Report: Shodhan Prasad

Abu Dhabi, Dec 6: December 9 will be a historical day for all the Tuluvas in the world as the curtain raiser of five day conference of ‘Vishwa Tulu Ayono 2016’ will open up in Badiadka, Kasaragod, the border town of Karnataka and good to know that Sarvotham Shetty from Abu Dhabi has been chosen as the honorary President of the International Wing.

There are around 156 Tulu Associations all over the world who are serving towards the Tulu community and society as a whole. And through some of the Tulu Associations in UAE, Sarvotham Shetty from Abu Dhabi has been contributing for almost three decades devoting time for the Tulu language and culture in this part of the world. It is a proud moment for the Tuluvas in UAE as he is being chosen for the honorary President of the International Wing.

Recital of true events – Sarvotham

As a true Indian, Kannadiga and Tuluva, Sarvotham has always supported the culture, art, folk and language through various programmes in this part of the world. Being an artist himself with his leadership qualities he has guided many fellow Tuluvas/Kannadigas in very many events thus contributing to the community.

Born to Soorappa Hegde & Saraswati Shetty couple of Pareeka, Udupi District of Karnataka had completed his elementary and pre-University studies in Perdoor& Hiriadka; later travelled to Mumbai where he got graduated in Commerce in Podar College. In 1978 he was elected as the leader of the Senate in Mumbai University.

The acting skill within him was show cased when for the first time he participated in the very famous ‘Haggada Kone’ penned by the well-known writer Parvathavani during the inter college drama competition. During his course of studies for the first time ‘Kannada Sahitya Sangha’ was opened up in R.V, Podar College, Mumbai. He stroked first in very many drama competitions and was a good sportsman too; having received honours from Indian Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistani Cricketer Sarfaraz Khan during his time. Indian Cricketer Vengsarkar & Politician Gurudas Kavar were his classmates.

He completed his studies in the year 1979 and wanted to start an Art Centre for Drama along with his friends and close associates in Mumbai. Soon ‘Kala Jagathu’ was formed and he became the founder member thus paving way for those Kannadigas in Mumbai to enhance their cultural activities. Now this organization with 37 years of existence is one among the several other Art Centre in Mumbai who dedicate themselves to Tulu and Kannada dramas.

After serving in Syndicate Bank, Mumbai for around 10 years he landed in the Arabian Gulf searching for better opportunities. He served continuously with International Distributors for around 26 years as General Manager and later started his own Automobile Workshop which is running successfully for the past 12 years in Abu Dhabi.

In Gulf

For the last three to four decades he has been supporting very many Tulu Kannada Associations and has encouraged many talents to get a stage opportunity.

In 1995 he was elected as Vice President of Indian Social and Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi and later elected for two terms in 1999-2000 & 2002-2003 as President which was for the first time any Kannadiga would have achieved in the past 45 years of the Centre’s existence. It was during his tenure the Centre was able to get a own land and permission to build huge independent premises for Indian Social & Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi which created a record for himself too.

He was also elected as honorary Director of Abu Dhabi Indian School in the year 1997 wherein more than 7500 students of Indian origin as studying. He took leadership in inducing discipline and sportsman ship among the students of the School thus lending his time for overall developing. He was also the Chairman of School Sports Committee and main man behind opening up of the new branch of the school in Al Wathba where around 3000 students are studying currently.

In 1998 he was awarded ‘Karnataka Rajyotsava’ as he has been serving President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha spreading the fragrance of Kannada language, art and culture in a vibrant way in this part of the world. He also participated in the ‘Vishwa Kannada Sanskriti Sammelana 2004’ wherein the then Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramayya along with 14 delegates of Karnataka as well as representatives of Karnataka from around the world had gathered. This was one of the biggest event of Kannada ever organized until then.

In the year 2006 when Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha completed 25 successful years he was instrumental in bringing the then Chief Minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy to inaugurate the Silver Jubilee function which was a record attempt made in the history of Karnataka that in 50 years a Chief Minister attending such event in the Gulf. It was in that year Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha was bestowed with ‘Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava’ Award which is another feather in the cap of Sarvotham Shetty as President of the Sangha.

Sarvotham Shetty actively participated in many Karnataka Associations including UAE Tulukoota, Nama Tuluveru UAE and Abu Dhabi Tulukoota. He as the President of UAE Bunts has keptencouraging community members into forming new committee every year thus delegating responsibilities and paving way for the success of various cultural activities of the Community every year. In UAE Tulu Toota he has been supporting the Committee Members for the past two decades in their annual events including Tulu Parba, Tablos, Sports Activities, and Art & Folklore.

In Abu Dhabi he was instrumental in starting the ‘Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Women’s & Men’s Throw-ball Tournament under the umbrella of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha which gave opportunities for very many Kannadigas who participate in this Tournament and win accolades. Teams not only from UAE but also from other Gulf Countries including India are participating annuallyin this event; which has given platform for around eight strong teams in both Women’s and Men’s whoseteams challenge every year.

Awards bestowed on Sarvotham

In 2009 he was bestowed with ‘Aryabhata Award’ for his service towards society
In Kuwait during the ‘Vishwa Kannada Sanskriti Sammelana’ he was bestowed with ‘Vishwa Maanya’ Award honoured by the great Poet Dr. Shivarudrappa.
Felicitated by Al Ain Buraimi Kannada Sangha
Felicitated by Bahrain Kannada Sangha
Felicitated by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Felicitated by Dubai Karnataka Sangha
Felicitated by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty at Narayana Hryudalaya, Bangalore
Felicitated by UAE Bunts & Bunts Throw-ball Dubai
Felicitated by Delhi Bunts Sangha
1998 won ‘Karnataka Rajyostava’ Award honoured by Chief Minister of Karnataka, J.H. Patel
‘Suvarna Karnataka Rajyostava’ Award honoured by Chief Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Kumaraswamy
‘Hryudayavantharu’ Award by Vishwa Kannada Sammelana in Mumbai
Plus many other felicitations for his charity support towards the needy.

Through his collections of emails and contact numbers of Kannadigas, he shares information of various Kannada/Tulu activities around the world through email media. He participates in various Blood Donation and Health Awareness programmes lending his moral support to these events and organisers. Almost all organizations in UAE invites him to their programmes whenever scheduled and he attends those without fail.

Shetty has acted in many historical & family dramas as well. Whether it is a meeting, event, sports day or picnic you will find him there with a mike in his hand and with his golden voice commanding the event. Always keep mingling with all his fellow associates, members of various communities freely and encouraging them every time.

Married to Usha Shetty in the year 1984 he is blessed with son Samarth Shetty & Daughter Sanyuktha Shetty who are all well settled and had celebrated his silver wedding anniversary in the year 2009 with hundreds of friends in a grand event.

Recently he has been elected as president of ‘Patla Foundation Trust UAE’.

He keeps attending Kannada and Tulu programmes regularly in India as well as abroad and most of the time he will be the Chief Guest therein. Programmes in Mangalore, Mulki, Bangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, Pune, Pimpri, Chinchwada, Nasik, Delhi, Mumbai, Sangli, Oman, Bahrain & Qatar he had attended various programmes where he delivered his speech on Tulu Kannada Culture.

Sarvotham Shetty is mainly inspired by two great personalities; first the world leader Nelson Mandela who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to dismantle the apartheid system and secondly the soft spoken proud son of Tulu Nadu, Padma Shree Dr B R Shetty the patron of Kannadigas in UAE.