Alva’s Shikshana Pratishtana stages play ‘Mahamaayi’

Scenes from the play ‘Mahamaayi’ staged by Alva’s Shikshana Pratishtana, Moodbidri, at Kalamandira in city yesterday.

Mysuru: Recognising the contributions of a theatre group and two individuals to the society, the Smt. D. Ramabai Charitable Foundation and Sri. M. Gopinath Shenoi Charitable Trust had organised the RamaGovinda Puraskara-2018 (award) function at Kalamandira here yesterday.

NINASAM (Sri Nilakanteshwara Natyaseva Sangha), a cultural organisation, located in the village of Heggodu in Sagar taluk at Shivamogga district, is an organisation dedicated to the dissemination of theatre and culture started by renowned dramatist and Magsaysay award winner K.V. Subbanna. The other two are Godavari Dange, a social worker from Osmanabad, Tuljapur taluk in Marathwada and Kamegowda, a shepherd from Malavalli in Mandya district, who were recognised for the awards. While Rs.5 lakh prize money and RamaGovinda award was presented to NINASAM (received by K.V. Akshara – son of K.V. Subbanna, President Shridar Bhat and Narayan Bhat), Rs.3 lakh and the award was presented to Dange and Kamegowda.

Earlier, former Kannada Development Authority Chairman and senior artiste Mukhyamantri Chandru, speaking after inaugurating the programme, said that instead of honouring the celebrities, people who have worked for the society should be recognised. Hence, recognising the three people for their contribution to the society especially in the present troubled times is really noteworthy, he added.

When Maharashtra’s Godavari Dange worked among the people, her language was not a barrier and therefore in this vast country with diverse languages and culture, we should all learn to live harmoniously. Even the politicians should learn from this, he said.

In NINASAM, national and international plays are staged. A play is like a mirror, which reflects our faults and strengths and reaches both the literate and illiterates. K.V. Akshara spends 300 days of the year  in theatre. NINASAM is one of the main reasons for the theatre to be alive today and this is the time for reflection, said Chandru.

About awardees

Kamegowda is a shepherd herding sheep at the foothill of Malavalli and has personally constructed eight lakes thus providing water to animals and birds and helping in the preservation of flora and fauna.

Godavari Dange is a leader, a social worker who has worked tirelessly facing off the famine that comes year after year, saving land, water, jungle, animals and people.

The Trust’s M. Ramanath Shenoi, M. Jagannatha Shenoi and M. Gopinatha Shenoi were present. After the programme, the play Mahamaayi by playwright Dr. Chandrashekara Kambara and designed and directed by Jeevan Ram Sulia was presented by Alva’s Shikshana Pratishtana, Moodbidri.