Sharjah: Karnataka Sangha Sharjah, every year identifies a dedicated Kannadiga and honours him with the ‘Mayura Award’ during their annual celebrations. This year they have unanimously chosen a simple and big hearted personality, Joseph Mathias who for more than two decades has selflessly supported and promoted Kannada in this part of the world. Any Karnataka related programmes will never ever be an event without the banner of ‘Merit Freight’ & ‘Joseph Mathias’. The soft spoken entrepreneur is also a well-known singer, a film actor and a good gentleman.
It is often said that Gold is a pure and precious metal on earth. Though costlier metals than Gold are available in the market, people still believe in the sanctity of gold and be it for any auspicious days or for mangalasuthra, gold is the only precious metal bought for these occasions. But to attain this status, this metal has to stand the test of fire. Joseph Mathias is one among the precious metals who stood all tests of fire and turned gold long back. He is a successful entrepreneur, talented singer, Kannadiga supporter, kind hearted philanthropist and a great human being well known in the society for long years.
A hard worker from his early days in Mumbai, he has come up a long way from self-working 16 hours a day, a true commitment to his job, in the early 1988 as a Customs Clerk in a Shipping Company to the currently managing and owning a group Freight Forwarding Company in Dubai which has so many employees dedicatedly working under him for so many years since they joined him. This is the testimony that Jospeh Mathias believes not only in work but also loves and cares for his people every time.
Fondly known as ‘Jossy’, he was born to Lawrence and Mary Mathias in an agricultural family in an interior part of Mangaluru called ‘Ferrar’. He now resides in Bendur, Mangaluru. Married to Flavia, a jasmine in true spirit from Pangala is the real strength and source of inspiration to him both in his office and social career. Having two beautiful daughters, Tisha and Tianna, Joseph is truly a blessed family man.
Joseph Mathias who started singing hymns with his mother at home to singing Choir in the Church of Mangaluru had participated in many singing competitions held in the city, winning trophies and accolades. This encouraged his singing career and though had a brief stop during his major education period, later got his first break at a program organized by Konkani Association in Dubai in the year 2008 where people of Dubai started recognizing him as a singer. From that day onwards, his singing continued and any Konkani Associations Musical programme in Dubai or elsewhere you will hear the melodious voice of Joseph Mathias. Unlike other singers, he is enthusiastically promoting many singers of Mangaluru, conducts musical programmes in Dubai and bringing them to lime light.
He is a great philanthropist supporting each and every associations of Kannadigas in UAE with sponsorship, supports charitable causes, releasing of Konkani literature, periodicals, CD’s etc., and other endless requests coming to his door on a daily basis. He smilingly says ‘I just share a piece which I get through my hard work and I consider it as an opportunity to share my fortune to our brethren in times of need’ and supports them continuously.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:
• Received numerous awards at School, College, Inter-school and inter-parish singing completions
• Awarded 1st place for duet singing in Moodabidri Varado Competition
• Participated in Konkan Natak Sabha & Kala Sampath singing Competition held in Mangaluru
• Performed in Bendore Parish singing competition and awarded for solo, duet and group singing
• Performed at St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru for their annual function
• Participated in Mangaluru Konkan’s singing competition held in Dubai
• Honoured for live singing during the first Lancy Nite held in Dubai
• Honoured for live singing during the 2ndLancy Nite held in Mangaluru
• Honoured for live singing during the 3rdLancy Nite in Kirem Church Ground
• Honoured for live singing during the 4thLancy Nite in St. Antony’s Ashram Mangaluru
• Honoured for live singing during the 5thLancy Nite at JSS School, Al Safa Dubai
• Honoured for live singing during the 6thLancy Nite at Emirates English Speaking School, Dubai
• Sung for various Wilson Olivera Nites in Dubai, Mangaluru & Kundapur
• Sung for Stan Nite in Don Bosco Hall & St. Agnes Special School, Mangaluru
• Participated in Stan Nite in London, U.K.
• Participated in Lancy Moras Nite at Al Nasr Leisure Land, Dubai
• Sung for Naach Baila Naach at JSS School, Dubai
• Sung for Konkani Legend Henry D’Souza during Daiji Dubai anniversary
• Performed at Mangaluru Konkans Twin Dramas at Sh. Rashid Auditorium, Dubai
• Recorded CD for ‘Moga Sagor’ with Solo Singing ‘Annaji’ and two duets
• Recorded CD for “Mogachi Lahra’ with solo singing ‘Gadda Gorum’ song
• Recorded CD for “Mogachi Lahra’ with duet singing ‘Ami Konkani Mogi’ song
• Recorded CD for ‘Pani Pani Barsa’ with solo singing ‘Ajja Pulli’
• Recorded CD for “Kalzanthli Bhogna’ for Canute Mathias with duet singing
• Recorded CD for ‘Ashawadi’ with ‘Katherina’ & ‘Kodiyalcha Pentak’ Solo singing
• Recorded CD for “Hello Deva’ of Arthur with solo and duet singing
• Recorded CD for ‘Moga Naad’ for Francis Rodrigues with solo and duet singing
• Also has sung and participated in very many Konkani Associations annual programmes in Dubai
Let us wish Joseph Mathias with many awards and accolades in the future and let almighty bless him with more strength to help the needy.
