Dr. Jinadatta Desai, retired district judge, Chairman of Bharatesh Education Trust and Convener of INTACH Belagavi chapter, was conferred with the Akalanka Shree award by Shri Kshetra Swadi Digambar Jain Matha, Sonda for his exemplary service to literature. Dr. Desai has already been a celebrated author, poet and philanthropist with dozens of books to his credit like Nilanjana, Matte Bandiddeni, Madhushalini, Olagina male, Hejje Saalu, etc. Interestingly, while he wrote poetry from a young age, he gave up poetry altogether during his judicial service and resumed writing after a gap of 30 years with his anthology ‘Matte Bandiddeni’ (I have returned) to much acclaim and became a prolific poet and author post his retirement.
His poems have also been published in a total of 18 anthologies and several students have pursued Ph. D. on his works.
He was instrumental in starting the Dr. A. N. Upadhye Kannada Adhyayana Kendra at Bharatesh Education Trust which offers MA-Ph.D. course in Kannada and History. 16 students are pursuing MA-Ph. D. and 17 students are completing Ph.D. from this center today.
He was awarded with Karnataka Rajyotsava Award by the Govt. of Karnataka in 2017 and an honorary doctorate by Rani Channamma University, Belagavi. He was also the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Jain Sahitya Sammelan held at Shravanbelagola in 2018.
The ‘Akalanka Shree’ award comprises of Rs. 1 lakh cash and a citation and will be given to him at a special function to be held at Sonda soon.
Hearty congratulations to Dr. Jinadatta Desai.