News and Pics by Jessie Rodrigues, Bangalore
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Sep 25: Archbishop of the local diocese, Bernard Moras, was pleasantly surprised, when A B Uppar of AMGD Fine Art, approached him at his house suddenly on the fifth anniversary of his elevation to the present post, and presented the Bishop with a portrait of Pope Benedict XIV, finished on canvass with oil paint.
Ajjappa Balappa Uppar was born on June 1, 1960 at Lakkundi, Bylahongala Taluk, Belgaum. He hails from a poor family, he says, because of which, he could not have continued with his studies, if not for Fr Valentine D’Cunha, who helped him to continue his studies after the seventh standard, to complete SSLC. Fr Valentine had a dream of turning this youngb lad into a famous artist one day and accordingly, he supported Uppar for his studies, for which Uppar says he is ever grateful to the former. “But for him, I would not have been what I am today, after completing my tenth standard, leave alone realizing my dream of becoming an artist" he recollects. Uppar is currently employed as an art teacher at Vidya Mandira secondary school, Nesaragi. He has many credits to his career-
In 1986, Uppar bagged the gold medal from Pope John Paul II. In 1988, he received appreciation letter from the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. in 1991, he was the recipient of an award from the then Chief Minister, Bangarappa, and in 1992, received an award from Dr Rajkumar. In 1993, he was awarded with the silver medal by Virendra Hegde, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala and in 1993, he won an award from Abdul Azeez of Saudi Arabia. In 2007, he was awarded as the best teacher in the city. He was conferred with the title, ‘Karnataka Bhushana’ in 2007 at Ravindra Kalakshetra won Kittur Rani Chennamma award at the state level in Bylahongala. The list of his awards and recognitions is quite long.
Uppar has held many exhibitions, right from 1980 till date, in various places like Gadag, Bangalore Chitrakala Parishad, Belgaum, Raichur, Raibagh etc.
When asked about his future plans, he said, he wants to continue his art work/paintings etc., and become a famous and well known artist in India in general and Karnataka in particular. He also longs to be able to reach out to the world hopefully one day, fulfilling the dream of Fr D’Cunha. He loves to paint portraits, he added.
Uppar was very happy to make a special mention of Bishop of Belgaum, Peter Machado, who has been very supportive to him.