Mangaluru : Bengaluru-based writer Indira Hegde, Kota Parava and Beta Kunhi Kulal were conferred the honorary awards for 2015 by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy here on Saturday.

While Ms. Hegde was honoured for her work in Tulu literature, Mr. Parava was honoured his work in Tulu folklore. Mr. Kulal was honoured for his work in Tulu Yakshagana. The academy also honoured Channappa Alike for his collection of poems ‘Bolya’, Vasanti Shetty Brahmavar for her book ‘Guttudillada Jald’ and Shamantooru Chandrahas Suvarna for his play ‘Gaala’.

Writer D.K. Chowta said that Tulu literature would grow when Tuluvas start reading Tulu books and Tulu writers write using the Tulu script. Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka Janapada University K. Channappa Gowda commended the work done by the academy for the development of Tulu.

District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai called upon the younger generation to take forward the work of the veterans for the development of Tulu. Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader, Mangaluru South MLA J.R. Lobo, Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty, Ganesh Karnik and Ivan D’Souza, MLCs, and academy president Janaki Brahmavar were present.