Mangalore: Sandesha Awards Announced, to be Presented on February 26

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 17: Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education has announced its annual Sandesha Awards for the year 2012. The announcement was made by Dr Na D’Souza, president of the Awards Jury of the foundation, at a press conference convened here on Thursday February 16.

Dr K V Tirumalesh has been chosen for Sandesha Award for Kannada literature. Sandesha Award for Konkani literature has gone to M Madhava Pai. The other awardees are Catharine Rodrigues (Tulu literature), Geetapriya (movies), Peter Lewis (art), Indudhara Honnapura (journalism), Sri Padre (media education), Maria Jyothi (best teacher), and Jerome D’Souza (Konkani music), while John D’Silva has been chosen for Sandesha Special Award, he said.

The awards function will be organized at 5.30 pm on February 26 in the premises of the foundation. This function will be presided over by Mangalore Bishop, Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza. Noted Kannada writer Vaidehi will participate as chief guest. Bishop of Bellary, Dr Henry D’Souza, who also happens to be the chairman of the foundation, will be present, D’Souza explained.

Foundation’s director, Fr Valerian Mendonca, was present at the press conference.

Awardees

Sandesha Kannada Literature Award: Dr K V Tirumalesh

A prolific writer in Kannada, his 30 works comprise poetry, short stories, novels, reviews, columns and linguistics. His poetry anthology ‘Mukhamukhi’ won for him the ‘Kumaran Ashan Award’ from Kerala and ‘Vardhamana Award’ from Kantavara. His ‘Avadha’ and ‘Sammukha’ anthologies were awarded ‘Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award’.

Sandesha Konkani Literature Award: M Madhava Pai

A great name in the field of Konkani translation, Madhava Pai has been hailed as ‘Konkani Shabda Ratnakara’. He has not only collected Konkani riddles and folklore, but also has contributed with the 750-page ‘Kannada-Konkani Dictionary’- a great service to Konkani language, indeed.

Sandesha Tulu Literature Award: Catherine Rodrigues

During the past 30 years of her Tulu literary career, Catherine Rodrigues has written 57 Tulu dramas. She is a ten-time winner of the Late Dharmasthala Ratnavarma Heggade Tulu Drama Writing Competition. Besides Tulu, she has also contributed much to Kannada and Konkani literature.

Sandesha Cinema Award: Sri Geethapriya (Laxman Rao Mohite)

‘Geethapriya’ is a great star of the cinema world: a song-writer, story-writer, dialogue-writer as well as a great film director. ‘Mannina Maga’, ‘Yava Janmada Maitri’, ‘Prachanda Putanigalu’ are among the movies he has directed. Named ‘Geethapriya’ by Vijaya Bhaskar, he has been awarded the prestigious ‘Puttanna Kanagal Award’.

Sandesha Arts Award: Peter Lewis

An artist of international fame, Peter Lewis has exhibited his excellence in Murel Decoration. His art exhibition at Texas in USA in 1967 brought him international recognition. Since 1992, he has been guiding many a budding artist through his own ‘Chitralaya’ at Brahmavar in Udupi district.

Sandesha Journalism Award: Indudhara Honnapura

Editor of the monthly ‘Honnapura Samvada’, Indudhara Honnapura was also the founder-editor of ‘Suddi Sangathi’ in 1985. At the young age of 20, he started a movement for the liberation of the dalits through ‘Parichaya’. Ever since, he has had a soft corner for the poor. Many of his humanitarian reports have been awarded.

Sandesha Media Education Award: Shree Padre

Hailing from Kasargod, Shree Padre is well-known as an agriculturist. Rainwater harvesting has been one of his creative contributions. His paper ‘Adike’ and 11 books on the subject have enlightened the farmers. He is a member of the Water Resource Authority of the government of Karnataka. It was he who awakened the Kerala government on the danger of endosulfan.

Sandesha Best Teacher Award: Sr Maria Jyothi

A pioneer in the education of the specially-abled children in Mangalore, Sr Maria Jyothi was the founder principal of St Agnes Special School. She not only helped establish special schools in Udupi and DK districts but also started training courses for the teachers in order to train such students in various skills.

Sandesha Konkani Music Award: Late Jerome D’Souza

The Late Jerome D’Souza composed more than 1,000 songs in Konkani, brought out 14 music albums, and published 2 anthologies called ‘Amchim Podam’ (Our Songs). He presented his songs on Akashvani, Mumbai and endeared himself to his listeners by his popular Konkani songs. This posthumous award is in appreciation of his immense contribution to Konkani music.

Sandesha Special Recognition Award: John D'Silva

Journeying from Karkala to Mumbai, John D’Silva has been a crusader of cooperative banking, an educationist and a philanthropist. A lover of Konkani language and literature, he is also a social worker par excellence.