Shri K.M. Kamath Memorial GSB Sharada Sanman Puraskar
On a suggestion and initial donation made by Shri K. M. Kamath, the Sabha added one more feather to its cap by instituting the G.S.B. Talent Recognition Award to honour personalities from our Community who have excelled in fields of performing arts, fine arts and literature. The first felicitations were made during Gudi Padva Sneh Milan 2006.
2026 Awardee
Vidyāvāchaspati Paṇḍit M. Narasimha Acharya
Paṇḍit M. Narasimha Acharya, honoured with the title Vidyāvāchaspati, belongs to the distinguished Acharya family of Mangalore, also known as the Varga Acharya lineage. For centuries, this family has been renowned for its scholarship in Āgama Śāstra, temple ritual traditions, and the preparation of authoritative Pañcāṅgas. The lineage also holds the hereditary responsibility of serving as the Tantri and Acharya of the historic Sri Venkataramana Temple, a sacred duty Paṇḍit Narasimha Acharya continues with devotion. He received his early traditional education at Balakāśram, Basrur, and later studied at Srinivasa Nigamagama Pāṭhaśālā, building a strong foundation in Vedic and Āgamic learning. Pursuing his interest in traditional sciences, he completed higher studies in Jyotiṣa at Banaras Hindu University. Paṇḍit Acharya has played an important role in numerous religious ceremonies associated with the Kashi Math Samsthan, including the milestone celebrations of pujya Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji from Ṣaṣṭyabdapūrti to the Janma Śatāmāna Mahotsava. He has also participated in several Parihāra rituals, Punarpratiṣṭhā ceremonies, and other major Āgamic rites. Actively involved in temple Jīrṇoddhāra and consecration works across coastal Karnataka, he also rendered significant service in the renovation and Piṇḍikotsava of his Kuladevatā, Mahalasa Narayani at Mardol. He is the proprietor and managing editor of the Mangalore Pandit Panchangam, continuing his family’s long tradition of preparing accurate almanacs. In recognition of his scholarship and service to dharma, he was conferred the honorary title Vidyāvāchaspati (Honorary Doctorate) by Deen Dayal Upadhyay University.
Past Awardees
Shri. Puttur Narasimha Nayak
Singer (2024)
Shefali Vaidya
Political Satire Writer (2023)
Shri Vinayak Prabhu
Music (2022)
Shri Subhash Kamat
Music (2022)
| Year | Recipient of the award | Talent in the field of |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Pt. Upendra Bhat | Music |
| 2019 | Shri Vasudeo Kamath | Painter |
| 2018 | Shri Vishwanath Ram Kantak | Painter |
| 2017 | Shri Sudhir Nayak | Music |
| 2016 | Shri Ramdas Kamat | Theatre |
| 2015 | Shri Kochi Anant Bhat | Literature |
| 2014 | Ms. Mahalakshmi Shenoy | Music |
| 2013 | Shri A.G.Kamath, Shri Madhav V. Kamath | Theatre, Yakshagana |
| 2012 | Dr. Chandrashekhar N. Shenoy | Theatre |
| 2011 | Shri K. G. Saraf | Theatre |
| 2010 | Shri Kiran Kamath | Music |
| 2009 | Shri Anant (Uncle) Pai (Amar Chitra Katha fame) | Literature |
| 2008 | Smt. Manorama Rao, Shri K. Ramachandra Mallya (Bhajane Mallo) | Bhajans |
| 2007 | Shri Ulhas Kamat (Konkani Triveni Kala Sangam) | Drama |
| 2006 | Shri Vijay Ajgaonkar, Shri K G Kamath (Gopimam) | Bhajans, Drama |
Smt. Vatsala Shenoy Memorial GSB Mahila Udhyamee Puraskar
To celebrate and recognise the role played by women in the economic growth of the nation, the Sabha instituted the “Vatsala R. Shenoy Memorial G.S.B. Woman Entrepreneur Award” in 2014. Smt. Vatsala Shenoy was Mahila Shakha President and Sabha Vice President for several years. The founder sponsor of this award are her daughter-in-law and son, Smt. Sadhana and Shri Sunil Shenoy.
2026 Awardee
Dr. Ushaprabha N. Nayak
Dr. Ushaprabha N. Nayak is widely respected for her leadership in education and her inspiring personal journey. Born into a modest middle-class family to Shri Manjunath Kamath of Ganesh Beedi Works and Smt. Premalatha Kamath, a school clerk, she grew up as the third of four daughters. Her parents believed strongly in education, a value that shaped her life. At the age of 11, she earned a B-grade from All India Radio and began presenting drama and cultural programmes, developing the confidence and communication skills that later defined her public presence. She married engineer Shri Narendra Nayak at 18 and soon became a mother. Balancing family responsibilities with determination, she resumed her studies and completed her B.Sc. with distinction. Together with her husband, she began teaching at Expert Coaching Classes, which gradually grew into a major educational initiative. In 2007, the couple established a Pre-University College, and in 2014, the Expert Group of Institutions expanded into a 55-acre residential campus serving nearly 4,000 students. A lifelong learner, Dr. Nayak pursued an MBA at Mangalore University at the age of 40, graduating as a Gold Medallist. She later earned her PhD from NITK Surathkal and completed an Executive Leadership programme at Harvard University in 2025. Beyond education, she is also a well-known television anchor and an active supporter of cultural and social initiatives.
Past Awardees
Smt. Archana Pai
Entrepreneur (2024)
Smt. Archana Pai
Political Satire Writer (2023)
Smt. Vijaya Vivek Kamath
Software Entrepreneur (2022)
Smt. Komal Prabhu
Hospitality Industrialist
| Year | Recipient of the award | Field |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Dr. Krishna Umesh Pai | Industrialist |
| 2019 | Smt. Jyotsana Pai | Bakery and Confectionary |
| 2018 | Smt. Roopa Prabhu | Beauty and Fashion |
| 2017 | Smt. Shobha Kamath | Environment |
| 2016 | Smt. Sandhya Pai | Media and Publication |
| 2015 | Smt. Vilasini and Smt. Bharati Bhandarkar | Publication |
Dr. B.M. Acharya Memorial GSB Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar
The Dr. B. M. Acharya Memorial GSB Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Sabha in 2020 to recognise the contributions of inspirational persons of our own GSB community who have achieved great heights in the fields of Arts, Politics, Education, Literature, Business, Financial Sector, Corporate, Media, Sports. This award is sponsored by the family of Late Dr. B. M. Acharya.
2026 Awardee
Shri Pradeep G. Pai
Born in 1966 in Bhatkal to Smt. Veena and Late Shri Ganapati H. Pai, Shri Pradeep G. Pai, is a first-generation entrepreneur whose vision and determination have shaped one of India’s respected regional ice cream brands. He is married to Smt. Deepa Pai of Mumbai, and their son, Sankeern Pai, an MBA from TAPMI, Manipal, has joined Hangyo Ice Creams Pvt. Ltd., contributing to its next phase of growth. Shri Pai began his entrepreneurial journey in 1989 as Co-Promoter of Srikrishna Milks Pvt. Ltd., entering the dairy sector at a time when cooperatives largely dominated milk procurement and processing in Karnataka. His bold step into private enterprise laid the foundation for future expansion. In 2003, he founded Hangyo Ice Creams Pvt. Ltd., establishing the first manufacturing unit at Brahmavar, Karnataka, followed by a second state-of-the-art facility at Kirwatti, Yellapur Taluk, in 2012. Today, Hangyo operates two modern plants with a production capacity of 1,25,000 litres per day and ISO 22000:2005-certified food safety systems. The company has grown to an annual turnover exceeding ₹300 crore, with a presence across seven states, supported by 40,000+ retailers, 450+ channel partners, and a workforce of over 1,200 employees. Sri Pai has received several honours, including the Udyog Bharati Award, WCRC’s 50 Fastest Growing Brands recognition, multiple national dairy industry awards, and the FICCI Outstanding Contribution Award. Deeply committed to community service, he has long been associated with educational and social institutions and currently serves as President of the Vishwa Saraswath Federation. His leadership reflects a blend of entrepreneurial vision, professional management, and commitment to community development.
Past Awardees
Shri K. Ullas Kamath
Founder, UK & Co (2024)
Shri Raghunandan Kamath
Founder, Naturals Ice cream (2023)
Shri K V Kamath
Director, Jio Financial Services (2022)
Lt. Col. Ashok Kini H (Retd)
(2022)
G.S.B. Dhanavantri Puraskar
Description
2026 Awardee
Dr. Sadanand Nadkarni
Former Dean, L.T.M. Medical College, Sion, Mumbai
Dr. Sadanand Vinayak Nadkarni, born on 3rd May 1932 in Girgaum, Mumbai, rose from humble beginnings to become one of India’s respected pioneers in surgery and trauma care. Educated initially in a Marathi Municipal School, he later pursued his medical studies in Pune, earning his MBBS and MS in General Surgery from B.J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospital. In the early years of his career, he served as Associate Professor of Surgery at Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru, and later at Goa Medical College, where he headed Ribander Hospital. In August 1973, he joined Sion Hospital and L.T.M. Medical College, Mumbai, where he became the first Head of the Department of Surgery and established the institution’s first postgraduate teaching programme. Dr. Nadkarni was a pioneer of trauma care in India. In 1974, he established a dedicated Trauma Centre at Sion Hospital and introduced one of the country’s earliest ambulance services equipped with basic life-saving facilities. He also initiated specialised surgical departments, including paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, endoscopy, and burns care. As Dean of L.T.M. Medical College, he strengthened medical education and hospital infrastructure, founding several super-speciality departments and academic facilities. He also developed the Dr. S.V. Nadkarni Coma Scale, used for many years in the assessment of head injury patients. In recognition of his lasting contributions, the modern surgical seminar hall at L.T.M. Medical College was named in his honour in 2023.
Dr. V.R. Prabhu Memorial G.S.B. Tejaswi Yuva Puraskar
Description
2026 Awardee
Squadron Leader Reshmi Bhat
Indian Air Force
Squadron Leader Reshmi Bhat, a proud member of the GSB community, hails from a humble and culturally rooted family in Kochi, Kerala. She is the only child of Shri Gopinatha Bhat and Smt. Sobha G. Bhat. Her father served at the Cochin Thirumala Devaswom Temple, where he prepared naivedya for Gosreepuresha and carried the deity during palki rituals, while her mother supported the family through a small homemade papad business. Though her parents had limited formal education, they instilled in her strong values and a deep commitment to learning. Reshmi studied at Cochin Thirumala Devaswom High School, Mattancherry, where she excelled academically, securing full A+ grades in her Class 10 examinations. Encouraged by scholarships and community support, she pursued Electronics and Communication Engineering at Adi Shankaracharya Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kalady. She began her career with Tata Consultancy Services in Bengaluru, working in the aerospace domain. Driven by a strong sense of patriotism, she prepared for the rigorous Services Selection Board process and joined the Indian Air Force. After extensive training at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, and the Air Force Technical College, Jalahalli, she was commissioned as a Technical Officer in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electrical) branch. Today, Squadron Leader Reshmi Bhat serves the nation with dedication and distinction. In recognition of her exemplary service, she was awarded the Chief of Air Staff Commendation on Republic Day 2026.