Shodhan Prasad
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 9: UN Awardee, visually challenged Bangalorean girl Ashwini Angadi's dream project Ashwini Angadi Trust and 'Belaku Academy', a residential school for visually impaired children were inaugurated in Bangalore on Saturday June 6.
The Trust was inaugurated by Jnanpith awardee Dr Chandrashekar Kambar while Radha Kulkarni, educationist and author inaugurated the 'Belaku Academy'.
K S Rajanna, state commissioner for persons with disabilities, Shodhan Prasad Attavar, producer of 'Nirel' Tulu international movie and social activist from Dubai, B K Ganesh Rai, former president of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah and Sidhu Kaujalagi, cine web designer were the chief guests on the occasion.
Ashwini herself being visually impaired by birth, wanted to provide assistance to other visually impaired children like her and thus managed to convert her own home into a residential school for the blind. With good deeds in mind the inauguration of the said school started with 'Gana Homa' puja at her residential school and thereafter set to the stage programme arranged at Kanakshree Community Hall wherein people of the surroundings including school children assembled to witness the inauguration programme.
Belaku Academy exclusive opening
'Ashwini Angadi Trust' and 'Belaku Academy' inaugural programme started with Mallesh Hoogar and Putturaj Hoogar reciting a prayer. Shilpa Raghavendra welcomed the guests and audience. All the guests including Ashwini lighted the auspicious lamp and unveiled the banner of 'Ashwini Angadi Trust' and 'Belaku Academy' to the public.
Ashwini Angadi's birthday gift 'Ashwini Angadi Trust' and 'Belaku Academy'
Ashwini Angadi's commendable thought of gifting a residential school to the visually impaired children on her birthday itself was a great mission, fulfilled in a short time. She thanked all her supporters, well-wishers, family members and friends for making this happen.
This school planned to accommodate 10 children in the first stage but around 30 children came to take admission on the first day itself. As it was difficult to accommodate so many because of space constraints, Ashwini promised that the school would surely look into this after getting more facilities. She appealed to the people, donors and the authorities to support her in her effort in providing free food, education and shelter to the blind needy children in her school. She thanked all her close associates who were with her all through these months helping her in creating her dream project.
Launch of website
Cheif guest Shodhan Prasad spoke a few encouraging words on the occassion and handed over Rs 2 lac to Ashwini Angadi Trust which he had collected for the purpose from his close associates in Dubai. He promised to donate computer for the school and also presented Ashwini a small birthday gift and sweets and distributed educational tools to the visually impaired students of the Academy. Shodhan launched the Belaku Academy website.
Another chief guest, B K Ganesh Rai also spoke beautifully in praise of Ashwini and blessed her on the occasion. He said that her parents Prakash Angadi and Vedavathi Angadi are lucky to have such a thoughtful and intelligent daughter to whom they provided education even though it was difficult for them in harder days. In return their daughter gifted them by not only getting a rank in graduation but also contributing with her unique thought of providing light to the blind. On behalf of all the Indians, Rai saluted Ashwini on being declared the Ambassador of India for the world's blind children and also for being conferred the 'Youth Courage Award' by the UN.
Ashwini's birthday poem released
Radha Kulkarni beautifully presented a poem on Ashwini as a gift on her birthday, written exclusively for her.
K S Rajanna blessed the young Ashwini and lauded her for her great deeds at this tender age.
Jnanpith awardee Dr Chandrashekar Kambar described Ashwini as 'a child herself sheltering other children under her wings', a unique thought in itself. He praised and blessed her for her brave venture.
Web designer of 'Belaku Academy' Jyothi Nagaraj was felicitated during the function with memento and a bouquet.
Karnataka Motor Cab Owners Association felicitated Ashwini with a bouquet. Well-wisher Ramesh who arrived from Shirdi presented Ashwini with a memento and wished her success.
All the guests were felicitated with mementoes and bouquets on the occassion.
The programme ended with songs and folk dance by the young talents. Jyothi Ramesh conducted the programme smoothly throughout. Sumptuous lunch was organised and the whole programme was ably supported and concluded by Darshan Somashekar and friends in a professional manner.