Poet Hampana to be conferred with prestigious Pampa Award

Bengaluru: The Department of Kannada and Culture has chosen Kannada poet Hampa Nagarajaiah, popularly known by his pen name Hampana for the prestigious Pampa Award, 2016; the award was constituted by the Government of Karnataka.

Minister for Kannada and Culture B Umashree informed that the awards carried a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and will be given away during Kadambotsava festival scheduled to be held in February.

Hampana, 86, a Kannada scholar on Jainism, was a Professor and Dean of Arts faculty at Bengaluru University. He also officiated as the Director of Jain Research Centre, Director of the Institute of Jain Studies and Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture, Karnataka government, before retiring in 1996.

Hampana has also been awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award, Janapada Yakshagana Academy Award and National Award for Best Child Literature.

Hampana is married to Kamala Hampana, who is also veteran litterateur.

The other awardees are as follows:

Dana Chintamani Attimabbe Award – Shanthi Nayak, Uttara Kannada

KG Kundanagar Gadinada Sahitya Award – Hasan Naheem Surkod

Sangolli Rayanna Award – Dr Channana Valikar, Kalaburagi

Sant Shishunal Shariff Award – Y K Muddukrishna

Nijaguna Purandara Award – Ganapati Bhat Hasanagi

Kumaravyas Award – N R Gynamurthy