Mangalore: Polali Shastri Award presented to Bannanje Govindacharya

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Dec 3, 2012:  The Polali Shastri Award given in memory of the renowned yakshagana artiste Polali Shankernarayana Shastri, was presented to  veteran scholar  Bannanje Govindacharya, at a function held at Sharada Vidyalaya in Mangalore on December 3, Monday.

The function was held under the aegis of the Polali Shastri Smaraka Samithi and Kalkura Pratishtana.

Veteran scholar and yakshagana critic M Prabhaker Joshi, who delivered the felicitation address, highlighted the achievements of the awardee Bannanje Govindacharya and described him as a scholar par excellence. He also recalled how Bannanje   encouraged several poets including him.

Dr PN Mayya, Principal  of Sharada College, read out the Award citation.

Responding to the great honour conferred on him, Bannanje Govindacharya, also a Padmashree Award recipient  said  he had been inspired by the works of Polali Shastri and  recalled how Shastri always aspired for perfection in whatever he did.

S Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President, presided over the function. P Shashidhar Aithal,  President of Polali Shastri Smaraka Samiti, Dr Leela Upadhyaya,  Principal of Sharada Pre-University College, MB Puranik, President of Tulunadu Educational Trust and others were present.