Team Udayavani, Oct 31, 2023, 8:01 PM IST
Davanagere: Three people from Davanagere district, the central point of Central Karnataka, were awarded the 2023 state level Rajyotsava award during the 68th Karnataka Rajyotsav. The Rajyotsava award given to organizations has been given to Maulana Azad Education and Social Welfare Cultural Association.
Banjara community’s first engineer K. Ruplanayak, Hakkipikki ethnic artiste, folk singer Shivangi Shanmari, T. Shiv Shankar is a great achiever who has been awarded the Rajyotsava award in the present row.
Dana C.R. has been doing social and educational activities for the past several years. Maulana Azad Education and Social Welfare Cultural Society under the chairmanship of Naseer Ahmed has won the Rajyotsava award.
K. Ruplanayak…
Originally K. of Kudunirukatte of Holalkere Taluk of Chitradurga District. Ruplanayak Banjara
(Lambani) Community First Engineer. K. has graduated in Civil Engineering from Visvesvaraya College of Engineering, Bangalore. Ruplanayak was appointed as Engineer in Public Works Department with pass. He was the chief during the construction of Bhadra Reservoir at Lakkavalli in Tarikere Taluk of Chikmagalur District. Most importantly, after his retirement in 1979, K. was actively involved in religious and social fields. Ruplanayak was the main factor behind the construction of Sant Sewalal Maharaja temple at Suragondanakoppa in Nyamati taluk, the birth place of Sant Sewalal, the Kulguru of the Banjara community. He left home for more than 35 years and stayed in a hotel in Shimoga and worked hard for the construction of Sant Sewalal Maharaja’s temple. Karnataka Banjara Sangh was built and nurtured. 105-year-old K. serving in the field of social services. Ruplanayak is a recipient of Rajyotsava Award.
Shivangi Shanmari (Folk)
95-year-old Shivangi Shanmari of Hakkipikki tribe, a very unique tribal culture.
He was chosen for this year’s Rajyotsava award in the field of folklore. Shivangi Shanmari from Nallur village in Channagiri taluk used to sing folk songs from an early age. Pati Shanmari Avaro Dane spread the art of folk singing. Shivangi Shanmari Ashukavi is also a very eloquent speaker of folk songs, myths and discourses in the Waghri dialect, the mother tongue of the Hakkipikki race. Those who caught their eye and prepared to compose a song on the spot and sing melodiously according to the idea that came to their mind. Shivangi Shanmari is a talented artist who sings folk songs not only in the language of Hakkipikki race but also in Kannada very easily. Shivangi Shanmari’s granddaughter Kumuda, who sings songs even at the age of 95, also became a folk singer. Currently working as an Assistant Executive Engineer at Mescom in Tarikere, Kumuda Hakkipikki is the first female employee of the Hakkipikki race. Shivangi Shanmari is the inspiration and motivation for hundreds of singers even now.
T. Shiva Shankar (Sculpture)
A resident of Saraswati Nagar in Davangere, 60-year-old T. Sivashankar has won the 2023 Rajyotsava Award in the sculpture category. Father T. Involved in the field of Rajagopura construction of temples under Yallappa’s guidance, he is credited with constructing the most beautiful and exciting towers in many temples over a period of 40-45 years. Shaneshwar Temple at Old PB Road in Davanagere, Sri Kariya Mma Temple at Nituvalli, Sri Chaudeshwari Temple at Bhagatsingh Nagar, Sri Mallikarjuna Temple at Kaidale, Sri Beeralingeshwar Temple at Hadadi, Sri Veerabhadreshwar Temple at Kodadagudda and so on. Not only the tower but also the construction of statues. He built the 41 feet tall Anjaneyaswamy statue at Old Maganur village in Haveri district and the 50 feet tall statue at Shantheshwari temple in Satenahalli. T. who is doing unparalleled in his chosen career. Shivshankar received the Rajyotsava award. It’s fun. He expressed happiness that God has given Rajyotsava award as a form of blessing for such hardship.
