The Sandesha Awards for 2023 will be presented to nine Achievers on February 7, 2023.

Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at the Mangaluru Press Club on Wednesday, 18 January, Fr Sudeep Paul, the Director of the Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education, Mangaluru, said, “The Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education, Mangaluru, was started in the year 1989 and was registered as a charitable institution in the year 1991. It aims to build a value-based society and tries to foster harmony by encouraging and supporting art, culture, education, and folklore-related activities. It is also an educational institution that trains students at various levels in music, dance, art, and painting. It also conducts courses in journalism, media education, public speaking, and other similar courses. It organises workshops on drama, poetry, media, and other related subjects. It brings people from all walks of life together”. 

“The “Sandesha Awards” programme is an important annual feature of the Sandesha Foundation,” Fr Sudeep added. It is to appreciate and recognise outstanding and value-based contributions made by various personalities through literature, journalism, the arts, education, music, the media, social service, etc. This year’s award programme will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 5.30 p.m. at Sandesha Institute Grounds. The Most Rev. Dr. Henry D’Souza, the Bishop of Bellary and Chairman of the Institute, will preside over the function. Dr. Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Educational Institutions, will be the chief guest. Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese, and Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, along with Fr. Sudeep Paul, the Director of Sandesha, Roy Castelino, and Rev. Fr. Ivan Pinto, the trustees of the Institute, shall be the guests of honour.

Also speaking on the occasion, Roy Castelino, the Trustee of Sandesha said ” These are the NINE achievers who have been conferred with the 2023 Sandesha Awards-the awardees are :

• Sandesha Literature Award (Kannada) –Raghavendra Patil
• Sandesha Literature Award (Konkani) – Andrew L D’Cunha
• Sandesha Literature Award (Tulu) – Chinnappa Gowda
• Sandesha Media Award – Shivaji Ganeshan
• Sandesha Konkani Music Award – Joyce Ozario
• Sandesha Art Award – M. S. Murthy
• Sandesha Education Award – Kotiganahalli Ramaiah
• Sandesha Special Award – Prerana Resource Centre
• Sandesha Best Teacher Award – Sabiha Bhoomigowda

Prof. Valerian Rodrigues- Awards Jury President; Rafiq Master- Awards Jury Member; and Simon Coelho-Studio Engineer at Sandesha were present on the dais during the press meet.

ABOUT THE NINE AWARDEES :

RAGHAVENDRA PATIL :

He was born in 1951 in Betageri, Belagavi district, a teacher by profession. His writing genres are varied; short stories, novels, critiques, travelogues and editing. Collections of short stories like Odaps, Pratimi, Desagati, Maiya Mukhas, Kana Kaduthava Kabbakki, etc, Novels like There, Amruthavahini, Gayra Samajuti, Vagavada, Ananda Kanda, Madhyastha etc. Travelogue of Unknown Mumbai. Dozens of edited works.

The language of his writing, be it manly slang or village slang is beautiful. The fact that most of his works have won some kind of award is a testimony to the solidity of his literary contribution. Among them, the most award-winning was his story collection, Maayiya Mukagalu. He has won Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award, Vardhamana Award, Chaturanga Award, Dr Basu Patted Award, Vishwanath Varambally Award and many more awards.

To top it off, Raghavendra Patil’s novel ‘There’ won the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Best Novel Award in 2003 and the Central Sahitya Akademi Best Kannada Novel Award in 2005. “There” also attracted the attention of the youth as a textbook in the universities of Mysore and Dharwad. He was editor of the quarterly magazine “Sahitya Samvad” and the bimonthly magazine “Samahita” for a long time. It is special that both those newspapers have held literary dialogue at a high level and received recognition.

Whatever trend he takes up, it has a literary edge. President of Betageri Krishna Sharma Memorial Foundation in Belgaum, President of Sahitya Sambrama Samiti held in Dharwad, Trustee of Malladi Orphan Sevashram, Trustee of Girardi Govinda Raja Foundation of Dharwad, Founding Editor of Ananda Kanda Granthmale – such a prominent personality who has served literature in dozens of organizations.

ANDREW L D’CUNHA :

Active in Konkani literature for over 40 years, Andrew L. D’Cunha is renowned as a creative contemporary Konkani poet. More than 600 of his poems, three poetry collections, 30 short stories, 50 articles, and columns for children and poetry lovers, on contemporary social issues have been published in various Konkani magazines and websites.

He has also served as a judge for several Konkani literary competitions. His poetry collections have received Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Book Award, the All India Konkani Writers’ Association Award, Vimala V Pai World Konkani Sahitya Puraskar, Dr TMA Pai Konkani Sahitya Puraskar.

Dr. K. CHINNAPPA GOWDA :

Dr K. Chinnappa Gowda, former professor in the Kannada department of Mangalore University. He has written literature in Kannada as well as Tulu. He was born in a town called Kuduru in Vittal of Dakshina Kannada district. He has a MA in Kannada from Madras University. He obtained his Doctorate for his thesis Bhootaradhane – Janapadiya Adhyana under the guidance of Dr Vivek Rai. He has served as Assistant Professor at SDM College. Registrar of Mangalore University, Professor in SVP Adhyana Samsthe, Head of the Department, Served as Dean of Arts Institute, Served as Vice Chancellor, Karnataka Folklore University Haveri.

He is an expert in modern Kannada literature and folklore studies. Expert in folklore, Tulu oral tradition and cultural studies. He has guided 13 PhD Students and 5 M Phil Students

He did his Post Doctoral Fellowship in Finland, a Japan Foundation Fellowship in Japan Chosen as a Cultural Ambassador, Visiting Professor by the Indian Council of India to Maximilians University, Wurzburg, Germany. He has visited the University of Turkey, Finland, the University of Tübingen, Maxmillen’s University of Wuerzburg, Germany and the Tsubouchi Theater Museum, Waseda University Tokyo Japan as a Visiting Professor on Folklore and Comparative Religions

Chinnappa Gowda Bhutaradhane, a professor at the Kannada Postgraduate Studies Center of Mangalore University, has been selected in the Department of Tulu Literature and Research and has authored more than 20 books, including some studies, Jalata, Sanskruti Siri, Ratnamanasa.

SHIVAJI GANESHAN :

Born in 1954 in Malavalli Taluk of Mandya District, Shivaji Ganeshan studied Journalism at the University of Mysore. While still a student, he was writing articles for Andolan and Panchama newspapers, and in 1978 he joined Prajavani Daily as a sub-editor and reporter. Shivaji Ganeshan worked as a reporter in Hubli, Dharwad, Tumkur and New Delhi for ten years from 1990 and retired there as a senior reporter at Prajavani’s Bangalore headquarters. Since his retirement, he has been serving as the Head of Community Radio “Radio Siddhartha 90.8” of Sri Siddhartha Education Institute, Tumkur for the past ten years. During six years of tenure as a reporter in Delhi, he has observed and written about the administrative and governance styles of P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During that period, he was also writing a column called “Delhi Dinachari”.

He is famous for writing articles and columns in the newspaper along with reports on political analysis, current affairs, social issues etc. The articles he was writing in Prajavani were published under the name S. Ganeshan. Shivaji Ganeshan was an expert in analyzing the political arena of the state. As a reflection of his concern about the Dalit community, his ‘Dalit Literature History’ and ‘Steps of Dalit Movement’ was written by him. Many organizations have honoured his service. He has received many prestigious awards such as Aragam Ramayya Memorial Award, Karnataka Press Academy Award, Kempe Gowda Award, and Press Club Annual Award.

Ms JOYCE OZARIO :

She was born on Nov. 26, 1952, in Jeppu, Mangaluru. She has been singing and winning contests for the last 60 years. She is considered one of Konkani’s sweetest female voices. She has been singing as a lead female singer for Mandy Sobhann in all its shows and recordings, ever since its inception in the year 1986.

For her immense contribution to Konkani music, has been decorated with the title of ‘Konkani Abolem’, in the year 2011, at the 3rd Konkani Global Music Awards. She is still actively singing on stage and recording even at the age of 70. She is the wife of Mandd Sobhann Gurkar Eric Ozario.

Dr M. S. MURTHY :

Dr M. S. Murthy was born in Bangalore in 1960. He found painting as a way of life for four decades. Murthy is an internationally acclaimed artist. What he believed to be the greatest strength of his life was the simplicity, courtesy, restraint and love that he captured through the Buddha’s light, his silence and his alms bowl. His ‘Buddhanemba Belaku’ artwork was awarded “International Biennale” by the Academy of Arts, Iran. Hampi University honoured him with a doctorate for his thesis Makkala Manasina Chitragalu.

He has created one of the first novels in the art world called `Drishya’ through pictures, which has also won an award from the Karnataka Drama Book Authority. His works of art are included in the permanent collections of the prestigious National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi, the Art Acre Museum in Kolkata and many national and international museums.

Even M. S Murthy has made a name as a writer. His play “Yashodhare malagiralilla” has been translated into many languages. It is awarded Banuli National Award. Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for his essay collection “Desinagu”. “Bowl” is a novel created under the shadow of Buddha, and has been released recently.

Dr M. S. Murthy served as the President of the Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy and received many awards such as “Varnashilpi Venkatappa Award”, “Karnataka Rajyotsava Award”, “Mysore Dasara Kala Award”. He has organized many international art exhibitions and hundreds of art camps at the state and national levels.

KOTIGANAHALLI RAMAIAH :

He was born in Kotiganahalli in Hassan District in 1955. While he wears many hats we have singled him out for his role in founding AADIMA- an institution that experiments with children’s theatre, film, education and social consciousness, and for proposing a distinct philosophy of learning. He has argued that existing learning disconnects a child, particularly from lowly communities, from his/her distinct cultural moorings and the meanings associated with them, and makes him/her a plaything of modes of dominance. He seeks to rebuild integrated community learning through resources and memories close to a child’s life world such as Ragi, Bamboo etc. Over the last three decades, he has developed a dozen street plays for children woven around ‘instinctive learning’ and ‘survival knowledge of ordinary people’. He has inspired other performative acts such as the Bayalu theatre. AADIMA, the cultural centre operates from the picturesque boulder-filled landscape of Shatashrunga Konda in Kolar.

His plays include Kaage Kannu Irve Bala, Nayi Thippa, Ratnapaksi, Kannaspatre Quenalli Jagadambe, Hakki Hadu, Vogatina Rani etc. He has also written award-winning scripts and dialogues for feature films, documentaries, educational films and films associated with government programmes. He was associated with Dalit Sangharsh Samiti for two decades and has written extensively for Dalit-Bandaya journals. He has worked as a reporter in Lankesh Patrike, Mungaru, and Suddi Sangati and was editor of Panchama, a fortnightly journal.

His many awards include Karnataka Sahitya Akademy Award (2012), Suvarna Ranga Samman, Kannada Sangha Kanthavara (2012), and Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (2005)

PRERANA RESOURCE CENTRE :

Based in Bangalore, Prerana Resource Center is a ray of hope amid darkness for destitute women, poor children and disabled individuals. Set up in 1992, by the dedicated women of Goraguntepalya. “Prerana” spearheads the struggle for the welfare of the less fortunate people. Smt. M.R. Prashantha. M.A. (Psy.) is a dedicated Social Worker during her exclusive visit to rural parts, she was moved by the pathetic conditions of the disabled especially visually impaired teenage girls of the rural area. Her determination to uplift the blind/disabled girls resulted in the establishment of the ‘PRERNA’ Hostel for Blind/Disabled teenage girls.

The main focus of “Prerana” has been the upliftment of neglected, disabled poor girls especially the blind, by training them, providing employment and instilling confidence in them to lead a normal cheerful life despite their handicaps. Prerana is also involved in many activities for the upliftment of the local poor and also to bring about social and cultural awareness them.

PRERNA is providing FREE FOOD & SHELTER for 120 teenage BLIND/ DISABLED POOR ORPHAN girls. The Important activities of Prerana are: Providing FREE HOSTEL for 120 Blind/ Disabled/ Downtrodden destitute women. Counselling service for the Blind / Disabled. Providing Education for Blind / Disabled orphan girls from Interior villages. Orientation and Mobility training. Home Management training. Providing Vocational Training like Garlands, Basket Making, Cover Making etc. Organizing Marriages of visually impaired/disabled girls. Training in Industries & Placement. Providing aids and appliances / Referral services.

In recognition of her tireless work, the Government of India honoured her with an award in 2001. The Government of Karnataka honoured Shrimati Prashantha with the Rajyotsava Award. The Inspiration Resource Center has received several awards, the first of which was the Kittur Rani Chennamma Prasasti. Mrs Prashantha’s daughter, Meghana Jois, gave up her job in a foreign company and was engaged in full-time motivational work. Presently the motivational institute has its independent building.

Eight marriages between a blind man and a blind woman have been performed in the motivational shelter. Many volunteers are coming forward and providing free service and financial assistance for motivation. The central government honored Mrs Meghana Jois with a special award in 2015 for her ability to take up the responsibility of the mother.

SABIHA BHOOMI GOWDA :

Sabiha Bhumi Gowda was born in Mysore. She has 25 years of teaching experience and 10 years of research experience. She has written many poems and short stories in Kannada. In 1992, she was awarded a PhD for her thesis on the Origin, growth and development of Short Stories in Dakshina Kannada. She was a professor in the Department of Kannada Studies, at Mangalore University and the director of the Shivram Karanta Peetha. She has served as a member of Karnataka Sahitya Akademy and worked as Director of the Centre for Women’s Studies. He has served as the in-charge head of Chikka Aluwara Postgraduate Center of Mangalore University, Kodagu and Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka Women’s University.

Some of her Major research projects are; Unmarried Women of South Kannada District – Socio-Cultural Study’ of Women’s Studies Center of Mangalore University. Major Research Project of UGC – Feminist Thoughts in Developing Countries. She also undertook a research study titled Movements and Struggles in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Udupi Districts in Kannada Language Development Project.

She has served as an office bearer in various organizations; including Coastal Writers and Readers Association, Mangalore as its President from 1998-2000. Kannada University, Hampi during 2002-2005- as a member of its senate. As a member of the Women’s Studies Center Advisory Committee of Mangalore University.