Mangaluru : Writer H.S. Venkatesh Murthy, sitar player Ustad Rafique Khan and comedian Devdas Kapikad are among the eight persons who will be conferred the Sandesha Awards by the Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education. The awards will be presented on January 16.

Mr. Murthy will be given the award for his contribution to the field of Kannada literature, Mr. Khan for his contribution to the field of music and Mr. Kapikad for his work in Tulu theatre and cinema.

Others who have been chosen for the award are writer Gladys Rego (for Konkani literature), Sugantha Sathiaraj (teacher), Alexander Joel Pereira (Konkani Music), Thomas D’Souza (media) and G.S. Jayadeva of Deenabhandu Trust in Chamarajanagar.

Talking to presspersons here on Monday, writer Na. D’Souza, who headed a six-member jury to select the award winners, said the selections were made on the basis of merit and they did not invite applications.

The jury members were writer Sara Aboobacker, playwright Eric Ozario and theatre artiste Richard Louis.

Roy Castelino, president of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and trustee of Sandesha Foundation said that Home Minister G. Parameshwara would attend the award ceremony.

Archbishop of Bengaluru Bernard Moras would be present.