Mabel Lobo

Udupi, Jan 31: Young Men Sports & Cultural Association celebrated it’s 37th Annual Day recently, with flag a hoisting ceremony at Shirva Hindu Junior College grounds by Karunakara Nayak, lecturer, MSRS College, Shirva, followed by a sports meet for children of all ages as well as for adults.

In the evening, various cultural programmes were held from 7 pm to 8 pm near Shirva Public Ganeshothava stage.

The stage function was presided over by K S Sreedhara Murthy, retired lecturer, St Mary’s Junior College, Shirva and the chief guest being Kadri Navaneetha Shetty, chief marketing manager, Times of India, Mangalore.

The function started with a small prayer by a group of women led by Babita Aras, President, Mahila Mandala, Shirva. Felix Menezes, president of Young Men’s Sport & Cultural Association, Shirva delivered the welcome address followed by a minute's silence in respect of Sudhakara Kamath, one of the founder member of the association who passed away recently. Harish Acharya, the general secretary read the annual activity report.

Four persons from the locality were honoured and introduced:

Henry D’Almeida
 
Henry D’Almeida is the founder president of the Young Men’s Sports & Cultural Association, Shirva. He was a youth leader and the district organising secretary for minorities of the Janatha Party in 1977-78. He served for 12 years in the executive committee of Konkan Singers Club, Bahrain including 8 years as the president.

Manohar Shetty

Manohar Shetty is a social worker and the owner of Hotel Mandara at Shirva. Has donated an ambulance to the local community.

Dr Prakash Shenoy

Dr Prakash Shenoy is the lecturer at Dr NSAM Pre-University College, Nitte and the only person who has secured a PhD for his thesis in Physics in the locality from NITK, Suratkal.

Seetalaxmi

Seetalaxmi is a 1st rank holder in the BCom from Mangalore University. She was a student of MSRS College, Shirva. Her education up to secondary school was in Kannada medium. She has now proved that even a Kannada medium student can secure 1st rank in University exams.

The chief guest of the function, Kadri Navaneetha Shetty in his speech called for unity and collective efforts from all members for the growth of the association.

All winners in the sports meet were presented with prizes by Robert Machado, who sponsored the prizes. Henry D’Almeida then distributed the late Sudhakara Kamath Memorial prizes to five financially poor, but deserving students of St Mary’s Junior College and Hindu Junior College students.

K S Sreedhara Murty in his speech recalled went down memory lane 37 years ago and remembered the beginning of the association. He congratulated the members for their high spirit without which the association would not have survived for 37 years and asked the members to continue their good work.

Satishchandra Shetty delivered the vote of thanks followed by the Tulu comedy drama by the members of the association “Buddi Budaye” which entertained the above 2,000 audience.