Bengaluru: The 69th Karnataka Rajyotsava was celebrated with an award ceremony on Friday, where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah honored 69 distinguished achievers. Notable awardees included former Chief Minister and writer Veerappa Moily, UAE-based Founder and President of Thumbay Group Dr. Thumbay Moideen, journalist and columnist Sanath Kumar Belagali, and High Court lawyer and labor activist S. Balan. Each recipient received ₹5 lakh in cash and 25 grams of gold, celebrating their contributions across various fields.
The event, held on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha, featured prominent figures such as Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
In his address, CM Siddaramaiah announced a new requirement that all products manufactured in Karnataka be labeled in both Kannada and English, encouraging private and public sectors to incorporate Kannada labeling. “This initiative reflects our commitment to preserving and upholding the spirit of Kannada,” he remarked.
Siddaramaiah further highlighted the significance of the Kannada language, stating, “On this historic day, we pledge to create an environment where everyone in Karnataka, including newcomers, learns functional Kannada and embraces our culture.” This announcement also marked the 50th anniversary of renaming Mysore State to Karnataka, a milestone in the state’s history.
The government has proposed converting the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mysuru, known as Attara Kacheri, into a “Kannada Museum” to commemorate this historic year.
Extending congratulations to the Rajyotsava awardees and 100 Suvarna Mahotsava awardees, Siddaramaiah acknowledged their dedication and achievements. Speaking on behalf of the Karnataka government, D.K. Shivakumar described the awards as a source of pride and recognition of the hard work that has shaped Karnataka’s history.
In addition to celebrating the state’s achievers, CM Siddaramaiah underscored Karnataka’s vital economic contribution and appealed for a fairer share of tax revenue from the Centre. Karnataka, as the second-highest tax-paying state, contributes over ₹4 lakh crore annually but receives only ₹55,000-60,000 crore in return. “Karnataka should not be completely drained of its resources,” he emphasized, comparing the state’s contribution to a milch cow that must retain enough nourishment for its own wellbeing.
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