Report by Yogish D
Team Mangalorean Kundapura
 
Kundapur: A S N Hebbar, senior journalist, social activist, advocate and a multi-faceted personality, will be honoured on the occasion of Press Day to be held on June 30. This award is being given by Journalists' Forum (R), Bangalore through its Udupi district unit, as it observes the day for the fifth year running.

Patrakartara Vedike, Kundapra.com and Sri School of Journalism, Moodbidri are jointly hosting this event. It has chosen A S N Hebbar for this rare honour for his diverse activities in social organizations, international service through social clubs and for being the president of Udupi district Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held recently. 

Having been active in the field of writing for the past 50 years, Hebbar has been writing for Udayavani, Prajavani, Deccan Herald.
 
Kannada Sahitya Parishat Udupi unit president Neelavara Surendra Adiga, Spoorthi Dhama's Keshava Koteshwara, Kundapura.com's Sunil Byndoor and Borgalgudde Manjunath, HOD Journalism, Udupi MGM College will be the chief guests.  Ambatanaya Mudradi, Vidwan B Chandrayya, Umesh Rao Yekkar and Ku Go had received this honour in the earlier years.

About A S N Hebbar

A S N Hebbar has been into Journalism for 50 years. He began writing from the time he was a student in Government College, now known as University College, in Mangalore from 1957 to 1960).  He used to go to the Kodialbail office of the Navabharat Kannada daily to hand over news and features into the hands of Bananje Ramacharya in person.

Hence, in 1969, before the official launch of Udayavani, on instructions from editor Ramacharya, Hebbar used to send news from Kundapur for the experimental issues.  From day one of Udayavani on January 1, 1970, Hebbar had been the sole reporter from Kundapur taluk. 

His human interest stories and literary headlines were popular.  On coming to know about his capabilities, editors like Khadri Shamanna and R Sheshadri of Prajavani and Deccan Herald, who came to Kundapur those days, appointed Hebbar to be their correspondent for both publications.

Hebbar's 'Sarparajana Cycle Savari', a human interest story acquired prominence at the national level and won special appreciation from T S Ramachandra Rao, popular as TSR, editor of Prajavani.   His reports on the 'buried silver in Kundapur coast' carried juicy details. When Kudubi's Kalaburgi area caught fire, Hebbar filed touching stories, which paved way for the entire area getting rehabilitated with the assistance received from donors.  Such was his prowess as a powerful writer. 

Once while Ganapati, a lad from Andhra, happened to visit Byndoor and landed in the police station without any help or support, Hebbar contacted editor Ramoji Rao of 'Ee Nadu' Telugu newspaper, who in turn published report with picture in his paper. Thus he succeeded in Ganapati's parents reaching him in Byndoor.

Hebbar, at 79, is still contributing to different publications as a columnist.  He has been writing travelogues to "Kunda Prabha" and "Suddi Mane", sharing his travel experiences all over.  He is deft at writing stories,  humour, essays and poetry.  A story that he as a student wrote for 'Prajamata' for its Deepavali story competition had won a prize.

Hebbar being the founder-president of Kundapur Taluk Journalists' Association, he had formed Udupi District Working Journalists' Cell and had given a constitution to it.  He remained its founder as well as vice president. He continues being a life member of both these organizations until date.  

Having started his career as an advocate from 1963, he completes 50 years of legal practice next year.  His father too was a renowned advocate. A S N Hebbar being a good organizer, he was the founder secretary of DK District Advocates' Cell.
 
He was the Rotary district 2180 centenary governor. He was also the founder president of Udupi district Kannada Sahitya Parishat and got elected twice.  He presided over the Udupi District 27th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana and has served as president, Hangarakatte Yakshagana Kala Kendra, president of B R Rayara Higher Primary School administrative council, president of Roopa Ranga theatre group in Kundapur and as founder president of Jaycees.

Besides, Hebbar is a good orator, actor, poet and much more, all rolled into one, a  many-sided personality.  He is creative and socially productive even now.  Having born in Kundapura, he leads a peaceful and quiet family life with wife Sudha, 3 children Raghunandana, Swati, Shrivatsa and 6 grandchildren.