Mumbai: Mamatha Poojary, the Captain of the Indian women’s Kabaddi team who was conferred the Arjuna Award by President Pranab Mukherjee, the Ekalvya Krida Award, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2014 among other awards, was felicitated by Billawa Jagruti Balaga on 8th March at Chembur Fine Arts Auditorium during the World Womens’ Day celebrations organised by the Balaga’s Mahila Vibhag. Representatives of various community organizations also felicitated Mamata Poojary.
In reply to the felicitation addressing the gathering, Mamatha said that nothing is impossible for women. “I have proved this in Kabbadi, the game of men. In the beginning, when I was playing Kabaddi I used to get minor injuries so my parents were not happy with me playing it as it was a game played by men. But I proved it that nothing is impossible for women. Even though I am in Mumbai, it does not feel like it since I can see the atmosphere of Tulunadu here as most of us are speaking Tulu,” she said.
President of Billawa Jagruti Balaga N T Poojary, Chairperson of Mahila Vibhag Sharada Suru Karkera, BJP spokesperson of Maharashtra Shaina N C, Secretary of Mahila Vibhag Rekha Sadanand and Krupa Bhojraj felicitated Mamata Poojary.
Sharada Suru Karkera in her speech said, “We are very happy to see Mamatha here today to accept the honour. Our Mahila Vibhag was started 13 years back in this same place.” She thanked and congratulated all the members and supporters of the Mahila Vibhag for their contribution since the beginning.
President N T Poojary thanked Shaina and Mamatha Poojary and said that International Women’s Day is about recognizing the achievements of women. He appreciated the Mahila Mandal which is more into social activities and has several branches.
Other office bearers and dignitaries like Suru C Karkera, Suresh S Poojary, K Bojaraj, Babu Shiva Poojary, D B Amin, Purushottam S Kotiyan, Keshav Kotian, Padmanabha Poojary, Harish Poojary, Laxman Poojary and others were present.
Latika Amin compered the programme. Various dance programmes by the Ladies wing members and a Tulu drama ‘Moksha’ by Vijaykumar Tonse and team entertained the audience.
