The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 20 fishermen among those honoured

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

20 fishermen among those honoured

Special Correspondent

They rescued 21 sailors of a cargo ship that sank near Tannirbavi

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Achievers all: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, along with those felicitated on the occasion of Independence Day, at the Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Wednesday.

BANGALORE: It was an emotional moment for the unassuming fishermen from Mangalore when their achievements were read out to a huge round of applause at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.

The group of 20 had rescued 21 sailors of a cargo ship that sank near Tannirbavi coast near Mangalore, braving violent storm and putting their own lives at risk. They were among those honoured for their exemplary achievements by Governor T.N. Chaturvedi on the occasion of the Independence Day celebrations at the Raj Bhavan.

The fishermen touched the Governor’s feet and sought his blessings. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation had brought them from Mangalore to Bangalore for receiving the awards.

In addition to the fishermen, nine persons from various walks of life, and two institutions were also honoured by the Governor.

The awardees included Kishan who became the youngest film director at 10 when he directed a Kannada film “C/o footpath”; and 21-year-old Vaishnavi Kasturi who scored 89.29 per cent marks in the Common Admission Test despite low vision. She also won appreciation for using the provisions of the Right to Information Act to make the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore disclose its selection procedures.

What tugged at the heart of many was the honouring of two visually challenged students, who come from poor families, for their academic achievement.

Twenty-year-old P.V. Nagaraj, student of the National Association for the Blind, was honoured for securing first class in the Pre-University examination. Blindness and poverty did not prevent this enterprising youngster, a native of Siraguppa in Bellary district, from excelling in extra-curricular activities such as debating and singing.

Similarly, 14-year-old visually challenged girl E. Pushpalatha, also a student of the National Association for the Blind, was honoured for excelling in studies.

A native of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, Pushpalatha comes from a family of labourers. She has secured first class in the SSLC examinations held during March 2007. Siddaraju, a seventh standard student of a government school in Kesthur village in Tumkur district, was honoured for saving the life of a boy who was drowning in a lake in the village.

Eighty one-year-old T. Sunandaraj was honoured for excelling as a “mrudanga” artiste despite being visually challenged. He has also trained many.

K.C. Janardhan, an epileptic, was honoured for working towards sensitising people to epileptics. Despite the health problem, he has excelled in calligraphy, public relations and computer applications.

Scientist A. R. Shivakumar, who works with the Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology at the Indian Institute of Science, was honoured for his contribution to research on rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.

S. C. Naganandaswamy was honoured for his thrilling feat of performing “jalasthamba” — remaining motionless in water 20 feet in depth in a vertical position for 22 hours.

The Spastic Society of Karnataka was honoured for its service to physically and mentally challenged children.

Malleshwaram Arya Vyshya Sangha was honoured for serving destitute people above 60 years of age by providing them free food.

Mr. Chaturvedi won many a heart when he chose to come down the stage when a girl came on a wheel-chair to receive the award on behalf of the Spastic Society of Karnataka.

The individual awards carried a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 each and citations, and the institutions got Rs. 20,000 each.

The fishermen got Rs. 2,000 each as it was a team award.

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