Mysuru: The Mysuru Sharana Mandali will present Basava Ratna-2018 Award to five eminent personalities — KAS Officer D. Bharathi, Poetess Dr. Latha Rajashekar, Engineer H.M. Natesh, Mahalakshmi Sweets owner Shivakumar and Educationalist Dr. D. Thimmaiah — at the Basava Jayanti celebration to take place at Sri Nataraja Hall, Hosamutt, Shankar Mutt Road in city at 5 pm on July 27.

Mines and Geology and Muzarai Minister Rajashekar Patil will present the award.Higher Education Minister G.T. Devegowda will inaugurate the event while MLA S.A. Ramdas will preside.

Profile of achievers

D. Bharathi, a 2004 batch KAS Officer, is a native of Hunsur taluk. She has served in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts in various posts and was the first woman Registrar of the century-old University of Mysore.

Dr. Latha Rajashekar is a renowned Poet of the city. She is the only woman poet who has authored seven Mahakavyas. She has chaired Mandya District Sharana Sahitya Parishat and Kannada Sahitya Parishat Meets in the past. She is associated with many Kannada organisations.

H.M. Natesh, who hails from Honnur in Yelandur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, is an engineering graduate from SJCE. Currently serving as a Superintending Engineer at Kalaburagi, he has actively engaged himself in various social activities.

Shivakumar, popularly known as Sweets Shivakumar, is the proprietor of the city’s famous Mahalakshmi Sweets. A native of H.D. Kote taluk, Shivakumar has also ventured into real estate by setting up his own Bhima Properties. He has sponsored the education of many poor students apart from extending financial aid to needy schools and colleges.

Dr. D. Thimmaiah is a native of Hunsur town. After earning his MBBS degree from Mysore Medical College, he had his post-graduate education overseas and served the State government before retiring as Director (Planning) of Health and Family Welfare Department.

He has also served many Associations and currently heads Dasti Educational Institutions.