Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Oct 30: The Mangaluru Press Club's Guest of Honour Award was conferred on Bengaluru Kambala Samithi president and Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai here at Press Club on Monday October 30.
Managing director Daijiworld Media Walter Nandalike inaugurated the award ceremony.
Receiving the honour, Ashok Kumar Rai said, “Few years ago, there was controversy related to Kambala that reached the doors of the Supreme Court. I had to fight in the court on my own expenses. At last, the judgement was in the favour of Kambala. When Mangalureans residing in Bengaluru approached me and expressed disappointment that till date the government has not favoured any Tuluva residing in Bengaluru and not provided even a 5-cent land there.
“This time, we have decided to organize Kambala in Bengaluru for the first time in November, for which 50 acre land was approved which will happen at Palace ground. As many as 125 pairs of buffaloes and owners will take part in the Kambala. The owners and buffaloes will leave to Bengaluru after holding a huge procession in Mangaluru. The buffaloes will be ferried in lorries. A two-and-half hour break will be given to the buffaloes in Hassan. Giving importance to the health of the animals, food and water will be exclusively carried from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
“Already, accommodation to host 150 people is arranged for the buffalo owners in Bengaluru. People from Tulunadu will welcome the buffaloes and owners in various places during the journey. Celebrities from various film industries will witness the Kambala. More than one lac crowd is expected to the event exhibition-cum-sale of Tulunadu food will be available at the venue. As many as 2000 VVIP seating arrangements and gallery for 10,000 viewers will be made ready. All basic facilities will be provided in the venue including parking facilities. Central minister Nitin Gadkari, celebrities like Sunil Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Aishwarya Rai, Anushka Shetty, K L Rahul, Rajinikanth will be part of Kambala event. The Samithi will also urged the government to construct a Tulu Bhavana in Bengaluru for which one acre land is required for the same and proposal will be given to the chief minister Siddaramaiah,” said Ashok Rai.
Managing director Daijiworld media Walter Nandalike said, “It is an honour to be part of this event. I still remember the support given by the media fraternity when Daijiworld office started in the year 2003 and constantly supported for the growth of the media house. Today, wherever we go, we hear that media is corrupt and that is one of the biggest challenges we face now. We need to be united and discuss why we are labelled as corrupt and how we can prove those allegations wrong. People think that journalism is all about right ideology and left ideology. But I would like to make it clear here that media or journalism is all about being right or wrong for which we need to work for.”
President of District Working Journalist Union Srinivas Nayak Indaje, president of Patrika Bhavan Trust Ramakrishna R and others were present.
President of Press Club P B Harish Rai welcomed the gathering, Journalist Harish Motukan compered the event and general secretary District Working Journalist Union Ibrahim Adkastala proposed vote of thanks.