Prof. Viveka Rai, Abdussalam Puthige, Valerian Quadras among 7 selected for Sandesha Awards
Jana Shikshana Trust selected for special award
Mangaluru: The Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education, under the auspices of the Karnataka Regional Bishops Conference and Jana Shikshana Trust, has selected seven accomplished individuals for the prestigious 2024 Sandesha Awards.
The recipients for various categories are Sandesha Literature Award (Kannada): B. A. Vivek Rai, Sandesha Literature Award (Konkani): Valerian Quadras, Sandesha Literature Award (Tulu): Muddu Moodubele, Sandesha Media Award: Editor-in-Chief of Vartha Bharati Kannada Daily, Abdussalam Puthige, Sandesha Konkani Music Award: Alwyn Dcunha, Sandesha Art Award: Chandranath Acharya, Sandesha Education Award: Hucchamma, Sandesha Special Award: Jana Shikshana Trust
According to Foundation Director Dr. Sudeep Paul, The Sandesha Awards ceremony for 2024 is scheduled for Sunday, February 11, at 5:30 pm at the Sandesha Institute Grounds. The event will be presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore and President of Karnataka Regional Bishops Conference.
The Chief Guest will be Shri U. T. Khader, Honourable Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Notable guests include Bishop Henry D’Souza, the Bishop of Bellary and Chairman of the Institute, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Dr. Sudeep Paul, MSFS, the Director of Sandesha, Roy Castelino, and Rev. Fr. Ivan Pinto, the trustees of the Institute.
The annual 'Sandesha Awards' program, hosted by the esteemed Sandesha Foundation, is a significant platform recognizing exceptional contributions in various domains, including Literature, Journalism, Arts, Education, Music, Media, and Social Service, a press statement from the foundation stated.
The awardees were announced at Mangalore Press Club on Saturday which was also attended by Institution Trustee Roy Castellino, Selection Committee Chairman Chinnappa Gowda, and Member Advocate B.A. Muhammad Hanif.
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Wildfires race across Chile, leaving 15 dead, forcing thousands to flee
Penco (Chile) (AP): Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left at least 15 people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed scores of homes, authorities said, as the South American country swelters under a heat wave.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the country's central Biobio region and the neighbouring Nuble region, around 500 kilometres south of Santiago, the capital.
The emergency designation allows greater coordination with the military to rein in two dozen wildfires that have so far blazed through 8,500 hectares and prompted 50,000 people to evacuate, according to Chilean Security Minister Luis Cordero.
“All resources are available,” Boric wrote on X.
But local officials reported that for hours on Sunday, destruction was everywhere and help from the federal government was nowhere.
“Dear President Boric, from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours, a community is burning and there is no (government) presence,” said Rodrigo Vera, the mayor of the small coastal town of Penco in the Biobio region. “How can a minister do nothing but call me to tell me that the military is going to arrive at some point?”
Firefighters were struggling to extinguish the flames, but strong winds and scorching weather hampered their efforts Sunday with temperatures topping 38 C (100 F).
Residents said that the fires took them by surprise after midnight, trapping them in their homes.
“Many people didn't evacuate. They stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest,” said John Guzman, 55, surveying the scene in Penco, where smoke blanketed the sky in an orange haze. “It was completely out of control. No one expected it."
Although the total number of homes burned nationwide remained unclear, one municipality of Concepcion in Biobio reported 253 homes destroyed.
“We fled running, with the kids, in the dark,” said Juan Lagos, 52, also in Penco. The fire engulfed most of the city, burning cars, a school and a church.
Charred bodies were found across fields, homes, along roads and in cars.
“From what we can see, there are people who died ... and we knew them well," said Víctor Burboa, 54. "Everyone here knew them.”
