Dr.Rajkumar, Annavru legendary Kannada cinema personality who lived like his first film as hero ‘Bedara Kannappa’ enacted the reel life performance of” Bedara Kannappa,” his début movie role  in the real life too by donating his eyes, thus championing the  noble cause of ‘Donate eyes , Gift Vision”  gets a fine tribute from Mr Manjunath Chavan a journalist cum business head of Express Publications.

Manjunath Chavan a great fan of Dr Rajakumar and closet to the family members presented the book English version “  Dr.Rajkumar,  THE PERSON BEHIND THE PERSONALITY “  to the British Library , London recently. He was there to primarily  cater to the Kannada and Indian Diaspora in London, keen to know more about Kannada cinema and Dr. Rajkumar, the legendary Kannada actor , singer and the Cultural Icon.
It was the first step to introduce the Legend to the English speaking cine lovers to the global audience.
Dr. Catherine Eagleton, Head of Asian and African Studies, British Library, London, was crowned with the Mysore peta, followed by honoring her with the sandalwood garland by Dr. Soumya Manjunath Chavan .
The book Dr.Rajkumar, THE PERSON BEHIND THE PERSONALITY was officially handed over to Dr. Catherine Eagleton by R.Manjunath chavan,  in the presence   of Ms. Leena Mitford, Lead Curator, South Asian Studies, Mr. Pasqquale Manzo, Curator, Sanskrit and Mrs. N. Persad , Curator, Language studies.


Manjunath Chavan a singer and music lover was often updating Dr. Rajkumar on the ‘Ghazals’ in Hindi ever since 1994. Dr Rajakumar used to affectionately call him as ‘Ghulam Ali Banni Appa’.

The occasion assumes significance in the light of the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema and Dr.Rajkumar’s  contribution to Kannada cinema industry  for 52 years is a monumental achievement by the legend opined Mrs. N. Persad, Curator , Language studies at the library. Indian cinema has seen great actors but Dr. Rajkumar, stands apart from everyone of them for the simple reason that he
Dr. Catherine Eagleton, head of Asian and African Studies acknowledged that the book on the legend peacefully fits into their collection and was very happy to have received it and hoped this occasion would foster the cultural relations with the people of Karnataka and British Library.

(The book Dr. Rajkumar, The person behind the personality is authored by Puneeth Rajkumar and Prakruti Banwasi ,  is published by Parvatamma  publications, Bangalore.)