Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi

Mangaluru/Udupi, Dec 24: Two individuals from Dakshina Kannada (DK) and Udupi districts have been selected for the Karnataka Janapada Academy, Bengaluru’s annual honour award for the year 2025. The awardees are Koraga dolu artiste Sumathi Korag from Dakshina Kannada district and traditional medicine practitioner Gulabi Gaudti from Udupi district.

An 89-year-old traditional medicine practitioner from the Malekudiya community of Kabbinale village in Hebri taluk, Gulabi Gaudti developed a keen interest in indigenous medicine from a young age. Due to lack of educational awareness and poverty, she was unable to attend school. However, for the past 50 years, she has been collecting medicinal plants, trees, roots, bark and creeper leaves from forest areas and preparing traditional medicines to treat people.

Along with this, she is also experienced in assisting childbirth. She is well known for providing traditional remedies for ailments such as nail infections, hair fall, snake bites, and about 15 other health-related issues.

Hailing from Kakke near Mulki, Sumathi Korag studied up to the fifth standard. Basket weaving is her traditional family occupation. She was married to Kemmade Shyama Korag from Mennabettu near Kinnigoli.

She learned dolu (drum) playing at a young age and later gained recognition as a dolu artiste. She has performed in several states, including Mumbai, Chennai and Pune.

Sumathi was a member of the Korala Kala Tanda in Mangaluru, where she served as a dolu artiste for 12 years. She has been recognised as a traditional dance performer within the troupe. In addition, she has given demonstrations of her community’s traditional occupation at various places.