Late H.B.L. Rao Memorial Award presented by the Kannadigas Artisans Parishad

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, Mar. 22: Congratulations to the Parishad, which has now set up its own office. May this organization grow into a big institution and a building in the future and become a guide for our country and Tulu Kannadigas. The Parishad is working to bring the thoughts and art of artists to the masses through artists. The responsibility of artists is very great between society and art and culture. If the culture of our country and the country is to be reached by the people, it can only be done by artists. Thinking about them is our primary duty, said renowned astrologer and architect Ashok Purohit.

 

Purohit was speaking at the inauguration of the 16th Cultural Arts Festival organized by the Kannadiga Artists’ Council Maharashtra (R.) in collaboration with the Department of Kannada Culture, Government of Karnataka, at the Swargiya H.B.L. Rao Memorial Forum built at Billava Bhavan in Santacruz East on Saturday afternoon.

 

The inauguration ceremony was held under the chairmanship of the president of the council, Dr. Surendrakumar Hegde. The chief guest was Vishwa Hindu Parishad Thane and Hotel Owners Association Thane President Polya Umesh Shetty, the guests of honor were High Court Advocate and Notary Advocate R.G. Shetty, Karnataka Nataka Academy President K.V. Nagaraj Murthy, Heggade Seva Sangha President Manoj Hegde, High Court Advocate Justice R.M. Bhandari, Kannada Kalakendra President T. Madhusudan T.R., artist, writer Vishwanath Shetty Pethri, Mulund Friends President Suresh Shetty Yeyadi, Excellent Engineering and Allied Services Private Limited Managing Director K. Rajarama Acharya, senior Yakshagana artist Yakshamitra K.K. Shetty, Sri Krishna Vitthal Foundation Women’s Division President Lakshi N. Kotian, Trimurti Catering Services’ Ashok Shetty Mundkur, social worker Umavati Gujaran and other dignitaries graced the stage.

 

On this occasion, senior Yakshagana artist Bhoja Bangera (along with his wife Jayanti Bangera) was honored with the late Dhimanta Sahiti, Yakshagana artist and organizer D.| H.B.L. Rao Memorial Award. Council member G.T. Acharya delivered the felicitation speech. Jagadish D. Rai read out the felicitation letter.

Dr. G.N. Upadhyay, Head of the Kannada Department of Mumbai University, said that H.B.L. Rao was a Karmayogi who worked hard in the field of literature and Yakshagana in Mumbai. The great spirit that Mumbai Kannadigas witnessed was a brave man. It is a great joy to talk about H.B.L., an ascetic with a personality who maintained his identity in Mumbai as a great organizer and extraordinary achiever.

 

Nagaraj Murthy said that this council is doing all the work that a government does. Governments come and go, but institutions survive to the extent that we, Kannadigas and artists, work hard to maintain them.

 

Umesh Shetty spoke and said that the service of artists who excel in all arts is commendable. All artists are colorful individuals who have reached unimaginable heights. Our artists are those who have grown and kept Indian culture alive. They have kept the culture of the country alive through their personality and wealth of life. Artists nurtured the arts. He said that the service of the council, which respects and protects such artists, is exemplary.

 

The distinguished guests spoke on the occasion and praised the council’s service for over a decade and a half and wished it a happy 16th anniversary. The awardee Bhoja Bangera replied to the award and congratulated it.

 

The encouragement of art lovers is our inspiration. The encouragement of art lovers is the lamp for our progress. This council is not an organization of any caste, not an organization of language. It is the mother organization of all artists of all genres, said Dr. Surendra Kumar in his presidential address.

 

Council Vice President CA Srinivas P. Safalya, Hon. Secretary Chandrashekar Bhat, Honorary Treasurer P.B Chandrahas, Joint Secretary Chandravathi Devadiga, Joint Treasurer Naveen Shetty Innabalike, Women’s Division President Tara Bangera, Convener Ramesh Shivapura were present on the stage and Council members Karnur Mohan Rai, Ashok Sasihitlu, Kusuma C. Poojary, N. Prithviraj Mundkur, L| Muralidhar Hegde, advisors, special invitees, and many members were present.

 

As part of the cultural program, the members of the council presented group dance and singing, musical evening, and group singing under the composition of Amita Jatin, Ankita, and Shreyas. The Tulu drama ’Karpil’ was performed under the direction of Chinmaya Salyan and the guidance of Narayana Shetty Nandalike and the Yakshagana ’Hiranyaksha Vadhe’ was performed under the composition of Damodar Iruvailu and Vasudeva Marnad. Padmanabha Sahihitlu compered the cultural program.

 

The program began with a praise dance by Miss Vrishthi Nayak. Suchitra G. Shetty offered a prayer. Vice President Kamalaksha Saraf welcomed the gathering. Principal Balakrishna Shetty introduced the guests, compered the program and expressed his gratitude.