Mangalore: Nine Personalities to be Honoured with Sandesha Awards

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Jan 9: The Sandesha Awards for the year 2013, instituted by Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education, will be conferred on nine personalities from various fields, said Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director of Sandesha Foundation, addressing a press meet here on Wednesday January 9.

The awardees are Vijay Kumar Kodialbail (Tulu literature), Leo D'Souza (Konkani literature), Kumbara Veerabhadrappa (Kannada literature), N Arjun Dev (journalism), Hamsalekha (cinema/TV), Jayalakshmi Alva (art), Dr K E Radhakrishna (best teacher) and Fr Valerian Mendonca (Konkani music).

In addition, a Special Recognition Award will be conferred on U C Paulose of Seon Ashram Trust.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held on January 27 at Sandesh premises at 5.30 pm. Bishop of Bellary Dr Henry D'Souza who is also the chairman of Sandesh Foundation will preside over the programme. IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy will be the chief guest.

Each awardee will be presented with a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a citation.

Sara Aboobacker, Dr Na Da Shetty, Richard Louis, Dr Na D'Souza, Chandrakala Nandavar, Dr (Fr) Charles Vas, Joel Pereira, Concepta Fernandes Alva, and Fr Mark Valder were in the awards jury.

Dr Na D'Souza, chairman of Sandesha awards committee and Ronald Gomes, convenor of the awards committee were present at the press meet.

About the Awardees

Sandesha Tulu Literature Award - Vijayakumar Kodialbail

Vijayakumar Kodialbail is known as the revivalis of the great Tulu stage tradition, with a new type of plays, direction and songs. As the organizer of the Kalasangama drama troupe, his Oriyardori Asal play not only created history by its film version but gave a new impetus to the Tulu stage.He has written more than 20 plays and staged them all over Karnataka and other places. He has staged more than 4000 Tulu plays, given literature to more than 300 audio CDs, has written a Tulu column in the papers. Among the awards received by him are Tulu Sahitya Academy award, Tuluvere Chavadi award, honoured by the Tulu Kootas in the Gulf countries and the honour by the Jaycee, Lions and Rotary Clubs.
 

Sandesha Konkani Literature Award - Leo D’Souza

Born in Mangalore in 1934, 79-year-old Leo D’Souza has been working in the Konkani literature from 1951. BA, B Ed, R B Visharad as his qualifications, he has worked as a teacher, then went abroad, after return had been serving at Sandesha till recently. Translation of English into Konkani is his forte. He has translated 17 English novels , published his own novel, 2 poetry anthologies in Konkani, one poetry anthology in English and a short autobiographical sketch about his literary life. He has written more than 3000 Konkani poems, a number of articles and stories in Konkani. Among his awards are Konkani Sahithya Academy Award for Journalism in 2002 and Kavitha Trust Award for poetry in 2010.
 

Sandesha Kannada Literature Award - Kumbara Veerabhadrappa (Kum Vi)

Born in Kottur of Bellary district, 51 year old Kumbaara Veerabhadrappa is Known As Kumvee in Kannada literature. His is the voice of Dalits, revolutionaries and the poor. He has worked as a teacher for 34 years. 14 short story collections, 4 biographies, 1 critique collection, 1 anthology of poems, translation of more than 300 Telugu short stories and recently his own autobiography. His stories and novels are Text books in Universities, many films have been based on his stories. Among his awards are Karnataka Sahithya Academy Award, Vardhamaan Udayonmukha Award, Ugrana Award, Sahithya Academy Award, Rajyothsava Award, Ladhwa Award, Vichi Award, Chaduranga Award etc.
 

Sandesha Arts Award - Jayalakshmi Alva

 
She has a life of fulfillment of seeing the great classical dance tradition of India continued through her daughter Dr Arathi Shetty and grand daughter Kum Satvika . Born in 1933 at Kumbhakonam, she married the great artist and teacher Ramakrishna Alva. Her other teachers were Dandayudhapani, mathi Swarnam Saraswathi, Gowri Ammal and Karunakar Panikkar.

She started the Chithrambalam Dance Centre in Mumbai in 1959 and the devi Dance Centre in Mangalore in 1974. She has composed and choreographed 10 ballets. Among the awards conferred on her are Natya Raani Shanthala by Karnataka Government, Nrithyakala Shiromani by Karnataka Nrithya Kala parishad,, Rajyotsava award, Karnataka Kala tilaka by the Karnataka Sangitha Academy. Padma Vibhushan Sonal Mansingh and Waheeda Rehman are among her disciples
 

Sandesha Journalism Award - N Arjun Dev

Born in Kolar in 1926, N Arjun Dev has been a valiant worker in the journalism his field. Organizing journalists, training young journalists and working for the betterment of their emoluments have been his constant endeavours. He has been in the journalistic field from 1950 – Paramajyothi,Taayinaadu, Samyuktha Karnataka and from 1964 in Prajavaani. He retired in 1994. Now he is publishing his own Science magazine “Jaana”. As an active member of the Working Journalists Association, he has worked for the establishment of the Patrika Academy, improving the salaries of the journalists and other things. His journalistic training in Germany has also helped him. He had been directly involved in the Goan Freedom struggle. Among the awards conferred on him are the Rajyotsava prashasthi, Patrika Academy prashasthi, Kempe Gowda Prashasthi and several others.

Sandesha Konkani Music Award - Fr Valerian Mendonca

Born in Shirva parish in1949 and musically inclined from his childhood , he has First rank in BSc, BTh, MA in English as his qualifications, Fr Valerian Mendonca is a prolific musician. He has several hymns, anthems, songs, cassettes to his credit. As a choir master while at the Jeppu seminary , gave him great impetus to his music genius. He has written the anthems for the St Joseph Engineering College, Vamanjoor, Pompei College, Aikala, St Mary English Medium School, Udupi, Vidya Jyothi School Vamanjoor. More than 68 of his hymns are included in the diocesan music hymnal. He has written Kannada songs also which have been broadcast in Akashvani, Mangalore. Along with his friend Fr Clement Mascarenhas, he has brought out several music cassettes – 13 in Konkani, 1 in Kannada, 5 in Hindi. After working as Principal in several colleges, served as the Director of Sandesha, and presently is the Parish priest of Barkur and the Chancellor of Udupi Diocese.
 

Sandesha Cinema/TV Award - Hamsalekha

Hamsalekha is a legend in the music world. Born in 1951 in Tulasithota, Akkipete, Bangalore, his childhood name is Gangaraju. From his childhood he was drawn to dance, drama, music and acting. He was a visionary and wanted to promote the folk music and took several steps for this purpose. Among them are a free residential school for tribal children to teach them academics and desi art forms. Then he stated a pre university college and next a degree college with the same purpose. Now he plans a desi university to make these arts a living experience. H world and avoid wars is his message. For the last three decades his songs and melodies have been rocking the young hearts.He has provided music direction to 323 Kannada films, 8 Telugu and 7 Tamil films. Among his several awards are best music director national award , Best music director state award 4 times, Best lyricist state award twice, best music director Filmfare Award 6 times, Kempegowda award, Rajyotsava award and 11 awards from various associations.
 

Sandesha Best Teacher Award - Dr K E Radhakrishnan

Dr K E Radhakrishnan is among the best educational specialists in India. The Hon Secretary of the BNES College, Bangalore, Founder of the Samudra Trust, and a Senate member of the Mangalore University has been working for the betterment of education.He has held positions in the educational field all over India. He is a member of the General Council of National Assessment and Accreditation Council of theUniversity Grants Commission. He has presented papers in various international conferences. 6 books, 2 translations, 1 anthology of poems, 11 edited works are among his works. Among his awards are Rajyotsava award, Bhargava Award, Sansa Award, Kempegowda award, Guru Raghavendra Sadbhavana Award, Gorakhnath award. Karnataka Open University has awarded him an honorary doctorate.
  

Sandesha Special Recognition Award - U C Paulose, Seon Ashram trust, Beltangady.

Born in Kerala and living in Gandigaagilu, Beltangady, U C Paulose has agriculture as his occupation. He is married to Mary and has has four children. Once on his way back from Kerala, He saw some mentally ill persons eating thrown out food from the garbage and fighting among themselves for that food. Can something be done for these people he asked himself. He discussed this with his family members It would be a service to God they thought and decided to open a shelter for these people. First they trust was formed in March 1999 and so far 1700 people have been provided shelter. Among them are physically disabled, mentally retarded, orphans, widows, school going children, sick people without distinction of caste or creed. Presently there are 328 inmates and they are from all over India. Food, clothes, shelter and medical assistance are provided to them. Seon Psychiatric Hospital and Little Flower English Medium School are also run by the Seon Trust. There is a staff of 60 people and the Trust goes on with the help of donors.