Mumbai: Chembur Karnataka Sangh Confers First ‘Rastriya Kannada Ratna’ on Padmabhushan Dr B M Hegde

By Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mumbai (RD)

Mumbai, Feb 7: Chembur Karnataka Sangh conferred the first ever ‘Rastriya Kannada Ratna’ on Padmabhushan Dr B M Hegde, former vice chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), on Sunday February 5.

Supreme Court retired Justice and Sanskrit scholar B N Krishna was the chief guest.

Speaking on the occasion, B N Krishna said that he remained a Kannadiga despite his judicial service across the nation owing to his early studies in Kannada schools and encouragement of teachers.  “Dr Hegde, who has widely travelled overseas and contributed significantly to the education sphere, rightly deserves Kannada Ratna,” he said.

Chembur Kannada Sangh president Prabhakar B Bolar presided over the programme.

The metro’s veteran lawyer M M Varma and Chandrashekar Palettady, editor, ‘Karnataka Malla’ Kannada daily, were the guests of honour.

Krishna and Bolar presented the Rastriya Kannada Ratna award, comprising cash of Rs 25,000, a citation letter, and public honour to Dr Hegde.

Dr Hegde said that the Kannada Ratna Award conferred by metro’s Kannada Sangh has greater significance than the Padmabhushan.  He had marveled at the achievement of ancestors and said that he was humbled to acknowledge that he is just a micron among hundreds of Kannadiga achievers.  “The majority of issues can be resolved if the people are tolerant of co-existence.  One becomes a victim of sickness by acting against it,” he added.

He also lauded the efforts of Chembur Karnataka Sangh in honouring the teachers.

Bolar presented the annual ‘Y G Shetty Top Teacher Award’ to Sanat Kumar Jain and ‘Subbaya Shetty Endowment Award’ to renowned stage artiste Juliet Pereira.

Chembur Karnataka Sangh chief secretary Vishwanath S Shenava and treasurer Devdas K Shettigar were present on the dais.

‘Gammat Mini Pandarda’, a Tulu drama, was staged by Krishnaraj Shetty and group as part of the entertainment programme while the children staged various cultural programmes.

Archana Shetty and Meghana Shetty rendered the prayers.  Sudhakar Anchan read the felicitation letter.  The cultural sub-committee secretary Daya Sagar Chowta compered the programme. T R Shetty proposed the vote of thanks.