Sakleshpur’s poet-saint and his jolige of song

July marks the passing of playback singer Gaana Kogile S Janaki (died July 11) and folklorist Dr SK Karim Khan (died July 29, 2006), both Rajyotsava Award recipients who contributed to Kannada language and culture.

S Janaki recorded over 48,000 songs in 20 Indian languages, with more than 8,000 in Kannada, including duets with PB Srinivas, SP Balasubrahmanyam and Dr Rajkumar.

Dr SK Karim Khan, born in Sakleshpur in 1912, documented oral lore, songs and stories of Karnataka's rural and tribal communities (Halakkis, Kadukurubas, Siddis, Eravas, Soligas) over a 30-year project on foot.

Among Dr SK Karim Khan's notable compositions are Baara Chandramaa, Neene Neere Mandaara, and Jaya Gowri Jagadeeshwari.

Neither spoke Kannada as a mother tongue, but both received the Rajyotsava Award for their immense contribution to Kannada language and culture.