New Year honours for four from undivided DK

Manipal: The annual New Year Awards 2019, organized by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Academy of General Education and Syndicate Bank was held at Fortune Inn Valley View here on Saturday. Four eminent persons of undivided Dakshina Kannada were honoured of whom one was awarded in absentia as Dr K.R. Shetty was unable to attend the function.

The award, instituted in 1941 is given to four persons every year.  The four awardees this year were: Dr Sandhya S Pai, a journalist, Dr K.R. Shetty an eminent neurologist, Mr H.S. Upendra Kamath a banker and Mr Ambatanaya Mudradi a teacher, writer and social worker. 

Welcoming the gathering, Dr H.S.Ballal, Pro Chancellor MAHE and President AGE said, “The occasion is to recognize and honour people who have left an impact in their areas of work.” He added, “The award is in recognition of the distinguished services they have rendered”. Dr H. Shantaram, Administrative Officer, Academy of General Education gave details of the Awards. Mr Bhasker Hande General Manager Syndicate Bank gave the felicitation address.

Dr Sandhya S Pai

Dr Sandhya S Pai is a prominent journalist who has carved a niche for herself. She edits a number of magazines and is the managing editor of Taranga, a Kannada Weekly, Tushara, a Kannada monthly, Roopathara Kannada film monthly and editor of Tunturu, a Kannada Children’s magazine. She is also known for her column, “Priya Odugare” (Dear Readers). That’s not all, Dr Sandhya has ventured into tele-serial and successfully written and directed 252 episodes of “Bidige Chandrama” which was telecast on ETV (Kannada). She made three more serials. She has been the recipient of several awards as well.

Mr H.S.Upendra Kamath

Mr H.S.Upendra Kamath is said to be wizard of banking administration. He has had a splendid banking career which saw him rise to the posts of Executive Director of Canara Bank and then as CMD of Vijaya Bank. Having been a very successful banker, his services were well utilized by the sector even after superannuation when he was chosen to be the MD and CEO of Tamil Nadu Mercantile Bank Limited. He was a member of the committee set up by RBI on base rate. He is on the board of several companies even today. He has bagged several awards and accolades for his achievements.

Mr Ambatanaya Mudradi

Mr Ambatanaya Mudradi was a teacher with many skills and was very passionate about Literature and writing. He has written abundantly on every genre of Kannada literature. Lyrics, one-act plays, children’s rhymes, sonnets, poems, biographies, satirical poems, devotionals songs, plays, elucidation of classical works in Sanskrit, idioms anthologies etc. You name it and Mr Mudradi has done it all. His service to the art of Yakshagana is also well known. And, to complete his multi-faceted personality, he was also served as Haridasa artiste for over 40 years. He has delivered spiritual discourses in religious conclaves.  

Dr K R Shetty

Dr K R Shetty is a neurologist of repute. He is a former principal and professor of Neurology, KMC, Mangalore. He has also held other distinguished positions such as honorary advisor for setting up the Gulf Medical College, Ajman, UAE, was member of the Board of Governors and Honorary Advisor for setting up the KS Hegde Medical Academy. He has also served as the member of Board of Management of Nitte University and continues to be a member of the External Advisory Board, Gulf Medical University, UAE which also honoured him with lifetime achievement award. He was the president of IMA, Dakshina Kannada and has been recipient of several awards.