CM Shivakumar Hails Hassan Artist's Print Biennale 2026 Win
Synopsis
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar congratulated printmaker K.R. Basavarajachar from Kabbooru village, Hassan, who was selected among five winners at Print Biennale India-2026 from 1,449 artworks across 34 countries. President Draupadi Murmu presented the award in New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Basavarajachar from Kabbooru village, Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan district won a top award at Print Biennale India-2026 .
He was one of only five artists selected from 1,449 artworks submitted by participants from 34 countries .
The award was presented by President Draupadi Murmu at a ceremony in New Delhi .
Shivakumar personally congratulated the artist through the official Chief Minister's Office account on October 25, 2026 .
The CM expressed a wish that Basavarajachar's achievement spread the fame of Kannada Nadu globally.
A village printmaker from Kabbooru in Hassan district, Karnataka, has earned a place on the international stage — and a personal tribute from the state's highest office. The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka on Sunday, October 25, 2026, shared a congratulatory message from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar celebrating artist K.R. Basavarajachar's win at the prestigious Print Biennale India-2026 award ceremony held in New Delhi.
The message, signed personally by the Chief Minister, conveyed that Basavarajachar's achievement is a matter of immense pride. 'ನಾಡಿನ ಕಲಾಪ್ರತಿಭೆಗೆ ಅಂತರರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿಯ ಗರಿ' [An international award feather for the land's artistic talent], the post opens — a sentiment that captures the scale of the recognition.
One of five selected from 1,449 artworks across 34 nations
The numbers alone tell the story. The Print Biennale India-2026 drew 1,449 artworks from 34 countries, making it one of the most competitive international printmaking platforms. From that vast field, only five artists were selected for the top award — and Basavarajachar, hailing from the small town of Holenarasipura taluk, was among them. The award was presented in New Delhi by President Draupadi Murmu, lending the ceremony its highest constitutional weight. For an artist rooted in rural Karnataka, receiving recognition from the President of India on a platform watched by participants from across the globe is a rare distinction.CM Shivakumar's tribute to Kabbooru's artist
Chief Minister Shivakumar's message went beyond routine congratulations. He expressed a wish that Basavarajachar's artistic journey rise to even greater heights, and that the achievement spread the glory of Kannada Nadu — the Kannada land — across the world: 'ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡಿನ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ಜಗದಗಲ ಪಸರಿಸಲಿ' [May the fame of Kannada land spread across the world]. Karnataka has a well-documented tradition of visual arts, with printmaking occupying a distinct niche within the state's creative ecosystem. State governments in India regularly spotlight such achievements to signal cultural investment — but the specificity here, naming a village, a taluk, and a district, grounds this as a genuine grassroots success story rather than a ceremonial gesture. Basavarajachar's win is a reminder that internationally recognised art does not always emerge from metropolitan studios. It can come from Kabbooru — a village in Hassan, quiet on any map, now carrying a global award.Point of View
Blending soft-power messaging with regional pride. Chief Minister Shivakumar's personal tribute to a rural printmaker aligns with a broader Karnataka strategy of foregrounding Kannada identity and cultural heritage on national and international stages. The gesture also signals to the arts community that state recognition is available beyond metro-centric narratives. Whether it translates into structured policy support for rural artists — residencies, exhibition funding, or state-level printmaking platforms — is the question that follows every such tribute.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is K.R. Basavarajachar and where is he from?
K.R. Basavarajachar is a printmaker from Kabbooru village in Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan district, Karnataka , who won an award at Print Biennale India-2026.
What is Print Biennale India-2026?
Print Biennale India-2026 is a prestigious international printmaking exhibition that featured 1,449 artworks from 34 countries , with top awards for outstanding entries presented by President Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi .
How many artists won the Print Biennale India-2026 award?
Only five artists were selected for the top award from the entire pool of 1,449 artworks submitted across 34 countries , and Basavarajachar was among them.
Who presented the Print Biennale India-2026 award?
President Draupadi Murmu presented the award at a ceremony held in New Delhi .
Why did CM Shivakumar congratulate K.R. Basavarajachar?
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar congratulated Basavarajachar for being selected among five top winners at the international Print Biennale India-2026 , calling it a proud moment for Karnataka and expressing hope that the achievement would spread the fame of Kannada Nadu globally.
