Five personalities from the state have been selected for this year’s Padma awards, the country’s highest civilian awards. Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya Group of Hospitals was selected for Padma Bhushan. Well known Yakshagana artist Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani, noted theatre artist R. Nagarathnamma, scientist Dr Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan and wild life activist and expert Dr Kota Ullas Karanth were selected for the Padma Shri awards.
Speaking to this newspaper, the awar-dees observed that it would be like a catalyst for them to continue with their services. Dr Shetty stated that he would like to express his gratitude to the people and the patients who cannot afford heart treatment, as they have been his greatest inspiration. Padma Shri award winner Dr Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan said that it felt good that the field of science and technology was being recognized.
SCROLL OF HONOUR
Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani Art - Yakshagana dance-drama
Seventy-eight years old Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani is a well-known Yakshagana artist. Hailing from Honnavar taluk of North Canara district, Mr Chittani is a popular artist belonging to the Badaguthittu school of Yakshagana. Chittani started his career when he was just 16 years old and in the last 62 years, he has worked in almost all Yakshagana troupes of the district. He is famous for his mythological roles and has been running his own troupe for the last few years.
* I dedicate this award to all Yakshagana artists and viewers. For the first time a Yakshagana artist is selected for Padma awards. Support of the Yakshagana lovers has taken me to this stage. It feels great. I want to continue my performance. Awards are given purely based on achievements. That has madethis award much more special.
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Dr Kota Ullas Karanth Wildlife Conservation and Environment Protection
Dr Ullas Karanth, son of well-known Kannada writer and Jnanpith award winner late Shivaram Karantha, has conducted ground breaking research on the ecology of tigers and other large mammals. He was the first person to conduct radio-telemetry of tigers in India. Dr Karanth founded the Centre for Wildlife Studies and is a senior scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society, New York, since 1988. He has published over 135 international peer-reviewed scientific papers and popular articles and has authored seven books in English and Kannada.He serves on the Indian Government's Forest Advisory Committee, National Tiger Conservation Authority and Karnataka Government's Tiger Conservation Foundation.
* I am happy that wildlife conservation has been recognised at the national level. The award has been a collective effort of many people associated with me and the Wildlife Conservation Society for the past 25 years and my two great inspirations: my father Shivram Karanth and renowned wildlife conservationist Dr George Shaller, who were the ones because of whom I became interested and took up wildlife conservation as my career. The award will further inspire me to work harder.
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R. Nagarathnamma , Theatre artiste
R. Nagarathnamma is a well-known theatre artist and director and is well known for her male impersonation. She has the credit of leading an all women theatre troupe. The 86-year-old lady started her career when she was just 12 years old. In 1958 she started an all-women’s troupe named Stri Nataka Mandali in the city. She is well known for powerful portrayals of mythological characters like Bhima, Kamsa, Ravana etc.
* I come to know about the award while I was returning from the hospital. I never expected a Padma award. It is really an awesome feeling. But if they had given the award few years ago, it would have been an encouragement to serve the theatre more. I have always wished to serve the theatre till my last breath. But due to ill health presently I am not acting.”
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Dr Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan, Science and Engineering
Dr Y.S. Rajan has a proven track record of excellence as a scientist, technologist, administrator, organisation builder, leader, diplomat, academic, writer and poet. He has made key contributions to space research, technology and applications since 1964 and continues to be an important expert on space. As scientific secretary, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), he was responsible for a combination of scientific, technical, administrative, planning, policy and international cooperation matters. His contributions in shaping ISRO from its initial experimental phases into a major service delivery organisation have been remarkable. In the process, he has also been a creator of many institutions and sustainable mechanisms between ISRO and its end-users. He has worked with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and NASA for about three years.
* It feels good and it is really a nice thing that the field of science and technology is being recognized. I have had a very long career, and at this age the award comes as a great thing for me. I derived inspiration from Lenin, Marx and Swami Vivekananda, but above all it was Vikram Sarabhai because of whom I was so interested to take up my post-graduation in Physics and Electronics. Yes, once again I am happy and thankful to all those who have proposed my name for the award.
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Dr Shetty has a dream – health cover for all
Dr. Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya Group of Hospitals was conferred with the Padma Shri in 2004. An alumnus of Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, he was trained in cardiac surgery at Guys Hospital in the UK. After returning to India in 1989, he started his career at B.M. Birla Hospital, Kolkata, and later moved to Bengaluru to work with Manipal Heart Foundation. He launched the Narayana Hrudayalaya Group of Hospitals in 2001. The popular Yashaswini scheme is his brain child.
