Manipal : Well- known litterateur and Jnanpeeth Awardee UR Ananthamurthy was conferred the Basheer Puraskaram-2012 at a function organized  here on September 27, Thursday under the auspices of Pravasi Doha and Manipal  University. The award is given in memory of Basheer one of the renowned writers of India.

The award also includes an endowment scholarship of Rs 15,000 instituted in the name of Prof M N Vijayan, noted scholar and critic for the students of award winner’s village.The award was given to Abhishek from Tudur Government High School in Shimoga.

Speaking on the occasion, Ananthamurthy said Basheer’s writings influenced young minds to a great extent. MT Vasudevan Nair, Jnanpetth Awardee who conferred the award on Ananthamurthy , said Basheer was a writer unique in his own sense with an inimitable style of writing.

Veteran journalist T J S George said Basheer’s life itself would make an interesting novel.