By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Sep 3: Dharmapal U Devadiga, vice-president of Vishwa Tulu Sammelana has been unanimously elected as the president of Akhila Bharata Tulu Okkuta for the year 2012-15 during the annual general meeting held at Samaja Mandir hall, here in Moodubidri.
President Diwakar S Shetty Sangli, presided over the meeting.
Diwakar S Shetty Sangli and Damodar Nisarga Mangalore (honorary president), Ratna Kumar M (secretary), Jayakar Shetty Indrali (treasurer), Rons Bantwal (joint secretary), Nitte Shashidar Shetty, Chandrahaas Devadiga Bedra, Srinivas Sangli, Vijaykumar Kulshekar, Jayanthi S Bangera (association secretaries) were the other elected members.
Diwakar Shetty honoured Dharmapal U Devadiga, the new president. Sahana Chandrahas honoured Sarawathi Bhat for her service.
Speaking on the occasion, Devadiga said that he got an opportunity to work for the unity of Tuluvas in Maharashtra during the Vishwa Tulu Sammelana which was held under the guidance and blessings of Shree Kshetra Dharmastha Dharmadhikari Dr Virendra Hegde. He promised to work for the welfare of Tulu language and culture in the coming days. He expressed his gratitude to all the people responsible for his reaching great heights. “I am grateful to my motherland”, he added.
On the occasion, members remembered the contributions of Late Venkataraya Punchithaya, senior writer and offered condolences.
Rajesh Alva Badyadka, Ravi Kumar, Gangadar Kidiyor, Damodar Suvarna, Uggappa Poojary, Vijaykumar Hebbar, B P Shreni Kasargod, Mohan Bhandary, Jayanthi S Bangera, S K Sriyan, J K Moily Mumbai, Srinivas Sangli, K S Poojary Baroda, S K Belvai among others were present.
Mahabal Shetty, Subhash Chandra Padival welcomed, Venugopal Shetty compered and Chandrahaas Bedra compered.