Mysore/Mysuru: Former Head of the Department of Ancient History and Archaeology Prof. A.V. Narasimhamurthy (AVN) was conferred with the prestigious ‘Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai’ Award at a programme organised under the joint aegis of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra and other organisations at Patrakarthara Bhavan here on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. AVN said that Govinda Pai knew more than 50 languages. It is a matter of pride for him (AVN) to receive the award named after him, he noted.

Pointing out that Pai was a scholar in many languages, Prof. Narasimhamurthy said that Pai, apart from being well-versed in Kannada, Tulu, Marathi, Konkani and other Indian languages, had mastery over Chinese, Tibetan and other foreign languages as well.  Senior Writer Belagodu Ramesh Bhat, who spoke after conferring the award, said that Prof. AVN, as he is known to many, carried out intensive studies in Numismatics.

Noting that he has many useful research books on various subjects, Ramesh Bhat said that the present generation is coming to know of our past culture through the services of Prof. AVN.

Research students of  history should study the works of Prof. AVN and gain more knowledge about the subject, he added.

Prof. Narasimhamurthy couple were felicitated on the occasion.

Litterateur Padekallu Vishnu Bhat, Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Samshodhana Kendra Administrative Officer Dr. B. Jagadish Shetty, Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat  President Maddikere Gopal, Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota President M. Chandrashekar and others were present at the award presentation ceremony.