Kuvempu's stolen Padma yet to be traced

SHIVAMOGGA: Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana is preparing for poet laureate K.V. Puttappa fondly known as Kuvempu's 112nd birth anniversary programme at Kuppali in Thirthahalli taluk on December 29 on an unhappy note as the authorities concerned have not able to trace the Padma Vibhushan medal that was stolen or even get its replica made even a year after the burglary that took place in the poet's ancestral house-turned museum a year ago.

It may be mentioned here that the medal was stolen by Revanasiddappa, a resident of Turuchaghatta village in Davangere district on November 23 last year. Police had arrested him but they could not recover the medal as he claimed that he lost it while coming out of the museum.

Despite conducting an extensive search operation, police could not trace it.
Following this, the Pratishthana submitted an application to the Centre seeking a replica of the medal.  But the Pratishthana is disappointed with the Centre as it has not received any response from the home ministry yet.

Assistant secretary of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Foundation, Assistant Secretary Kadidal Prakash told this correspondent, "The Kannada and Culture Department has submitted an application to the concerned ministry around two months ago. Following a direction from the home ministry that family members of the poet have to submit an application, Tarini, daughter of Kuvempu, forwarded a letter seeking a replica of the medal. There has been no endorsement from the officials concerned yet. We were hopeful that we would be able to display the replica of the lost-medal on the poet's birth anniversary. But we could not do it. It has pained us a lot."

He also stated that if the situation demands, the Pratishthana might seek the help of Shivamogga MP B.S.Yeddyurappa.