Daijiworld Media Network- Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Aug 11: Dakshina Kannada Padmashali community, Mangalore organized a felicitation program for celebrating the 80th year of Ambatanaya Mudradi (M Keshav Shettigar) who is a teacher, Yakshagana, Harikatha and Jinakatha artiste, writer and poet too. The program was held on August 10 at Bavani Auditorium, Ambalpady temple here.
After receiving the felicitation, Ambatanaya Mudradi said, "Being humans, we must have values." He says that he belongs to every religion, without any discrimination. He claims to be a self-learner like Ekalavya since it would help him learn interesting subjects. He believes to have reached ultimate satisfaction through his achievements.
"There should be no end to Kannada medium schools," he added. Though he is physically old, he has a sound mind. He believes that the art of Yakshagana and thala-maddale will never end. According to him, his grandfather Bomma was an inspirational spirit.
During his conversation he also said that he had involved himself in many fields only to forget bitter experiences in his life.
He further believes that, "The Lord Bhadrakali is always with me and will protect me."
Bannanje Govindacharya said, "Qualification is not more important than knowledge, the heart sholud be conscious. The younger generation has an artificial life and like to be away from innateness. Now-a-days, education has become exam oriented; educational institution bring out mechanized people."
"We are not after knowledge but only after money. Ignorance has become a qualification," he added.
N B Vijay Ballal in his inaugural speech praised Mudradi’s achievements and wished him success.
Prabhakar Joshi, Yakshagana mentor and reviewer said, "There is no difficulty in being good. Mudradi has a unanimous opinion in literature; he is a person of worth and is qualified to be in the state."
Trustee Harikishna Punarur, ex-president, KSP Bangalore presided over the programme.
Purandara D Shettigar, M Prabhakar Joshi, Heranje Krushnabhat, Kabbinale Vasant Bharadwaj, Kumble Sundar Rao, Kyatyayini Kunjibettu, Padekallu Vishnu Bhat and others were present on the auspicious occasion.