Dubai : Mangalore Konkans to honour 4 outstanding achievers on 25th anniversary
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Dubai, Oct 9: Mangalore Konkans Dubai is on the threshold of celebrating its Silver Jubilee this October. A series of programmes “Celebrations 25” were planned for the entire year which will culminate in a grand finale on October 25, 2013 to be held in Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai. To celebrate 25 years of its glorious existence Mangalore Konkans Dubai have decided to honour five persons from the Kanara Region who have made their mark in the UAE in diverse fields. The organizers have announced that NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco will be honored with a special “KonkanRatn” award for his altruistic services to the society.
Apart from Ronald Colaco, the organization has decided to honourfour other distinguished people hailing from undivided Dakshina Kannadabut are based in UAE, for their contributions in their respective fields and support for the promotion and progress of Konkani language, literature, music, culture and entrepreneurship, philanthropy, media and to the development of Dakshina Kannada region. The four chosen for the honour are Lawrence Mendonca for entrepreneurship, Padmashree Dr B R Shetty in recognition of his philanthropic services, Walter Nandalike for media and Vincent Fernandes for music and culture.
A brief profile of the four chosen for the honour:
Lawrence Francis Herald Mendonca
Credit goes to Mangalorean Lawrence Mendonca for being the pioneer entrepreneur in UAE and being a torchbearer to many others from the coastal region to have their own successful ventures in the UAE. Lawrence moved to Dubai 41 years ago has been a successful and acclaimed businessman for over 36 years. Through his hard work, dedication and unwavering efforts to succeed, Lawrence climbed the ladder of success step by step to emerge as a successful businessman in UAE. His business acumen is evident from the fact that now he is the owner/partner of 9 business ventures in UAE. These business ventures gainful employ more than 1000 people, majority of them hailing from the twin coastal districts of Udupi and Mangalore.
Lawrence Mendonca is the 5th of 8 children of late Marceline and late Albert Mendonca of the prestigious Mendonca family of Vamanjoor, Mangalore. The Mendonca family was in quarry, timber and tiles business and Lawrence was exposed to the nitty-gritty of business from a young age. He had his early education in Kelarai and continued his High school and pre-university education in St Aloysius College, Mangalore. After completing his B E (Mech) from Karnataka Regional Engineering College, Surathkal, securing 7th rank from Mysore University, he worked for a year with Bharath Electronics in Bangalore before moving to Dubai in 1972. His success speaks volumes of his business acumen and he has inspired generations of Mangaloreans in UAE to be enterprising entrepreneurs.
What makes the honor a truly rewarding experience for Lawrence Mendonca is that he is one of the founding members of Mangalore Konkans Dubai. Needless to say he played a pivotal role in its formation in the incipient stages and over the years has guided it to become a true representative of Catholic community in the UAE rendering priceless service to the community both in UAE and back home.
Lawrence along with his brothers is also involved in charity work in the form of providing assistance to needy students of his parish and contributing generously to churches, schools, education facilities to students and health care facilities to the deprived. Lawrence is the true entrepreneur who has kindled an entrepreneurial spirit among three generations of people of the coastal region in the UAE. He has been bestowed with awards in recognition of his service to the community and the society. Needless to say Mangalore Konkans have chosen him for the honour in celebration of its silver jubilee.
B R Shetty
It always pays to be an optimist as Padmashree Bavaguthu Raghurama Shetty popularly known as B R Shetty, has proved beyond doubt. Having come to UAE in search of a better future armed just with a clinic degree in pharmacy, he has imprinted his name in the annals of UAE as a pioneer healthcare leader by establishing his flagship New Medical Centre (NMC) in 1975. The company took a strong foothold under the guidance of B R Shetty and with a pan-UAE presence today it is recognized as UAE’s largest private healthcare provider.
As a man of extraordinary vision and prescience Dr B R Shetty was able to establish an array of service-oriented business establishments in the UAE ranging from financial services and money remittances, hospitality, information technology, education, food products, pharmaceuticals, medical and scientific equipment and Fast Moving Consumer Goods brands. His companies have proved to be the reservoirs of employment to thousands of people of the coastal region in the UAE.
B R Shetty who hails from Kaup in Udupi landed in the UAE in 1973 and saw ample opportunity for entrepreneurial career as UAE was in its formative years. With his determination, foresight, fortitude and sheer hard work he was able to establish multiple business establishments in the desert land which opened plenty of prospects for the young man to flourish and prosper. Today his business empire has crossed the frontiers of UAE to make a successful foray across the globe.
It was his legendary foresight that led to the establishment of UAE exchange in 1980 as B R Shetty was able to identify the problems faced by expatriates in the UAE who wanted to remit money to their families back home. In the last 33 years UAE exchange has emerged as a leading global remittance and foreign exchange brand with its presence in over 30 countries commanding 6% of the global remittance market. The success of UAE exchange stands as a testimony to his prescience and wisdom.
Dr B R Shetty, no doubt, has tasted success through hard work, strong will power and with an eagerness to succeed. At the same time he showed his concern and generosity for his own people in the UAE hailing from the coastal region and also to the people of undivided Dakshina Kannada district. He believed in giving back to the society from which he benefitted and his largesse has resulted in providing enormous contributions to fields as varied as charity, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, social and cultural fields. So much so it is not easy to quantify his contributions. His humanitarian zeal is amply manifested as he has responded in time to provide aid during natural calamities in Bangladesh, Japan, and Indonesia. His charitable work has transcended the boundaries of UAE and India to reach out to Turkey, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Dr B R Shetty is a champion of education and sports and has shown abiding interest in promoting both these fields. The Abu Dhabi Indian School where he presides as Chairman has strength of over 8000 students. He is also on the board of two other schools. His love for sports is noticeable as he played a quintessential role in setting up the ultra-modern cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Above all, Dr B R Shetty was a pillar of support for all the activities of Mangalore Konkans Dubai. This special honour is in acknowledgment of his inspiration to generations of people in UAE, his selfless and continued support to the people of the coastal region in UAE and the Mangalorean community at large.
Walter D'Souza Nandalike
If there is one media which has created a revolution of sorts in linking the world especially the gulf and the coastal region, providing information, news and views at the click of a button, it is the web portal Daijiworld.com. The brain behind this media revolution is the young, daring and debonair Walter D'Souza Nandalike, who is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of this popular website. As Editor-in-Chief, Walter has ensured that the website has become the binding force that unites Mangaloreans scattered the worldover irrespective of caste, creed, gender, race or religion.
It is no exaggeration to say that Daijiworld.com in just 13 years has made the people of the coastal region based in UAE believe and feel that the world has become a global village. It brings the latest news and happenings from the coastal cities and from Karnataka and other neighbouring cities to the coastal Diaspora to keep abreast of the happenings back home. It has also been instrumental in uniting many missing people and families apart from bringing many literary talents to the fore.
The man behind the emergence of Daijiworld.com as a powerful media is Walter Nandalike, who hails from Belman and is a commerce graduate from St Mary’s College, Shirva.
Walter has always had an inclination for writing; he started writing at the age of 13 and has written about 100 short stories, two novels, and several current affair and political articles in Konkani even before his graduation. His interest in writing incidentally paved the way for the establishment of Daijiworld.com.
It all began as an April Fool prank by Walter after he sent an email to his friends that he has started a website called daijiworld.com. It soon became a reality when his naïve friends wrote to him saying they could not open the website. The overwhelming response made Walter start a website which was launched on the auspicious occasion of Makara Sankranthi in 2001.
In 2007 he converted daijiworld.com into Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd to emerge as a powerful media house. Over the years Daijiworld.Com has given a new dimension to charity by being the platform for rebuilding the scattered lives of about 350 families. The cumulative financial assistance for the needy generated through this media so far is about Rs 7 crore, which demonstrates the reach and power of this website.
Walter is a creative man with a penchant for newness which makes daijiworld.com the most sought after, effective, popular, highly rated and forthright web portal with highest number of daily hits. Under his dynamic leadership today Daijiworld.com continues to be the leader as far as the web media is concerned. With him at the helm of affairs Daijiworld.com has become an inseparable part of the people, especially in the Gulf region. Daijiworld.com has now become a friend, philosopher, guide and much more.
Walter was first person to start internet tv concept from Mangalore back in year 2006 through Tvdaijiworld. Today, a complete dedicated team of visial media working under Tvdaijiworld in Mangalore and webcasts important events live from Mangalore and other part of the world.
The starting of Daijworld Weekly, published from Mangalore, has added another feather in his coveted list of achievements. The first and only weekly published from Karnataka is registered under Daijiworld Publication Pvt Ltd, under the editorship of Hemacharya.
This honour by Mangalore Konkans, Dubai, is a salute to this man who has created a media revolution by connecting the west coast of India to the rest of the world and also for being the constant source of information to all those who need it.
Vincent Fernandes Cascia
The contributions of Vincent Fernandes Cascia to keep Konkani language, music and culture alive and vibrant in the UAE are humungous and praiseworthy. Vincent is a man of action whose work speaks louder than words. Armed with a profound ardor for Konkani music and culture Vincent has made a name for himself through his creative zest and innovations in the music field. He is a multitalented personality who has showcased his talent and imaginative intellect as a singer, composer, dancer, actor and producer in the UAE.
Vincent can be called as a trendsetter, one who follows his instinct with a sense of purpose. His innovative streak of mind reached its zenith as he is all set to bring Konkani to e-screen with the first-ever Konkani web serial “Lisavanchim Lahram” which was launched symbolically in Dubai a few days ago. This 12 episode web serial with a complete story in each episode is all set to be streamed on Daijiworld.com from October 20, 2013, giving an opportunity for Konkani artistes to display their acting prowess.
Vincent Fernandes who was born in Urwa and brought up in Cascia, showed a strong appetite for dancing when he was young. His father was serving in the army and his traditional family did not encourage his interest in dancing. But Vincent is made up of a sterner stuff never gave up. At 15, he won the 1st place in a state level dancing competition much to the surprise of his parents, who after realizing his passion blessed him. That proved to be the turning point of his life and Vincent began to evince keen interest in his passions like dance & music. Today Vincent is a name to reckon with in the UAE and also in the coastal region for Konkani music and culture.
Vincent has been active on the Konkani music field in the UAE for the last 20 years having released the 1st and 2nd volumes of his music album in Kuwait at a young age of 21. He continued his passion with an unwavering and virile determination and in a span of two decades has 9 music albums and one devotional music album to his credit. Well known singers like Vijay Yesudas and Aparna Mayekar have lent their voices for his albums. He exhibited his extraordinary talent and energy when he composed, sang and produced his devotional album “JivithaVaat” in just 12 ½ hours.
Not just content with showcasing his own talent Vincent Fernandes has established “Mogachi Lahran Troupe” and as its Chairperson he is working ceaselessly to instill the love for Konkani music and culture amongst the younger generation. He provides a platform for young catholic children in UAE to exhibit their talents. Vincent has also written and staged 12 official and 25 unofficial shows in different parts of UAE. For his musical accomplishments Vincent Fernandes has been honoured with the title “King of Tunes” by Pernal group, Dubai. His music talent has also found takers in Kollywood and the future looks bright and promising to our Konkani star.
Mangalore Konkans Dubai acknowledges his unequaled contribution to Konkani music and culture by choosing to honour him during its silver jubilee celebrations.
