The Karnataka government has selected the former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, and former Indian badminton player Prakash Padukone for the Kempe Gowda International Award, instituted in honour of Kempe Gowda, founder of Bengaluru.
Minister for Higher Education C.N. Ashwath Narayan, who is also vice-president of the Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Heritage Area Development Authority, announced that an international award would be presented to three achievers every year starting this year in the name of Kempe Gowda.
The award carries a purse ₹5 lakh and a plaque each. All three personalities chosen for the award this year have contributed to the growth of Bengaluru city, the Minister said. Dr. Narayan on Saturday called on Mr. Krishna at the latter’s residence and requested him to accept the award.
The government would celebrate Kempe Gowda’s birth anniversary at the Vidhana Soudha on June 27 in a grand manner and present the award. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai would preside over the function.
The government had constituted a committee headed by Start-up Vision Group head Prashanth Prakash to nominate candidates for the award. Chairman of Manipal Global Education and businessman T.V. Mohandas Pai, Vivekananda Youth Movement founder R. Balasubramaniam, and retired IAS officer M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda are members of the committee. Kempe Gowda Heritage Area Development Authority Commissioner R. Vinaydeep is member-secretary of the committee.
The Minister said that places such as Savandurga and Huliyurudurga, which have historical relevance in relation to Kempe Gowda’s regime, would be developed on priority. Dr. Narayan said on the 513st birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda, a decision had been taken to renovate and conserve the historical fort built by him.
