New Delhi: Veerappa Moily Conferred with 'Moortidevi' Literary Award
Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)

New Delhi, Mar 19: Union law and justice minister, M Veerappa Moily, accepted the Moorti Devi award conferred on him by the President of India, Pratibha Patil, on the evening of Thursday March 18, at a function organized in the country’s capital.

Speaking on the occasion, the President noted that literature has the responsibility of imparting sublime values among the youths and mould them into good citizens. “The Vachanas authored by the legendary saint-poet of Kannada, ‘Sarvajna’, whose pithy three-liners are even relevant today, are fine examples of literature’s ability to spread awareness. The fact that Moily is involved with literary activities in spite of being busy in politics, is appreciable. Moily’s selection for the Moortidevi Award is also an honour and recognition conferred on Kannada language,” she felt.

Moily, after accepting the award, said that literary activities serve as oxygen for him and also like another companion of him, in addition to his wife. “My love for literature will accompany me till my last breath. I never write for an award, but for my own happiness,” he added.

Sri Sri Ravishankar, spiritual head of Art of Living Foundation, who was present at the function, said, “one often hears from those in responsible positions, that they suffer from shortage of time. But, Veerappa Moily has shown that in spite of being in important positions, it is possible to set aside time for literature and other such activities. He has emerged as a role model for those who try to shirk from responsibilities in the guise of shortage of time,” he added, opining that increased reading habit can inculcate life values, besides providing entertainment to the youths.

Supreme Court Chief Justice, K G Balakrishnan, Moortidevi Award Selection Committee president, T N Chaturvedi, Managing Trustee of Bharatiya Jnanpith, Akhilesh Jain and chairperson of Jnanpith, Indu Jain, were present.

On this occasion, well known singer, Sangeeta Katti, recited some selected portions of ‘Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam’ authored by Moily.