Mangalore: Dharmadharshi Harikrishna Punaroor Receives Pingara Award
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS/CN)
Mangalore, Nov 15: "Working for the betterment of the society is highly commendable, and honouring those who contribute towards the building of a healthy society is also a noble work. Former president of Kannada Sahithya Parishat Harikrishna Punaroor has brought more honour to the award as he is involved in various forms of social work," said Alva’s Education Foundation chairman Dr M Mohan Alva.
He was one of the chief guests at the ‘Pingara Rajyothsava Award-2011’ presentation ceremony here on Tuesday November 15.
Dr Alva said that Punaroor was the right person to deserve this award. "Though his work of giving 101 houses freely to poor people was considered when choosing him for the Pingara Award, his other contributions like 40 decades in the field of religion and society, arrangement of free cataract operation camp for 10,000 people and distribution of free spectacles to them, a 12-year stint as president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat when he held as many as 87 taluk-level Sahitya Sammelans and 12 district-level Sahitya Sammelans have made him deserving of the award,” he added.
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, handed over the award to Punaroor. Dr D’Souza said that donating food, clothes, and shelter to the needy is the most gracious act in the world that a human being can do. “Dharmadarshi Harikrishna Punaroor has donated 101 houses and he has followed the path shown by God. Thus, God will bless him and he is an ideal to society,” he said.
Accepting the award, Punaroor said that he was grateful to those who appreciated his work and added that he is happy that the award was conferred on him without any lobbying. “Any award increases the responsibility of those who receive it,” he said and added that he would continue to contribute to society in whatever way possible.
Fr Xavier Gomes unfurled the ‘Pingara’ and inaugurated the programme.
Chief guest Moodbidri MLA K Abhayachandra Jain said that Punaroor was known for his diverse social work. Another guest, BJP leader Shreekar Prabhu said that Punaroor is a power, not merely an individual. “The families which received help from him will always be grateful to this man,” he asserted.
Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Union president P B Harish Rai, another chief guest on the dais, said that Pingara being a small media institution has been honoring deserving people for eight years, which is commendable. Recalling the days when journalists questioned Punaroor's credibility for the post of Kannada Sahitya Parishat claiming he had no literary background, he said that now Punaroor is appreciated by everyone for his transparency and for making Kannada Sahitya Parishat a strong institution like no one else could.
Presiding over the programme, Swasti Shree Charukeerthi Pandithacharya Mahaswami, Digambara Jaina Matha, Moodbidri, said that Dharmadarshi Harikrishna Punaroor has a soft corner for the poor.
On the occasion, he also released a book on ‘Vaastu Shastra’ authored by Alexander F D’Souza. ‘Pingara’ editor Raymond D’Cunha welcomed and delivered the vote of thanks. Harish K Adur compered the programme.
Noted singer Anitha Samson and troupe presented melodious songs after the stage programme.