Mysuru: Maintaining that Dejagow (D. Javaregowda) dedicated his entire life for realising Kuvempu’s dream of a unified Karnataka, senior littérateur Dr. Malali Vasanthkumar said that Dejagow played a vital role in the growth of State Universities.

He was speaking at Nadoja, Padmashri Dr. Dejagow Nudi Namana, marking the first death anniversary of the nonagenarian littérateur at Maneyangala in Kalamandira here recently.

Pointing out that Dejagow’s commitment to Kannada land, language and water was unquestionable, Vasanthkumar said that Dejagow realised Kuvempu’s dreams of taking University of Mysore to greater heights, by starting to work from Prasaranga.

Stating that Dejagow spent most of his earned money on literature, folk literature and folk museums, he said that Dejagow was instrumental in the establishment of many Universities in the State and added that Dejagow was both a Guru and an ardent Kannada promoter.

Earlier, tributes were paid to Parvathamma Rajkumar and Prof. T.L. Yellappa Bootaiah, former Visiting Professor of Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Study Chair, University of Mysore.

Prof. G.S. Bhat, writer Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar (CPK), Social Worker K. Raghuram, writers Prof. K. Bhyravamurthy and Dr. Neelagiri Talwar, Hardwicke PU College Principal Hiremarali Dharmaraj, Dr. T.K. Kempegowda, Prof. Besur Mohan Palegar, Dr. K. Leela Prakash and others were present during the occasion.