Kayyara Kinyanna Rai

Kayyara Kinyanna Rai (Kannada:ಕಯ್ಯಾರ ಕಿಞ್ಞಣ್ಣ ರೈ) is a Kannada poet and Indian freedom fighter who was born and resides in the Kasargod district of the state of Kerala, India. He is one of the activists in the forefront of the movement demanding the unification of the Kasargod district of Kerala into the state of Karnataka Kayyara Kinyanna Rai's demand for transfer of Kasargod district to the state of Karnataka is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/04/04/stories/2002040400930500.htm|author=Special Correspondent|title=Kayyara for early transfer of Kasargod|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated, 2002-04-04|publisher=© 2002, The Hindu|accessdate=2007-04-18] . His name is unique since it includes the Kannada alphabet 'ಞ' (a palatal consonant pronounced nasally as "nya"), which is used extremely rarely in the written Kannada of today.

Rai was born on March 29, 1915 at Peradala village in the Kasargod district of Kerala to Duggappa Rai (father) and Deyyakka Rai (mother) who belonged to the community of Bunts A short biography of Kayyara Kinyanna Rai is presented by cite web|url=http://thatskannada.oneindia.in/sahitya/people/290304kayyara.html|author=Anantha Padmanabha|publisher=Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.|work=Online Webpage of ThatsKannada.com, dated 2004-03-29|title=Kayyara Kinyanna Rai-90|accessdate=2007-04-18] . His mother tongue was Tulu and this was the language that he learnt in his early childhood. He started learning Kannada as he grew up. ] He published his first handwritten journal, "Susheela", at the age of 12. ] He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and participated in the freedom movement of India. ] His wife's name is Unyakka and he has eight children.

Career

Rai started his career as a secondary school teacher. He also delved into journalism and contributed his writings to newspapers like "Swabhimana", "Madras Mail" and "The Hindu" ] . He received the National award for Best teacher in the year 1969. Awards presented to Kayyara Kinyanna Rai is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/25/stories/2005012502470300.htm|author=Staff Correspondent|title=Honorary doctorates for Sheni, Rai, Sathyu|work=Online webpage of The Hindu, dated 2005-01-25|publisher=2005, The Hindu|accessdate=2007-04-18] He is a prolific writer and poet who has written books on theatre, grammar and children. Some of his famous poems are "Shreemukha", "Aikyagana", "Punarnava", "Chethana" and "Koraga". He has written a biography of Govinda Pai, the famous Kannada poet from whom he was highly influenced. His other important works are "Sahithya Drushti" and "Malayala Sahitya Charithre". He was conferred an honorary doctorate by Mangalore University in the year 2005. Honorary doctorate presented to Kayyara Kinyanna Rai is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan252005/d21.asp|title=Three stalwarts conferred with doctorates|work=Online Edition of the Deccan Herald, dated 2005-01-25|publisher=2005, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd|accessdate=2007-04-18] He also chaired the 66th Akhila Kannada Sahitya Sammelan which was held at Mangalore. Some of his poems have been made as songs for the Kannada film, "Paduvaaralli Pandavaru" ( _kn. ಪಡುವಾರಳ್ಳಿ ಪಾಂಡವರು) which was directed by the renowned film director, Puttanna Kanagal. In 1980, he also stood for elections in Kasargod to the Kerala Legislative Assembly but was unsuccessful. Kayyara Kinyanna Rai's election campaign has been mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReport-Kerala%2080.pdf|title=Statistical Report on the General Election, 1980 to the Legislative Assembly of Kerala|work=Online Webpage of the Election Commission of India|publisher=Election Commission of India, New Delhi|accessdate=2007-04-19]

Activism

Rai has been a vigorous campaigner for the merger of Kasargod district into Karnataka Proposal by Kinyanna Rai to approach the Supreme Court of India to urge the merger of Kasargod into Karnataka is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2002/11/25/stories/2002112503010400.htm|author=K.P. Pushparaj|title=Will Kerala lose its northern tip?|work=Online Edition of the Hindu, dated 2002-11-25|publisher=2002, The Hindu|accessdate=2007-04-19] . One of his main goals is to seek the implementation of the Mahajan Committee Report, which urged the inclusion of the northern part of Kasaragod district (to the north of the Chandragiri river) into Karnataka. Kinyanna Rai's assertion to implement the Mahajan Report is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan152006/district1938212006114.asp|author=Decaan Herald News Service|title=Political move on Mahajan Report sought|work=Online Edition of the Deccan Herald|publisher=2005, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd.|accessdate=2007-04-19] He founded the Kasargod Merger Action Council ("Kasaragod Vileeneekarana Kriya Samithi") in the year 2002 to work towards this goal. Formation of Kasargod Merger Action Council is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/06/stories/2004050610690400.htm|author=K.P. Pushparaj|title=Demand to implement Mahajan panel report|work=Online Edition of The Hindu, dated 2004-05-06|publisher=2006, The Hindu|accessdate=2007-04-19] He has also lent his hands for the demand of a separate "Tulunad" state for the Tulu speaking population of India. Kinyanna Rai's indication of a movement for a separate "Tulunad" state is mentioned by cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=24763&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+'Movement+for+Tulu+State+after+Merger+of+Kasaragod'+-+Kinhanna+Rai|author=Daijiworld News Network|title=Mangalore: 'Movement for Tulu State after Merger of Kasaragod' - Kinhanna Rai|work=Online webpage of Daijiworld.com|publisher=Walter Nandalike, Daijiworld.com|accessdate=2007-04-19] .

Awards

Rai has been conferred with the following awards:
* Karnataka Sahitya Academy award - 1969
* National Award for Best Teacher - 1969
* Honorary Fellowship by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (1970).
* Pejawar Award in literature - 2004
* Alva's Nudisri Award - 2005
* Adarsha Ratna Award - 2006
* Nadoja (Teacher of the State) Award - 2006
* Karnataka Ekikarana (Unification) Award - 2007

Quotes

* "Benki biddide namma manege... O bega banni, Kannadada gadi kayona banni, Kannadada nudi kaypona banni..." - (Our house is on fire... Oh come fast, lets safeguard the boundaries of Kannada, lets save the Kannada language...)
* "Language and culture transcend geographical barriers and people who want to disseminate culture and language are not bound by borders"
* "It is meaningless for the Karnataka Government to observe Suvarna Karnataka (Golden Jubilee of the formation of the state of Karnataka) if the problems faced by the State are not solved".

Notes