Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 2: On the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava, postal department has released a special commemorative stamp in honour of Kavi Muddana (1870-1901), who gets identified as the last of the poets in Halegannada (old Kannada) tradition and the first one to write in Hosagannada (new Kannada).

In addition, the department has also released stamps depicting the pictures of Adi Kavi of Andhra Pradesh, Nannaya, and Draksharamam Bheemeshwar temple. MPs, Shobha Karandlaje and P C Mohan, released the new stamps brought out by the department at a function held in the premises of the head post office in the city on Wednesday November 1. With this, Kavi Muddana, who had mostly remained anonymous and away from public glare in spite of creating rich literature, has got national recognition.

Shobha said on the occasion that she and like-minded people had been urging the department to bring out postal stamps in memory of Muddana since 2001, and that their efforts had finally borne fruits. She said that as the next step, they will fight for the setting up of study chair in Mangaluru University in the name of the celebrated poet. P C Mohan felt that release of postal stamps in hour of two poets, Muddana and Nannaya, together, is a unique occasion.

On this occasion, Muddana's grandson, Nandalike Seetharam, was felicitated. Chief post master general, Dr Chrales Lobo, post master general (south Karnataka zone), Rajendra Kumar, and founder honorary president of Kavi Muddana Publication, Nandalike Balachandra Rao, were present.