KARNATAKA TO CONFER KALAM WITH BASAVA AWARD

The Karnataka government has decided to honour former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with the "Basava Puraskara" award in recognition of his services to the nation and selfless commitment to duty.

According to state minister for Kannada and Culture H.S. Mahadev Prasad, the annual award, named after the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara, will be presented to Kalam in the State Capital Bangalore on September 28, with a cash prize of Rs.1 million, a memento and a citation.

"We have selected Kalam for the 2006-07 award and intimated him to receive it at a special function to be held in Bangalore next month," Prasad was reported as saying.

The award is presented to distinguished persons who follow the principles of social equality and justice, as preached by Basaveshwara.

"We have upgraded the award to national level from the state level to honour eminent persons even from outside Karnataka," the minister said.

Renowned persons from the state such as H. Narasimhaiah, Puttaraja Gavai, L. Basavaraj and Susheelamma were recipients of the award in the previous years since it was instituted in 2001.