Report: Shodhan Prasad
Abu Dhabi , Nov 5: Versatile Ex-President of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha, B K Ganesh Rai has been unitedly chosen for the 'Da. Ra. Bendre Award' by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha and was felicitated during the Karnataka Rajyotsava Ceremony scheduled to be held on Friday, November 4 at India Social Centre Auditorium, Abu Dhabi.
Ganesh Rai has been unanimously chosen for his contributions to Kannada language, Literature, Art, Folk and Social Service both globally and in India. Recipient of the 'Global Man Award 2015' last year he was the only one from UAE to be honoured with the award at 12th Vishwa Kannada Samskruthi Sammelana and 13th anniversary of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha Celebrations held on 19th and 20th of November, 2015 at Al Boom Tourist Village, Sharjah, UAE.
Early life and Education:
Straight from Coorg (Mercara) or the so called 'Madikeri' as it was also called 'Scotland of India' by the inspired British who occupied this area for over 100 years, Ganesh Rai is born to Thulasiamma and Krishnappa Rai parents who themselves sound 'Krishna Tulasi' close to the Lords. The enchanting fragrance of coffee, the aroma of fresh cardamom, Black pepper, the everlasting taste of pure Coorg honey, the flowing of holy river Cauvery, the noticeably cool fresh air, the beautiful scenic of hilly terrain, with its austere beauty, this god gifted, pollution free, calm and quiet land of mountains, the wooded slopes, eccentric villages, colourful scenery, rugged landscape, endless mountain ranges, ridge after ridge of slopes laden with forests rising to the sky, gives Madikeri its unique and irreplaceable character. And this special land Madikeri has gifted to the world this unique personality called, Ganesh Rai who always keep saying "Elladaru iru yenthadaru iru, yendendhigu nee kannada vaagiru".
Rai a BCom, graduate of Government College, Madikeri, a Fine Art Diploma holder of Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Art6s, an Art Master Certificate holder from Kalanikethan School of Arts, Mysore and Mahalasa School of Arts, Mangalore is very well supported by his charming wife Manjula Rai, beautiful daughter Aishwarya Rai and handsome son Monish Rai.
Introduction:
Ganesh Rai needs no introduction in this part of the world. As there is one India, one Lata Mangeshkar, one Amitabh Bachhan and one Jakannachaari, you will find only one Ganesh Rai. You will see that all the qualities of these great personalities of different fields are in one person. It is indeed nice to have this great person who raises out of limitation of colour, caste, creed, religion and language barriers. Be it a request for art, stage setting, designing, printing, executing brochures, logos, invitations, souvenirs, sculpture, decorating stage from any corner of people, any corner of UAE, at any point of time, you will find only one person who smilingly creates and executes in spite of his busy schedule. He is the Professor of Art, B. K. Ganesh Rai himself.
Awards galore since 1974:
Ganesh Rai was bestowed with the following chain of awards in his career from earlier days till date:-
Award - Honoring - India at 1st Honor – Govt. Junior College Madikeri 1974 at Field Marshal K M Cariappa unveiling ceremony of Sculptured Art work Main Gate GJC Madikeri
Karnataka State Best Teacher Award - 1993 by Karnataka Teachers Benefit Fund Bangalore
Karnataka Rajyotsava District Award -1987 by Hon R Gundu Rao – Chief Minister of Karnataka
Gold Medal -1987 at Lakshadeepotsava Dharmastala by Dr Veerendra Hegade
State Level Honouring - 1993 - at Gokrananatheshwara Temple Mangalore, Sri Sri Sri Pejavara Matadipati, Dr Shivaram Karanth
Shilpa Kala Rathna Award - 1983 at Karnataka Electricity Board – Madikeri, by K A Somanna – State Commissioner Bharat Scouts - Karnataka
Kala Praveena Award - 1984 Ganapathy Utasava Samiti Gandhi Nagara Virajpet by Sri Sri Sri Shanthamalla Swamiji – Arameri Mata
Kala Kirana Award - 1990 at Angala Parameshwari Temple Virajpet, by M K Poovaiah, President Town Muncipal Council Virajpet
Honouring - 100 years Kranataka Police Celebration-1984 by P S Ramanujam D I G Mysore
Honouring Lalitha Kala Academy, Bangalore -1991 by P R Thippeswamy, President Lalitha Kala Academy Bangalore
Honouring Madikeri Dasara – Navaratri Festival by M C Nanaiah - Hon Law Minister Karnataka
Honouring Sarva Dharma Sammelana – Arameri Matt, by Shiva Kumara Swamiji Siddaganga Matt Tumkur and Shantha Malla Swamiji Kalncheri Arameri Matt
Honouring Madikeri Dasara Utasav Temples by Kanchi Kaamkshi Temple, Kote Mariyamma Temple
Honouring Kodagu Bunts Association 1993 at Rotary Hall Madikeri
Honouring Vishwa Bunts Convention -1993 at Art Exhibition – Chitra Kala Parishat Bangalore by Dr Shivarama Karanth and Hon Jeevaraj Alva Minister of Kannada and Culture Karnataka
Awards bestowed in UAE
Was honoured with 'Mayura Award' by Sharjah Karnataka Sangha in 2009
'Prathiba Puraskar Award' at Vishwa Kannada Cultural Convention Karnataka Sangha Dubai - in 2009
Honoured at Nama Tuluveru 'Tuluvere Parba 2012'
Honoured at Kuvempu Utsava 2012 at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Honoured at UAE Bunts Satyanarayana Pooja by Dr B R Shetty in 2015
Honoured at UAE Tulukoota Silver Jubilee Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Devadigas Dubai Celebration in 2015
Honoured at Ramakshatriya Sangha in 2015
Honoured by Dr D Veerendra Hegde at Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sanga Rajyotsava Celebration 2015
Epitome of Creativity:
Ganesh Rai, the master of creativity has created some of the wonderful creations recorded in history. In Sculptures he had carved more than 300 statues of Gods and Goddesses in Stone, Casta, Mud, Cement, Wax, Metal, Plaster of Paris and Paper Pulp moulds. One of the illustrious from those a 9 ft Goddess Cauvery statue can be still be seen, both front and back side faced double dimension, in front of Cauvery Kalakshetra Madikeri. He sculpted more than 100 creations of Gods mostly for the Dasara procession of Madikeri.
Some of his water colour and oil paintings on canvas were displayed in various exhibitions and prominent places during the Dasara and Art Exhibitions in Mysore, Bangalore and elsewhere. Few collections can still be found in some of the Art Foundations in different parts of the world. Rai work of art printed and published from Sivakasi were released by well-known personalities in various occasions. Late Field Marshall K M Cariappa had unveiled framing artwork of Goddess Cauvery during his days. Cauvery Comics Books were published in Kannada, English and Kodava languages. His creations of Photo cards, Brochure, Pictorial Books and Publications of some of the picturesque locations of Raja Seat, Talacauvery, Abhi Palace, Bhagamandala including Tourist Guide and Map of Madikeri were printed and published during those days and appreciated. His creation of ‘Aishwareshwara Kubera-Lakshmi’ God Picture was released in Dubai.
Some of Rai’s Logo Creations back home includes Logos for Kodagu Dist. Co-op Central Bank, Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu Zilla Parishat, 54th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, Taranga Virajpet, St. Anne’s High School Virajpet while those created in UAE include Karnataka Sangah Sharjah, UAE Tulu Koota 25 years Logo, UAE Bunts, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Al Ain Kannada Sangha, Dhvani Pratistana UAE 30 Years Logo, Mogaveers UAE, Sangama Kalavidaru UAE, Gulf Kannadiga Forum, Devadiga Sangha UAE, Gammath Kalavider, UAE Tamil Sangam, Tulu Siri Aisira – Dubai, Mangalore Konkans 20 Years Logo, www.Daijiword website, www.kannadadhvani website etc.
His creations of Souvenir’s, Cover Designs, Layouts and Literature for UAE Bunts Souvenir Cover page designed – 1999, Karnataka Sangha Dubai Souvenir - "Gaana Vaibhava"2001, "Chandana" 2010, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah - "Saadhane" – 2006, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha "Rajata Rashmi" – 2006, Mangalore Konkans Dubai 2003 – 2010, Billawas Dubai and Northern Emirates "Suvarna Kedage"- 2007, UAE Tulukoota - "Sangama" 2000, St Mary's Church Dubai – 2005, St Francis Assisi Jebal Ali – 2007, St Michaels Church Sharjah, SMC Malayalee Catholics, Tamil Sangam Ras Al Khaima, SMC Fr Daniel's Hon Souvenir, Dhvani Pratistaana UAE - "Kannada Naadu Nudi Rakshane" Cover, Karnataka Sangha Sharjah -" Suvarna Karnataka Picture Card" were all published and presented with appreciation.
Rai was master in creating Honour Cerificates conceptualizing and designing specially for the invitee guests on various occasions to include Dr D Veerendra Hegde, Justice Santosh Shetty, Bannanje Govindaacarya, Shakuntala Devi, Dr G S Shivarudrappa, Master Hiranayya, Sri Vidhyabhooshan, Shyamal G Bave, Sadananada Suvarna, Dr Deviprasada Shetty, H D Kumara Swamy, B S Yadiyoorappa, Dr V S Acarya, Krishna Palemar, D V Sadananda Gowda, Dr K P Putturaaya, Actor Dwarakesh, Vijayakumar Shetty, Kumble Sunder Rao, Jaya Suvarna and many more dignitaries. He has also created these certificates for Dr B R Shetty, Sarvotham Shetty, Sudhir Kumar Shetty, Thumbay Moideen, Zafarulla Khan, Dr B K Yousuf, the then Ambassador of India M K Lokesh and very many well know personalities of UAE Kannada and Tulu Associations. Also had Written and Conceptualized a book titled 'Footprints - A fascinating journey' to Padmashree Dr B R Shetty.
His craftsmanship in creating Stage Settings and Drama Scenery's were magical and had created Road Scene, Park Scene, Forest Scene, Water Falls, Home Scene, Palace Scene at Cauvery Kala Kshetra, Madikeri, Town Hall, Virajpet, St Anne’s High School Virajpet, Parane High School, Sarvodhaya B Ed/Law College Virajpet and also in several events of Kannadiga and Tulu Associations in UAE.
As a Writer Scholar he had some of his beautiful write-ups published in regional and national newspapers including magazines and websites. ‘Field Marshal Cariappa’, ‘Madikeri Dasara Yeshtondu Sundara’, Talacauvery Theerthodbava’, Jnanapeeta Prashasti Pakshinota’, ‘Kayyara Khinhanna Rai Noorara Sambrama’, ‘Abdul Kalam ge Vondu Salam’, Sir M Vishwesharayya including some write-ups of various organization’s events and programmes are some of his ongoing creativity.
Service to mankind:
Served as President –Kodagu Kala Parishat / Kodagu Art Masters Association, Secretary of Bharat Scouts and Guides Taluk Association and got an opportunity to visit Bharath Aeronautics after getting selected to Air Scouting Training wherein got a chance of lifetime to feel the Indian Military war planes viz., Mig, Nyat, Jaguar, Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. Also served as Secretary for Kodagu District Bunts Association, Founder Member –‘TARANGA’ Cultural Association Virajpet, Technical Advisor – Field Marshal K M Carippa Statue Committee – Madikeri. In UAE became the President of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha, Art Director of UAE Tulu Koota and Member of Advisory Board of UAE Bunts and other associations.
As a blood donor himself, Rai was constructive in conducting first Blood Donation Camp for Karnataka Sangha Sharjah in association with MOH, Attending all Blood Donation Camps organized by various associations, Creating Banners, Role-ups and notices for Blood Donation Camps and providing media news, compiled, created and released Brochure of all Karnataka based organization’s Blood Donation Campaigns which was inaugurated by H E M K. Lokesh, Ambassador of India to UAE and also handed over record of Indians Blood Donation to present to the Governments of India and Karnataka thru him.
One will always remember his role in enlightening and spreading the essence of Kannada as a soldier of Karnataka to Kannadigas in UAE. He has attained appreciations and accolades from almost all Karnataka based Associations including accolades from Tamil, Malayalam and other Indian Associations. He has also attained accolades from NMC Group where he is serving as Creative Art Director. He has also supported people of Bangladesh during the flood and natural disasters to the affected people in the past.
Conclusion:
Ganesh Rai is the name which immediately flashes in the minds of every Kannadiga especially in UAE when matters of creativity is concerned. Multi-talented, one can call him "Sakala Kala Vallaban”. In my view Ganesh Rai should be considered as a great asset to the Kannadigas in UAE and India as well for his overall contributions witnessed so far. This great man with his sheer enthusiasm and commitment towards Kannada and Tulu language is being promoting community spirit from so many years in this part of the world. He deserves all accolades and appreciation from the Government of Karnataka who should recognize his service towards Kannada/Tulu language, Art, Folk and literature packed with a unique blend of Artistry, Social Awareness, Commitment of service to humanity and honour him.
On behalf of all the Kannadigas in UAE we wish him more success in his future endeavors.