October 2022 – Page 5 – Karnataka First

DULT, BMRCL bag infra awards

Director of business development and corporate communications, Urban Infra Communications Vinod Shah said that this is the second edition of the awards, and the first was held in 2020.

Karnataka agencies, Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), have bagged awards in the second edition of Urban Infra awards in five categories, organised by a Urban Infra Communications, a specialised Infra PR company.

The Most Innovative Urban Mobility Leader award, under the industrial category, was bagged by V Manjula, commissioner of Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT). Under the corporate category, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) won the Best Public Transport of Silicon Valley award and Bharat Electronics Limited won the Excellence in Indigenous Innovation for Rail and Metro Systems award. Under the transit and mobility category- the most preferred transit system award was bagged by Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit Systems Limited. DULT also bagged an award of the most admired city planning body for urban development under the City Infrastructure category.

Director of business development and corporate communications, Urban Infra Communications Vinod Shah said that this is the second edition of the awards, and the first was held in 2020. He added that a five member jury chooses the winners, based on work done in the past and projects planned ahead. Manjula (DULT) told TNIE that the award will boost the morale of young staffers in organisation to strive and improve mobility in the state.

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Dr Appa honoured with Chenna Renuka Basava Prashasti

Dr Sharnbaswappa Appa, eighth Peetadhipathi of the Sharanabasaveshwar Samsthan and Chancellor of Sharnbasva University, was presented the prestigious Chenna Renuka Basava Prashasti for the year 2022 here on Sunday.

The award instituted by the Sri Channabasaveshwara Samsthan at Harkud in Bidar district carries a cash award of ₹1 lakh, 20 grams of gold, a citation and a plaque. Thousands of devotees of the Sharanabasaveshwar Samsthan and Sri Channabasaveshwara Samsthan were present.

Every year, this award is given to well-known social activists, writers, poets and musicians and some of the winners of this award include noted writer Sangamesh Savadattimath, Hindustani vocalist Sangeeta Katti, renowned fine art exponent J.S. Khanderao, writer Dodda Rangegowda and others.

Presenting the award to the octogenarian and visionary educationist Dr Appa, chief of the Sri Channabasaveshwara Samsthan Dr Chennaveera Shivacharya Swami said that it was a small recognition for the great work in the field of education and social service by Dr Appa.

The contribution of Dr Appa in the field of education and empowerment of educationally deprived sections of society in Kalyana Karnataka remains unmatched, he added.

Chairperson of the Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha Dr Dakshayini S. Appa, Secretary of the Sharanabasaveshwar Vidya Vardak Sangha Basavaraj Deshmukh, Vice-Chancellor of Sharnbasva University Dr Niranjan V. Nisty and political leaders were present.

Mangalurean Swarnalatha wins Best Administrator Award from Bengaluru BEO

Swarnalatha Attavar, hailing from Mangaluru, recently won the Best Administrator Award from the Block Education Department (BEO) here. She was honoured at an event organized by the Block Education Department, Bengaluru north region to commemorate the taluk level Teacher’s Day 2022. Swarnalatha Attavara is currently working as branch operational manager at Orchids – The International School, Jalahalli branch.

The programme was organized by the joint association of Dr C N Ashwath Narayan Foundation, School Education and Literacy Department, Bengaluru north zone, and Primary and High School Teachers Union. D V Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister, and Bengaluru north region MP was the chief guest at the event. He addressed the gathering and appreciated the efforts of award winners for their contribution to the field of education.

Swarnalatha was honoured by Uma, block education officer of Bengaluru north zone at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. Bengaluru north MP D V Sadananda Gowda, IT minister Ashwath Narayan and legislative council member Puttana were the dignitaries present at the event.

Mangaluru: Udupi’s Samantha Mascarenhas wins MCC Bank Ltd ‘Jigibigi Taram’

The grand finale of Daijiworld 24×7 TV’s first-ever children’s singing reality show organised by MCC Bank Ltd ‘Jigibigi Taram’ was held at Don Bosco Hall here on Sunday October 2.

The special entertainment programme of around 2 hours duration was witnessed by a huge crowd. Going by their response, they enjoyed every moment of it.

The show was mainly dedicated to two live rounds of Jigibigi Taram. Samantha Mascarenhas from Udupi won the top prize of MCC Bank Ltd ‘Jigibigi Taram’ with a trophy and cash prize of Rs 50,000 while Ishney Fernandes from Kemmannu bagged the runner-up spot of the show with a trophy and cash prize of Rs 30,000. Ashna D’Souza Ferar, Rishel Melba Crasta Kulshekar, Aldrin Pinto Kadri and Melona Saldanha Bajpe were the other finalists.

Anil Lobo, chairman of MCC Bank Ltd and Stany Bela, the director of the show honoured the winners with the trophies and prize money.

Lauding the efforts of Daijiworld TV in Jigibigi Taram reality show, Anil Lobo said, “The eight-month long show created a history in the Konkani entertainment world. Because of this show, we got a number of singing talents who will rule the music world in future. I can say all six finalists were the winners of the show because they have immense potential. MCC Bank always stood for the side of talents from the Konkani community. With the association of Daijiworld TV and other organizations, we regularly support our talents. At the same time, the bank helps the generation with financial assistance for their good future. I request youngsters to utilize the benefits which the bank provides especially the education loan and financial assistance for start-ups. Once again, I congratulate all the finalists and audience who have gathered here to support the finalists.”

Thanking the MCC bank Ltd, the parents of the children, Melwyn Rodrigues, director operations, Daijiworld said, “We are grateful to MCC Bank for their immense support to the show ‘Jigibigi Taram’. They showed a way for budding stars in the music field to reach heights. Meanwhile, their parents also sacrificed many things for the betterment of their children. They trained them and nourished them to reach a goal. I congratulate them all. They also have won the show. I want to thank our management and technical team who worked behind this show. I congratulate all finalists and wish them a good future.”

Anil Lobo also honoured the judges with mementos for their support and guidance throughout the journey of ‘Jigibigi Taram’.

Kishoo Barkur, director, Daijiworld Udupi and Praveen Tauro, marketing manager, Daijiworld honoured the directors of MCC Bank Ltd.

Known TV host Komal Jenifer D’Souza compered the event in her own classic way which was appreciated by the audience. The show will be aired on Daijiworld on Friday October 7.

President presents award to Naadada Navaneeta director, producer

President Droupadi Murmu presented the Rajat Kamal Award for the documentary film ‘Naadada Navaneeta Pandit Dr. Venatesh Kumar’, produced by the Department of Information and Public Relations and directed by Girish Kasaravalli, at a function held at Vignan Bhavan, on Friday evening.

The Karnataka Department of Information and Public Relations Joint Director D.P. Muralidhar received the award on behalf of the department as producer, and Mr. Kasavalli as director, said a press release.

The film has been adjudged the best art and culture film in the non-feature film category at the 68th National Film Awards for 2020. The award consists of a cash component of ₹50,000 each for the producer and the director.

Belagavi wakes up to Navaratri special — Durga Mata Doud

The proportion of girls and women participating in the event is increasing every year. The event is non-competitive, and the runners are accompanied by music and dance troupes performing along the way. It has had its share of controversies too, given its association with Hindutva organisations

Vaidehi Solapurkar got up before sunrise and got dressed to go for a run. The dress however, is not the running gear with loose fitting T-shirt and track pants. It is a white chudidar, a saffron shawl and a turban.

“It is Durga Mata Doud (run). It is different. You could call it a cultural marathon,” says Vaidehi. The young lawyer has been participating in the event for five years. “The run is held on all nine days of Navaratri in different areas of Belagavi. I try to participate wherever I can. It is refreshing. It reminds me of our glorious past and the valour of kings like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,’’ she says.

Rashmi Kanabargi, a resident of Wadagaon in the old city who is a part of the Dhol Tasha band, says, “I am happy that the run has resumed after three years of COVID-19. I have participated in all the doud on all routes this year. I have introduced several of my friends to the run this year,” she says. This year, the doud started on September 26 and will end on October 5.

They are among the hundreds of girls and boys who join the run in white and saffron. Those who play musical instruments join the band. The runners are called Dharkaris, the Marathi term for ‘warrior’. This is reminiscent of Warkaris, or devotees, who participate in a fortnight-long padayatra to the Vithal temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. As the word ‘Dharkari’ suggests, it has a more strident Hindutva overtone. It is actively promoted by Hindutva groups.

“The doud started a few years ago, and was held only on the main road for the first few years. Its success prompted organisers to hold it in various locations in Belagavi,” said Shivaji Salunke, one of the organisers. He points out that the proportion of girls and women participating in the event is increasing every year. The event is non-competitive and the runners are accompanied by music and dance troupes performing along the way.

Ramakant Konduskar, Sri Ram Sena Hindustan leader, said the run is spreading to other towns and villages. “For many years, only Belagavi organised the run. Now, there are similar events in Gokak, Hukkeri, Chikkodi and Bailhongal. By next year, the number of places will increase,” he said. He claims it is a non-political event and that BJP, Congress, NCP, MES and JD(S) activists participate in the event.

Origin of Durga Mata Doud and controversy

The doud was conceived by Manohar ‘Sambhaji’ Bhide, founder of Shiv Pratishtan Hindustan, a Pune-based Hindutva organisation. He was accused of inciting violence after the Bhima Koregaon protest. The charges were dropped later. Mr. Bhide started the doud in Pune in 1984. Now, it has spread to other States. The event was held in Udupi for a day this year.

The doud routes cover the entire city, including some Muslim-dominated areas. Heavy police security is provided in these areas. It is not uncommon to see police personnel run along with the Dharkaris. Some police officers say Hindutva groups are trying to push a communal agenda in the garb of a cultural event.

This year, some men tread on cloth that had the colours of Pakistan’s flag during the run in Maratha Colony, Belagavi. Some persons had put the cloth along with the rangoli and floral decorations on the road that the runners were to take. Police rushed to the spot and removed the cloth.

Two-day ‘Techceleration 2022’ to promote Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi cluster

Taking forward the ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ concept, a two-day event initiated and coordinated by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) will be held in Hubballi on Sunday and Monday to display the progress achieved so far and deliberate upon the way forward.

Addressing presspersons in Hubballi on Saturday, the CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission Sanjeev Gupta said that the event named ‘Techceleration-2022’ would bring together the entire ecosystem of industry leaders, start-ups and businesses to showcase the growth so far, the opportunities available and the road map ahead. “What is even more important is that we will see venture capitalists investing in the start-up ideas from Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi belt,” he said.