Pics: Thejaswi U Poojary
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Jan 11: Former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde on Saturday said that bringing orphan children under the ambit of reservation was one of the most satisfying moments of his public life. He was speaking after receiving the New Year Award 2026 at a ceremony held on January 10.
The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)—an Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University — along with the Academy of General Education (AGE), Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), Bengaluru, Manipal Media Network Ltd, and the Dr T M A Pai Foundation, jointly organised the New Year Awards 2026 to honour five eminent personalities for their outstanding contributions to society, art and culture.
Expressing his gratitude after receiving the award, Jayaprakash Hegde said he was deeply humbled by the recognition. “Appointed by the government of Karnataka, I was entrusted with the responsibility to oversee social inclusion initiatives and classification reforms. In this role, I sought to modernise representation frameworks and address long-standing social inequities within our state,” he said.
“One moment that stands out is submitting Karnataka’s first report advocating the inclusion of orphans under reservation—ensuring that children without families or community support are not left behind and can compete on a fair footing with their peers,” he added.
The recipients of the New Year Awards 2026 were K Jayaprakash Hegde, former minister; K Lakshminarayanan, former executive director, Canara Bank; Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder and president, Thumbay Group, UAE; Vinaya Prasad, Indian cine artiste; and Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), Vice-Chancellor, MAHE.
Addressing the gathering, Dr H S Ballal, president of AGE and pro-chancellor of MAHE, said, “It is with immense pride that we gather once again to celebrate excellence and recognise individuals whose contributions have enriched our society in meaningful ways. At MAHE, recognising excellence goes beyond mere acknowledgment—it strengthens the cultural and intellectual fabric of our society.”
“The journeys of these distinguished individuals inspire us to continue fostering an environment where creativity, scholarship and social responsibility thrive together. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the awardees and thank them for being torchbearers of positive change,” he added.
Accepting the honour, Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, VSM (Retd), vice-chancellor of MAHE, reflected on the collective nature of educational achievements. “No achievement in education belongs to one individual alone. It is the result of the shared commitment of faculty whose teaching inspires, researchers who push the boundaries of knowledge, staff who ensure seamless campus functioning, students whose curiosity fuels innovation, and partners who believe deeply in our mission,” he said.
“I accept this award on behalf of the entire MAHE community, whose tireless efforts make recognitions such as this possible,” he added.
Former Canara Bank executive director K Lakshminarayanan recalled his early professional journey and association with the Pai family. “I had the opportunity to meet T A Pai when he headed the Canara Industrial and Banking Syndicate, with Dr T M A Pai as chairman of the Board. As my superior was on tour, I attended to Shri Pai’s requirements, following which I received an offer letter and joined his bank,” he said.
“Initially unfamiliar with local languages and conversing mainly in English, I later spoke broken Kannada, which local people kindly accepted. During this time, the bank expanded overseas, allowing me to learn banking practices in Germany and later manage the London branch. After many fulfilling years, the Government appointed me executive director of Syndicate Bank and subsequently Canara Bank,” he added.
Expressing her happiness, noted Indian cine artiste Vinaya Prasad said her artistic journey across Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu cinema had shaped her understanding of people and society. “Udupi has always been a place where learning and art walk hand in hand, and MAHE has amplified that tradition on a global scale. I express my heartfelt appreciation for this special recognition,” she said.
Dr Thumbay Moideen, founder and president of the Thumbay Group, UAE, described the honour as both personal and collective. “This recognition is not only a personal honour but a testament to the collective vision, dedication and commitment of the entire Thumbay Group—especially our healthcare, education and research professionals—who work tirelessly to advance human well-being across the UAE and beyond,” he said.
“My journey in building institutions that integrate healthcare, education and community service has been inspired by the same values that define MAHE—excellence, innovation, compassion and a deep-rooted belief in the transformative power of education and healing,” he added.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr (Cdr) Anil Rana, director, Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, who acknowledged the overwhelming participation and support from the community.
The event was graced by Dr H S Ballal, president-AGE and pro-chancellor, MAHE; Vasanti R Pai, trustee, MAHE Trust; Dr Ranjan R Pai, chairman, MEMG, Bengaluru, president, MAHE Trust and registrar, AGE; T Satish U Pai, executive chairman, Manipal Media Network Ltd and vice-president, AGE; and T Sachin Pai, trustee, Dr T M A Pai Foundation, Manipal. Their presence underscored the Manipal institutions’ continued commitment to recognising excellence and societal impact.