Karnataka honours 'businessmen of the soil'

The Karnataka government on Thursday brought the industrial bigwigs of the state on a common platform to honour them on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of the unification of the state.

The list included who's who of the industry, who have brought laurels to the state both nationally and internationally.

Right from Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy to Sri Renuka Sugars Ltd executive chairperson Vidya M Murkumbi, the industry captains descended on Palace Grounds to receive the honour from chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Murthy termed the honour as "incomparable". Speaking on behalf all those felicitated, he said: "We have received many awards in India and abroad. There is nothing as important, as encouraging, as invigorating as when we are honoured by the motherland and family. This honour means a lot to all of us."

Among those felicitated included UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya, Deccan Aviation managing director G R Gopinath, Himatsingka Seide Ltd managing director Dinesh Himatsingka, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Indo-American Hybrid Seeds chairman Manmohan Attavar, Pearlite Lines Ltd director T V Narayana Shastry, Patil Group of Industries chairman S S Patil, Manipal Academy of Higher Education president Dr Ramdas Pai, MTR Foods Ltd chairman Sadanand Maiya, JSW Steel Ltd managing director Sajjan Jindal, Shamanur Sugars Ltd chairman Shamanur Shivashankarappa, ACE Designers Ltd managing director S G Shirgurkar and Toyota Kirloskar Motors Ltd vice-chairman Vikram S Kirloskar.

Wipro Ltd chairman Azim Premji and Gokaldas Exports Ltd executive director Rajendra Hinduja could not turn up for the event.

Murthy sought to remind the government the need to improve the infrastructure of Bangalore and other emerging towns on an immediate basis to aid growth.

"Unless, connectivity and communication links are established, it may not be possible for us to create more jobs. Please show urgency in improving the situation," he added.