A well known people’s lawyer, social worker, a selfless man, prolific writer, lucid orator of Mangalorean Catholic community is none other than Mr Shirtady William Pinto. As the name signifies Mr Pinto hails from Shirtady, a village in Karkal taluk of D.K. District. Born on March 27, 1939 to an illiterate couple Mr Raymond Pinto and Mrs Mary Magdalin, William is one among two sons. By profession he is a lawyer, by vocation he is a social worker, by mission he is a reformer and vibrant activist.



Mr William married Rosy, a law graduate and assistant teacher at Nitoor High School. As she grew in age and wisdom she added more feathers to her cap by being founder president of 3 Mahila Mandalas, by delivering several speeches on All India Radio, Mangalore and presently being the elected secretary of Pastoral Council of Mangalore Diocese. In their blessed marital life they have 2 lovely talented children as gifts from God. The eldest is Chetan, a postgraduate by qualification and teacher in profession, presently working as Master Trainer in a reputed Institution at Hyderabad. He worked as a guest faculty in the department of English of Kuvempu University for 2 years and was a resource person for Ford Foundation’s Pathways Project at Sayadri College, Shimoga. The younger one is Praveen, a gold medallist in Law and presently practicing as an advocate at Mangalore. He had won several team championship trophies in inter-collegiate competitions held at MGM and PPC Colleges of Udupi and emerged as champion at the 2003 All India Radio annual quiz competitions held at Dharwad for colleges of Karnataka Universities.

Mr William Pinto has a vast experience of teaching as a part time professor of Law in Udupi Law College and Milagris College, Kallianpur. He is a practicing lawyer at Udupi court and was a member of Udupi Taluk Development Board.

He has held numerous positions in various organizations and associations. To mention a few of them, presently he is Vice President and Executive Committee Member of Nittoor Educational Society, Member of Editorial Board of Konkani news paper Raknno Weekly and legal advisor of Syndicate Bank Manipal. He had also held other prominent positions earlier. To mention a few, he was a member of Advisory Committee for Udupi Urban Development Authority (UUDA), Member of Legal Services Authority of Udupi Distirct, Member of Governing Body of CODP Mangalore from 2003 to 2006, Vice President of Udupi Bar Association in 1997, Member of District Adult Education Committee from 1990 to 1996, Vice President of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh from 1984 to 1985, Director of Mungaru Kannada Daily from1984 to 1993, Vice President of Udupi Scouts and Guides from 1978 to 1998, Assistant Commissioner for Scouts Udupi 1974 to 1976, Honarary Arbitrator of Co-Operative Societies from 1973 to 1997, Member of D.K. District Library Authority from 1969 to 1976, Member of Governing Body, Milagres College, Kallianpur from 1967 to 1977, Honorary Member of LIC Employees Union, Udupi from 1965 to 1995, General Secretary of Don Bosco Club, Udupi, from 1964 to 1965, State President of Catholic Students Union (CSU) from 1962 to 1963 , Executive Member of Don Bosco Club, Udupi from 1959 to 1970.

Mr Pinto’s outstanding achievements are mention worthy. On 21.08.2004, Prasar Bharati (DD) through Chandana T.V’s Kannada Belagu Programme broadcast him live on “Pinto’s contributions to society in various fields”. Mr Pinto has conducted more than 75 Public Awareness Meetings on Constitution and Civil Rights, around 75 brainstorming sessions on the Constitutional Review and its effects on the minorities, dalits and deprived sections of the society, answered all legal questions, problems, doubts confronting day to day life of a common man – encouraging to solve their disputes out of court amicably – through Raknno Konkani Weekly, delivered 100 plus speeches on ‘Importance of Education and Parents Role’ for rural people at Parent Teachers’ Association meetings, wrote legal Column in Raknno on the burning problems experienced by the disadvantaged and marginalized people, conducted awareness meetings on the Rights of Dalit Christians, spoke in 50 public meetings against the Bill on Toddy Tapping in 1990, participated in 60 awareness camps on Mandal Report and its influence on OBC’s in 1990, from 1986 to date 300 plus speeches educating on “Decentralization of Power and Power to the People” and benefits arising out of Panchayath System and thus creating political awareness among illiterate, poor, down-trodden people of 3 districts, 12 camps to mobilize Public sentiments against the Tyagi Bill in 1979, from 1974 to 1977- 200 plus speeches to educate agricultural tenants on the benefits of KLR Act 1974 in 4 districts of Karanataka, and also 75 talks in Kannada, Konkani and Tulu on Akashvani on Law, Social Problems etc., participated in the Radio Bridge on Communication linking Dharwad, Mysore, Bangalore and Mangalore, more than 200 speeches in colleges and schools educating parents (specially rural) on importance of education and bringing up their children as noble citizens.

Mr William Pinto has left an indelible mark on the simple peasants, poor, marginalized people through his powerful publications. His latest book on Law titled “Kanun Darshan” published on May 30, 2006 in Konkani language has seen 4 editions within 5 months with a total print of 7000 copies. These books are sold like hot cakes creating a new record in sale among Konkani language books. He has also authored a few other vibrant books in Kannada and Konkani languages such as Karnataka Panchayat Raj Videyaka Rajya Adhiniyama, in Kannada in 1993, Zilla Panchayat, Mandala Panchayat – Kanunu Hagu Rajakiya Jagriti in Kannada with 3 editions in 1986, Karnataka Bhoo Sudharane – Sankshipta Parichaya in Kannada with 4 editions in 1974, Mysore Bhuin Sudharan Kanun – Motwyan Vivar (Revised) in Konkani with 2 editions in 1974, and from 1974 to date articles on various issues – legal, political and social in Kannada Dailies like Udayavani and in Kannada Periodicals: Bhavyavani, Navayuga, Prakasha and Rayabhari, and in Konkani Periodicals like Divo, Mithr, Poinnari, Raknno, Udev and Umalo.

Mr Shirtady William Pinto has been conferred with various prestigious awards. His latest and most prominent award was Karnataka ‘Rajyotsava Award’ for social service conferred by
 

J.N. HS for StateAward



honourable chief minister Mr Dharam Singh on November 1, 2004. Other than this, he was
 

conferred with ‘J.P. Samaja Rathna Award’ conferred by lokanayaka Jayaprakash Prathistan, Bangalore in 2005, ‘The Rachana Professional of the year 2003’ by the Defence Minister of
 

India Mr George Fernandes for legal advice to the agricultural tenants, daliths, oppressed sections of the society. ‘Sri Virabhadra Channamalla Swamy’s Accession Decennial Award’ for social work, awareness building and flight for human rights in 2001, Lion District ‘Simha
 

Prashasti’ for legal service in 10 Lion Revenue districts of Karnataka in 1999, ‘Sandesha Award’ for public awareness and fight for the rights of marginalized people in1996.
 

Other than awards he was honored and felicitated by various Associations for his meritorious services of social work, awareness on legal matters and for human rights. The prominent among them are Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, www.daijiworld.com, ICYM Central Committee, All India Konkani Parishad, Catholic Sabha Perampally unit etc.

 

Lawyers Association



Nidumamidi Swamiji



St. Mary’s School, Udupi


Mr Pinto, a simple man, a person with high integrity and nobility rightly deserves the crown of Konkani world super star. Hence, www.konkaniworld.com honours him with the title KONKANIWORLD SUPER STAR. Congratulations Mr Shirtady William Pinto. Continue your race of service and win the crown of medals.


By: Rev. Dr Ronald Cutinha
Samanvaya