Sharjah: B G Mohandas Nominated for Prestigious 'Mayura Award-07'
by Sujay Bendur
for Daijiworld Media Network Sharjah
Sharjah, Dec 10: Karnataka Sangha Sharjah since its inception has been recognizing the Kannadiga businessmen, artists, social workers and littérateurs who have served the community sincerely by presenting 'Mayura Award'. This annual award, which is one of the major events implemented by the Sangha's visionary founder the late Umesh Nanthoor has gained recognition and is being regarded as one of the major awards in the Gulf region.
Accordingly this year, the executive committee of Karnataka Sangha Sharjah has unanimously nominated former president of Karnataka Sangha Dubai and Indian Pharmaceutical Forum UAE B G Mohandas for 'Mayura Prashasti 2007'
The Mayura Award will be presented at Sangha's glittering anniversary function to be held on Friday December 21 at Sharjah Wonderers Club.
B G Mohandas
B G Mohandas who is popularly known as 'Beeji' among friends and associates was born in Bijoor and brought up in Udupi. He is a post graduate in Pharmacy from KMC Manipal and served this international University as Assistant Professor before migrating to Gulf in 1982.
Before coming to Gulf, he was actively involved in many community development programmes back home and has served as the secretary of Manipal Jaycees.
Associated with Karnataka Sangha Dubai since it inception, B G.Mohandas has served as the 4th president in 1989. During the vibrant, colourful and eventful years of the Sangha between1989 to 1999 he took the responsibilities of president, general secretary vice-president. The major activities Sangha hosted during this period, and strength of large numbers of members in its fold has catapulted the Sangha to glorious heights and since then Sangha is recognized as one of the well-known and major community welfare associations of the Emirates.
It may be recalled that owing to his efforts and persuasion the major Kannada Daily Udayavani started the special publication for gulf Kannadigas' activities in its Wednesday edition as 'Gulf Vartha Sanchaya' in 1989 which indirectly gave impetus to flurry of Karnataka cultural activities in the region. He is also one of the founders of UAE Devadiga Forum.
Professionally, till recently he served in Gulf's well-known Health Care group New Medical Centre as Country Manager – Pharma Divison. During this time B G Mohandas served as the president of Indian Pharmaceutical Forum. For his distinguished service to the profession he was awarded 'Outstanding Alumni' of KMC, Manipal University in 2002.
In his free time as a hobby he hosts websites with varied interest and topics related to Karnataka and he is well-known as freelance writer too.
Speaking to Daijiworld correspondent much delighted 'Beeji' said " though I have been serving the Karnataka community for more than twenty years, Mayura is the first award which is bestowed on me. I am overwhelmed and touched by this gesture and I take this opportunity to convey my sincere appreciation and thanks to Sharjah Karnataka Sangha". Continuing he added "I deem it a great privilege that I will be receiving this award from the Kannadigas who like me are true lovers of Kannada culture and literatures".