Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 25: The four-day annual event of Alva's Education Foundation, 'Alva's Virasat - 2015', which provides forum for highest forms of art and culture to unfurl in front of connoisseurs from the region who have been eagerly awaiting the event, got under way at Vanajakshi K Sripati Bhat Dais at Vivekananda Nagar in Puthige near Moodbidri on Thursday December 24. The four-day event, which is in its 22nd year since inception, was set into motion by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Padma Vibhushan, Dr D Veerendra Heggade on Thursday evening.

"A conscious crowd of audience that has the taste for top notch forms of art and culture can pay tributes to the hard work being put in by Dr Mohan Alva by enjoying and appreciating the programmes being presented as part of 'Alva's Virasat'. Students should imbibe the habit of recognizing and appreciating good quality literature, art, and culture. Alva's group of educational institutions have been imparting to students the art of making culture, literature, music etc a part of their lives, apart from giving high quality education. Universities across the globe have to conduct research about Alva's educational institutions and how they are being run," Dr Heggade said. He also exhorted the students to get engrossed with works that are people-friendly, gentlemanly, and aimed at general welfare.

Hemavati V Heggade, former minister, K Amarnath Shetty, minister, K Abhay Chandra Jain, president of South Kanara District Cooperative Central Bank, Dr M N Rajendra Kumar, director of state Kannada and culture department, K A Dayanand, Canara Bank managing director and chief executive officer, Rakesh Sharma, Karnataka Bank managing director and chief executive officer, P Jayaram Bhat, Hotel Peninsular Mumbai and UAE managing director, Karunakar R Shetty, Adani group managing director, Rajesh, executive director of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd, Kishore Alva, Suresh Bhandary from Mumbai, Hotel Gold Finch managing director, Prakash Shetty, and director of Sri Dhanalaxmi Cashew Exports, K Sripati Bhat, Jayashree Amarnath Shetty, family members of Mohan Alva like Meenakshi, Jayakar Alva, Balakrishna Shetty, Amita Shetty, Ramachandra Shetty, Urmila Shetty and some others were present.

Force behind 'Alva's Virasat', Dr K Mohan Alva, welcomed the gathering and delivered introductory address.

At the inaugural of the programme, 'Alva's Virasat 2015' award was presented to renowned playback singer and actor, Padma Shri Dr S P Balasubrahmanyam, popularly known as SPB. The award comprises citation, one lac rupees in cash, and memento. The honour, bestowed on the gifted artiste for his contribution in the field of music, was handed over by veteran scholar from the state in the field of classical music, R K Padmanabha. Thereafter, Satyanarayan Puninchittaya and troupe presented programme of Yakshagana music, Alva's students came up with 'Yaksha Namana' programme, while Manipuri and Srilankan artistes paid tributes to the celebrated singer by presenting programmes meant to pay tributes to SPB in the form of art and lyrical music.

SPB, speaking after accepting the honour, said that he had never in his life received such an honour nor was he feted in this way by anyone else. He said he does not expect to receive such an honour in future too. While dedicating the award to his mother and seniors who blessed and groomed him to come up in life, he expressed the wish to be born in Karnataka if at all there is rebirth.

Before the inaugural of 'Alva's Virasat', a cultural procession was taken out to the accompaniment of trumpets, Chende, Manipuri artistes, Dolu artistes from Kundapur, Duf, Honnavar band, holy pitcher, saxophone team, and several other musical instruments. Inaugurator of the programme, awardee, and guests also were part of this grand procession.