Category: NRI’s / PIO’s

** ‘This Is Us’ Honours Nasir Ahmed in Ep 8, Season 5 – Who is He?

Nasir is the man behind Discrete Cosine Transform – the technology which makes it possible to share photos & videos.

Nasir Ahmed hails from the southern city of Bengaluru, in India. He was born in 1940, and subsequently completed his schooling from Bishop Cotton Boys School. He earned his Bachelors in electrical engineering from the University College of Engineering in Bengaluru in 1961. Thereafter, he moved to the US for his higher studies and pursued both his MS and Ph.D at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Inventor – DCT Technology

** Udupi: UAE businessman B M Zaffer Thonse gets Indian Achievers Award-2021

B M Zaffer Thonse Chairman Thonse Health Centre (Nature cure and Ayurveda hospital) has been selected for the prestigious Indian Achievers Award-2021 by the Indian Achievers’ Forum for his outstanding professional achievements and contributions in national building.

Zaffer is a known businessman from UAE and the award is given for recognizing his excellence in business, health sector and social activities.

** Canada: Maxim D’Mello, Vijay Dante elected to lead MAC in its 20th year

Maxim D’Mello, one of the highly acclaimed Mangalurean leaders in Canada and outside India, has been unanimously elected as the president of ‘The Mangalorean Association of Canada’ (MAC) for the fourth term during its Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) held on November 21 at Petrescue Hall, Carmen Corbasson Community Centre, Mississauga, Canada.

He was actively involved with Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA) since its inception and served as a President before immigrating to Canada in 2002. From then on, he is part of the Mangalorean Association of Canada and serves the community. In 2006 he got elected as its president for the first time.

In addition MAC is fortunate to get yet another dynamic leader Everest Vijay Dante popularly known as Vijay Dante to its fold as the vice-president. Vijay, a philanthropist is a well-focussed, dedicated and a family-oriented business professional. He is the proud son of the late ‘Sridanti’ (Francis Dante from Udupi, Karnataka, India), a renowned writer, poet and a religious leader who is also one of the founders of Catholic Sabha, Mangaluru.

He is owner of ‘Udupi Madras Café’ (UMC) one of the prestigious business houses in Toronto. The UMC has won the prestigious ‘2021 Mississauga News Readers’ Choice Award’ for the successive 2nd time in a row. Serving the international community in Mississauga, Canada for 15 years.

** First-ever Konkani song made in Canada released

A golden chapter in the history of Konkani music has been unfolded and the much awaited first-ever Konkani Song ‘Novo-Bhorvoso’ made in Canada under the newly created banner ‘DoReMiFa Creations’ released on YouTube on December 19, 2021 at 8.00 pm Toronto time.

A couple of months ago, a brilliant thought came into the minds of two stalwarts and visionaries of the Konkani literature and music world in Canada, Gerry D Mello Bendur, and Ashith Glen Pinto. Both of them have always worked in the past to exhibit and transform revolutionary ideas into reality. This time too, they thought of the same process. First, they launched a banner DoReMiFa Creations with the utmost desire to work for the Konkani Music in Canada through uniting many talents based in Canada. The second thought was to formulate and create a song in Konkani to be presented by the renowned Konkani musicians and singers residing in Canada.

** BCIC holds Indian diaspora meet with Japan

The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), representing large, medium, and small industries in Karnataka, held a virtual meeting of the Indian diaspora in Japan as a prelude to the 70th anniversary celebration of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Japan.

According to a release by BCIC, the meeting held recently was attended by Sanjay Kumar Verma, Ambassador of India to Japan, Murugesh Nirani, Minister for Large and Medium Industries, besides many industry heads.

** Dr Ronald Colaco conferred ‘Koti-Chennaya Award’ at Moodbidri Kambala

Well-known NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Ronald Colaco was honoured with the ‘Koti-Chennaya Award’ during the 19th Koti-Chennaya Jodukare Kambala held on Saturday December 11 and Sunday December 12 near here.

Veteran RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, minister for urban development Byrathi Basavaraj, MP and president of Karnataka BJP Nalin Kumar Kateel, minister for fisheries S Angara, minister for social welfare Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA and honorary president of Moodbidri Kambala committee Umanath Kotian, and other dignitaries honoured Dr Colaco with the Koti-Chennaya Award, along with a memento, shawl and fruit basket.

Understanding the needs of the society, he spent crores to build temples, churches, buildings for lawyers and police personnel. He did not limit his service to only some particular sections of the society. He tried to understand the immediate necessities of people from all sections in his surroundings. He is one of the great supporters of Moodbidri Kambala. We have named the main stage of this Kambala after his father Fabian Colaco. We are grateful for his continued support and blessings on this historic event.”

** Wins U-18 Tourney In Vancouver

Mysuru boy, 14-year-old Mustafa Raja won his first U-18 Tournament in Vancouver, Canada, today.

Mustafa, seeded fifth in the Tennis BC U18 4 Star Tournament, held his nerves at crucial moments, saving two match points in the finals, winning the tournament defeating the top seeded player Denny Bao 2,6; 7,6(7) and 6,1.

By virtue of this win, Mustafa became the top player in his age category in British Columbia and Top 4 in Canada. Mustafa trains at the Tennis Centre in Surrey, Vancouver and studies at the Sullivan heights Secondary School.

** ‘50 Years Of Progressing UAE’ Painting Bags Award

Chinnamada Shilpika Ponnappa, who has her roots in Kodagu, has bagged the ‘Special Mention — Best Ideation Award’ and a trophy for her painting with a theme ‘50 years of progressing UAE’ organised at Artoze Art Competition in Abu Dhabi as part of Celebrating 50 Glorious Years of UAE.

** Vijay Dante’s Udupi Madras Cafe wins ‘Best Indian Restaurant – Gold Award’

Udupi Madras Cafe’ (UMC), the renowned vegetarian restaurant owned by Everest Vijay Dante of Mangaluru origin, has won the prestigious ‘Best Indian Restaurant – Gold Award’.

It is a proud moment of all South Asians since UMC won 1st place.

Serving the International Community in Mississauga, Canada for 15 years, Udupi Madras Cafe specializes in fresh, wholesome and nutritious South Indian vegetarian food.

Toronto/Mangaluru