Media release
Mangaluru, Apr 27: The first Late K G Mallya Memorial Award was bestowed on the senior Kannada litterateur Umesh Rao Ekkar by the president of Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Nandagopal Shenoy in the presence of Vedamoorthi Sri Laxminarayana Asranna of Shri Kshetra Kateel, Dharmadarshi Harikrishna Punarooru, special guests, Shrimati Laxmi Mallya, wife of Late K G Mallya, Rajesh Nayak, president of GSB Samaja, Kinnigoli, and well known poet Udaya Kumar Habbu In a simple ceremony held at the Yugapurusha Sabhagraha in Kinnigoli on April 23.
Kinnigoli Ganesh Mallya had retired as deputy General Manager of Syndicate Bank and was a well-known writer who had 26 books in Kannada and English to his credit on banking and social subjects. He had written more than 400 articles for Yugapurusha, Daijiworld weekly and Saraswat magazines. He passed away on January 26, 2021 following a heart attack.
A poetry session was held as part of the program led by Jossie Pinto Kinnigoli. Ka Vi Krishnadasa, Dayamani Shetty Ekkar, Krishnananda Shetty Aikala, Manu Kashyap Kateel, Yashawant Rao Kinnigoli, Vatsala Yogish Rao Elinje, Jossie Pinto, Naveen Pereira Suratkal, Edmond Noronha (Pritam Kirem) and Joyce Pinto recited their own poems.
Nandgopal Shenoy, president, Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Mangalore bestowed the Late K G Mallya award on Umesh Rao Ekkar. He explained the technological initiatives undertaken at the Vishwa Konkani Kendra so that small programs in small towns like Kinnigoli can be reached to a larger audience.
In the beginning, Bhuvanabhirama Udupa, chief editor, Yugapurusha and a member in Karnataka State Religious Board welcomed the gathering explaining how the thought to launch an award in memory of Late K G Mallya came to mind and the persons behind the thought. He particularly thanked Hemacharya and Jossie Punto for being support in this initiative. He explained the contributions of K G Mallya to the Kannada, Konkani and English languages by writing in all these three languages. He called him a 'simple banker' who preserved his savings in the hearts of thousands of his friends and readers.
Dharmadarshi Harikrishna Punaroor was felicitated upon his return to his town, after receiving the honorary doctorate presented to him by the Mangalore University.
Vedamoorthi Asranna blessed the ceremony and highlighted the good works of Late K G Mallya and Harikrishna Punaroor in his felicitation speech.
Udayakumar Habbu, eminent Kannada litterateur highlighted the human qualities of K G Mallya and expressed his happiness over launching a new award in his name. His new book, ‘Bhoomiya Sutta’ was released by the dignitaries.
Hemacharya, one of the organisers recalled the days with K G Mallya and his personal contributions in his life, as a friend, as a writer and as a religious guide. He said it was due to Mallya he could meet most of the Swamijis by visiting the temples within Karnataka. He thanked all those who supported organising the program within a short notice.
Sharad Shetty conducted the program.