Karkala: Senior journalist and Dangura weekly editor Kuntadi Dayananda Pai has been selected for the prestigious 2025–26 Dr Shekhar Ajekar State Award, instituted by the Karkala Taluk Working Journalists’ Association in memory of noted journalist and litterateur Dr Shekhar Ajekar.

The award recognises outstanding contributions to journalism and will be presented at a special ceremony scheduled to be held on August 6 at Rajeshwari College, Sanur, in Karkala.

Award to be presented by Dr Mohan Alva

The award will be presented by Dr Mohan Alva, founder of the Alva’s Education Foundation.

The programme will be presided over by Mohammed Shareef, president of the Karkala Taluk Working Journalists’ Association.

The event is expected to bring together journalists, literary personalities, educationists and community leaders to honour Dayananda Pai’s contribution to the field of journalism.

Several dignitaries to attend

A number of prominent personalities are expected to participate in the award function.

Among them are Dr Ravindra Shetty Bajagoli, State President of the Karnataka Quarry and Crusher Association; Deviprasad Shetty, President of Rajeshwari Educational Institution, Sanur; Sriram Bhat, President of Sanur Isha Vyasam Trust; Kondalli Prabhakar Shetty, President of the Karkala Taluk unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat; and Subrahmanya G. Kurya, President of the Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association.

Also attending the programme will be Uday Kumar Mundkur, Vice-President of the Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association; Nazir Polya, General Secretary of the association; and Astro Mohan, Committee Member of the Karnataka Working Journalists’ Association.

Award honours contributions to journalism

The Dr Shekhar Ajekar State Award has been instituted in memory of the late journalist and litterateur Dr Shekhar Ajekar to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to journalism.

The selection of Kuntadi Dayananda Pai is seen as a recognition of his long-standing service to journalism through the Dangura weekly and his contribution to the media landscape.

Programme details announced

The details of the award ceremony were announced in a press release issued by Harish Sacharipete, General Secretary, and Satish H. Shetty, Treasurer of the Karkala Taluk Working Journalists’ Association.

The organisers have invited journalists, well-wishers and members of the public to attend the programme and honour the award recipient.