Udupi: NSS Campers enjoy daylong programme with outing and interaction with TV Star

By Eugene DSouza
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’belle, 10 Nov 2013: 9 November 2013 was a busy day for the NSS Campers with a memorable visit to the War Memorial in the premises of the residence of Commodore Jerome Castelino and trekking to Pajaka Kshetra, the birth place of Sri Madhwacharya and the Kunjarugiri temple.  In the afternoon, they participated in various competitions and also interacted with popular TV actor Pradip Badakilla and the evening was packed with cultural programmes.

 

At around 9 am, the NSS campers arrived at the residence of Commodore Jerome Castelino  accompanied by Edward Larsen D’Souza, State Level Girls NSS Camp organizer and programme officers from different PU Colleges. First of all Commodore Jerome Castelino welcomed the NSS students and showed them the video of the inauguration of the War Memorial. He also explained to them why he took the initiative to build the War Memorial and also briefly narrated his participation in different wars. The students had a look at the traditional things that were usually used in domestic and agricultural pursuits. Thereafter the students offered floral tribute to the soldiers who had laid down their lives during the previous wars.

 

At around 10 am, the students proceeded to Pajaka Kshetra, birth place of Shri Madhwacharya and founder of the Ashta Mutts and  Sri Krishna Temple at Udupi. Devdas Hebbar who accompanied the students explained the importance of the place.

 

From Pajaka Kshetra, the students proceeded to Kunjaurugiri and visited the Sri Durga Parameshwari temple.  Vidhwan Anantha Krishna Achar from Udupi  spoke to the students on  values of life. After having enjoyed the natural beauty of the surrounding region from the high hill of Kunjarugiri and lunch at the temple, the students returned to the camp site.

 

After some rest, the NSS Campers participated in various competitions  and organized by Cyril Mathias, Head of the Department of English, Milagres College, Kallianpur and Santosh Nilavara, lecturer in Computer Science, SMS PU College, Brahmavara.

 

 

The most exciting part of the day was the interaction of the students with the upcoming popular TV star-Pradip Badakilla hero of the Kannada Serial “Bharathi” on Zee Kannada channel.  Pradip Badakilla about his background.  Born at Kedila near Puttur, Pradip had his college education at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore from where he completed BA in journalism. For some time he worked as news presenter in TV9. Pradip also acted in few Tamil serials and rendered background voice to “Kotyadhipathi”, the Kannada version of the popular Hindi show “Kaun Banega Karodpathi..?” as well as a regular background voice for many advertisement clips. His first Kannada movie will be released in January 2014. He answered some of the questions by the NSS students.

 

 

In the evening, from 6 pm onwards students from the neighbouring schools-Sri Mahabhaleshwara  Higher Primary School, Edmeru and Shri Vishnumurthy High School, Kudi manifested their talents in various cultural programmes. The Nisarga Yuvaka Mandala of Edmeru also presented their programme. Fr. Paul Sequeira, Principal of St. Lawrence PU College honoured the teachers accompanying the students and the office bearers of the Nisarga Yuvaka Mandala. The NSS students from different units also presented their variety entertainment programmes.  Not only NSS students participating in the camp but also a large number of people from and around Moodubelle enjoyed the cultural programmes.