• Kayakayogi Sri Siddarameshwara Award for Writer Prof. S.G. Siddaramaiah
• B.V. Karanth Award for Theatre personality Prasanna Shantala Natyarani Award for Pratibha Prahlad

Mysore/Mysuru: Noted writer Devanuru Mahadeva has been selected for the ‘Pampa Award’ 2025-26 of Kannada and Culture Department, Government of Karnataka.

Every year, the State Government selects eminent personalities who have rendered distinguished service in the field of literature and have made exceptional contribution to Kannada and Karnataka for the award, instituted in the name of Adikavi Pampa. Poet Laureate Kuvempu was the first recipient of this award in 1987.

Born in Devanuru village in Nanjangud taluk in 1948, Mahadeva pursued his PG in Kannada Literature from University of Mysore. He was bestowed the Central Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990 and Padma Shri in 2011. But he returned both the awards in 2015.

According to a statement released by Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi yesterday, the others chosen for different awards are as follows:

Progressive thinker Siddanagouda Patil (Dharwad) – Sangolli Rayanna Award; Social activist K. Neela (Kalaburagi) – Akkamahadevi Award; Writer Prof. S.G. Siddaramaiah (Tumakuru) – Kayakayogi Sri Siddarameshwara Award; Writer Allabaksh Mirasaheb Mirji (Vijayapura) – Prof. K.G. Kundanagara Gadinada Sahitya Prashasthi; Writer Sukanya Maruti (Ballari) – Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award; Artiste G.V. Sharada (Tumakuru) – Dr. Gubbi Veeranna Award; Theatre personality Prasanna (Shivamogga) – B.V. Karanth Award; Writer Gangaram Chandala (Kolar) – Dr. Siddalingaiah Literary Award.

In the art category, V. Hariram (Bengaluru) – Varna Shilpi Venkatappa Award; Ashok Gudigar (Shivamogga) – Jakanachari Award; Folk artistes M. Mahadevaswamy (Mandya) and B. Lakshman (Yadgir) – Janapada Shri Award.

In the music and dance category, Kallinatha Shastri (Gadag) – Kumaravyasa Award; Pratibha Prahlad (Mysuru) – Shantala Natyarani Award.

All these awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh each.

Siddarama Sharanaru Beldal of Basava Yogashrama at Koutha (B), Basavakalyan, Bidar district, has been selected for the ‘Basava National Award’, while Bhanukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Jain Mutt at Kambadahalli in Mandya district has been chosen for ‘Bhagwan Mahaveer Peace National Award.’ Both awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh each.

Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said that the Awards Ceremony would be held soon after fixing a date in consultation with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.