Shodhan Prasad
Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, Aug 14: Well known social activist, Mulki Shamina Alva was chosen and conferred 2014-15 International Aryabhata Award for her contribution to society. Shamina who was heading several local organisations and helping the destitute in various part of Tulunadu was the chosen one for this prestigious award.
Seeing her tremendous contribution towards society in social service, Shamina was conferred with Aryabhata International Award 2014-15 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru on August 9 by Justice Dr Ramjoise, former governor, Nadoja Mahesh Joshi, Jyothiprakash Mirji and Dr H L N Rao, in a grand ceremony along with 57 other recipients.
Hailing from a well known Bunt family of Yelathuru Guthu in Mulky, Shamina is the last of the eight children of late Shanka Shetty and late Amba Shetty. An enthusiastic active person from her youth days, she studied in Medalin Girls High School and graduated from Vijaya College Mulki. As an athlete she had leadership qualities right from her school college days.
She continued serving society after college and was fully engaged in social service heading several local based social organizations as well as educational institutions. Vijaya College Mulki paved the way for her to serve by electing her as governing council member. She was also chosen secretary of Vijaya College Old Student's Association golden jubilee celebration which she organised with great vigor. She was also the secretary of Kinnigoli Inner Wheel Club and an active member of Vanitha Samaja that earned her name and fame. She was responsible for putting together all the bunts ladies of Mulki and is the founder president of ladies wing of Bunts Association of Mulki. She was the one who organised various activities for the ladies and was an inspiration for others to follow.
Currently Alva is the vice president of Medalin Girls High School old students association and also an active committee member of Bunts Association of Mulki.
Shamina was honoured and felicitated by several organisations at various places out of which some of them to be remembered are Old Students Associations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain, in Mumbai Bunts Association and Mumbai Karnataka Sangha.
Married to childhood friend Ganesh Alva a business man in Mumbai she initially resided in Mumbai but later kept shuttling to Mulki where she was busy sparing time for social service. Blessed with two children, daughter Samrudhi Alva studying engineering and son Sambhram Alva studying in the tenth standard at Alvas High School she still continues her noble work.