Kannada Sahitya Parishad Kaup Unit Honours Belle Sadanand Shenoy

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 24 Nov 2024: Kannada Sahitya Parishad Kaup Unit of Udupi District Kannada Sahitya Parishad has been observing ‘Kannada Month Observation’ in the month of November from 01 November to 30 November, each day identifying a personality within the Kaup Taluka who has rendered great service to the society and culture but has not yet been recognized by any organization with the motto of ‘Our steps towards the Elders’. With this approach, the office bearers and members of the Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Kaup Unit had chosen to honour one of the senior social workers of Padubelle, Belle Sadanand Shenoy, descendant of the founders of the historical “Belle-angadi” (Belle Shop).

 

Belle-angadi has a history of about 155 years. Though now defunct, it had been serving the needs of the people right from Kurkal, Innanje to Moodubelle, Mnipura and Bantakal. With lack of proper roads and bridges, the goods had to be procured through boats and bullock-carts. With the improvement of transport and establishment of new shops in different places, the Belle-angadi lost its prominence and eventually the shop was closed. However, two of its off-shoot shops still exist in Katapadi and Shirva-Manchakal.

 

The brief function to honour Belle Sadanand Shenoy was held in the courtyard of his house. Sashidhar Wagle-member of Belle Grama Panchayat narrated the qualities and various social service activities of Belle Sadanand Shenoy. He was responsible for getting electricity to Padubelle, establishing the youth organization named “Geleyara Balaga’ in Padubelle. He introduced various agricultural innovations and was instrumental in getting a road laid between Padubelle and Kuntalnagar connecting Bantakal with Kuntalnagar. He surrendered quite an amount of his own agricultural land for this purpose.  

Pundalika Marathe-President of Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Kaup Unit along with other dignitaries felicitated Belle Sadanand Shenoy along with other dignitaries. Meanwhile, Neelavara Surendra Adiga-District President of Kannada Sahitya Parishad read the citation and presented to Belle Sadanand Shenoy and his wife Mrs. Vasanti Shenoy.

 

Richard Danti, the author of “Bollada Ooru”- A Brief History of Belle” honoured Belle Sadanand Shenoy on behalf of the villagers. 

 

On this occasion, Pundalika Nayak-a prominent trader in Moodubelle said that he had learned the art of trading by staying at the house of Belle Sadanand Shenoy and working in his grocery shop.

 

Mrs. Vidya V. Acharya-President of Belle Grama Panchayat appreciated the fact that the Kaup Unit of the Kannada Sahitya Parishad organized a programme to honour Belle Sadanand Shenoy about whom she came to know quite a lot and wished him well.   

 

Harish Shetty-member of the Belle Grama Panchayat recalled his relation with Belle-angadi quite from his childhood. He narrated some of the finer qualities of Belle Sadanand Shenoy. 

 

Dr. Belle Damodar Shenoy-Senior scientist CSIR, NEO, Vishakapattanam and son of Belle Sadanand Shenoy said that the honour accorded to his father by the Kaup Unit of the Sahitya Parishad is an honour to the entire Shenoy family. 

 

Devadas Hebbar in his address highlighted the sense of discipline, punctuality, hard work and sincerity of Belle Sadanand Shenoy. 

Pundalika Marathe in his brief address said that he first met Belle Sadanand Shenoy in 1976 when he accompanied one of the freedom fighters and visited the Belle-angadi during the Emergency period. He reminded the audience that Belle Sadanand Shenoy was born on 2 October 1942, both have historic significance; 2 October, birth date of Mahatma Gandhi and 1942 the year Mahatam Gandhi gave a call for the British to Quit India that started the ‘Quit India’ Movement. Marathe also said that Belle Sadanand Shenoy attended all the six Kannada Sahitya Parishad Kaup Unit annual programmes including the recent one held in Palimar.

 

In his reply to the felicitation, Belle Sadanand Shenoy said that he was educated in the Board Elementary School at Padubelle of which his great grandfather Belle Narasimha Shanbagh was one of its founders. Later, he continued his study at St. Mary’s School, Shirva and completed SSLC. He further said that along with academics he was also interested in various extra-curricular activities and developed qualities of leadership and respecting values which he followed throughout his life.  While he was thinking of going away from home for better prospects to Mumbai or other places like his classmates, his elder uncle insisted that he should remain in native place and carry on family traditions and business. He fulfilled his uncle’s wishes and remained in native place. He also narrated his various activities and social work that kept him busy.  He has great love for Yakshagana and folk culture. 

 

K. Ramaraya Patkar welcomed the gathering, Ashwin Lawrence, Moodubelle organized the programme and proposed the vote of thanks and Krishnakumar Rao Mattu compered the programme.  

 

The other dignitaries who attended the programme included:  Subramanya Shetty-Honorary Secretary, Dayanand Shetty-Belle Patels House, Ittu Muggera-Retired Office Staff of St. Mary’s PU College, Shirva, Manohar P-Honorary Treasurer, Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Udupi District;   Neelanand Naik-Honorary Secretary, Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Kaup Unit; Vidyadhar Puranik-Honorary Treasurer, Kaup  Unit; Sarita and Premalatha-daughters of Belle Sadanand Shenoy and many of his family members and villagers were present.