No trace yet of Kuvempu’s Padma Vibhushan medal

Shivamogga: With the birth anniversary of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu slated to be celebrated on December 29, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Foundation has decided to approach the President and the Union Home Ministry to issue a replica of the Padma Vibhushan medal which was stolen recently as the search by the police has not yielded any result.

Secretary of the Foundation, Kadidal Prakash has sought assistance from Delhi Karnataka Sangha on the process of submitting an application for obtaining a replica of the medal which was stolen from the ancestral house of Kuvempu at Kuppali during a burglary on November 23.

The issue has been discussed with senior officials of the Department of Kannada and Culture too. Although the medal has been stolen, the certificate issued along with it by the then President is available in the museum, he said.

Mr Prakash said that the pratishthana has pictures of the medal. “In case a replica is denied, we will get one designed with the help of artists,” he said.

The Padma Vibhushan medal and two metal badges issued by University of Mysore, were displayed at the residence turned museum in Kuppali.

Based on CCTV footage, the police had arrested Revanasiddappa, a resident of Turuchaghatta village in Davangere district. The medal was displayed at the museum with a metal clasp. During interrogation, the accused told the police that the hook in the metal clasp broke when he was carrying it and the medal was lost.

Superintendent of Police Ravi Channannavar said all efforts are being made to trace the medal. The police prepared a map of the route, which the burglar took after executing the crime. A search was conducted on this route using metal detectors and magnetic locators. An award of Rs. 10,000 was announced. Despite this, the medal was not found, Mr Channannavar said.