Hamsalekha, Kum Vi bag Sandesha award

MANGALORE: Eminent music director Gangaraju aka Hamsalekha is among the nine achievers who have been selected for the Sandesha awards given by the Sandesha Foundation.
Now into its 23rd year, the awards will be presented at a function at Sandesha here on January 27. Each awardee will receive Rs 10,000 in cash, certificate and a memento, Rev Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director of the foundation, said on Wednesday.
Kumbara Veerabhadrappa, 51, aka Kum Vi, has been selected for the Sandesha Kannada Literature Award. A resident of Bellary district, Kum Vi is regarded as the voice of dalits, revolutionaries and the poor. Leo D'Souza, 79, working for the cause of Konkani literature since 1951, has been selected for the Sandesha Konkani Literature Award. He is also the recipients of Konkani Sahitya Academy award and Kavitha Trust Award.
Actor Vijaykumar Kodialbail, who gave a new direction to Tulu drama and films with his hit film 'Oriyardori Asal' will receive the Sandesha Tulu Literature Award. The jury headed by writer Na D'Souza has chosen dance teacher Jayalakshmi Alva for the Sandesha Arts Award. Teacher to dancers like Sonal Mansingh and Waheeda Rehman, Jayalakshmi is the recipient of many state-level awards.
Journalist N Arjun Dev, who publishes science magazine 'Jaana', will receive the Sandesha Journalism Award. KE Radhakrishna, honourary secretary, BNES College, Bangalore, has been chosen for Sandesha Best Teacher Award.
U C Paulose of Seon Ashram Trust, Belthangady, has been chosen for Sandesha Special Recognition Award for his work for the mentally ill. Rev Fr Valerian Mendonca, former director of Sandesha, is the awardee for Sandesha Konkani Music Award.