Udupi: Willie Master Conferred with State Award
by Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Daijiworld Media Network
Udupi, Dec 5: On the occasion of the observation of the World Day of Disabled Persons on 3rd December 2009, William D’Sa, popularly known as Willie Master was honoured by the Government of Karnataka’s Department of Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens by conferring on him the Rajya Prashasthi-2009 for his contribution in inspiring and educating the physically challenged student, Malini Bhandary of Kanajar. Willie Master is one of the 26 persons and 6 institutions that were given this award in a function held on 3rd December 2009 at Jawaharlal Bhavan, Cubbon Park, Bangalore that was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Karnatka, B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Willie Master, himself a an orthopedically challenged person, was a teacher in Church Aided Higher Primary School at Moodubelle for 34 years and Lourdes Higher Primary School in Kanajar for six years till his retirement in 1996. It was while teaching at Kanajar that Willie Master was very much concerned about the plight of Malini Bhandary, who had lost both her hands due to a freak fire accident. When Willie Master learnt that Malini had given up education after the fourth standard, he personally went to her house and persuaded her father to send his daughter to school. He also managed to convince Malini that her life would be better if she continued her studies.
It was chiefly due to the sustained efforts and monetary support that was arranged by Willie Master that Malini continued her education and eventually completed graduation and is presently working in the Savitha Samaja Co-operative Bank in Udupi as a clerk.
Another student of the same school touched by Willie Master was Uddhaya Handa belonging to the Kumbhar community who has been visually impaired. Realizing his interest in singing and music, Willie Master presented him one of the best flutes from his collection of 16 flutes and later a Cascio organ. Though Uddhaya could not pursue education beyond fifth standard, he continued his interest in singing and is being invited occasionally by various Mutts at Udupi and other temples to sing for which he gets some payment.
Recognizing the service rendered by Willie Master to the betterment of the disabled students, the government of Karnataka honoured him with a shawl, garland, fruit basket, citation and a trophy. Willie Master acknowledging the honour conferred on him says that it was chiefly due to the exposure that he got about his work in the Daijiwworld.com and the Daijiwrold Weekly that his contribution came to the notice of the Department of Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens of the Government of Karnataka which considered him for the honour of the Rajya Prashasthi-2009.