Councillor of Mangaluru City Corporation, Ganesh Kulal being felicitated with annual Press Club Award as part of Press Club Day celebration at Palemar Garden, in Mangaluru on Sunday
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRAGEMENT
Mangaluru Press Club on Sunday presented its ‘Person of the Year’ award for 2024 to Ganesh Kulal, a councillor of Mangaluru City Corporation from Derebail South West ward, for performing the last rites of over 1,500 unclaimed bodies in Mangaluru without any commercial interest since last over 25 years.
The award presented by former minister Krishna J. Palemar during the Press Club Day carried a cash of ₹10,001, a citation and a memento.
Mr. Kulal was selected for the award by a committee headed by Mangaluru Press Club president P.B. Harish Rai.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Palemar said that Mr. Kulal’s social service is a model to all. Persons like Mr. Kulal are very rare. His service should be recognised at the national level. Society should recognise those did selfless service, he said.
Mr. Kulal, 55, has been taking unclaimed bodies from the Government Wenlock Hospital to the graveyard and performing the last rites. He was inspired to do the last rites of unclaimed bodies after watching his father, Shivappa Moolya, do the same. He learnt the customs involved and started performing the last rites from the age of 30.
During the first and second waves of COVID-19, Mr. Kulal performed the last rites of over 150 persons at graveyards in Bolar and Nandigudde. He ran a camp for 30 poor and outstation labourers, who were affected because of the lockdown, and provided food three times a day for several days.
Apart from doing the last rites, Mr. Kulal has been helping needy persons get treatment for health problems.
Mr. Kulal, who does not have a house of his own, has studied till class 8. He continues to stay in the family home in Marigudi temple at Urwa. His relatives serve the deity. The house in which his family stays is provided by the temple.
Published – February 09, 2025 09:27 pm IST