Udupi: BG Mohandas, popularly known as BG by his close aids for his connection with Kannadigas around the world, passed away due to health issues on August 31, at a private hospital in Manipal.
The 70-year-old is survived by his wife, son, daughter, daughter-in-law and numerous friends and well-wishers across the globe.
BG went to the UAE in 1982 and worked in the Gulf for three decades. He served as a country manager at New Medical Centre and as the President of Indian Pharmaceutical Forum. He was passionately involved in promoting the Kannada language, heritage, art and culture in the UAE through various organizations.
After his retirement, BG returned to his hometown where he served as the President of the Lions Club. His well-wishers and friends have conveyed their condolence and remembered his contribution to the Kannada language, heritage, art, culture and for his community and media.
BG was a born leader and even served as Principle Secretary of JCS, Manipal.
He prepared a constitution for the Dubai Kannada Sangha and became president in 1989. BG was the founding member of Devadiga Sangha, Dubai (1991) and put his efforts into uniting the Devadiga community in Dubai. He was committed to the overall development of the Devadiga Community and initiated various projects, including educational aids for the poor children of the community.
He also initiated numerous web portals so that Kannadigas could get connected, like Devadiga.com, Kkarnatakasaghadubai.com, kolluru.com, and others. He started the Gulf Kannadiga website and created a platform for connecting Kannadigas in the UAE by publishing their activities, which got a global reach.
Apart from Kannada, BG was also an acclaimed writer in English. He bagged the ‘Outstanding Alumni – 200’ award from Manipal and considering his social and media service, he was honoured by the Sharja Kannada Sangha with the ‘Mayura Vishwamanya Kannadiga’ award in 2007 and by the Bahrain Kannada Sangha in the presence of then Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in 2008.
BG was the recipient of the Kuvempu Vishwa Manava Prashasti and the first-ever person to receive the acclaimed ‘Da. Ra. Bendre Prashasti’ of the Abu Dhabi Kannada Sangha on Kannada Rajyostava.
He was also honoured by the Karnataka Government with the ‘Karnataka Rajyostava Award’ in 2019 for his passion for making Kannada global.
