Mangaluru :  Kannada Poet and freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai celebrated his 100 birthday  in a rare occasion at Badiyadkka in Kasaragod district in Kerala  on Monday. 

In a function organised on the occasion near his home ‘Kavitha Kuteera’ at Badiyadkka demands were raised for conferring Karnataka Ratna Award on the poet.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Rai recalled his days as a freedom fighter and the days he spent in jail. He said that though he did get a government job he preferred not to join it and instead preferred to be an agriculturist and also work as a teacher. “Sanskrit is the language of the country, Kannada is our language and many Tulu speaking people are pure Kannadigas,” the poet who has also written Tulu poems said.

Mr. Rai said that he was happy to be amid Kannada speaking people when entering 101.

Speaking to media, Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology B. Ramanath Rai told media that the State government would examine the proposal on conferring Bharata Ratna on the centenarian poet.

Mahin K, president, standing committee on development, Badiyadka panchayat said that the panchayat would open a library after the poet next month.

‘Payaswini’ and ‘Springs’ English translations of his poems and ‘Atma Nivedan’, Hindi translation, were released on the occasion.

Department of Kannada and Culture organised various programmes which included an exhibition, music, and a literary session to mark the occasion.