Kasaragod: Kannada poet and freedom fighter Kayyara Kinhanna Rai who recently turned 101, passed away on Sunday, August 9.
Kannada litterateur ‘Nadoja’ Kayyara Kinhanna Rai died due to prolonged illness at his residence Kavitha Kuteera, Badiyadaka in Kasaragod district.
A recipient of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Pampa Award, Rai has always been known as a freedom fighter, poet, social activist, teacher, scholar, journalist and people’s representative.
Rai, who was born in the year 1915, took part in the freedom struggle other than being a poet. His famous works of poetry are Shreemukha, Punarnava, Chethana, and Samagaana. Anna Devaru Mattu Itara Kathegalu is his famous collection of short stories. Panchami is his translation of the Upanishads. His autobiography is Duditave Nanna Devaru.
He served as a journalist in Mangaluru and later as a teacher and won the national award for teachers in 1970. He has been fighting for the cause of Kannada in Kasaragod ever since Kerala was formed.
