Rina Shirodkar from Miramar has been awarded as an
Innovative Artist among best talents across India at the hands of chief founder
Jaya Arora and Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Ram Vanji Sutarji at an event held
in Janakpuri, New Delhi earlier this month.
Rina Shirodkar has speech impairment but that has not
stopped her from being an achiever. She made tremendous efforts to develop the
art of painting and mix media and craft besides continuing with her studies. In
fact, at the age of nine years, she started learning painting from Naguesh Rao
Sardessai at Swami Vivekanand Art of Painting Centre, Panjim. As a student of
Bal Bhavan, she had displayed outstanding proficiency in all fields and
impressed by her performance, Vijayadevi Rane, the then chairperson of Bal
Bhavan, had selected her for the Balshree Awards under the category of fine
creative arts, where she had appeared before a district level selection
committee and came out with flying colours. Thereafter, she had appeared before
the state level selection committee and made her way to the national level
competition for Balshree Awards.
At the national level, she was the only candidate from Goa
under the fine creative arts category. There she was selected for the Balshree
Awards that were held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Her parents were also invited
to attend the ceremony. About 19 contestants were selected from all over India
and Rina was the only one from Goa. The awards were distributed by then First
Lady Usha Narayanan on behalf of then President of India K R Narayanan.
After returning to Goa, Rina was felicitated by Bal Bhavan
at the hands of then Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parrikar. Then again, in the
year 2005, then President of India Abdul Kalam had again invited her along with
other recipients of Balshree Awards and organised a programme of meeting them
individually.
She has been helped immensely by Supriya Tar from Mapusa in
making intricate water fountains and is always eager to lend a helping hand to
those who need it.
