Bunts Bahrain Elects New Executive Committee - Jinraj Shetty President

By Ronald D’Souza and Joe Andrade for Daijiworld  Media Network Bahrain

Bahrain, Sep 11: In a crisp and impressive Installation Ceremony held at the Falcon Hall of The Palace Hotel, the BUNTS BAHRAIN community, inducted vibrant personalities from their midst in various roles as the new Executive Committee in the presence of specially invited personalities flown in for the purpose from their own hinterland.     It was indeed an eventful occasion that quite characteristically displayed their united frontier in dedicating themselves to the cause of their community and those in need.

The program began at about 7.30 pm on September 6 with the arrival of Chief Guest, the Indian Ambassador to Bahrain, Balkrishna Shetty and the Guest of Honour, Prof. B.M. Hegde, a renowned Cardiologist and former Vice-Chancellor of the MAHE, Manipal, were welcomed and escorted by a core of ladies from the community.   Pradeep Shetty, the General Secretary, welcomed the gathering followed by a prayer song by B.K. Shetty and Prathima Arun Shetty.     Ramanath Rai, a former Minister of Fisheries, Government of Karnataka State, joined in later as yet another Guest of honour.

The two Guests of Honour, Prof. Hegde and Ramanath Rai were introduced and their accolades and achievements highlighted.     The Indian Ambassador, Balkrishna Shetty then honored each of them on behalf of the community with a traditional shawl,  tray of fresh fruits and a memento for their keepsake.    

Prof. Hegde spoke prolifically in Kannada, an expert orator that he is, addressing the gathering with his typical good sense of humor and emphasized that as community members, all should make happiness their prime goal and journey in life by giving and give what we can by sharing and caring.     He quite vehemently encouraged the audience to say what they can do and do what they say.   

Ramanath Rai as well as the Indian Ambassador spoke on the occasion.from the dias.    Under the able stewardship of Krishna Shetty as the Induction Officer, the Installation of the new Executive Committee began with the introduction of every new Committee member and their presence on the dias. 

The following are the Members of the 2007-2008 Bunts Bahrain Executive Committee:

President – Jinraj Shetty
Vice-President – Jagadish Shetty
General Secretary – Pradeep Kumar Shetty
Treasurer – Jagannath Shetty
Entertainment Secretary – Doomanna Rai
Sports Secretary – Nitin Shetty
Asst. General Secretary – Sudhir Shetty
Asst. Entertainment Secretary – Rajesh L. Shetty
Executive Committee Member – Naveen Shetty

Their term commenced with the lighting of the lamp and followed by Jinraj Shetty giving the Presidential address.   A brief history of Bunts Bahrain was then given by Jagdish Shetty to the invited audience.

For the first time, two dedicated members among the community (Shantaram shetty General Manager Ramee Group of Hotels Bahrain, Sudhakar Shetty of Al Fahd Manpower Services Bahrain) were honoured for their outstanding contribution and dedication.   The task of introducing, welcoming and felicitating them was given to Vijay Naik, a prominent member of Bunts Bahrain.     The two stars of the evening were selected by a panel of experts were honored with a traditional shawl, tray of fruits and a memento by the Indian Ambassador to Bahrain. The Indian Ambassador also pinned on each of them their respective Executive Committee badges.     Both the awardees spoke with jubilation on receiving their awards and thanked the members for having picked them.   

Then followed a choc-o-bloc live entertainment program where local singers like Amarnath Rai, Rajesh Shetty, Mrinali, Sunitha and Sameeksha performed.   The singing was interspersed by comical and musical skits and scintillating dances performed by children and adult members that kept the eyes of the audience glued to the stage performances in awe.   The dances were choreographed by Asthika Sunil Shetty, Lakshmish Shetty, Vijaya, Priya, Natasha Prashanth Shetty and Ramya Vittal Shetty.  The make-up for all artistes was attended to by the one-and-only maestro, Shankar Jathanna.   The skits were directed by Nagesh Shetty, Karunakara Shettigar and Lakshmish Shetty.

The comperes and Master of Ceremonies for the events of the evening were Sudhir Shetty and Prafulla Subaschandra Shetty who rolled the agenda of the evening.   The vote of thanks was given by Sudhir Shetty.

The program was cherished and appreciated by all present in the Hall and it concluded with a sumptuous dinner for the entire gathering.