Three from North Karnataka have made it to the list of Padma Shri awardees, which was announced by the Union government on Saturday.
While Vijayalaxmi Deshpane from Kalaburagi is an oncologist, Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara from Koppal district and Venkappa Ambaji Sugathekar from Bagalkot are folk artists.
Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
Born in a poor Madiga family in a slum in Kalaburagi, Vijayalakshmi Deshamane emerged as one of the most sought-after oncologists, particularly in breast cancer treatment. Her father Baburao Deshamane was a freedom fighter and her mother Ratnamma was a roadside vegetable vendor.
Despite many odds, she pursued medicine and became a surgeon and then went on to become the director of Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru. Post retirement in 2015, Dr. Deshmane involved herself in spreading awareness on cancer in rural areas. Her service earned her fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of India and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2004.
Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara
Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara hails from Moranala village in Koppal taluk. Born in 1929 in a poor family, Ms. Bhimavva began performing Togalu Gombeyaata, a form of shadow puppetry using leather dolls, at the age of 14, as it was her family’s profession.
The 96-year-old illiterate artist, who is known for demonstrating stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, has a distinct fame of being one of the first lady puppeteers in the country. She has showcased her talents in more than 12 countries including Japan, Germany, United States, Italy, France, Iraq, Switzerland, Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
Her contribution to the local folk art form has been recognised with many awards and honours including the Tehran Puppetry Award in 1993, the Janapada and Bayalata Academy Award in 2005-06, the Sangeetha Nataka Academy Award in 2010, the Rajyotsava Award in 2014, Janapad Shree Award in 2020-21,
Venkappa Ambaji Sugathekar
Born into a family of folk artistes of the nomadic Hindu Gondhali community, Venkappa Ambaji Sugathekar, 81, now resides in Bagalkot city and was tutored by his father and ‘Gondhali’ artiste Ambaji Sugathekar. He continues to teach it to the youngsters and so far, has trained 77 disciples including his sons Hanumanth and Ambaji, who have continued the family tradition of singing.
Although he cannot read and write, he renders over 1,000 ‘gondhali songs’ and over 100 ‘gondhali stories’ and is a ‘B-High Grade’ artist of Dharwad Akashvani. Having performed across the country, he has received several awards and was honoured with doctoral degree by the Karnataka State Folklore University in 2022.
