Mangaluru: The much awaited ‘26th Annual Sandesha Awards’ instituted by the Sandesha Foundation of Culture and Education was held at Sandesha premises with great pomp and gaiety on Friday, January 13. Seven eminent personalities were conferred with ‘Sandesha Awards’ for their contribution in the field of education, social service and on the occasion.
Well known writer Dr. Kamala Hampana was conferred the literature award, film actor and producer Prakash Rai was awarded with the media award, folk singer Yuvaraj K won the art award, singer Anil Patrao was awarded Konkani music award, worker for a social cause John Devaraj was awarded the special recognition award and the education award was conferred to Renita Lobo along with Shamita Rao of Mother Teresa Memorial Education Trust.
President of Sandesha Awards Jury, Na D’Souza had constituted the jury comprising of Richard Louis, Dr. Nada Shetty, Eric Ozario, Chandrakala Nandavar and Sara Aboobakar selected the achievers for the 26th Sandesha Awards.
Following the welcome address by Sandesha Foundation President, Fr. Victor Vijay Lobo, Bishop of Bellari Diocese, Fr. Henry D’Souza spoke to the gathering and congratulated the awardees. He said, “Achievers of various fields are considered as role models by the present generation as they seek inspiration from them to reach their goals. Keeping that in mind, the seven achievers who won the Sandesha awards deserved the award for their relentless contribution to their own fields and setting an example for the new generation to follow.”
The award winners expressed their happiness in receiving the awards. “I am reminded of my younger days when I had visited Dharmasthala to attend the Sahitya Sammelana back in the early 60s when I was 26. And now, travelling to Mangaluru to receive Sandesha Award for Literature at the age of 82 definitely is nostalgic as well as honoring”, said Dr. Kamala Hampana.
After accepting the Sandesha Media Award, actor Prakash Rai said that he was really delighted to receive this award and it means a lot to him. Giving his thanks to the farmers who feed the country, Prakash said, “We all should honor the selfless work of farmers as they are indeed the backbone of the country.”
Konkani music composer Anil Patrao spoke to the gathering after receiving his award and said, “On this occasion I would like to thank my parents and my teacher Late Patrick Carlo and dedicate this award to their relentless support. It is because of them, I have been able to accept this award. My gratitude goes out to all the Christians for the support they gave to build my career in Konkani music.”
K Yuvraj mentioned that he preferred to sing folk songs because he admired the singers who were selfless in their career and did not do it for money or fame. “I thank Sandesha Foundation for conferring this award to me. My responsibility towards the field of folk music has increased now that I have won this award”, he added before singing a folk song for the audience.
Awardee John Devraj said, “I have always been inspired by Lord Jesus and Charlie Chaplin to achieve big in my lifetime. Sandesha Award is really special for me and I would like to thank Sandesha Foundation for awarding me this title.”
After receiving her award for educational achievement, Shamita Rao from Mother Teresa Memorial Education Trust said, “As young women in a venture to start a school for LKG and UKG children and then go on to establish classes till 10th standard and PUC as well, it was indeed very hard for Renita and I to go ahead. But our students were our driving force as we wanted to close the distance between rural and urban education.”
Addressing the gathering Shamita thanked Sandesha for recognizing their contribution to the society adding that, “We have come a long way in our venture to serve the society. For 18 years now, we have been striving for excellence when it came to education of rural students. Renita and I thank the Sandesha Awards Jury for deeming our services worthy of the awards.”
Speaking about the award ceremony which is being organised ardently since the last 26 years, President of Kannada Sahithya Parishath, Manu Baligar said, “Art and Culture have always been taken a front seat in Mangaluru because of Sandesha Foundation. Students of all communities learn their favourite art in Sandesha and excel at it. I feel really happy indeed to see achievers in the society being treated with the respect that they deserve as Sandesha awarded for their contributions to the society.”
Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Fr. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Chief Whip of Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza, Mangaluru North MLA J R Lobo, President of Sandesha Awards Jury Na D’Souza, Trustee Fr. Ivan Pinto and President of Karnataka Konkani Sahithya Academy Roy Castelino were also present at the occasion.
Mementoes were awarded to the organizers of Sandesha Awards ceremony which was followed by cultural events by students of Sandesha and Padua College.
