Vartha Bharati Journalist gets BG Mohan Das award
Mangaluru: Vartha Bharati’s senior reporter and journalist Imtiyaz Sha Thumbe was on Tuesday awarded the BG Mohan Das award for Digital Media’s Special Report. He has conferred the award at a ceremony held at Kannada Bhavan here in the city’s BC road on Tuesday.
The award is presented collaboratively by Gulfkannada.com and Nirat Sahitya Sampad in the honor of senior journalist BG Mohan Das.
Speaking as a guest at the ceremony, member of State Media Academy member Jagannath Shetty Bala said the academy has undertaken several measures for the well-being of the journalists across the state.
Trustee of Sevanjali Trust K Krishna Kumar Punja lauded the work and efforts of Nirata Sahitya Sampada.
DK Working Journalist Association President Srinivas Nayak Indaje said the digital media was fast taking over and said the after the government regularizes digital media, the association will ponder upon giving membership to digital journalists.
During the event, BG Mohandas’ brother Laxmikanth shed light upon the life of BG Mohan Das. The event was chaired by the honorary president of Nirat Sahitya Sampad V Bhat.
Senior Journalist and advocate Sukesh Kumar, BG Mohan’s wife Shoda, daughter Yashasvi and sister Meenakshi were also present during the event.
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Coastal Karnataka History Summit logo unveiled in Bhatkal; call for research papers issued
Bhatkal: Preparations are under way for the upcoming Coastal Karnataka History Summit, with the official logo of the academic event unveiled at Dawat Centre by Students Islamic Organisation of India Bhatkal Unit in Bhatkal on February 22, 2026. The summit is scheduled to be held on May 5, 2026.
The initiative is being organised by the Centre for Education and Research & Analysis (CERA) with the aim of documenting and examining the historical evolution of Coastal Karnataka, including Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and adjoining areas of Kasaragod.
At the launch event, the organisers released the official Call for Papers, inviting scholars, researchers, academicians and students to submit original and unpublished research. Abstracts of 200 words, either in English or Kannada, must clearly mention the research question, methodology and key findings. The deadline for abstract submission is February 28, 2026. Selected participants will be informed by March 15, and full papers must be submitted by April 20.
The summit will centre around five broad themes. One section will explore the trade and economic networks of the coastal belt, including maritime routes, port towns, fisheries and commodity-based exchanges such as pepper trade. Another domain will examine social structures, caste formations and inter-community relations, along with the role of Islamic, Arab, Persian and local traditions in shaping the region’s cultural fabric.
A separate section will focus on the origin and growth of linguistic communities such as Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Moya Malayalam and Navayati. Governance and administration under different rulers — including the Alupa dynasty, Rani Abbakka, Tipu Sultan, the Nawaith Sultans of Bhatkal and developments after Independence — will also be studied. The fifth theme will highlight social reformers such as Narayana Guru, Syed Madani, Malik Deenar, Vakkom Moulavi, Sayyid Fazl Pasha and Kudmul Ranga Rao, and their contributions to education and social reform.
The logo launch programme was attended by senior journalist Dr. Haneef Shabab, JIH Bhatkal President Moulana Syed Zubair SM, SIO Bhatkal President Mohammed Zayan Bangali, Unit Secretary Githreef Rida Manvi and Media Secretary Mashaikh Talish.
Organisers said the summit intends to create a structured academic space for discussing the region’s layered past and bringing local histories into wider public and scholarly discourse. For submissions and queries, researchers may contact
coastalkarnatakahistorysummit@gmail.com
