Bengaluru: Mysuru-born 89-year-old veteran Kannada writer Neeladevi was conferred with the S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta Award for her contribution to Kannada literature, by Prof. S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta  (SVP) Pratishtana, Mangaluru, at Kannada Bhavana in Bengaluru recently. 

Neeladevi became well-known when her first Kannada Novel ‘Bedi  Bandavalu’ (Published in 1959, an adaptation of English novel ‘Jane Eyre’ authored by Charlotte Bronte) was made into Kannada movie of  the same name.

During the award ceremony, an exhibition of the profile of Prof. SVP, written  by Dr. Veena Bharathi, published in ‘Mayura’ Monthly magazine on the  occasion of the Birth Centenary of  Prof. SVP (February, 2014) titled ‘Kannadada Abhinava Kaalidasa’ was also held. 

Present on the dais were Prof. SVP’s eldest son S.P. Ramachandra, daughter-in-law Usha, SVP Pratishtana President Prof. Vivek Rai,  writer & researcher Dr. K.R. Sandhya Reddy, Karnataka Lekhakiyara  Sangha Secretary Vanamala Sampanna Kumar and others.

The event was sponsored by Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha, Ankita Prakashana, Lekhika Saahitya Vedike and a couple of other literary  organisations. The  Award  carried  a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, a citation, shawl and a carved wooden Ashoka Pillar.