Mangalore: On the 60th birthday of Dr. Na. Damodar Shetty, retired Kannada HoD in St. Aloysius’ College, a ‘Nadabhinandana’(Complimenting Na. Da. In a festival) programme of showering encomiums on the stage artiste, writer and organiser, was conducted in Town Hall, Mangalore on Saturday by his admirers led by poet KS Nissar Ahmed of Bangalore, known for ‘Nithyotsava’, playing on a Veena, in a novel way, by producing wrong sounds.

Prof. Shetty gave the poet some quick tips on how to play in company. Nada played his instrument sonorously with Sound(Nada). Others failed.

Guests like Girish Kasaravalli, B.A.Vivek Rai, Fr. Francis Serrao, B. Jayshri, Pradhan Gurudatt, and CN Ramachandran(a critic), among others, passed their fingers on the Nada Veena hesitatingly.

Sunil Abraham drew a figure of Prof. Na. Da. On a canvas on stage, and the audience gave a big applause to Dr. Na. Da for his aplomb in wearing many hats. Poet Ahmed spoke for Kannada in a global wave, and pointed to Na. Da. as an inspiration for students, as he had the brains and a noble heart.

Gurudatt released ‘Nadaloka’, a commemorative book, and praised Na. Da. for instituting and award in the name of Parameshwara Bhatta of Mysore Varsity.

Several Scholars addressed the gathering. A.M. Narahari welcomed the great gathering. S. Deshpande thanked Dr. M. Alva was present.