Kannada Rajyotsava, also known as Karnataka Formation Day or Karnataka Day, is celebrated on 1 November of every year. This was the day in 1956 when all the Kannada language-speaking regions of south western India were merged to form the state of Karnataka.
The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 November celebrated as the Kannada Rajyotsava.
S. K. Shivakumar was an Indian scientist from Karnataka state who worked at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) centres. He was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.
Rajshekhar Mansur is an Indian classical vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. He is the son and disciple of vocalist Mallikarjun Mansur.
Tulsi Gowda is an Indian environmentalist from Honnali village, Ankola taluk in Karnataka state. In 2020, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth highest civilian award. She has planted more than 30,000 saplings and looks after the nurseries of the Forest Department. Despite having no formal education, she has made immense contributions towards preserving the environment. Her work has been honored by the Government of India and various organizations. She is also known as the "Encyclopedia of Forest".
The Government of Karnataka announced the Rajyotsava awards for the year 2014. The awardees included 59 noted eminent individuals from various fields on the occasions of the 59th anniversary of the Karnataka state formation day. The awards were given away at the Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore on 1 November 2014. The 2014 awards saw 1924 nominations that were screened by a panel. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah announced that the government would bring out commemorative postal stamps of the 59 awardees.
Ratnamala Prakash is an Indian singer who sings in Kannada language. Along with playback signing, she is known for her songs in Sugama Sangeetha, a light musical genre in Kannada. Her father R. K. Srikantan was a Carnatic classical musician. In 2016, Rathnamala was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Award for her contribution to the field of Sugama Sangeetha.
Girija Lokesh is an Indian theatre and film actress and occasional film producer who works in Kannada cinema. She is the widow of actor Lokesh, and is the mother of former actress Pooja Lokesh, and actor and television presenter Srujan Lokesh. In recognition of her contribution towards Kannada cinema, she was honoured with Rajyotsava Award by the Government of Karnataka in 2013.
The 2016 Rajyotsava Awards ceremony took place at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on 1 November 2016. Awarded annually by the government of Karnataka, the ceremony saw 61 individuals being awarded for achievements in various fields. The number was chosen to mark the 61st anniversary of the formation of the State of Karnataka.
The list of Karnataka Rajyotsava Award recipients for the year 2013 is below.
The list of Karnataka Rajyotsava Award recipients for the year 2011 is below.
Sulagitti Narasamma was an Indian midwife from Pavagada town, in Tumkur district of Karnataka state. She performed more than 20,000 traditional deliveries free of charge over a 70-year period of service in deprived regions of Karnataka with no medical facilities. Her work was honored with the National Citizen's award of India in 2012 and the country's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2018.
Dr. H Sudarshan Ballal is a Nephrologist, director of Manipal Institute of Nephrology and Urology, the chairman of the Medical Advisory Board of Manipal Hospitals Group and Senate Member of Manipal University.
The 2019 Rajyotsava Awards ceremony took place at the Ravindra Kalakshetra on 1 November 2019. Awarded annually by the Government of Karnataka, the ceremony saw 64 individuals being awarded for achievements in various fields. The number was chosen to mark the 64th anniversary of the formation of the State of Karnataka.
Manjamma Jogathi, is an Indian Kannada theatre actress, singer and dancer of Jogathi Nritya, a folk dance form of North Karnataka. In 2019, she became the first transwoman to be the president of Karnataka Janapada Academy, state's top institution for folk arts. In January 2021, Government of India announced Padma Shri award for her contribution to the field of folk arts.
Chidananda Parasappa Siddhashrama, known as CPS or Prof. Siddhashrama is an Indian academic, writer, critic and poet, known for his works in Kannada. He is a retired professor of Mysore University where he served as the acting Vice Chancellor. In 2020, for his contributions to the field of literature, Siddhashrama has been awarded the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award by Government of Karnataka.
