Mysore/Mysuru: As part of the 106th Jayanti of  Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji, Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Kayaka Award was conferred on  achievers at a programme organised jointly by Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota and Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagrutha Vedike, at Patrakarthara Bhavan here on Monday.

Speaking after conferring the  award on six achievers, MLA S.A. Ramdas said that  Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji had done all that was needed for the well-being of humanity through his exemplary work and service. 

Pointing out that such a great Swamiji is remembered through the conferment of Kayaka Award named after him, he said that those who work hard speak less, as it their work and services  which speak for them. 

Retired Kannada faculty Dr. K. Anantharamu said that the Swamiji was a Kayakayogi in real terms. Maintaining that the Swamiji had five facets — Dharma, Knowledge, Health, Education and Annadasoha — for undertaking Kayaka, he said that it was Rajendra Swamiji’s sheer efforts that so many JSS educational institutions came up not only in the country, but across the globe. He termed the Swamiji as ‘Yugapurusha’ for his selfless and untiring service.

Former MLA M.K. Somashekar, who presided, said that the late Seer made great efforts for introducing Anna-Akshara Dasoha that provided food and  education to thousands of children from across the country. He further said that it is Rajendra Swamiji who laid the foundation stone for reforms and social transformation in this region.

The event also saw the current and former K.R. MLAs, who are bitter political opponents, sharing the same platform perhaps for the first time after the 2018 Assembly polls.

Ramdas and Somashekar greeted each other and honoured each other, leaving aside their political rivalry for a moment. The two, after chatting for some time, contended that development  and societal work should come first and poll fight later. 

Publisher D.N. Lokappa, Agricultural Scientist Dr. Vasanth Kumar Thimakapura, Rohit M. Patil (Industrialist), Dr. Pushpa Iyengar (Social Service), Dr. C. Venkatesh (Public Service) and Dr. B. R. Nataraj Jois (Cultural Patron) were conferred Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Kayaka Award.

Social worker Dr. K. Raghuram, Vedike President K.S. Shivaramu, Kalakoota President M. Chandrashekar, former District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal and others were present.