Mangalore: Sandesha Awards Conferred at Fitting Ceremony
Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
Mangalore, Jan 27: The Sandesha Awards for the year 2013, instituted by Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education, were conferred on nine achievers at a fitting ceremony held att Sandesha premises here on Sunday January 27.
The awards were conferred on Vijay Kumar Kodialbail (Tulu literature), Leo D'Souza (Konkani literature), Kumbara Veerabhadrappa (Kannada literature), N Arjun Dev (journalism), Hamsalekha (cinema/TV), Jayalakshmi Alva (art), Dr K E Radhakrishna (best teacher) and Fr Valerian Mendonca (Konkani music). A Special Recognition Award was presented to U C Paulose of Seon Ashram Trust.
Bishop Dr Henry D'Souza of Bellary, who is also the chairman of Sandesha Foundation, and IGP (Western Range) Pratap Reddy, who was the chief guest did the honours. Each award consisted of a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a citation.
Addressing the gathering, Pratap Reddy said that in today's world, it has become a challenging task to keep one's culture and tradition alive. "Due to globalization, passing on our culture to the next generation has become a difficult task. Sandesha Foundation has fittingly recognized those who have worked and strived to preserve and promote our culture. Without such people, our culture would have disappeared," he said.
Commenting on the growing intolerance on various issues of late, he said, "We should think before we encourage creativity. Nowadays some paintings, musical compositions and literary works have become issues.
Today, inclusivity and tolerance are rare and diminishing. Long back, there was critique on Ramayana which had led to a healthy debate, but today it would evoke a different response. Though there is scope for expressing one's views, there are chances of repercussions and fights. As a police officer, I know the level of intolerance prevalent today."
He urged people to maintain peace and harmony in society and take it forward to the next generation.
Bishop Henry D'Souza in his address said that there are two kinds of success - that achieved for self, and second, service rendered to others. "Sandesha Foundation has recognized people who have worked for others," he said.
"Today, people have created barriers in the name of language, religion, culture and caste. First and foremost, there should be humanity, a society based on values and not on greed and corruption. We also need scientific thinking. Of late, media like television have been highlighting superstitions such as doomsday and so on. God cannot be irrational," he said.
The bishop called upon the people to bring a change in society. Giving example of social activist Anna Hazare, he said, "I stopped by his village Ralegan Siddhi, I was suprised by the amount of progress it had made. When I asked for Anna Hazare, I was told that he lived in a temple and had no house of his own, nor a family. Like him, we can bring a positive change wherever we are."
Quoting Mother Teresa's words, 'By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world', he urged people to serve one another irrespective of caste, religion or community.
All the nine awardees spoke on the occasion and thanked the Sandesha Foundation for the honour.
Director of Sandesh Foundation Fr Victor Vijay Lobo welcomed while Galdin D'Souza proposed the vote of thanks
The programme was compered by Dr Narasimha Murthy, HOD of Kannada, Gokarnanatheshwara College.
Roy Castelino, P M Castelino and Fr Jayanathan shared the dais.
Dr Na D'Souza, chairman of the Sandesha Awards committee introduced the awards and the selection process.
The programme began with a Bharatyanatam prayer dance. The award ceremony was followed by a beautiful presentation of culture for 40 minutes, comprising folk dances by Vidyajyothi High School, Vamanjoor, and students St Gerosa high school, and a Kannada play by students of Rosario College.