Media Coverage | 14-03-2021
Lokmat News Network
New Delhi, March 13
Congress leader and former Karnataka chief minister Veerappa Moily will be bestowed with the Sahitya Akademi award for his epic poem — “Sri Bahubali Ahimsa Digvijayam” — written in Kannada.
He has penned the poem on the life of Bahubali — a legendary saint among the Jains — and this literary gem has won him the Sahitya Akademi Award.
Veerappa Moily, now 80 years, was also the Union minister of petroleum, environment, law and justice. Besides being a politician, he stands out for his literary pursuits and it is an identity of literature in politics.
Bahubali is highly revered in Jainism and hence it is not easy to write on his life as it requires a lot of reading, research and meditation.
The former chief minister Moily is well-known for his literary writings and he spends four to five hours a day on research and writing. It took him three-and-a-half years to complete the epic poem.
“The poem portrays the life and sacrifices of Bahubali and throws light on Jain heritage and culture,” Moily said.
When a reference is made on the revered saint Bahubali , one easily remembers Ravindra Jain’s “Bahubali Bhagwan Ka Mastakabhishek”. But when a political leader studies the character of Bahubali, it’s time to sit and take note of.
Finding references of Jain literature and interpreting its meaning is a daunting task. It may not be easy to comprehend fully while reading “Mook Mati” composed by Acharya Shri Vidyasagar Maharaj Ji — published by Bharatiya Jnanpith — but the book’s shorter version written by Muni Nirveg Sagar Ji Maharaj is very lucid in form.
A beautiful literary work
One is delighted beyond words when somebody in politics works so hard and creates such a beautiful literary work. Congratulations to Veerappa Moily…!!
— Vijay Darda, national president of Sakal Jain Samaj and former member of Rajya Sabha
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