By Herald D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Nov 10: ‘Featherpix–2009’, an exhibition of stamps featuring birds, by internationally-acclaimed philatelist Daniel Monteiro, was inaugurated at S M S Community Hall, Brahmavar, on Sunday November 8.
The exhibition with the theme ‘Collect Stamps on Birds - Save the Environment and Save the World’ was organized by St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Youth Association and St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar. The exhibition concluded at 4.30 pm on Monday November 9.
Dr N A Madhyasta, retired principal, Poornaprajna College, had inaugurated the event at 10.30 am on Sunday.
Fr L David Crasta, vicar general and correspondent of S M S Group of Education Institutions, presided over the programme.
Prof Mathew C Ninan, principal, Little Rock Indian School, Brahmavar, was the chief guest.
Exhibition convener Valerian Crasta, St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Youth Association secretary Junius Lewis, and treasurer Lucas Dias were present on the dais.
Forty-seven-year-old Monteiro is a native of Kumaragodi village, Brahmavar, in the district. He is a veteran of 152 philatelic exhibitions and is employed in the administrative department of S M S College.
He has been pursuing bird watching and ornithology as well as his passion in philately for over two decades now. He has also attended several workshops on environment and philately as a resource person and created wildlife awareness in association with the forest department in Shimoga, Madikeri, Bhadravati, Moodbidri, Karkala, and Udupi.
Monteiro has also contributed articles on birds to different newspapers and also in commemorative issues. He has organized district-level exhibitions and philately competitions for children and the general public, to inspire them to take up philately as a hobby.
He has bagged several awards including district ‘Rajyotsav Award’, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan and Mandd Sobhann’s ‘Asadharan Konkni Vyakti Puraskaar – 2009’ and ‘APJ Abdul Kalam Award’ from Janata Sangha Seva Trust, Bangalore.
Monteiro has participated in exhibitions such as ‘Biopex’ and ‘Ecopex’ held in Mumbai, Chennai, Ernakulam, Kolkata, and other Indian cities and metros.
He has also taken part in philatelic exhibitions at Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Austria that brought worldwide recognition to his hobby.
Joel Almeida welcomed the gathering. Cyprian Crasta compered the programme.