Bahrain: Austin Santhosh Bags ‘Aryabhata International Award’
By Ronald D F D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network—Bahrain (CN)
Bahrain, Mar 31: Austin Santhosh, non-resident Kannadiga and former president of Kannada Sangha, Bahrain, will be awarded the prestigious ‘Aryabhata International Award 2009’ along with other 60 other personalities on Friday April 9 at Ravindra Kalashetra, Bangalore.
Austin was selected for promoting Indian culture and heritage outside India. Last year, Sarvothama Shetty of Abu Dhabi was selected for this award.
A senior member of the Kannada Sangha Bahrain, Austin joined the organization in 1984. He has served as entertainment secretary of Kannada Sangha, Bahrain, in the 80s and organized many Kannada cultural and musical events as well as Kannada plays.
Austin played a crucial role in projecting Kannada Sangha as a cultural organization.
In 1994, he served as general secretary of the organization and held the ‘Karnatakotsava’ that year. Dr D Veerendra Heggade was the chief guest.
A stage actor himself, he was actively involved in organizing many Kannada and Tulu festivals and cultural activities in Bahrain over the past 25 years.
Austin was also president of Kannada Sangha, Bahrain, during the silver jubilee year of the ‘Kannada Sangha–2002 and 2003’. The prestigious Rajya Prashasthi was awarded to the Kannada Sangha under Austin’s leadership in 2002.
A mega ‘Sambhrama 2008’, a cultural festival organized and attended by Dr Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala was also held.
Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, along with a 12-member delegation, attended the ‘Mega Kannada Vaibhava 2008’.
A grant of Rs 1 crore was announced by the chief minister for the Kannada Bhavana during the event and the Karnataka government has authorized the release of the amount in January 2010.
‘Alva’s Nudisi Award (Moodbidri) 2008’ was awarded to Kannada Sangha, Bahrain, while Austin was president.
A regular blood donor for the last 25 years in Bahrain, he has been honoured by the ministry of health, government of Kingdom of Bahrain.