Fr Ronnie Prabhu, Sachitha Nandagopal, Joe Gonsalves chosen for IIPP Awards

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 14,2015: Joe Gonsalves,  Sachitha Nandagopal and Fr. Ronnie Prabhu have been  chosen for the  ’Outstanding Community Leaders of Mangaluru’ Award by International Institute for Public Policy (IIPP), in recognition of their social activism and  selfless service to humanity and public causes.

The announcement of the award is made on the eve of Independence Day every year by Max and Jessie Rasquinha, Houston/Dallas, Texas, USA, the founders of International Orientation Centre and International Institute for Public Policy.

The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000, citation and crystal mementoes. Max has been a Mangalurean by heart, supportive to all the socially relevant activities in his hometown though he has been away for more than 50 years now. The awards will be presented to the awardees in due course of the year when the philanthropist couple will be in their hometown.

Eminent singer and composer Wilfy Rebimbus, former Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, Mnsgr Fred Pereira, Mangaluru Diocese Bishop Rev. Dr  Aloysius D’Souza, social work educationist and activist Dr Olinda Pereira and Daijiworld Founder Walter Nandalike are among those who have received the ’Outstanding Community Leaders’ award in the past.

The Awardees :

Fr Ronnie Prabhu

Fr Ronnie Prabhu is a multi-faceted personality and an exceptionally gifted leader of our times. His contribution to the community extends over different areas of life – spirituality, education, counseling, youth animation, administration, inter-religious harmony, leadership training, etc.

Born in 1940 in Mangaluru, Fr Ronnie Prabhu had his schooling in St Aloysius College until he joined the Society of Jesus in 1957. He was an extraordinarily gifted student and always secured distinction in his academic studies including a gold medal in his masters degree in philosophy.

The Society of Jesus, of which he was a valued member, reposed its trust in him by placing him in important positions of authority such as rector of St Joseph’s College, Bangalore, Mount St Joseph, Bangalore, St Aloysius College, Mangaluru, and Provincial of Karnataka Jesuits.

Sachitha Nandagopal

 

Sachitha Nandagopal is a passionate teacher who has come a long way from teaching journalism to heading an NGO dedicated to grooming personality of individuals, especially from the lesser privileged sections of the society.

A post graduate in mass communication and journalism from Mangalore University, Sachitha has strived to give her best to her students as head of the department of journalism at Besant Women’s College, Mangaluru, then as principal of CMR Institute of Post Graduate Studies in Media Studies in Bengaluru before quitting her lucrative career to work with children and youth in personality development and social sensitizing. From HIV-positive children to the orphans, from elders of old age homes to the slum dwellers, from affluent school and college students to housewives and professionals, she has reached out to all to bring the society closer and make it a better place to live in.Sachitha has been active in other social circles including the Toastmasters International, having served as a successful president of Mangaluru Toastmasters Club during the previous year. Through Centre for Integrated Learning, she along with her husband have reached out to thousands of students imparting them value based alternative education. She has recently joined the Centre of Ethics at Yenepoya University.


Joe Gonsalves

 

Born on January 1, in 1922 Joseph Gratian Gonsalves began his career as  a management trainee in the prestigious J L Morrison and Company Limited, which had its head office in London. He also served as head of branches in Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata and finally he was brought back to Mumbai as the head of all branches in India.

Due to his extraordinary talent, skill coupled with hard work , he was elevated to the position of general sales manager lending 29 years of valuable service to the company. In 1975 he joined Union Home Products Limited as an executive director.

After his retirement in 1983 Joe has immersed himself wholeheartedly to the cause of serving his community. Joe has served on the board of Father Muller Hospital for 15 years and has served on the Catholic Board of education. His benign service at St Joseph’s Workshop for over 3 decades is the hallmark of his social service.

He  was given the responsibility of overseeing the security arrangements during Pope’s visit to Mangaluru in 1986, where he had to work in tandem with the department of law and order and was privileged to be introduced to the Pope by the then Bishop of Mangaluru.