Puneeth Rajkumar conferred 'Karnataka Ratna' posthumously
Bengaluru, Nov 1: Karnataka's highest civilian award the 'Karnataka Ratna' was conferred posthumously on late actor Puneeth Rajkumar on Tuesday, on the occasion of the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava.
He is the 10th recipient of this prestigious honour.
The event on the foresteps of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here, was shortened and held in a hurried manner, due to sudden rains.
Cine actors Rajinikanth and Junior NTR, and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy were guests at the event in which Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conferred Karnataka Ratna on Puneeth Rajkumar.
The Karnataka Ratna award consisting a full silver plaque and a 50 gram gold medal, was received by the late actor's wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, in the presence of his actor brother Shivarajkumar and other family members.
Several noted personalities from the film and literary world, Ministers, political leaders, legislators, among others are likely to be present at the event.
Ahead of the performances there was performance by several noted singers including Vijay Prakash.
With a large number of people descending at the venue, the Ambedkar Road in front of the Vidhana Soudha was jam-packed despite rains, and was closed for traffic. Commuters were advised to use alternate routes by the traffic police.
Considered the Kannada cinema's reigning star, Puneeth, youngest of five children of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, had died of a cardiac arrest on October 29, 2021, at the age of 46.
Karnataka Ratna was last awarded to Dr. Virendra Heggade for social service in 2009.
Interestingly, Puneeth's late father Rajkumar is among the first recipients of Karnataka Ratna award in 1992, along with noted poet Kuvempu.
Other recipients of the award are S Nijalingappa (Politics), CNR Rao (Science), Devi Prasad Shetty (Medicine), Bhimsen Joshi (Music), Shivakumara Swamiji (Social Service), and Dr D Javaregowda (Education & Literature).
Puneeth, popularly known as 'Appu' and 'power star', by his fans, made his debut on screen when he was just six-months old and went on to win a national award as a child artiste for the film 'Bettada Hoovu'. He then re-emerged as a lead actor in 2002 and went on to star in 29 films, delivering some big hits.
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M.A. Maula elected as new President of Udupi District Muslim Okkuta
Udupi: Popular businessman Muhammad Maula has been elected as the new president of the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta for the next two years. The decision was made during the 2025-26 general meeting held at the UBMC hall in Udupi.
M.A. Maula, known for his various social, educational and community activities, has previously served as the general secretary of the Okkuta twice and as the vice-president once.
Additionally, Yaseen Malpe, Idris Hoode, Iqbal Katapady, Rafiq Gangolli and Maulana Zamir Ahmed Rashadi Kandlur were elected as district committee members at the central level.
Taufiq Abdullah Navunda, Dr. Abdul Azeez Manipal, Abdurrahman Kannangar and Khalid Manipura were appointed as representatives of various organizations.
Abdul Aziz Udyawara, Yaseen Bengre, Syed Farid, Iqbal Manna, Shabbir Malpe, Irshad Nejar, V.S. Umar and Adil Hoode were elected as district committee members from Udupi taluk.
From Kundapura, Riyaz Kodi, Dastagir Kandloor, Shaban Hanglur, Mushtaq Hennabailu, and Hanif Gulwadi were elected.
Shabhi Ahmed Qazi, Nasir Ahmed Sharfuddin, Anwar Ali, Muhammad Azam Sheikh, and Muhammad Iqbal from Kaup taluk; Muhammad Ghouse, Ashfaq Ahmed, Nasir Sheikh, Muhammad Sharif Banglegudde, and Muhammad Sharif Renjala from Karkala taluk; Tajuddin Ibrahim, Ibrahim Kota, Asif Baikady, Aslam Haikadi, and Haroon Rashid Sastana from Brahmavar; and Shams Tabrez, Sheikh Fayyaz Ali, Amin Golihole, and Aftab Kiri Manjeshwara from Byndoor taluk, along with Tufail Shahabuddin, were elected.
In the subsequent district committee meeting, Ismail Hussain Katapady, Mustafa Saadi Mulur, T. M. Zafrullah Hoode, Khatib Rashid Malpe, Buaji Muhsin Byndoor, Sheikh Abdullatif Madani, Raihan Trasi, Abu Muhammad Mujawar Kundapur, Peer Saheb Adi Udupi, and B. Muhyuddin Katapady were co-opted as members of the district committee.
Maulana Abdur Raqib Nadvi, the General Secretary of Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, Bhatkal, oversaw the election process.
The general assembly commenced with the recitation of the Quran by Maulana Zamir Ahmed Rashadi, the vice-president of Udupi district Muslim Okkuta. General Secretary Muhammad Idris Hoode delivered the introductory remarks, followed by Secretary Ismail Hussain, who presented the biennial report. Treasurer Syed Farid then presented the biennial accounts to the assembly. The session concluded with the presidential address delivered by Muhammad Yasin Malpe.
