Media Release

Bengaluru, Aug 10: Dubai-based Prakash Rao Payyar, president of Dhwani Prathishthaana, has been honoured with International Aryabhata Award 2014 for his contribution to Kannada language and culture, along with 56 other recipients from various fields.

The award presentation ceremony was held at Ravindra Kala Kshetra, Bengaluru on August 9.

Justice Dr Rama Jois, former governor of Bihar and Jharkhand state and chief justice of Punjab and Haryana high court, Nodaja Mahesh Joshi, additional director general, Doordarshan, Delhi, B G Jyothi Prakash Mirji, former commissioner of police, Bengaluru city, along with Dr H L N Rao, founder president of Aryabhata Cultural Foundation presented the award.

Prakash Rao Payyar, a poet, dramatist, stage director and social activist has published and penned nine books. His collection of poems 'Uretta Kannuda Siri' was released a couple of months ago. He has directed more than thirty plays of noted Kannada playwrights. He established Dhwani Pratishthaana in the year 1985 in Mumbai and through Dhwani, has organized hundreds of literary and cultural activities over the last 30 years.

Besides, Payyar has been honoured with Karnataka State Nataka Academy Award (2010), Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana award (2015), Karnataka Sangha Abu Dhabi’s Dr Da Ra Bendre Award (2014), Karnataka Sangha, Sharjah's Mayura Award (2010), and fifteen other honours and awards from various associations in India and abroad.