Mangaluru: Several achievers were felicitated by Gokarna Parthagali Jeevotham Math during ‘Abhivandana Divas’ held to mark 50th Chaturmasa of Sri Vidyadhirajateertha Swamiji, at Gokarna Math premises in Car Street, Mangaluru on August 19.

While Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade received ‘Samaja Maharatna’ award, Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu received ‘GSB Maharatna’ Award, State Industries Minister R V Deshpande received ‘GSB Ratna’ award, Century Group Proprietor Dayanand Pai received ‘GSB Maharatna’ Award, Minister Sripad Nayak received ‘Samajaratna’ Award and Shivanand Salgaonkar of Salgaonkar Group received ‘GSB Udyogratna’ awards.

Addressing the gathering Dr Heggade said that Dharmasthala’s connection with the GSB Community is extremely special as the hands of a GSB sculptor sculpted the Bahubali’s statue installed in Dharmasthala. Renjala Gopalakrishna Shenoy was the man who had sculpted the statue, said Dr Heggade adding that the blessings of ernstwhile Swamiji of Gokarna Math was received when the statue was about to be installed.

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said that even after 70 years of independence evils like poverty and inequality continues to ruin the country. “India can progress only if these two ills can be rooted out,” he said.

Minister Sripad Nayak felt that internal development was a must to achieve external progress.

Meanwhile Minister for Medium and Large Industries R V Deshpande called upon GSB community members to enter political arena adding that the community at present lacks effective leadership.

On this occasion, the Swamiji released special postal envelope and stamp brought out by the postal department with the pictures of the Swamiji. Dayanand Pai of Century Group presented 50 sovereigns of gold to the Swamiji on this occasion.