Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily, journalist and columnist Sanath Kumar Belagali, UAE-based Founder and President of Thumbay Group Dr. Thumbay Moideen, High Court lawyer and labor activist S. Balan, sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who crafted the statue of Ram Lalla for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, former Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath, hockey player Jude Felix Sebastian, and renowned Yakshagana artists Kolagi Keshava Hegde and Seetharama Tolpadithaya are among the 69 distinguished individuals selected for the Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards 2024. Kannada and Culture Minister Shivraj S. Thangadagi released the awardees list at a press conference held at Vikas Soudha on Wednesday.
This year’s awards recognize contributions across literature, art, sports, social service, medicine, journalism, and theatre. A significant response was received, with 1,575 physical applications and 7,438 nominations submitted online through the Seva Sindhu portal. After a thorough review, 69 awardees were selected to represent each district, ensuring equitable social representation.
In line with Karnataka’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, Minister Thangadagi announced an additional “Suvarna Sambhram-50 Suvarna Mahotsav” award, which will honor 50 distinguished men and 50 women, bringing this year’s total awards to 169.
The list of awardees includes 13 women achievers and individuals from unique fields like traditional theatre (Bayalata) and folk arts. The awards will be presented at the upcoming Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations, celebrating Karnataka's rich culture and the accomplishments of its citizens across diverse domains.
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