Canada: Satish Venkataramana, one of the dynamic Mangalorean community leaders and successful entrepreneur of the ’Chilly Willy’ fame in the UAE, received the prestigious Vishwa Manava Award recognizing his services to Kannadigas in NRI Category. The award was bestowed on him during the 11th World Kannada Cultural Convention which took place at the Grand Victorian convention centre at the Park Inn by Radisson, Toronto on June 27 and 28th.
The convention, organised by Kannada Kasturi and Hrudaya Vahini, a group from Mangaluru, has been held earlier in UAE, Malaysia, Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar but this is the first time that it is taking place in the continent of North America. Around 1200 people attended this meet including Kannadigas residing in Canada. The main purpose of the event is to elevate the usage of Kannada language, promote literature and culture at a global level. “Around 80 well-known dignitaries from Karnataka, including poets, film directors like Nagathihalli Chandrashekar, actor Darshan and drama artistes among others attend the event.
The 11th WKCC was inaugurated after the Poornakumba Procession with the lighting the lamp by Hon. Minister for Social Welfare,Govt. of Karnataka Mr. Sri H. Anjaneya. , Kannada Development Authority Chairman Dr. L. Hanumanthaiah was the Chairperson of the Convention. Parliamentary Secretary to the minister of International Trade Hon. Dr. Parm Gill, Senator Hon. Dr. Asha Seth, Associate minister of Health and Long Term Trade M.P.P Hon. Dipika Damerla, Counsel General of India in Toronto Hon. Akhilesh Mishra, , CMR Radio Canada CEO Mr. Stanislaus Antony and Sri Sumramani M. Hon. President World Kannada Cultural Convention were the guests of honour. The key note addresses were delivered by World Kannada Cultural Convention Founder President K. P. Manjunath Sagar, Kannada Kasturi Canada Director Sri. Nagaraj B.V and actor Darshan.
Renowned Journalist Vishveshwara Bhat presided over the Seminar on NRI Kannadiga’s, Nurture of Kannada and Role of Media on the June 28. The resource persons were Kannada Development Authority Secretary Dr. Muralidhar, Chilly Willy, Dubai Managing Director Sri Satish Venkataramana, ex president, E. V. Sathyanarayana, PCB Sri Ramesh, Bangalore, Toronto and Sri. Anil Dasharath , Toronto.
Satish Venkataraman was the winner of the Aryabhata International Award for the year 2010 in recognition of his excellent contribution and services in the field of Industry. Recently, Sathish was unanimously elected as President of the Karnataka Sangha in Sharjah. He is known as one of the few dynamic young entrepreneurs who was not only success in his business but also supported a lot of Kannadiga activities by sponsoring their events. He is also a philanthropist who continuous doing charity works for the needy every time he gets an appeal irrespective of caste, creed, language, religion and region and is particularly popular among the Kannadigas in the UAE.
Sathish during his talk stressed on the need to open a Kannada School in Canada to preserve the Kannada Language, literature and culture to the next generation. He also told the parents to speak the Kannada language at least in their homes and also requested the associations and NRI leaders who were present at the convention to come forward and help the job seeking Kannadigas in Canada.
Satish’s Chilly Willy Food industries, located in Jebel Ali Free Zone in UAE, are manufacturers of high quality food products. The Managing Director Satish Venkatraman, belongs to Kemmannu, Udupi. He is married to Mamta and is blessed with three daughters Sanya, Tanya and Manya.
