Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, May 13: The busts of famous civil servant, public thinker and parliamentarian J M Lobo Prabhu, and his writer-musician wife Louella Lobo Prabhu were unveiled at World Konkani Centre here on Friday, May 12.

Former governor of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand Margaret Alva, and former deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India, Vittaldas Leeladhar unveiled the busts along with founder trustee of World Konkani Centre Basti Vaman Shenoy, daughter of Lobo Prabhu couple Giselle Mehta, president of CREDAI D B Mehta, and trustee Ramdas Kamath.

Unveiling the busts, Margaret Alva recalled the achievements of Lobo Prabhu family and said, "Louella Lobo was a popular voice playing and explaining music to the audience. She put famous lyrics to music and put her own words to famous compositions of famous people. In 1967, she moved to Delhi with her husband J M Lobo Prabhu who was elected to Lok Sabha from Udupi constituency. Living in Delhi exposed to political and diplomatic circles, she wrote a weekly column on her insight into the political scene. She even brought out a guide book on political proceedings. Back in erstwhile Mangalore in 1971, she was a popular speaker on many platforms. She was an active and cheerful personality.

"J M Lobo Prabhu popularly known as Bob in Mangaluru was a rare personality who is described by his wife in her memoir as a man of all seasons. He cracked the ICS exam at the age of 21 and then went to study at London School of Economics. Starting his administrative life in Ghorakpur at the Central Province in 1927, he moved to Madras cadre. Continuing his service in free India, he was in the control room in Delhi during the onslaught of floods after independence. Taking premature retirement, he became one of the founder members of the Swatantra Party and its MP for four years. He was a man of principles, who championed many causes. Back in Mangaluru, he pioneered the urbanization of Mangaluru with high raised apartment building at his own tennis course. The Mangalore port development and many other projects received his personal attention. As a play writer, he used his talent to reflect public issues.

"I congratulate Vishwa Konkani Kendra for this initiative in the memory of the Lobo Prabhu couple. I will give my full support to World Konkani Centre on their future projects. They are uniting people in the name of language. This should continue," she added.

In his address, Vittaldas Leeladhar said, ”I hail from this Konkani soil. After my retirement, I wished to settle in Mangaluru and nowhere else. I was honored by a Konkani convention many years ago. I am glad to attend this bust unveiling ceremony of such great personalities. It is a proud moment for all of us. I extend all my support to World Konkani Centre and their activities and wish them all success."

Daughter of the couple, Giselle Mehta said, "I am impressed by my mother’s courageous and father's disciplined life. They were a complete university of public life. They lived in the society with a vision to bring changes in public life. I am proud of my parents and also excited that their busts are installed here at World Konkani Centre."

Earlier, trustee Pradeep G Pai welcomed the distinguished guests and founder trustee of World Konkani Centre Basti Vaman Shenoy delivered the introductory speech. Venkatesh Baliga compered the programme.

Giselle and her husband D B Mehta donated a two-acre land to World Konkani Centre on the occasion. Along with the unveiling of busts, World Konkani Centre decided to name the place as Lobo Prabhu Konkani Nagar.