‘Thamate’ wizard and Padma Shri Munivenkatappa appeals to keep his folk art alive

Nadoja Pindipapanahalli Munivenkatappa, the ‘thamate’ master was honoured with the Padma Shri for his contribution to folk art.

But the septuagenarian from a village in Chikkaballapur district says the honour is for a Dalit art form that is fighting for survival.

Here’s an exclusive report by South First’s Chetana Belagere on Munivenkatappa’s pride in the folk art and his appeal to keep it alive for the coming generations.