Kayyar Kinhanna Rai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai
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| Born | 8 June 1915 Kayyar, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 9 August 2015 (aged 100) Badiyadka, Kerala, India |
| Occupation | Novelist, essayist, journalist, Teacher, Farmer |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Period | 1915-2015 |
| Notable works | Srimukha, Ikyagaana, Punarnava, Shathamanada Gaana, Makkala Padya Manjari, Koraga |
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai (born June 8, 1915 – died August 9, 2015) was an important Indian figure. He was known as an independence activist, a writer, a poet, a journalist, a teacher, and a farmer. He lived to be 100 years old!
Contents
Early Life and Inspirations
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai was born on June 8, 1915. His parents were Duggappa and Deyyakka Rai. His family spoke the Tulu language.
Learning and First Writings
Rai first learned the Kannada language in school. When he was just 12 years old, he created his very first handwritten journal called Susheela. This showed his early love for writing.
Joining the Freedom Movement
Young Rai was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He decided to join the movement to free India from British rule. During this time, he married Unyakka. Together, they had eight children.
A Diverse Career
Rai had many different jobs throughout his life. He was a dedicated teacher, a journalist, a famous writer, and even a farmer.
Teaching and Journalism
Rai began his career as a secondary school teacher. He also worked as a journalist. He wrote for well-known newspapers like Swabhimana, Madras Mail, and The Hindu. His hard work as a teacher was recognized when he received the National Award for Best Teacher in 1969.
Writing and Poetry
Rai was a talented writer and poet. He wrote books about theater, grammar, and even special books for children. Some of his most famous poems include Shreemukha, Aikyagana, Punarnava, Chethana, and Koraga. He also wrote a book about the life of Govinda Pai, another famous Kannada poet who influenced him a lot.
His other important works include Malayala Sahitya Charithre, which is a history of Malayalam literature that he translated. He also wrote Sahithya Drushti. In 2005, Mangalore University gave him an honorary doctorate, which is a special academic award. He also led the 66th Akhila Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, a big Kannada Literature Conference held in Mangalore. Some of his poems were even used as songs in the Kannada film Paduvaaralli Pandavaru.
Farming and Public Service
Besides his writing and teaching, Rai was also a passionate farmer. He grew crops like areca, rubber, and rice. He also tried to enter politics, running for elections in Kasargod in 1980, though he was not successful.
Later Life and Advocacy
In his later years, Rai became a strong supporter for the Kasaragod district to become part of Karnataka.
Working for Regional Unity
One of his main goals was to see the Mahajan Committee Report put into action. This report suggested that the northern part of Kasaragod district (north of the Chandragiri river) should join Karnataka. To work towards this goal, he started the Kasaragod Merger Action Council in 2002. He explained that people in the district who spoke other languages were not against the Malayalis or the state of Kerala. Instead, they wanted promises made by former Chief Ministers to be kept.
His Final Years
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai passed away peacefully from old age at his home near Badiyadka, Kasaragod, Kerala. He was 100 years old when he died on August 9, 2015.
Awards and Honors
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai received many awards and honors for his contributions:
- Karnataka Sahitya Academy award – 1969
- National Award for Best Teacher – 1969
- Honorary Fellowship by Manipal Academy of Higher Education – 1970
- President of the 67th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mangalore – 1998
- Pejawar Award in literature – 2004
- Adarsha Ratna Award – 2006
- Nadoja (Teacher of the State) Award – 2006
- Karnataka Ekikarana (Unification) Award – 2007
- Honorary Fellowship by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat – 2009
- 1st Karnataka Gadinada Ratna Award
- Pampa award
Memorable Quotes
Here are some powerful words from Kayyara Kinhanna Rai:
- "Our house is on fire ... Oh come fast, let's safeguard the boundaries of Kannada, let's save the Kannada language."
- "Language and culture go beyond borders. People who want to spread culture and language are not limited by boundaries."
- "It means nothing for the Karnataka Government to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the state if the problems faced by the State are not solved."
See also
In Spanish: Kayyar Kinhanna Rai para niños
