From Ullal to Academia: U.T. Khader to Be Conferred Honorary Doctorate by Bengaluru University

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has released the official list of recipients for the 2025 Karnataka Rajyotsava Awards, honouring 70 individuals across diverse fields — including actor Prakash Raj — for their outstanding contributions to society.

For the first time, the awards were finalised without an open call for applications. Recipients were chosen on the basis of district representation and social contribution, said Minister Shivraj Tangadagi at a press briefing held at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

“The selection was made based on district-wise and social parameters. Most of those recommended by the advisory committee were approved. The committee met four to five times to finalise the deserving candidates,” the minister said.

In a first, two achievers from the Samagara Haralayya community have been recognised this year. Following a prior decision, no organisations were considered for the award in this edition.

A total of 12 women are among this year’s honourees. Minister Tangadagi noted that some had submitted self-nominations, which were accepted as they were found deserving.

Each award carries a 25-gram gold medal and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh. The felicitation ceremony will be held on 1 November at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru, at 6 pm.

List of Awardees 2025

Literature

•    Prof. Rajendra Chenni – Shivamogga
•    Thumbadi Ramayya – Tumakuru
•    Prof. R. Sunandamma – Chikkaballapur
•    Dr. H. L. Pushpa – Tumakuru
•    Rahamat Tarikere – Chikkamagaluru
•    H. M. Poojar – Vijayapura

Folklore

•    Basappa Bharamappa Choudki – Koppal
•    B. Thakappa Kannur – Shivamogga
•    Sanningappa Satteppa Mushennagol – Belagavi
•    Hanumantappa, Marappa, Chilangi – Chitradurga
•    M. Thopanna – Kolar
•    Somanna Dundappa Dhanagonda – Vijayapura
•    Sindhu Gujaran – Dakshina Kannada
•    L. Mahadevappa Udigal – Mysuru

Music / Dance

•    Devendrakuamr Pattar – Koppal
•    Madivalayya Sali – Bidar
•    Prof. K. Ramamurthy Rao – Mysuru

Cinema / Television

•    Prakash Raj – Dakshina Kannada
•    Vijayalakshmi Singh – Kodagu

Administration / Medical

•    H. Siddayya, IAS (Retd.) – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    Dr. Aalamma Maranna – Tumakuru
•    Dr. Jayaranganath – Bengaluru Rural

Social Service

•    Sulagitti Eeramma – Vijayanagar
•    Fakkeeri – Bengaluru Rural
•    Corine Antoinette Rasquinha – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. N. Sitarama Shetty – Udupi
•    Konandur Lingappa – Shivamogga

Sculpture / Crafts / Visual Art

•    Umesh Pambada – Dakshina Kannada
•    Dr. Ravindra Korishetti – Dharwad
•    K. Dinesh – Bengaluru
•    Shantaraju – Tumakuru
•    Jaffer Mohiyuddin – Raichur
•    Penna Obalappa – Bengaluru Rural
•    Shanti Bai – Ballari
•    Pundalik Shastri (Budabudake) – Belagavi

Kannadigas Abroad / Outside State

•    Zakariya Bajpe (Saudi Arabia)
•    P. V. Shetty (Mumbai)

Environment

•    Ramegowda – Chamarajanagar
•    Mallikarjun Ningappa – Yadgir

Agriculture

•    Dr. S. V. Hittalamani – Haveri
•    M. C. Rangaswamy – Hassan

Media

•    K. Subramanya – Bengaluru
•    Amshi Prasanna Kumar – Mysuru
•    B. M. Haneef – Dakshina Kannada
•    M. Siddharaju – Mandya

Science & Technology

•    Ramayya – Chikkaballapur
•    Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar – Davanagere
•    Dr. R. V. Nadagouda – Gadag

Cooperation

•    Shekharagouda V. Malipatil – Koppal

Yakshagana / Theatre / Performing Arts

•    Kota Suresh Bangera – Udupi
•    Airbail Anand Shetty – Udupi
•    Krishna Parameshwara Hegde (K. P. Hegde) – Uttara Kannada
•    Gunduraj – Hassan
•    H. M. Paramashivayya – Bengaluru South (Ramanagara)
•    L. B. Sheikh (Master) – Vijayapura
•    Bangarappa Khudanpur – Bengaluru
•    Mime Ramesh – Dakshina Kannada
•    D. Ratnamma Desai – Raichur

Education

•    Dr. M. R. Jayaram – Bengaluru
•    Dr. N. S. Ramegowda – Mysuru
•    S. B. Hosamani – Kalaburagi
•    Nagaraju – Belagavi

Sports

•    Ashish Kumar Ballal – Bengaluru
•    M. Yogendra – Mysuru
•    Dr. Babina N. M. (Yoga) – Kodagu

Judiciary

•    Justice P. B. Bhajantri (Pavankumar Bhajantri) – Bagalkote

Sculpture / Painting / Handicraft
•    Basanna Monappa Badiger – Yadgir
•    Nagalingappa G. Gangur – Bagalkote
•    B. Maruti – Vijayanagar
•    L. Hemashekar – Mysuru

Udupi, Oct 28: The deep-sea fishing season along the Karnataka coast has been dealt a crippling blow, as persistent heavy rainfall and the impact of recent cyclonic activity have forced the entire fleet to return and anchor. Malpe harbour, a bustling hub, is now eerily still, with hundreds of trawlers moored not only at the port but also crowding the backwaters near Baputota.

Fishermen are reporting significant losses and growing distress, lamenting that unpredictable and severe weather conditions have plagued the season almost from its start. Repeated cyclonic warnings and sudden changes in the Arabian Sea have made deep-sea ventures hazardous, if not impossible.

The industry’s woes began just as the trawling restrictions were lifted. Strong winds and heavy rain repeatedly forced boats to remain docked. After only a few operational days in August, intermittent cyclones disrupted activity throughout September. Now, the renewed spell of heavy rain and powerful winds this month has brought the deep-sea fishing operations to a complete standstill.

Compared to previous years, the current season is proving disastrous. While a fortunate few initially netted decent quantities of prawns and sardines, the majority have been unlucky. "Even though fish are available in the sea, the conditions are making it impossible to go out and catch them," a fisherman stated. The community is lamenting the loss of the peak season months. "Usually, August, September, and October are the best months for fishing, but this year, due to adverse weather, activities have remained far below expectations," another added.

Narayan Karkera, President of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, highlighted the dual challenges facing the sector. “At the beginning of the season, many boats could not go out due to a shortage of workers. Though workers from other states have now returned, the cyclone has again made fishing impossible.” He further noted that even for the boats that did manage to venture out, catches of high-value fish like mackerel have been disappointingly low, leading to a stark disparity in hauls. The severity of the weather has even forced some Malpe boats to seek refuge as far as Karwar port. “For the last four to five days, due to the cyclone, boats have returned to shore. So far, this year’s fishing season has not been satisfactory,” Karkera concluded.

Coastal Digest is thrilled to announce its official association as a Media Partner for the Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025. This flagship event by the Government of Karnataka’s Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood (SDEL) is set to be the largest, most influential platform dedicated to crafting India's future-ready workforce.

From November 4th to 6th, the Summit will bring together the top minds in policy, industry, and academia to co-design strategies that will future-proof the state's talent for the next decade.

Why This Summit Matters: Workforce 2030

The world of work is rapidly changing due to AI, green technologies, and Industry 4.0. This summit is Karnataka's proactive response, focusing on Scale, Systems, and Synergy to ensure its youth are equipped with globally competitive skills, moving beyond traditional education models.

As your trusted news partner, Coastal Digest will be providing comprehensive coverage, bringing you direct access to the policy shifts, innovative models, and key announcements that will shape employment and entrepreneurial opportunities across the region.

Key Highlights & Essential Information
This is your opportunity to connect directly with the forces driving Karnataka's economic and talent strategy.

Participants:    3,000+ Delegates 
Speakers:    100+ Visionary Leaders and Policymakers
Exhibitors:    100+ Showcasing cutting-edge Skilling Technologies

Focus: Emerging Skills (AI, Green Jobs), Innovation, Global Mobility, and Inclusive Skilling

•    Inaugural Ceremony (By Invite Only): 4 November 2025

•    Summit Open to All: 5–6 November 2025 (Two full days of sessions and exhibition)

•    Venue: The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru

Coastal Digest encourages all stakeholders—students, entrepreneurs, educators, and working professionals—to attend and be part of this massive movement for skill development!

Don't miss the chance to engage, network, and gain insights that will define the future of careers in India's technology and knowledge capital. 

Also Read: Future-Ready Karnataka: Bengaluru Skill Summit 2025 to Address Workforce 2030 Challenges