Madikeri: On the occasion of Haradasa Appacha Kavi’s 150th birth anniversary this year, various programmes will be organised by Akhila Kodava Samaja in Kodagu, said Appacha Kavi Janmotsava Samithi Working President Prof. Ittira K. Biddappa.

Addressing the reporters in Madikeri recently, he said that Appacha Kavi, who is acclaimed to be the first poet of Kodagu, strived for social reform through poetry. On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of the poet, various events will be conducted to spread his social message.

“Haradasa Appacha Kavi was born on Sept. 21, 1868 and he was not only a poet but also a social reformer. He wrote about social issues through his plays and poems 125 years ago and he is an ‘Amarakavi’ who rose to fame through his writings,” Prof. Biddappa said.

The 100th Appacha Kavi Janmotsava was held in a meaningful way in Madikeri and his 125th Janmotsava was held at Ponnampet. “We are planning to celebrate 150th Janmotsava on a grand scale and the Akhila Kodava Samaja calls upon all Kodava Samajas to join hands to make the celebrations a grand success,” he said.

The inaugural celebration of the birth anniversary has already been held in Appacha Kavi’s birthplace Napoklu on Sept. 21. Each branch of Kodava Samaja will organise programmes every month and the first programme in the series will be held in Virajpet Kodava Samaja on Oct. 11, he said.

A series of programmes have also been planned in Kodava Samajas at Ammathi, Madikeri, Makkandur, Kushalnagar, Balele, Hudikeri, Birunani, Ponnampet and Mysuru till August 2018. The valedictory of the Janmotsava will be held on Sept. 21, 2018 where noted historians and litterateurs will be invited to give lectures on Haradasa Appacha Kavi, he explained.

Prof. Biddappa said that a memorandum will be submitted to the State government to name the District Central    Library and Government First Grade College, Napoklu, after Appacha Kavi, along with establishing a study chair on Appacha Kavi either in the University of Mysore or in Mangalore University. The birthday of the poet should be organised as a government programme every year in Kodagu district on Sept. 21, he opined.

Appacha Kavi Janmotsava Samithi Chief Convener Addanda C. Cariappa, Action Plan Conveners Ammanichanda Raja Nanjappa and Nandetira Raja Madappa and Co-ordinator Ajjikuttira Subramani were present at the press meet.