Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 2: Udupi district level ‘Swabhimana Jagruti Samavesha – 2012’ of Gowda Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community was held at the playground of Koteshwar government PU college near here on Sunday January 1.

Addressing the congregation, former chairman of Prasar Bharti and chief guest, M V Kamat, said that the word, ‘Dorko’, being used to identify a person belonging to GSB community in fact, means that the members of the community had migrated from Dwarka.  “Wherever I went, including Kutch, Kabul and Kolkota, I was identified by the people there as belonging to GSB community. But now the members of the community suffer from identity crisis. The tradition of tutoring the children at home, performing of puja and other religious procedures regularly, tendency on the part of more and more women to become employed, rapidly spreading live-in culture, neglect towards elders, etc have been eroding our culture. There is a need to introspect about all these aspects with an open mind, with the involvement of scholars and elderly people of the community. We should take initiatives to build back out culture and save our identity,” he stressed.

The convention was inaugurated by Dr P Dayananda Pai, managing director of Century Builders.  In his inaugural address, Pai noted, on the basis of the gathering that had assembled at the venue, that GSB community has a bright future ahead.  He lamented about the fact that the GSB youth are more and more getting lured by the prospects of making easy money by working for information technology companies, looking for employment opportunities in   foreign countries etc, as against the tradition of the community to predominantly get involved with business activities. He felt that this has eroded the distinct identity the community used to enjoy in the past. Expressing concerns about the plight of the GSB youth in finding suitable brides, and the tendency to neglect elders in the family, he urged the people to take corrective decisions and see that they are implemented properly. He also assured help from his side for such endavours.

JDS MLA from Haliyala, Sunil Hegde, recalled stalwarts from GSB community like Pai group from manipal, Dinakar Desai, Vaikunta Baliga, freedom fighters, Girish Karnad etc, and hailed the community for its contribution to the nation and the society, which he said, is quite impressive, considering the size of the community. Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president, Kasargod Chinna, also addressed the gathering.

President of organizing committee, Dakkerbal Gopalakrishna Kamath, general secretary, Satish M Nayak and women of the community set the ball rolling in morning by watering Tulsi plant. Honorary president of the committee, Sridhar Vittal Kamath, delivered introductory address. Basti Damodar Pai welcomed. Vedamurty Vedavyasa Acharya proposed vote of thanks.