Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Jan 27: Well-known rationalist and consumer rights activist Prof Narendra Nayak will recieve the Lawrence Pinto Human Rights Award, instituted by 'Friends of Lawry' this year.
This was revealed by Eric Ozario, secretary Friends of Lawry, at a press meet here on Tuesday January 27.
"Lawrence Pinto lived all his life in the service of the working class and the downtrodden. 'Friends of Lawry' with the intention of perpetuating his memory, have decided to institute the Lawrence Pinto Human Rights award," said Ozario.
"The panel of selectors consisting of Dr John Fernandes, Prof Sunney Tharappan, Dr Ravishankar Rao and the committee of Friends of Lawry have unanimously selected the eminent rationalist and consumer protection activist Prof Narendra Nayak to receive the first award," he said.
The awards ceremony will be held at Kalaangann on Saturday January 31 at 5.30 pm. Dr S Settar, a distinguished historian and former director, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, SRC and former chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research will present the award.
Loy Noronha, chairman, Friends of Lawry, Walter Veigas, treasurer, Friends of Lawry, Louis Pinto, joint treasurer, Friends of Lawry and Prem Tellis, Executive committee member Friends of Lawry were the others present at the event.
About Dr Narendra Nayak
Born on January 5, 1951, Prof Narendra Nayak is an eminent rationalist, sceptic, godman debunker and consumer protection activist from Mangaluru.
He is the current president of the Federation of Indian rationalist association (FIRA). He founded the Dakshina Kannada rationalist association in 1976 and has been its secretary since then. He also found an NGO called aid without religion in July 2011.He tours the country conducting workshops to promote scientific temper and showing people how to debunk godmen and frauds. He has conducted over 2000 such demonstrations in India, including some in Australia, Greece and England. He is also polyglot who speaks 9 languages fluently, which helps him when he is giving talks in various parts of the country.
He is the convener of consumers education trust of Mangaluru. He has served as the director of Karnataka consumer protection board for 2 terms. He has published and edited Balakedarara chalavala. His publications include 'Pavada Rahasya Bayalu', 'Balakedarare Yechetukolli' and 'Battle against Supernatural'. His interview had even appeared in the French satirical magazine 'Charlie Hebdo' in September 2013.
About Lawrence Pinto
Lawrence Pinto was born in Nagpur on January 26, 1949, to William Robert Pinto and Severine Dominica D'Souza. He married Leena Pereira in 1979. All his life he selflessly served the marginalized and the downtrodden. In his early days, he led the young Christian workers movement in Mangaluru and at the national level. He was the co-founder of the All India Church Employees Federation.
In later years, he joined the trade union movement and spearheaded many working class struggles and established very many independent unions. Along with his comrades, he was responsible for the formation of the Dakshina Kannada co-ordination committee of Trade Unions. He also ably represented the workers' cause consistently during his entire tenure in the KEB.
He was one of the founding members of the premier Konkani cultural organization Mandd Sobhann, and served the cause of Konkani culture for nearly 28 years. He always went out of his way to serve the poor and the unfortunate.