Justin D’Silva

Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Udupi Sep 9: Udupi on Sunday witnessed a huge gathering of around 15000 people at Ammanna Ramanna Shetty hall to show up the unity of the community during ‘Vishwa Buntara Sammilana – 2018,’

The event was inaugurated by Justice N Santhosh Hegde, former Lokayukta of Karnataka. speaking on the occasion he said “ I am proud to say that I am also a Bunt. Whatever we do, we reach the top in that field, be it business or politics. Dakshina Kannada district has given 3 Supreme Court Judges, it is a matter of pride for Bunts that all these 3 judges were Bunts. During the implementation of Land Reforms Act, we have faced many problems. But Mulki Sundar Ram Shetty with his Vijaya Bank helped us a lot. It is our duty to remember him on this occasion,”

“We have to take our community united. There are many poor people in our community also. Through this federation of World Bunts Association, we have to help the poor members of our community”, he added.

Sri Sri Santhosh Guruji Barkur and Sri Sri Odiyooru Guru Devananda Swamiji opened the programme by lighting the lamp. Speaking on the occasion Sri Sri Odiyooru Guru Devananda Swamiji said “This is truly a beautiful programme. The other meaning of Bunt is Organizer or Leader. Bunts are the other name for confidence. This is a stage to unite all the Bunts living in India and abroad. This day should be written down in golden words in the history of Bunt community. Let us protect our language and culture”.

Gracing the occasion Sri Sri Santhosh Guruji Barkur said “This Sammilana does not end here. God has given great strength to this community. Our great culture and tradition must be taught to the upcoming generations also. There are only 10% rich people in Bunt community. More than 50% of our brothers and sisters are poor. We spend crores of rupees for Nagamandala and other religious practices. Let us donate some amount to our own poor brothers,”

“Spending crores of rupees for religious programmes is waste of money. Let us reduce our expenses and contribute the excess money to poor. Mehendi is a holy ritual. But today it has become a party of alcohol and meat. There is need to stop the consumption of liquor and meat for Mehendi. Let this stage take a good move towards this”, he added.

B Jagananth Shetty Vittal Hegde B Appanna Hegde Sadananda A Shetty , AC Bhandary, Narayan Shetty Dasanna Alva Dr Prabhakar K Shetty, Maina Subbanna Shetty ,Sarvotham Shetty, Erya Laxminarayana Alva were felicitated on the occasion for their remarkable service in respective fields.

Thonse Ananda Shetty, CMD Organic Industries Ltd, on the occasion, said, “There are many types of people in the society. But Aikala Harish Shetty with his team has united all of them and organized this programme. We are in small numbers when compared to other communities like Marwadis. Aikala Harish Shetty has taken initiative to unite all of them. His efforts are today shown here. Let us be united in upcoming days also,”

Ajith Kumar Rai Maladi, President Buntara Yane Nadavara Matra Sangha Mangaluru, addressing the gathering, said, “Aikala Harish Shetty’s leadership is commendable. Bunts always stand against the injustice. We earn money in a meaningful way and spend it for the betterment of society. We have planned to make a “World Bunt’s Directory” which includes details of all Bunt members living worldwide.

The beautifully built stage was a replica of Traditional Guttina Mane. The live buffaloes showcased the Kambala. The auditorium was beautifully decorated with traditional items of Bunt community.

Aikala Harish Shetty, Chairman Federation of World Bunt’s Associations and President of the event, addressing the gathering , said, “Our community has never bent down before anyone. When any of our community members, faces problem whole of the community stands together. In upcoming days we are planning to unite all our industrial brothers and through them we will take up the welfare of the community. No Bunt should live in a poor situation”.

Thonse Anand M Shetty, K DShetty, K M Shetty, Padmanabha S Payyade, Advocate Subhash Shetty Santhosh Shetty, R Upendra Shetty, Suresh Shetty, Gurme N Vivek Shetty, T Prabhakar Shetty, Suresh Shetty Niranjan Marla Jayakar Shetty Indrali Leeladhar Shetty, Kapu Manohar Shetty and others were present during the function.

Bunt community leaders like Mulki Sunder Ram Shetty Justice K S Hegde, Sathish Shetty Udupi Palli Jayaram Shetty and Kayyara Kinhana Rai were remembered on the occasion. Souvenir named “Bunta Saurabha” was also released on the occasion.

Kadri Navaneet Shetty, Ashok Pakkala, Dr Roshan Kumar Shetty compered the programme. Day long various cultural and social programmes were held.