by Shodhan Prasad
Daijiworld Media Network
Sharjah, May 7 : Karnataka Sangha Sharjah (KSS), one of the premier Kannada Associations working under the auspices of the Indian Association Sharjah, is gearing up to celebrate its decennial on May 18 at Holiday International Hotel, Sharjah.
Every year, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah identifies deserving Kannadigas in the UAE who have excelled in their respective fields and felicitates them with "Mayura Award" during their annual celebration. This year, specially as it is a decennial celebration, the association has identified three personalities for the award instead of one.
The award will be conferred on representatives of three religions - Walter Nandalike, Harish Sherigar and M E Moolur who need no introduction as they are well-known in their fields. These three personalities will be honoured with Mayura Award during the annual celebration which will be witnessed by leaders and dignitaries from various religious faiths specially flown from India, along with local guests.
WALTER NANDALIKE - Media Personality
Walter Nandalike, who created revolution in the field of e-media, has been leading Daijiworld, the most popular webportal for the people of coastal Karnataka spread around the world. The portal which links west coast of India to the world has been phenomenal in creating awareness in various fields through its reports and articles.
The portal is currently running in its 12th year and has made a major contribution towards social causes. By placing appeals for help before its readers, the web portal has been instrumental in raising nearly Rs 5 crore, directly in beneficiaries' accounts. More than 300 families have received charity either for education, sickness or poverty. The generous readers have give new lease of life to the families' with their donations.
Walter Nandalike has the credit of converting his hobby into entrepeneurship. The website started which began as a hobby is today a Private Limited Company with over 40 dedicated staff in Mangalore and Udupi, and over 200 freelancers in different parts of India and the world.
The portal currently has readers in over 140 countries with a daily readership of over 3,00,000.
He was the first person to start the concept of internet TV in Mangalore, back in 2007. TVdaijiworld has now become a popular internet channel to webcast important live events from Mangalore, Mumbai, Bangalore and even from Gulf regions.
Expanding his entrepreneurship into the print media, he initiated 'Daijiworld Weekly', the first magazine in English language from Karnataka. Under the dynamic leadership of well-known writer Hemacharya, the Weekly magazine is running in its fourth successful year.
For bringing innovation in India's e-media, Walter has been featured in several daily as well periodical print magazines, TV channels and radio channels in India as well as abroad. His success story has been told in several colleges of DK and Udupi districts to inspire young minds to take up challenges in life, and how one can rise from scratch.
Walter Nandalike has received several national, international and regional awards and recognitions for his achievement in journalism. Some of the recent awards are Pingara Rajyotsava Award 2007, IPP Star of Year - 2009 from Toastmasters Club, Houston, USA, Rachana Entrepreneurs of the Year 2010, Sandesha Media Education Award 2010, Editors' award 2011 for his editorial story and many others.
Walter is settled in Dubai with his wife and two children.
HARISH SHERIGAR - Entrepreneur
Harish Sherigar's parents always believed their son was destined to be an entrepreneur as they had noticed his leadership qualities at a very tender age.
Born and brought up in Mangalore, he was a brilliant student and an all-rounder. He won prestigious awards at college and was the president of student council in the year 1988. He graduated with honours in commerce from Gokarnanatheshwara College and did his diploma in computer applications at NIIT, Mangalore. He was known for his melodies voice since college days.
After obtaining his degree Sherigar migrated to Muscat and worked for a reputed building material company as sales manager from 1991-1996 and gained abundant knowledge and experience in the field of building materials. Even in the early stages of his career he was a perfect combination of 'talent, perseverance, self belief, a never-give-up attitude and of course, a bit of luck' and was thus lauded by the company management as one of the dedicated employees of the organization.
His journey towards perfection later on took him to Dubai where he joined a new company under the same designation and soon earned the confidence of the organization.
With his innovative, sharp business acumen, focused vision, professionalism and experienced vocation in the same meadow he started his own business in the year 1999 named M/s ACME Building Material Trading LLC, a well-known market listed company in Dubai. He has been instrumental in taking this organization to its present level of growth in an amazing short span of time. Most of his employees are from Mangalore/Dakshina Kannada. He also owns a real estate firm named Harsha Residency in his hometown. This apart, he has a special bond with his old family business 'Avinash Mosaic Tiles' in Kulshekar.
He is married to Sharmila Sherigar and blessed with two children Akshatha and Anshul.
Sherigar is an active philanthropist funding numerous humanitarian projects and charities as well as being personally involved in them though he prefers to keep this aspect out of the limelight.
His larger-than-life persona won hearts all over Dubai with the charity show 'Dhoom Dhamaka 2011' for the benefit of Saanidiya School for special needs and Mangala Education Trust for children with special needs. His contribution towards charity is not restricted to any one region or community.
He is always ready to extend his support to all kinds of cultural programmes organized in the UAE by people from Karnataka. Recently, he was elected as president of Devadiga Sangha Dubai, with his leadership mainly focusing on education to poor children in Karnataka.
M E MOOLUR - SOCIAL SERVICE
Mohammed Ebrahim Moolur hails from Moolur in Uchila of Udupi district in Karnataka. Well known for his social service from long, he is fondly called M E Moolur.
He has been actively involved in social and cultural fields right from college days and was always the student leader in cultural activities. He has written and directed a few Kannada and Tulu dramas and many Tulu and Kannada lyrics in high school and college. Interestingly, a collection of his Kannada and Tulu Lyrics was published while he was just a high school student. He has been the vice-president of Bearys Cultural Forum ever since its inception. He is also the unit president of Al Ehsan English Academy School-DKSC , Mangalore and chairman of Moolur Al Ehsan Women’s College Building Committee. He is also one of the directors of Vartha Bharati Kannada Daily Newspaper, Mangalore, and coordinator of Markaz Huda Women’s College, Puttur, besides being an active member of Tulu social organization Nama Tuluver, UAE.
He as been conferred various awards like the prestigious 'Star of the Bearys-2012' from Bearys Cultural Forum, UAE in view of his exemplary service towards the development of the society; “Gadinada Dhwani Pratishthana Award' for social service and cultural awareness and many more in recognition of his dedicated and selfless social service.
He has been living in Dubai for the past 33 years and has been engaged in optical and pharmaceutical business for 18 years. In the course of his stay in UAE he has helped many fellow countrymen in coming to the UAE by providing them visa and helping them to secure employment.
Karnataka Sangha Sharjah will honour all the three personalities during its decennial celebration due to be held on May 18 at Holiday International Hotel, Sharjah. The association has requested Kannadigas all over the UAE to attend and make this event a memorable one.