Abu Dhabi: December 9, 2016 will be a historical day for all the Tuluvas in the world as the curtain raiser of five-day conference of “Vishwa Tulu Ayono 2016” will open up in Badiadka, Kasaragod, the border town of Karnataka with Sarvotham Shetty from Abu Dhabi being chosen as the honorary president of the event.
There are around 156 Tulu Associations all over the world who are serving the Tulu community and society as a whole. And through some of the Tulu Associations in UAE, Sarvotham Shetty from Abu Dhabi has been contributing for almost three decades devoting time for the Tulu language and culture in this part of the world. It is a proud moment for the Tuluvas in UAE as he is being chosen for the honorary president of the event.
Recital of true events – Sarvotham
As a true Indian, Kannadiga and Tuluva Sarvotham has always supported the culture, art, folk and language through various programmes in this part of the world. Being an artiste himself, with his leadership qualities he has guided many fellow Tuluvas/Kannadigas in very many events thus contributing to the community.
Born to Soorappa Hegde andSaraswati Shetty couple of Pareeka, Udupi District of Karnataka, he had completed his elementary and pre-University studies in Perdoor and Hiriadka. Later he travelled to Mumbai where he graduated in Commerce in Podar College. In 1978, he was elected as the leader of the Senate in Mumbai University.
The acting skill within him was showcased when for the first time he participated in the very famous “Haggada Kone” penned by the well-known writer Parvathavani during an intercollege drama competition. During his course of studies, for the first time the “Kannada Sahitya Sangha” was opened in R V Podar College, Mumbai. He excelled in many drama competitions and was a good sportsman too; having received honours from Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistani cricketer Sarfaraz Khan during his time. Cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar and politician Gurudas Kavar were his classmates.
He completed his studies in the year 1979 and wanted to start an art centre for drama along with his friends and close associates in Mumbai. Soon “Kala Jagathu” was formed and he became the founder member thus paving way for those Kannadigas in Mumbai to indulge in cultural activities. Now this organisation, with 37 years of existence, is one among the several other art centres in Mumbai dedicated to Tulu and Kannada dramas.
After serving in Syndicate Bank, Mumbai for around 10 years he landed in the Gulf searching for better opportunities. He served continuously with International Distributors for around 26 years as General Manager and later started his own Automobile Workshop which is running successfully for the past 12 years in Abu Dhabi.
In the Gulf
For the last three to four decades he has been supporting very many Tulu and Kannada associations and has encouraged many talents to get on the stage.
In 1995, he was elected as Vice President of Indian Social & Cultural Centre, Abu Dhabi and later elected for two terms in 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 as President which was for the first time any Kannadiga would have achieved in the past 45 years of the Centre’s existence. It was during his tenure that the Centre was able to get its own land and permission to build huge independent premises in Abu Dhabi which is a record in his tenure.
He was also elected as Honorary Director of Abu Dhabi Indian School in the year 1997 where more than 7500 students of Indian origin are studying. He took leadership in inducing discipline and sportsmanship among the students of the School thus lending his time for their overall development. He was also the Chairman of School Sports Committee and the main man behind opening up of the new branch of the school in Al Wathba where around 3000 students are studying currently.
In 1998, he was bestowed with “Karnataka Rajyotsava Award’ as he has been serving as the President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha spreading the fragrance of Kannada language, art and culture in a vibrant way in this part of the world. He also participated in the “Vishwa Kannada Samskriti Sammelana 2004” wherein the then Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah along with 14 delegates of Karnataka as well as representatives of Karnataka from around the world had gathered. This was one of the biggest events of Kannada ever organised till then.
In the year 2006, when Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha completed 25 successful years he was instrumental in bringing the then Chief Minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy to inaugurate the Silver Jubilee function which was a record made in the history of Karnataka that in 50 years till then, a Chief Minister had attended such an event in the Gulf. It was in that year that Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha was bestowed with “Suvarna Karnataka Rajyotsava” Award which is another feather in the cap of Sarvotham Shetty as President of the Sangha.
Sarvotham Shetty actively participated in many Karnataka Associations including UAE Tulukoota, Nama Tuluveru, UAE and Abu Dhabi Tulukoota. He as the President of UAE Bunts has kept encouraging community members into forming new committees every year thus delegating responsibilities and paving way for the success of various cultural activities of the community every year. In UAE Tulu Koota he has been supporting the committee members for the past two decades in their annual events including Tulu Parba, Tablos, sports activities, art and folklore.
In Abu Dhabi, he was instrumental in starting the “Koosamma Shambu Shetty Memorial Women’s & Men’s Throw-ball Tournament” under the aegis of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha which gave opportunities for very many Kannadigas to participate and win accolades. Teams not only from UAE but also from other Gulf Countries and India participate in this annual event. This provides a platform for around eight strong teams in both women’s and men’s to excel every year.
Awards bestowed on Sarvotham
In 2009, he was bestowed with “Aryabhata Award” for his service towards society.
In Kuwait, during the “Vishwa Kannada Samskriti Sammelana” he was bestowed with “Vishwa Maanya” Award by the great Poet Dr. Shivarudrappa.
Felicitated by Al Ain Buraimi Kannada Sangha.
Felicitated by Bahrain Kannada Sangha.
Felicitated by Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha.
Felicitated by Dubai Karnataka Sangha.
Felicitated by Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty at Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bengaluru
Felicitated by UAE Bunts & Bunts Throw-Ball Association, Dubai.
Felicitated by Delhi Bunts Sangha.
In 1998, he was honoured with “Karnataka Rajyostava” Award by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka J H Patel.
Later, “Suvarna Karnataka Rajyostava” Award honoured by the then Chief Minister of Karnataka H D Kumaraswamy.
“Hryudayavantharu” Award by Vishwa Kannada Sammelana in Mumbai.
These apart he has received many other felicitations for his charity support towards the needy.
Through his collections of emails and contact numbers of Kannadigas, he shares information on various Kannada/Tulu activities around the world through internet. He participates in various blood donation and health awareness programmes lending his moral support to these events and organisers. Almost all organisations in UAE invite him to their programmes whenever scheduled and he attends those without fail.
Shetty has acted in many historical and family dramas as well. Whether it is a meeting, event, sports day or picnic you will find him there with a mike in his hand and with his golden voice commanding the event.
Married to Usha Shetty in the year 1984, he is blessed with son Samarth Shetty and daughter Samyuktha Shetty. He had celebrated silver jubilee of his wedding in the year 2009 with hundreds of friends in a grand event.
Recently he was elected as the President of “Patla Foundation Trust UAE”.
He keeps attending Kannada/Tulu programmes regularly in India as well as abroad and most of the times as the chief guest. He has attended various programmes in Mangaluru, Mulki, Bengaluru, Hubli, Belagavi, Pune, Pimpri, Chinchwada, Nasik, Delhi, Mumbai, Sangli, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar and delivered speeches on Tulu Kannada Culture.
Sarvotham Shetty is mainly inspired by two great personalities; first the world leader Nelson Mandela who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to dismantle the apartheid system and secondly the soft spoken proud son of Tulu Nadu, Padmashree Dr. B R Shetty, the patron of Kannadigas in UAE.
