‘SAHITYADA SIRI KALAVIDARA ISIRI’ AWARD DISTRIBUTION TO DR. SUNITA SHETTY – FELICITATION OF ARTISTS
HUMAN LIFE WITHOUT ART IS VALUELESS: VIDWAN KAIRABETTU
(PHOTO / REPORT: RONS BANTWAL)

Mumbai, Feb. 27: “Artists have global recognition. Hence human life without art is valueless and unattractive. His talent and respect can make him reach higher. Parishat has completed nine years and enters 10th year and advances towards evolution. An artist shows his talent and makes people happy. Giving happiness to others is a kind of offering prayer to God. It’s very important to encourage such artists”, said Vidwan Shri Kairabetty Vishwanatha Bhat, the Founder of Shri Krishna Vittala Foundation Mumbai.

He spoke these words while lighting the lamps during the inauguration of the decennial celebration of Kannadiga Kalavidara Parishat Maharashtra (R) on Saturday at Smt. Radhabai T Bandary auditorium of Buntara Bhavana of Bandary Estate, Kurla (E).

The celebration was conducted by Literary and Cultural Committee of Bunts Sangha Mumbai in association with Kannada and Cultural Department of Karnataka Government under the presidentship of Surendra Kumar Hegde, the President of Kannadiga Kalavidara Parishat, President of Bunts Sangha Mumbai – Prabhakar L Shetty, industrialists and social workers – B Vivek Shetty, Karunakar M Shetty, Shankara Shetty Virar, Bhaskar Shetty Kandesh, Srinivas Saphalya, N N Pal, Aikala Gunapala Shetty, Dr. R K Shetty, Santhosh Shetty Pune, Latha Prabhakar Shetty, Amarnath Shetty and others were present as guests and distributed special award and ‘Sahitya Siri Kalavidara Isiri’ award to Dr. Sunita M Shetty, the senior journalist, writer, poetess and honoured her. They also felicitated the senior artists who have served as talented artists of Kalakshetra – K K Shetty, B B Joshi, Devadas Shetty, Raghu P Shetty, Shailaja Madhusudhan, Shekhar Kotian, Shivaraj Suvarna, Chandraprabha Suvarna, Shyama N Shetty Kemral. K K Shetty and Raghu Shetty expressed their gratitude for the felicitation.

Dr. Sunita Shetty said, “I have been in Mumbai since past six decades and I am pleased with the love, affection showered by the Tulu-Kannadigas here. I thank all the people of this city. I don’t find words to express my gratitude to the honor and affected showed by Kannadiga Kalavidara Parishat”.

The Vice President of Bunts Sangha Mumbai – Padmanabha S Payyade, Joint Secretary – Kishore Kumar Shetty Kutyar, Joint Treasurer – Mahesh S Shetty, Executive President of Women Wing – Smt. Latha Jayarama Shetty, Executive President of Literary & Cultural Committee of Bunts Sangha Mumbai – Ravindranath M Bandary, Organizing Secretary of Decennial Celebration Committee – Devadas P Salian, Founder President of Parishat – S T Vijayakumar Thingalaya, Vice Presidents – Kamalaksha G Saraf and adv. Subhash B Shetty. Hon. Treasurer – P B Chandrahas, Joint Secretary – Chandravathi Devadiga, Joint Treasurer – Naveen Shetty Innabalike and others were present on the dais.

Uma Krishna Shetty, Shivarama G Shetty Ajekar, Shyama N Shetty, Baskar Shetty Kashimira, Rathnakar Shetty Mundkur, Harish N Shetty Malad, CA| Sadashiva Shetty, Kushala Bandary Thane, Sudhakar G Poojary, Manjunatha Bannoor, Subbaiah Shetty Kalyan, organizers Karnoor Mohan Rai and Padmanabha Sasihitlu, Vice President of Decennial Celebration Committee – Anil Shetty Elinje, Executive President of Guiding Committee–G T Acharya, Convenor – Sa. Daya and other dignitaries were present as special invitees and felicitated the President of the Parishat and other office bearers by presenting mementos, flower bouquets, etc.

“Art is god’s gift and Buntara Sangha’s contribution to it is highly commendable. We have been encouraging artists and it should be our birth right to honor all such artists who are entertaining us. Artists should save art and earn fame. Let the Parishat, which celebrates its decennial celebration on this dais can have its silver jubilee celebration also here. Let this association be centralized”, expressed Prabhakar L Shetty.

“It’s not easy to present variety programmes that reflect our tradition and culture. But, Parishat has successfully conducted it. We have artists from various fields like Yakshagana, drama, music, drawing, etc. We have plans of identifying past and future artists, knowing about the status of present artists and reacting to it, encouraging future young artists by providing welfare fund for economically weaker artists, health plans, and educational assistance to the children of artists, etc. We wish to lead this organization towards cultural growth”, said Surendra Kumar in his presidential address.

The Hon. President of Decennial Celebration Committee Aikala Harish Shetty welcomed the gathering and said, “Participation of all society people in this programme is appreciable. TV, Cinema, drama and other artists among us are our assets and power. Tulu-Kannadigas in Mumbai are like the children of one mother and live in harmony. We are in need of having a policy of reserving minimum 10% of the cash offered to any awardees being honoured in any of our programmes in Mumbai for the welfare fund of the artists”.

The renowned artist – Krishnaraj Shetty Mundkur explained about the working of the Parishat. Ashok Pakkala presented the programme, introduced and congratulated the felicitated people. The Hon. Chief Secretary – Navunda Raju Shreyan proposed the vote of thanks. Shri Vishnumoorthy Bunts Yakshakala Vedike Mumbai presented the Yakshagana ‘Krishnarjuna’.