Kudla man gets his name on US street

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 16, 2018: A street in Illinois in the US will be named after a Mangalurean. The mayor of Forest Park, Illinois, US, has passed a resolution to name Dunlop Avenue from Harrison Street to York after Mangaluru city-born philanthropist Austin D’Souza -Prabhu, 67, taking into consideration his services rendered. The formal arrangements for this process will begin soon.

 

Austin is currently settled in Illinois but visits his home in Mangaluru frequently and is active in the social scene too.


"I am pleasantly surprised that I have been chosen for such an honour. Normally, such recognition is given posthumously. I feel special that it has come when I am alive. I never did anything anticipating recognition. I will continue doing what I can for the society," Austin said over phone from Illinois. He said a journalist for a local newspaper recommended his name for the recognition. The president of Forest Kala Sampath Lions Club - which Prabhu founded in 1996 - then forwarded his details to mayor of Forest Park Anthony T Calderone.


A letter from Calderone addressed to the president of the Forest Kala Sampath Lions Club, reads, "I could not think of a better qualifier than Dr Austin (Prabhu) D’Souza. for this type of honour and it would be my pleasure to move forward with this presentation. In addition to the official unveiling of a street sign, I will also be drafting an official resolution to be adopted by the Village Council in his honour and I hope that his family and friends can be present for the meeting and the unveiling."


Austin was recently named as the ’International Konkani Icon’ during a programme in Kallianpur near Udupi. Austin was born and brought up in Mangaluru  and is thoroughly a native of Mangaluru even after many years . According to Austin, he migrated away from the city at the age of 30 after he got married to a citizen of the US. He has been living there since 37 years.