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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name = Kayyara Kinhanna Rai
| image = Kayyar-Kinhanna-Rai-pic.jpg
| caption = Kayyara Kinhanna Rai
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|6|8}}
| birth_place = [[Kayyar]], [[Kasaragod Taluka|Kasaragod]], [[South Kanara District (Madras Presidency)|South Kanara]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]<ref name="bio">A short biography of Kayyara Kinyanna Rai is presented by {{Cite web|url=http://kannada.oneindia.in/literature/people/2004/290304kayyara.html|author=Anantha Padmanabha|publisher=Greynium Information Technologies Pvt. Ltd.|work=Online Webpage of ThatsKannada.com, dated 29 March 2004|title=Kayyara Kinyanna Rai-90|access-date=18 April 2007}}</ref>
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|08|09|1915|6|8}}
| death_place = [[Badiyadka]], [[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]], [[Kerala]], India
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Novelist, essayist, journalist, Teacher, Farmer
| period =1915-2015
| notableworks =Srimukha, Ikyagaana, Punarnava, Shathamanada Gaana, Makkala Padya Manjari, Koraga

}}
'''Kayyara Kinhanna Rai''' (8 June 1915 – 9 August 2015) was an [[List of Indian independence activists|Indian independence activist]], author, poet, journalist, teacher and farmer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://worldtuluvasnetwork.com/kayyar-kinhanna-rai/ |title=Kayyara Kinhanna Rai {{!}} World Tuluvas Network |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025036/http://worldtuluvasnetwork.com/kayyar-kinhanna-rai/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://pages.rediff.com/kayyar-kinhanna-rai/1633892 Kayyar Kinhanna Rai – Rediff Pages]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130410174820/http://www.dakshintimes.com/dakshina-kannada/puttur/news/11062330201/kayyara-kinhanna-rai-felicitated-vatal-nagaraj.html Kayyara Kinhanna Rai Felicitated by Vatal Nagaraj | News – The Dakshin Times]</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/06/stories/2009060656550500.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411022429/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/06/stories/2009060656550500.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 April 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Kayyara Kinhanna Rai to be felicitated on June 8 | date=6 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=121601 |title=Kasargod: Sahitya Sammelan Invitation Handed Over to Poet, Dr Kayyara |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-date=20 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120073127/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=121601 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/kasaragod-meet-to-discuss-border-issues/article543948.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | title=Kasaragod meet to discuss border issues | date=31 July 2010}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rai was born on 8 June 1915 to Duggappa and Deyyakka Rai in a [[Tulu language|Tulu-speaking]]<ref>{{Cite web|author=Jaideep Shenoy|date=Jun 7, 2015|title=Kannada poet Kayyara Kinhanna Rai turns 100 on June 8 {{!}} Mangaluru News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/kannada-poet-kayyara-kinhanna-rai-turns-100-on-june-8/articleshow/47573793.cms|access-date=2021-07-17|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> [[Bunt (community)|Bunt family]].<ref name="bio"/> His given name is unique since it includes the [[Kannada script|Kannada alphabet]] 'ಞ' (a [[palatal]] consonant pronounced nasally as "nya"), which is used very rarely in the [[Kannada script|written Kannada]] of today and is absent in the English alphabet which often leads to various other transliterations of his given name such as ''Kinyanna'' and ''Kinnanna''. Rai first learned [[Kannada language|Kannada]] in school.<ref name="bio" /> Later he published his first handwritten journal, ''Susheela'', at the age of 12.<ref name="bio" /> He was influenced by [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and also participated in the freedom movement of India.<ref name="bio" /> During this period he married Unyakka and is a father to eight children.

==Career==
Rai started his career as a secondary school teacher. He also delved into journalism and contributed his writings to newspapers like ''Swabhimana'', ''[[The Madras Mail|Madras Mail]]'' and ''[[The Hindu]]''.<ref name="bio" /> He received the National Award for Best Teacher in 1969.<ref name="award">Awards presented to Kayyara Kinyanna Rai are mentioned by {{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/25/stories/2005012502470300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406185045/http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/25/stories/2005012502470300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2005|author=Staff Correspondent|title=Honorary doctorates for Sheni, Rai, Sathyu|access-date=18 April 2007|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 January 2005}}</ref> He is a writer and poet who has written books on theatre, grammar and children. Some of his famous poems are ''Shreemukha'', ''Aikyagana'', ''Punarnava'', ''Chethana'' and ''Koraga''. He has written a biography of [[Govinda Pai]], the [[Kannada]] poet from whom he was highly influenced. His other important works are ''Malayala Sahitya Charithre'' (History of [[Malayalam literature]]),which is a translation of an original work by P. K. Parameshwaran Nair<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8JDsBBDoMccC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=kayyar+kinhanna+rai&source=bl&ots=ihc1Vh82WP&sig=xmPiowDpcBycXpwyWqYc3SUrs84&hl=en&ei=CPCETLi5EcyHcdKhqNAL&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=kayyar%20kinhanna%20rai&f=false [[Sahitya Akademi]], ''Eng Flying Dolls'' By Various]</ref> and ''Sahithya Drushti''. He was conferred an honorary doctorate by [[Mangalore University]] in 2005.<ref name="doct">{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan252005/d21.asp |title=Three stalwarts conferred with doctorates |work=Online Edition of the Deccan Herald, dated 25 January 2005 |publisher=2005, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd |access-date=18 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913161539/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan252005/d21.asp |archive-date=13 September 2005 }}</ref> He also chaired the 66th Akhila [[Kannada Sahitya Sammelana]] (Kannada Literature Conference), which was held at [[Mangalore]]. Some of his poems have been used as songs for the Kannada film, ''[[Paduvaaralli Pandavaru]]'' ({{lang-kn|ಪಡುವಾರಳ್ಳಿ ಪಾಂಡವರು}}) which was directed by [[Puttanna Kanagal]]. In 1980 he also stood for elections in [[Kasaragod Town|Kasargod]] to the Kerala Legislative Assembly but was unsuccessful.<ref name="elec">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReport-Kerala%2080.pdf |title=Statistical Report on the General Election, 1980 to the Legislative Assembly of Kerala |work=Online Webpage of the Election Commission of India |publisher=Election Commission of India, New Delhi |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050529134700/http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReport-Kerala%2080.pdf |archive-date=29 May 2005 }}</ref>

Rai was also an avid agriculturist and was active in the cultivation of areca, rubber and rice.

==Later life==
Rai was a campaigner for the merger of [[Kasaragod district]] into [[Karnataka]].<ref name="camp">Proposal by Kinyanna Rai to approach the [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]] of India to urge the merger of [[Kasaragod Town|Kasargod]] into Karnataka is mentioned by {{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2002/11/25/stories/2002112503010400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106233612/http://www.hindu.com/2002/11/25/stories/2002112503010400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|author=K.P. Pushparaj|title=Will Kerala lose its northern tip?|access-date=19 April 2007|location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 November 2002}}</ref> One of his main goals was to seek the implementation of the Mahajan Committee Report, which urged the inclusion of the northern part of Kasaragod district (to the north of the Chandragiri river) into Karnataka.<ref name="maha">{{Cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/Jan152006/district1938212006114.asp |author=Decaan Herald News Service |title=Political move on Mahajan Report sought |work=Online Edition of the Deccan Herald |publisher=2005, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd. |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060331144555/http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan152006/district1938212006114.asp |archive-date=31 March 2006 }}</ref> He founded the Kasargod Merger Action Council (''Kasaragod Vileeneekarana Kriya Samithi'') in 2002 to work towards this goal. Describing the goals of this council Rai said that ''the linguistic minorities in the district were not against the Malayalis or Kerala State, per se, but were demanding the implementation of the Justice Mahajan Commission report, vis-a-vis the fulfilment of promises made by the former Chief Ministers, [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]], [[C. Achutha Menon]] and [[Pattam Thanu Pillai]], in this regard.''<ref name="kvrs">Formation of Kasargod Merger Action Council is mentioned by {{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/06/stories/2004050610690400.htm |author=K.P. Pushparaj |title=Demand to implement Mahajan panel report |access-date=19 April 2007 |location=Chennai, India |date=6 May 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831113250/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/06/stories/2004050610690400.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date= 31 August 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=24763&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+'Movement+for+Tulu+State+after+Merger+of+Kasaragod'+-+Kinhanna+Rai|author=Daijiworld News Network|title=Mangalore: 'Movement for Tulu State after Merger of Kasaragod' – Kinhanna Rai|work=Online webpage of Daijiworld.com|publisher=Walter Nandalike, Daijiworld.com|access-date=19 April 2007|archive-date=1 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801102054/http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=24763&n_tit=Mangalore%3A+%27Movement+for+Tulu+State+after+Merger+of+Kasaragod%27+-+Kinhanna+Rai|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rai had a natural death from old age at his residence at Kallakalia near [[Badiyadka]], [[Kasaragod district|Kasaragod]], [[Kerala]] at the age of 100.<ref>[http://kannada.oneindia.com/news/karnataka/freedom-fighter-kannada-poet-kayyara-kinhanna-rai-passes-away-095971.html ಕಾಸರಗೋಡಿನ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಗಟ್ಟಿದನಿ ಕಯ್ಯಾರ ಕಿಞ್ಞಣ್ಣ ರೈ ಅಸ್ತಂಗತ] {{in lang|kn}}</ref>

==Awards==
Some of the awards and honours that Rai has received include:
* Karnataka Sahitya Academy award – 1969
* National Award for Best Teacher – 1969
* Honorary Fellowship by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (1970).
* President – 67th Akhila Bharatha [[Kannada Sahitya Sammelana]] held in Mangalore in 1998<ref name=autogenerated2 />
* Pejawar Award in literature – 2004
* Alva's Nudisri Award – 2005
* Adarsha Ratna Award – 2006
* Nadoja (Teacher of the State) Award – 2006<ref>{{cite news|title=Nadoja for Kinhanna Rai, Sarojini Mahishi, Ham. Pa. Na., two others|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112618510100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707072331/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/26/stories/2006112618510100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2007|access-date=15 December 2010|date=26 November 2006|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India}}</ref>
* Karnataka Ekikarana (Unification) Award – 2007
* Honorary Fellowship by the [[Kannada Sahitya Parishat]] – 2009<ref>{{cite news| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4625587.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Kinhanna Rai to receive fellowship | date=6 June 2009}}</ref>
* 1st Karnataka Gadinada Ratna Award<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* Pampa award

==Quotes==
* "Benki biddide namma manege ... O bega banni, Kannadada gadi kayona banni, Kannadada nudi kaypona banni" – ("Our house is on fire ... Oh come fast, let's safeguard the boundaries of Kannada, let's save the Kannada language")<ref name="bio"/>
* "Language and culture transcend geographical barriers and people who want to disseminate culture and language are not bound by borders."<ref name="bio"/>
* "It is meaningless for the Karnataka Government to observe Suvarna Karnataka [the Golden Jubilee of the formation of the state of Karnataka] if the problems faced by the State are not solved."<ref name="bio"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kayyar Kinhanna Rai}}
* [http://sampada.net/article/24453 An interview recorded with Kayyar Kinhanna Rai] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308220725/https://sampada.net/article/24453 |date=8 March 2016 }} by Sampada on 13 January 2010.
* [http://nanjangud.info/nanjanagudina_rasabale.html Hannu maaruvavana haadu (Nanjanagudina Rasabaale) – Famous Kannada poem by Kayyar Kinhanna Rai].
* [https://archive.today/20130824104857/http://www.udayavani.com/news/309309L15-%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0-%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%B3-%E0%B2%AF-%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%B9-%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B5--%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%AF-%E0%B2%AF-%E0%B2%B0.html Karavaliya Mahakavi Kayyara – a writeup on Kayyara].

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Kayyar Kinhanna}}
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Kannada-language writers]]
[[Category:Kannada poets]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Mangaloreans]]
[[Category:Tulu people]]
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]
[[Category:People from Kasaragod district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Men centenarians]]

Kayyar Kinhanna Rai - Revision history

UpdateBot at 06:54, 21 June 2022