Poet K.S. Nisar Ahmed at the function to receive the Govinda Pai Memorial Award in Udupi.

Udupi: Celebrated Kannada poet and writer, Prof. K. S. Nisar Ahmed was honoured with the prestigious Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Memorial Award at a function organised by the Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre and other organizations here. The award carries a citation and a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh.

Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, who spoke after presenting the annual award, said that Prof. Ahmed’s contribution to Kannada literature was invaluable.

Mr. Sorake said that it was fitting that the poet should get the Govinda Pai award. “Prof. Ahmed is a jewel of Kannada literature whom we all like and treasure,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Ahmed said that poets such as the late D.V. Gundappa and the late Govinda Pai had a big influence on him. In addition to being a poet, Govinda Pai was a scholar who did a lot of research, he said.

Earlier, B.A. Viveka Rai, former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, said that writers such as the late D.R. Bendre and the late Kuvempu liked Prof. Ahmed a lot. It was when Prof. Ahmed became the president of the Kannada Sahitya Academy that literary programmes were held for the first time at the hobli-level, he added.

Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC; Kusuma Kamath, principal of MGM College, and H.P.R. Hande, Assistant General Manager of Karnataka Bank, were present at the event.