Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Feb 17: “Dr Pramila Madhav and Padma Shri Dr Malati Holla have been selected for 2023-24 Veerarani Abbakka awards for their achievements in literature and sports respectively. The awards will be presented during the Abbakka festival at Mahatma Gandhi auditorium, Ullal on February 24,” said the festival welcome committee president and former MLA Jayarama Shetty.
Speaking during the news conference near Kuthar, he said that the award recipients were selected by selection committee president Dr K Chinnappa Gowda, members Prof A V Navada, Dr Ganesh Ameen Sankamar, Dr Damodar Shetty and B M Rohini.
Dr Malati Holla had started Matra Foundation without profit in 2004 providing shelter to specially-abled children, medical aid, education and guidance. It is a noble contribution by Dr Malati Holla.
Veerarani Abbakka Utsava committee president Dinaker Ullal said that Kasargod based Dr Pramila Madhav is a senior author and retired professor of degree college. He said, “She has served for six years at Vivekananda College, Puttur and for 30 years at Bengaluru’s Acharya Patashale College as Kannada professor and has retired now. “She has achieved immense knowledge through studies and work. She was ahead in studies from the beginning and has secured first ranks in BA and MA. She has received silver medal in Sanskrit examination. She was honoured with doctorate by Bengaluru University for her thesis titled ‘Kumar Sambhava and Girija Kalyana, a comparative research.
“She is creative and keeps herself busy with study, teaching, writing and lectures. She is busy in the service of the language such as post graduate classes, Kannada Rathna classes, Kannada learning, training as resource person, reading and writing Kannada works etc.
“Padma Shri Dr Malati Holla hails from Kota, Udupi and was affected by polio when she was 14 months old. She lost control below the neck. Her upper body regained control after relentless treatment for two years. Her health improved after 34 surgeries and treatment at Chennai for 15 years. But she did not gain control over the bottom portion of her body. She was the topper in SSLC, PUC and degree classes.
“She was interested in sports and practised hard in Javelin, shot put, discus throw and wheelchair racing. She participated in the state, national and international competitions for the specially-abled and kept receiving prizes.
“As her confidence grew she participated five times in paralympics, five times in Asian games, two times in international events and in Denmark, Australia, Spain, China, Belgium, Kuala Lumpur, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, England, Thailand and other countries. She also took part in national events and became successful.
“She has so far won 397 gold medals, 27 silver medals and five bronze medals. She has won gold medals in most of the competitions,” he said.
Welcome committee president Jayarama Shetty, vice president Aliabba, Devaki Ullal, Sadananda Bangera, treasurer Anand Asaigoli, committee convener K M K Manjanady and Dhanalakshmi Gatty were present.