Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MB)
Manipal, Jan 23: The names of four eminent recipients of the annual Distinguished Achievers Awards for 2007, presented to Konkani achievers in their respective fields, have been announced.
They are Dr Manoharrai Sardessai (Posthumous), Pandit TUlsidas Borkar, Victor S Menezes and Prakash Padukone.
The late Dr Sardessai, Pandit Borkar, Menezes and Padukone
The awards, instituted by the Dr T M A Paid Foundation, Manipal will be presented to them at a ceremony to be held at 5-30 pm on Tuesday, January 23 in the Chaitya Hall of Hotel Valley View International, Manipal.
The late Dr Manoharrai Sardessai was born on January 18, 1925 in Panaji, Goa. He did post-graduation in French and Marathi in First Class. In 1952, he went to France and having done extensive research earned his PhD for the dissertation entitled "The Image of India in France" in 1958. Between 1964-67, he was president of Goa Konkani Bhasha Mandal. He edited and wrote a number of books and article and won several awards including the Sahitya Akademi award in 1980. He passed away on June 22, 2006. This award is being conferred posthumously.
Born in Borim in Goa in 1936, Pandit Tulsidas Borkar learnt music from his mother Jaishribai Borkar. Trained on Harmonium under Pandit Madhukar Pednekar, he attained master over flute and violin also later on. He has given concerts in Britain, US, Indonesia, Europe and other countries. Sangeet Natak award is one of the many he has won.
Former Citi Group Inc senior vice chairman Victor S Menezes retired in 2005. Earlier he had served as president and CEO of Citibank NA. Citigroup, operating in over 80 countries, had the credit of registering a profit of US$ 13.5 billion, holding assets worth US$ 200 billion and employing 90,000 persons during his tenure.
Prakash Padukone was born in Bangalore on June 10, 1955. At 15 in 1970, he earned his national junior badminton championship. From 1971 to 1979, he won the national senior championship in a row. Commonwealth Gold Medal in 1978, Danish Open, Swedish Open, All England Championship in 1980 and others are among the feathers in his cap. At the age of 17 in 1972, he received the coveted Arjuna award. In 1982 he received the national civil honour Padma Shri.