Thumbay Group's Gulf Medical University is best private medical university in the region: BSY
(Press release): Thumbay Medicity was honored by the visit of B.S Yediyurappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka, India on Sunday 8th May 2022. President & Founder Dr. Thumbay Moideen received him in his office.
During the visit, the minister was given a guided tour of the entire Thumbay Medicity, Thumbay University Hospital, and also outlined the various development initiatives undertaken by the Group. Impressed by the infrastructure and facilities provided by the management, Mr. Yediyurappa congratulated President Dr. Thumbay Moideen for his vision and progress that has been achieved in such a short span of time. Mr. Yediyurappa stated, “This is the Best Private Medical University I have Visited in the Region and I am proud of Dr. Thumbay Moideen for providing an advanced institution that serves the United Arab Emirates with excellence in education and healthcare. A simple man from Karnataka, with a noble cause in his heart, has made a positive impact to this illustrious country by providing education-which is the real strength to build the future of a society and a country. Also, Thumbay Group has been nurturing the society by providing best-in-class healthcare while creating job opportunities for many in this field.”
Thumbay Medicity, Ajman, plays a key role in the advancement of medical education, healthcare, and research. It houses the Gulf Medical University – the region’s leading private medical university, Thumbay University Hospital – the largest private academic hospital in the region, Thumbay Dental Hospital – the first private dental hospital in the country and the largest academic dental hospital in the Middle East region’s private sector, and Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital – the biggest state-of-the-art rehabilitation hospital in the country.
Thumbay Medicity also has outlets of Thumbay Pharmacy – including the biggest robotic pharmacy, in addition to the central lab of Thumbay Labs – the biggest CAP-accredited private diagnostic facilities in the region. It also has leisure and hospitality amenities, such as Body & Soul Health Club and Spa, Thumbay Food Court with diverse food brands and cuisines, The Terrace Restaurant, Blends & Brews Coffee Shoppe, with its state-of-the-art facilities and superior amenities, Thumbay Medicity is expected to attract 15,000 visitors daily.
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Mangaluru’s H.M. Pernal awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for Konkani literature
New Delhi: Popular Konkani writer and journalist H.M. Pernal (Henry Mendonca) from Mangaluru has been awarded the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award for his acclaimed literary criticism work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
The award was presented to Pernal by Akademi President Madhav Kaushik on March 31, 2026, at 6:30 pm at Kamani Auditorium.
The awards were presented in 23 languages, while the Malayalam awardee could not attend due to ill health. Aneish P. Rajan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Culture, was also present. Renowned Hindi author Vishwanath Tiwari attended as the chief guest and delivered the keynote address. Vice President Prof. Kumud Sharma and Secretary Pallavi Holkar were also present.
The Sahitya Akademi Award is among the highest literary honours conferred in India. Each year, the Akademi recognises outstanding literary works in 24 languages, including 22 scheduled languages along with English and Rajasthani.
Konkani has been a scheduled language since 1992 and is spoken across Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The language received recognition from the Sahitya Akademi in 1975, and awards for Konkani literature have been presented since 1977.
From Mangaluru, Cha. Fra. D’Costa (1992) and Melvyn Rodrigues (2011) had earlier received the Sahitya Akademi Award for their poetry collections, while Edwin J.F.D. Souza was honoured in 2016 for his novel. With this recognition, H.M. Pernal becomes the fourth Konkani writer from Karnataka to receive the award.
His work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam has marked a significant milestone by becoming the first Konkani book in the literary criticism category to be honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award. Prior to this recognition, the book had already received the Best Book Award from the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023.
The publication features a detailed foreword by Jnanpith awardee Damodar Mauzo and has been brought out by Kavita Publications, Mangaluru.
Henry Mendonca was born in Pernal, located in Udupi district. He completed his schooling at Hindu Junior College in Shirva, pursued his undergraduate studies at MSRS College, and later went on to complete his postgraduate education in Mumbai. By profession, he is a commercial accountant.
He began his literary journey writing in Kannada, contributing to magazines such as Taranga, Sankramana and Shudra. In the early 1980s, he transitioned into Konkani literature, initially working as a cartoonist for the magazine Yuvak. Over time, he evolved into a multifaceted literary figure, establishing himself as a short story writer, poet, critic, editor and publisher.
In 2011, he launched the online literary magazine ‘Kitaal,’ which has been continuously published for the past fourteen years and has emerged as a significant platform for both established and emerging writers in the digital Konkani literary space.
Two years later, in 2013, he founded the literary magazine ‘Arso’ as a fortnightly publication, which has since transitioned into a monthly magazine now in its twelfth year, currently edited by poet Wilson Katil. The annual special issues of Arso have earned notable recognition within literary circles.
Through his publishing initiative Kitaal Prakashan, Mendonca has brought out more than 15 original literary works.
His published works include four poetry collections—Chalyank Chatray (1999), Kaydyacho Kavita (2004), Bhamunanchem Chedum (2006) and Janel (2025).
He has also authored two short story collections—Devak Sodullo Pado (2002) and Beeg Ani Bigat (2016)—in addition to his award-winning critical work Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam (2021).
His short story collection Beeg Ani Bigat received the Shrimati Vimala V. Pai Best Literary Work Award in 2017, instituted by the Vishwa Konkani Kendra in memory of the mother of entrepreneur T.V. Mohandas Pai. In recognition of his contribution to Konkani poetry, he was honoured with the Mathayas Family Endowment Poetry Award by Kavita Trust in 2018.
He was also honoured with the Best Book Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2021 for Konkani Kavyem: Rupam Ani Rupakam, the Konkani Sahitya Gaurav Award by the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Akademi in 2022, the Dakshina Kannada District Rajyotsava Award in 2023 for his contributions to Konkani literature and journalism, and the Best Book Award from the Goa Konkani Akademi in 2023 for the same book.
Pernal has written more than 850 poems, over 100 short stories and more than 2,000 articles. Through print and digital media, he has consistently contributed to the growth of Konkani literature.
Since 2012, he has been identifying and encouraging emerging writers by presenting the Kitaal Yuva Puraskar every year. The award is sponsored by the family of Abu Dhabi-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Leo Rodrigues and includes a citation and a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
At present, Pernal is the chief editor of the Vision Konkani Book Grant Project initiated by Michael D’Souza. Under this scheme, Konkani writers are provided financial assistance of up to Rs 40,000 for the publication of a book.
The project, with a total budget of Rs 40 lakh, is fully sponsored by NRI entrepreneur and Konkani language patron Michael D’Souza. It is being implemented under the supervision of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra and aims to support the publication of 100 books over a five-year period.
A committed leader in the Konkani literary community, Pernal served as the working president of the All India Silver Jubilee Konkani Literary Conference held in Mangaluru in 2023. He is currently serving as the treasurer of the All India Konkani Parishad.
He has also served as the president of the Konkani Writers’ Union and is presently a member of the Konkani Language Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi.
