Mysuru’s Dr. K.R. Kamath and art patron C.R. Himamshu among awardees

Mysuru/Mysore: Smt. D. Ramabai Charitable Foundation and Sri M. Gopinath Shenoy Charitable Trust, Mysuru, have chosen two institutions and three individuals including Mysuru’s Dr. K.R. Kamath and art patron C.R. Himamshu for its annual RamaGovinda Puraskara-2020.

The Foundation and the Trust are associated with a pro-societal cause in education, health and cultural sectors, immensely involving human welfare and development. As an extension of their social endeavours, these two institutions have collectively instituted the ‘RamaGovinda Puraskara’ to be presented annually since 2016. This award is a yearly event, preceded by meticulous selection of institutions and individuals working for societal development.

This year the awards will be conferred on Jnanasindhu Residential School for the Visually Challenged, Hole-Alur, Ron taluk, Gadag district (Shivanand Kelur); Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali based in Uttara Kannada district (Keremane Shivananda Hegde); Omkarnath Sharma of Delhi, who is known as ‘Medicine Baba’; Dr. K.R. Kamath of Kamakshi Hospital, Mysuru and C.R. Himamshu, renowned patron of art and music, who is well-known for organising 8th Cross Ganesha Music Festival in the city.

The award, comprising a citation, Rs.5 lakh cash prize for institutions and Rs.3 lakh for individuals, will be presented at a ceremony to be held at Kalamandira in city on Jan.5 at 6 pm.   Vocalist Vidyabhushana will inaugurate the programme. M. Ramanatha Shenoy couple, M. Jagannath Shenoi couple and M. Gopinatha Shenoy couple will be present.

From 8 pm to 9 pm, the students of Jnanasindhu Residential School for the Visually Challenged will demonstrate Yoga and Mallakamba stunts.

PROFILES

Jnanasindhu Residential School for the Visually Challenged, Hole-Alur, that started with only five students, now caters to more than 100 visually imapaired persons from Gadag and surrounding districts. The Rajyotsava Award-winning institute was started in July 2010 by Tulasamma Kelur and her son Shivanand Kelur. The School mainly focuses on Yoga and Music along with regular classes till 9th standard. Students of this School have excelled at National-level Yoga competitions and are also well-known for breathtaking Mallakamba stunts. A total of 12 teachers are serving in the institution with most of them visually impaired.

Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali was started in 1935 by Keremane Shivaram Hegde. It has conserved the purity of Yakshagana as an art form and has given over 9,000 performances across India and abroad in the past 84 years. In a bid to propagate this art for posterity, the Mandali is also offering a 2-year training in Yakshagana along with scholarship under Gurukula tradition since 28 years. After Shivaram Hegde, the Mandali was ably managed by Keremane Shambhu Hegde and now, the third generation’s Keremane Shivananda Hegde is leading the Mandali in the right direction.

Omkarnath Sharma, who has retired as a technician at Kailash Hospital Blood Bank in Greater Noida of Uttar Pradesh, is known to distribute medicines free of cost to the needy. The 79-year-old Sharma, who was a witness to the death of two persons injured in Delhi Metro bridge collapse in 2008 as they could not afford the costly medicines prescribed to them, decided to visit houses door- to-door and collect medicines that were unused. He used to segregate them, make a list of the medicines, its manufacturer, expiry date and stock them to provide it to the persons in need, free of cost. Hence, he became popular as ‘Medicine Baba’ for his selfless and voluntary service.

The 75-year-old Dr. K.R. Kamath has been practising medicine as a General Practitioner in Mysuru for the last 51 years. A simple and committed doctor, he is serving as an able Administrator and Trustee of Kamakshi Hospital in city since 47 years. Patients from the neighbouring villages trust only ‘Kamat Doctoru.’ For the Goud Saraswat community in Mysuru, he is endearingly known as ‘Rag Maam.’ 

This award is in recognition of his service and contribution to the field of medicine.

C.R. Himamshu, 67, a renowned patron of art and music, has been involved in organising concerts and bringing the best of talent from across India to the city since decades. 

A former Syndicate Member of Karnataka State Dr.Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysuru, Himamshu is well-known among rasikas for hosting the Annual Heritage Music Festival with Ganeshotsava at 8th Cross Pandal in V.V. Mohalla. The 58th edition of the Fest was held in 2019 under the auspices of SPVGMC Trust of which he is the Hon. Secretary since 40 years.