kasargod Merger Action Council (Kasaragod Vileeneekarana Kriya Samithi) in 2002 to work towards this goal.
Inputs from Wikipedia
Great loss. Sad that his dream of unification of Kasargod with Karnakata and creation of Tulunadu could not be realized.
Great loss! He never gave up his fight on kasaragodu unification with Karnataka. RIP.
Salute to the departed soul. I trust Mr B N Pai might have met him.
Yes dear Dranaachaaryaa, I had very very close association with that great soul!
Hope he would be blessed and attain moksha.
balanna: “Great loss. Sad that his dream of unification of Kasargod with Karnataka and creation of Tulunadu could not be realized.” Kasaragod is the original wife of Karnataka. But Karnataka is entangled into extra marital affairs with Belgaum, of Maharashtra. When wife (Kasaragod) begged for “Ekikarana”, Karnataka refused to oblige. Karnataka is infatuated with its paramar, Maharashtrian Belgaum! Mahajan Commission Report said Kasaragod must go to Karnataka. But Karnataka never asked for Kasaragod on stand alone basis. Only when Maharashtra demands Belgaum, Karnataka sheds crocodile tears for Kasaragod! This is not to get Kasaragod, but just to prevent Belgaum going… Read more »
BNP Sir ..I understand your pain. Karavali Karnataka was never given its due by the powers in the capital.
So sad we lost Kasargod.
We cannot do anything else but pay tearful homage to Nadoja Kayyara Kinhanna Rai and of course rue the loss of Kasaragodu.
So sad we lost Kasargod. – Mangu Man to Mr. BN Pai
ಮಂಗು ಮನುಷ್ಯ, ರ್ಈ ಭೂಲೋಕ’d ಉಲ್ಲ’ra ಮೆರೆ? ವನಕ್ಕಂ! 🙂
Thank you Sir for your compassion and homage to the great “Kannadiga” Kayyar Kinhanna Rai, who too had to die a sad death like Rashtrakavi Manjeshwar Govinda Pai, who insisted writing his postal address as “M. Govinda Pai, Manjeshwar, Dakshina Kannada.” till he breathed his last in unwanted Kerala.