Dr Veerendra Heggade Confers Srinivas Mallya Award on Dr Kadri Gopalnath During MCC Day
Mangaluru: To mark the first ever MCC day, the Ullal Srinivas Mallya Honorary Awards were presented to four achievers at the Town Hall here on December 8.
The MCC day programme began with the drawing competition for the students at 9:30 am at the Town Hall. The cultural programme started at 2:30 pm. Mayor Kavitha Sanil along with Corporator Sabitha Misquith and Asha D’Silva performed a dance and mesmerized the audience. Mayor Kavitha along with her PA Sharan sang a Kannada song. Deputy Mayor presented a mimicry and corporator Appi also sang a Kannada song. Many other corporators and MCC employees participated in the cultural programme showcasing their talents.
The award ceremony was held in the evening. The programme began with the state anthem. MCC Chief Whip Shashidhar Hegde welcomed the gathering.
The programme was inaugurated by the Dharmadhikari of the Dharmasthala Temple Dr Veerendra Heggade by lighting the traditional lamp, later Dr Veerendra Heggade unfurled the areca inflorescence and garlanded the portrait of Ullal Srinivas Mallya.
Addressing the gathering Dr Veerendra Heggade said, “My father Ratnavarma Heggade was talking about Ullal Srinivas Mallya because he was a man of action and not words. He never used to speak in the parliament in his 18 years tenure as MP but behind the scene, he was working hard for the welfare of the people of DK. Ullal Srinivas Mallya was a troubleshooter. He has contributed a lot to the state especially to Dakshina Kannada. U Srinivas Mallya was responsible to bring the Airport, National Highway, Railway, All India Radio station, KREC (Karnataka Regional Engineering College) and New Mangalore Port. Whatever we are enjoying today it is because of U Srinivas Mallya. Five of the major banks began in Dakshina Kannada because of which the common man in our country has benefitted a lot. There are funds with the central government and the elected representatives should put their efforts to bring the funds for the development of the district. Our present politicians should follow in the footsteps of Srinivas Mallya”.
Dr Veerendra Heggade further said, “In 1962, Srinivas Mallya encouraged the construction of the Town Hall. He had introduced many people to politics. Srinivas Mallya was called as Troubleshooter because he was very good at solving the problems. Today Mayor Kavitha Sanil has remembered Srinivas Mallya which is a noble thought. The present generation does not know much about Srinivas Mallya but if today Dakshina Kannada is developed it is because of U Srinivas Mallya. If we remember one or two such people in a year it will help the present generation to know more about great personalities who have contributed to our district.”
Dr Veerendra Heggade conferred the Ullal Srinivas Mallya Memorial Lifetime achievement on Classical Saxophonist Dr Kadri Gopalnath, with a shawl, peta, citation, memento and cash prize of Rs one lakh. In addition to the award Agari Raghuram Rao (Yakshagana), K A Rohini (Education) and M R Poovamma (Sports) were also honoured.
Srinivas Mallya’s nephew Narahari and his wife Arundhati Mallya were also present during the felicitation programme.
Minister Ramanath Rai, Chief Whip Ivan D’Souza, Mayor Kavitha Mayor also spoke on the occasion. MLA J R Lobo, MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazir, Deputy Mayor Rajaneesh and others were also present.
