Mysore/Mysuru: Writer and retired Professor in Department of Translation Studies at Kannada University, Hampi, Dr. M. Usha, was conferred with the prestigious ‘Dr. Vijaya Dabbe Literary Award’ by Pune’s Symbiosis Law College Dean Dr. Shashikala Gurpur at a programme organised by Samatha Adhyayana Kendra at Rotary West Auditorium in Saraswathipuram here on Sunday.

The Samatha Adhyayana Kendra had selected Dr. Usha’s novel ‘Baala Batte,’ published by the city’s Aharnishi Prakashana. The award carried a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and a citation.

Speaking after conferment of the award, Dr. Shashikala Gurpur said that Dr. Vijaya Dabbe was one of the foremost feminist in the world who always fought for the cause of women.

Maintaining that Dr. Vijaya Dabbe was among the few who imbibed the feminist insights in a simple and disciplined manner, she said that there was sheer strength in Vijaya’s writings, personality and struggles.

Retired Principal Prof. T.S. Subramanya, who was also an associate of Dr. Vijaya Dabbe, said that Prof. Vijaya Dabbe, who was also a noted poetess, propagated that men too should be part of feminine movements. Her life is a pride as well as amazing, he said adding that Vijaya was never scared of anyone or anything in her college days.

Noting that Vijaya remained silent, involving herself in reading, Prof. Subramanya said that Vijaya tried to get a job for self empowerment. However, when she failed to find one, she used to publicly question whether there was no place  for honesty in the society.

“Vijaya advocated that women should get freedom from mental slavery. She also used to say that feminists are not against men and she used to point out that her struggles were against the follies in the male dominated system,” he said.

Reminiscing on the days when Vijaya served as a faculty of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS), he said that she got her Ph.D by doing research on Nagachandra, a 12th Century Kannada poet, who was also known as Abhinava Pampa. “ Vijaya was a writer and an activist. She married a foreign national, much against the wishes of her family. As she did not get support for her marriage from relatives, she got deeply disappointed. She lost memory power after getting seriously injured in an accident. Later, she left for her native village Dabbe and began her new life afresh by learning the Alphabets. Subsequently she began to read, write and speak, much to the astonishment of many, including the Medical world. However, this was shortlived as she suffered a heart attack and passed away, leaving us in grief,” Prof. Subramanya recalled while getting emotional.

Also, the winners of various contests organised as part of the event, were distributed prizes on the occasion.

Poetry Competition: Y.S. Abhishek of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS) – 1st prize; K. Ruzwana of Davangere University – 2nd and Amit M. Kudache of Davangere                             University – 3rd.

Humorous Essay Writing (Lalitha Prabandha): R. Navya of Kannada Department of Kerala Central University, Kasaragod – 1st prize; Dr. K.S. Mustafa of Kodagu – 2nd and S. Sandhya of Mangalore University – 3rd.

Samatha Adhyayana Kendra President Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda, Dharmadarshi Ramakrishna Joshi, Vice-President B.C. Manjula, Secretary R. Sunandamma, Joint Secretary P. Omkar, Treasurer Vijaya Rao, Judges Prof. Anand Gopal and Prof. R.S. Ashwini and others were present.