Mysuru:  Maintaining that Vokkaligas must have a strong voice and their achievements must speak for themselves, Adichunchanagiri Mutt Seer Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji said the community has given many achievers to the society.

He was speaking at the Pratibha Puraskara and Achievers felicitation programme organised by Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Vokkaligara Sangha at Vokkaliga Samudaya Bhavan in Vidyaranyapuram here recently.

Pointing out that the Vokkaliga community has given great personalities like Kuvempu, Shanthaveri Gopalagowda, Kadidal Manjappa, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Piteel Chowdaiah and Yashodara Tulasidasappa, Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji said that the community also takes pride of the fact that H.D. Deve Gowda is the only leader of the State to become the Prime Minister of the country so far.

Maintaining that Vokkaliga community has the strength to take other communities too along with it, the Seer said that the community, apart from being politically strong, has also contributed a lot for the society.

Recalling the services of K.H. Ramaiah in setting up Adichunchanagiri Mutt, he called upon the community members to contribute their mite for the growth of the society.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda in his address, wished a long political career for Chamaraja MLA L. Nagendra.

Meritorious students of the community who have scored high marks in SSLC and PUC (2018-19) were presented Pratibha Puraskara.

Also, achievers from various fields — woman farmer Kalpana Bommegowda, Dr. B.S. Manjunath, yoga exponent H.S. Darshan, Suyog Hospital Founder Dr. S.P. Yoganna, M.N. Bhogaiah, Mahalingam and ACP (Traffic) G.N. Mohan were felicitated on the occasion.

Adichunchanagiri Mysuru Shakha Mutt Seer Someshwaranatha Swamiji, MLA L. Nagendra, Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath, Corporator K.V. Sridhar, C. Shekhar, Vokkaliga Sangha office-bearers G. Kumar Gowda, G. Manju, S. Gururaj, B.P. Boregowda, P.H. Raju, Susheela Nanjappa and others were present.