Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Dec 20: Kannada writer Dr Giraddi Govind Raj , Konkani writer Edi Netto, journalist N Gururaj, artist Ashok Gudigar, Konkani singer Wilson Olivera and teacher K Gadhilingappa have been chosen for the Sandesha Awards of 2018 while renowned social worker Auto Raja has been chosen for Sandesha Special Recognition Award.
The awards will be presented by Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education on January 13.
Writer and novelist Na D Souza announced the award winners’ names in a press meet held at Sandesha on Tuesday, December 20.
Giraddi Govind Raj, Edi Netto, Wilson Olivera
K Gadhilingappa, Ashok Gudigar, N Gururaj, Auto Raja
Director of Sandesha Foundation, Victor Vijay Lobo, said this is the 27th year of Sandesha Awards conferred on the people who have contributed immensely in the field of literature, art and media. So far, 244 persons, have been chosen for the awards which include the seven who will be honoured on January 13.
Award selection committee members Dr Na Damodara Shetty, Chandrakala Nandavara, Roy Castelino, Titus Noronha, Br Victor Crasta were present.
Sandesha Kannada Literature Award- Prof Giraddi Govind Raj
Prof Giraddi Govind Raj was born in 1939 in Rona, Gadag. He has to his credit three masters- English, Kannada and Linguistics, and a doctorate in stylistics. Known for his impressive oratory, brilliant teaching and penetrating critique, from 1963 to 1999 he has served as a lecturer in Karnataka College, Gulbarga University and Karnataka University.
His contribution in literature include fifteen series of reviews like 'Sanna Katheya Hosa Olavugalu', 'Vilambita', three collections of poems like 'Sharada Lahari', 'Merlin Monroe', and three short story collections like 'Aa Mukha-Ee Mukha', and fifteen compiled works and other writings.
Sandesha Konkani Literature Award- Edi Netto, Jeppu
Born in Jeppu, Mangalore in 1938, Edwin Marian Netto joined the Indian Air Force as an electrician and then was promoted as a missiles officer. He was in the battlefront during the war against China in 1962, in 1965 war against Pakistan and in 1971 war against Bangladesh. He retired from the military with five military medals and a presidential award.
Since retirement, he has been quite active in the field of Konkani literature. He has to his credit more than two thousand articles, 477 short stories and 27 poems. He has published 7 books including 'Kudro' (published by Jeppu Nataka Sangha) and Mannkulem (published by The Sevak).
Sandesha Arts Award- Ashok Gudigar
Born in 1965, Ashik Gudigar lives in KH, Colony, Bidadi, Bengaluru. A skilful artist, thousands of his stone, wooden and sandalwood carvings testify to his sculptural talents. He provides training on creating bronze and fibre models. His works have been exhibited in countries like Russia, USA and England. As a trainer in 'Kaushalya', the Canara Bank Artisans Project, he has provided training to thousands of artists. Some of the statues moulded by him range from 2ft. to 78 ft.
Sandesha Media Award- N Gururaj
N Gururaj was born in Asagod, in Jagalur Taluk of Davanagere District. He joined 'The Udayavani-Kannada Daily' at Manipal as the sub-editor on the day when the newspaper was started, i.e. 1st January, 1970, and continued to work there for 42 long years till he retired as the editor in 2013. During his tenure 'The Udayavani' has acquired several accolades for its news compilation, page design and front page design.
The sister publications of the Manipal Press like 'The Roopathara' and 'The Deepavali Visheshanka' came to light under his care. He has published several short stories and poems under the pseudonym 'Vishvamitra'. He was a guide and role model to several journalists trained by him.
Sandesha Teacher Award - K Gadhilingappa
Born in Genikehalu of Bellary district in 1962, K Gadhilingappa did MA and M Ed and has served as a teacher in many high schools. He has been working as teacher in Kolagallu Government High Schools from 2013. In addition to his teaching, he has been quite active in several welfare activities such as providing 3-month long free navodaya residential coaching to poor orphans, economic aid to 25 poor orphans till they become self-reliant, free tuition to the physically challenged children in their homes.
He worked strenuously to get the pension the old people deserved. He has arranged sheds on the bank of the Thungabadhra River for girls to change their dress. He has toiled tirelessly to develop educational facilities in the schools in Genikehalu village. With an aim of implementing the various government projects at the grass root level, he provides guidance to teachers.
Sandesha Konkani Music Award- Wilson Olivera
Born in Padukone near Kundapur in 1966, Wilson Olivera is a leading Konkani singer and a music director today. A deep love for Konkani language, his mother tongue, and the Konkani music transformed him into a renowned Konkani singer and a musician.
He started his music career at the age of 16. Thereafter, he has produced several albums. He has performed successfully in around fifty musical shows in Mangalore, Bangalore, Mumbai, Qatar, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, the UAE, and other places.
Sandesha Special Recognition Award - Auto Raja
Himself a vagabond, Auto Raja alias T. Raja has dedicated his whole life for the rescue of the abandoned. For the past twenty years he has been reaching out to over ten thousand beggars, mentally distressed, physically and mentally challenged and the orphans in the streets of Bangalore. He is the founder secretary of the ‘New Ark Mission of India’ started in 1997. He has used his auto rickshaw to provide a decent burial to over 4000 beggars in Bangalore city.
Auto Raja provides asylum to 750 orphans in a land provided to the New Ark Mission of India by the India Campus Crusade for Christ in the outskirts of Bangalore. Recently, the government has donated an acre of land to further his benevolent activities. An ambulance which is a must to carry the helpless is the recent gift from an NGO. He dreams to see a day when Bangalore becomes a beggar less city.