Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Apr 17: The Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy conferred its annual honorary awards on B M Haneef, Bengaluru, Mohammed K Mata, Uppinangadi and Mohammed Ali Uchil, Abu Dhabi for the year 2015 at a formal function held here at Town Hall on Saturday, April 16.
Dr Wahab Doddamane memorial research award was conferred on Yakub Khader Gulwadi and P Sushila Upadhyaya memorial Beary women award was conferred on Maryam Ismail also during the same occasion.
Senior author S G Siddaramaiah in his inaugural address said, "l am a farmer by birth and I am really happy to inaugurate by handing over the coconut sapling. Our languages depict our heritage and it is the duty of academies to protect and encourage these languages. Our nation is a multicultural land. Our culture will survive if our languages are protected. We have reached a situation where a boy and girl cannot walk together. This is not a good development. At this point, we all need to unite and not get divided. I congratulate and wish all the very best to all the winners."
State Kannada and culture minister Umashree said, "There are about 15 to 20 Iac Beary speaking people in the state. The Beary literature needs to be translated into Kannada too so that all people will be able to understand and make best use of it. Karnataka Beary Sahithya Academy has already identified land and requested for grants to construct Beary Bhavan. I assure that necessary steps will be taken in this direction. This is a justified demand so we will do the best in fulfilling this demand. I urge the academy to encourage more and more women writers and reserve 33 percent grants for them. I congratulate all the award winners."
District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai said, "l am really happy to be part of this event. I congratulate and wish all the winners very best."
Health minister U T Khader, sports minister Abhayachandra Jain and MLC Ivan D‘Souza were present among others.
B M Haneef Bengaluru received the honourary award in the field of language and literature and Mohammed K Mata, Uppinangadi received the award in the field of art. Mohammed Ali Uchil, Abu Dhabi was chosen in the field of culture and organisation.
B M Haneef is a journalist by profession. He has written many books and has also translated 'Kanakadasara Jeevana Charithre' to Beary language. He has bagged Karnataka Pathrika Academy award 2013 and many more awards.
Mohammed K Mata is working in the field of Kannada cinema as an actor, director and writer for the past 16 years. He has written many stories in Kannada language. His 'Nande Yeloul' collection of Beary short stories and a Beary film will be released shortly.
Mohammed Ali Uchil has been positively responding to the problems of coastal Karnataka Muslim community. He has conducted programmes like mass wedding, constructed more than 100 toilets at different places across the district and extended aid to children who are from poor background. He has formed Beary’s Welfare Association in the Gulf region and has been working relentlessly for the development of the Beary community.