Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Aug 8: Popular and well-known organizer in the field of Tulu, and ardent lover of literature, A C Bhandary, has been chosen to head Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy.

The state government, through an order issued on Monday August 7, has also appointed heads and members of certain academies and authorities in the state.

Bhandary, who has been actively involved with all fields of Tulu language and literature, was one of the founders of 'Tulu Koota', the first ever Tulu organization to have been established in Dakshina Kannada district, in the 70s. He also is backed by the experience of ably taking over responsibilities and successfully discharging them in organizing Tulu Sammelans in 1974, 1976, 1989, 1994, 2009, 2012, and 2016. During the period 1970 and 1975, Bhandary was identified as a Tulu theatre actor. His role as Kanthu in the play, 'Manager Kanthu' had earned him lot of popularity. He was highly successful in portraying comic and leading actor's roles. As the president of managing committee of Shankaranarayana Durgamba Vinayaka temple at Nandavar for 27 years from 1980 to 2007, he played a stellar role in the development of this temple. He has again been made the president of temple managing committee in 2017.

Bhandary was honoured with district level Rajyotsava award in 2004. He had successfully functioned as president of Dakshina Kannada district Congress Committee in 2002. Expressing elation at the well-deserved recognition that has come his way, Bhandary thanked district in-charge minister, B Ramanath Rai, who he said, is instrumental in making him president of the academy. He said that he will successfully discharge this responsibilities with the support of all the Tuluvas, Tulu writers, and Tulu fans and sought guidance and cooperation for from people of Tulunadu to make this possible.

Sudha Nagesh, Vijaya Shetty, Taranath Gatti Kapikad, Gopal Anchan, Vidyashree S, Durga Menon, Shivanand Karkera, Bennet Ammanna, Chandrashekhar Gatti Boloor, Dr Vasudeva Belle, Niranjan Rai Mathantabettu and Dr Y N Shetty have been made members of Tulu Sahitya Academy.

Heads of other academies, authorities: The government has appointed writer, Aravind Malagatti, as the president of Karnataka Sahitya Academy, J Lokesh as the president of Karnataka Nataka Academy, Pt Fayaz Khan as president of Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, Dr Vasundhara Bhoopathi as chairperson of Karnataka Books Authority and Dr K Marulasiddappa as chairman of Kuvempu Bhasha Bharati Authority. In addition, members to the seven academies and two authorities were also appointed. The number of members of Karnataka Shilpakala Academy has been increased to 15 from the current ten, while those of Tulu and Konkani Sahitya Academies have been increased to 12 from ten, said minister for culture, Umashree.