Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Nov 4: NRI Indian entrepreneur, Vakwadi Praveen Kumar Shetty, who is from Kundapur taluk, and who has been selected for Karnataka Rajyotsava Award for the year 2021, arrived in the district on Wednesday November 3.
On his arrival at Lord Vinayaka temple, Anegudde, accompanied by wife Roopali Shetty, he was offered welcome on behalf of the temple management. The priests performed puja. Senior trustee of the temple, K Sooryanarayana Upadhyaya, and priest Murari Upadhyaya, honoured the dignitary on behalf of the temple.
On reaching his home from the temple, the people extended to Shetty a traditional welcome by performing Arathi. After he invoked the blessings of parents and elders, he was congratulated by Kundapura Yuva Bantara Sangha, people of Vakwadi, family members, well-wishers, friends etc. Kota Amruteshwari temple managing committee president, Anand C Kunder, UVA Meridian partner, Bailoor Uday Kumar Shetty, Vinay Kumar Shetty, entrepreneur, Sudhir Kumar Shetty Markodu, Dr Sudhakar Nambiar, Praveen Kumar Shetty's father, Kavadi Narayana Shetty, mother Sarojini Shetty Sarkallumane, father in-law, Bhaskar Shetty, mother-in-law, Prema Shetty etc. The entire programme was coordinated by well-wisher of Praveen Kumar Shetty, Sanagal Mane Praveen Kumar Shetty, Keerti Shetty, Sandesh Shetty, Satish Poojary Vakwadi, Raghu Shetty, V K Shetty and Ashok Poojary.
Diya P Shetty rendered the prayer. Teacher, Venugopal Hegde, presented the programme. On behalf of his native village, teacher, Balakrishna Shetty, spoke a few words. Satish Poojary Vakwadi proposed a vote of thanks.
Anand C Kunder expressed happiness at the fact that this year's Rajyotsava award has been conferred on a highly eligible person. He said that Shetty has grown to this level based on hard work and experience. "If a person who rises in the society takes care of his juniors, the Lord always keeps him blessed. Shetty who successfully ran hotels in Dubai, Georgia and also here, tasted success. Because he got involved with education, health and social service, driven by the desire for the people of his native place to grow, the people heartily love Shetty. The work he did to help people during coronavirus pandemic shows his capacity," he stated and wished that Shetty will get Padma Shri or Padma Bhushan award in recognition of his service.
UVA Meridian partner, Bailoor Uday Kumar Shetty, said that Praveen Kumar Shetty, who came up the hard way, knows about the problems of the commoners because of his experience. He thanked Shetty for keeping his native place on high priority in being busy with his business. He said that Praveen and the late V K Mohan worked together like a pair of bullocks for the development of Vakwadi.
Vakwadi Praveen Kumar Shetty requested people not to offer him flowers or garlands in any of the functions as he prefers books or shawls which can be sued later. "I have been in Dubai for the last three decade where I am running business and also helping the Kannadigas being an NRI. If the Lord continues to keep me fit and makes me financially capable, I will continue to serve people to the best of my ability. This award has added to my responsibilities. In any work, money is not the most important thing. People who have come up in life should not forget their roots. My opinion is that this honour deservedly belongs to my village," he said.