Report by Michael Rodrigues
Pics by Flavin D’Souza
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Udupi: The 97th birthday remembrance of former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Lave D. Devaraj Urs, was held under the auspices of District Administration, Zilla Panchayath, Taluk Panchayat, Backward Class and Minority Department jointly at the District Ambedkar Bhavan here on Monday August 20.

State Minister Kota Srinivasa Poojay, who inaugurated the programme by lighting a lamp, also offered a floral tribute to the Devaraj Urs' portrait.

In his inaugural message Kota Srinivas Poojary said that the former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs had brought about a social and economic revolution in the state by enacting the Land Reforms Act. "If the Act had not been implemented, a large number of people would have remained as bonded labourers. This Act made the tillers, the owners of land," he said.

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat presided over the function. Dr. Uday Shetty Assistant (Professor of Government First Grade College, Hiriyadka) delivered a special talk on D. Devaraj Urs.

Udupi Zilla Panchayath Vice President Joythi Seetharam Shetty, Udupi Taluk Panchayath President Devdas Hebbar, Additional DC Kumar, Udupi Zilla Panchayth Social Justice Committee President Upendra Nayak, Taluk Panchayath Social Justice Committee President Bharath Kumar Shetty, Taluk Panchayath EO D Manjunathayya and many others were present on the occasion.