SOLO SUPERSTAR! SILVER DONORS
We're so grateful for your solo contribution! You're making a lasting difference in the world of Tulu children's music.
Bhaskar Sherigar
Andover, Boston, MA, USA
Biography & Professional Journey
Bhaskar Sherigar lives in Andover, Boston, MA since 2008 with his wife, Shailashree, and their three children: Abhishek, Aniketh, and Ansika. He moved to the US from Bangalore after his startup was acquired by a US company. Professionally, he works in Digital Video Technology and VLSI-IC Design, holding 7 granted and 11 pending US patents as an inventor, alongside multiple national and international research publications.
Roots & Education
Born and raised in Maala, Karkala—with roots tracing to Maala (father) and Kellaputhige-Marnad, Moodabidri (mother)—he completed his early education in Maala-Karkala, earned his engineering degree in Bagalkot, and attended the National Institute of Technology (NITK) Surathkal, briefly serving as a lecturer at Nitte Engineering College.
Community & Cultural Leadership
A founding member and two-term President of the New England Tulu Koota (NETK) Boston, Bhaskar spearheaded the effort to unite Tuluvas across the US and Canada, serving as the founding president of AATA. An active participant in local Indian associations and philanthropic efforts for underprivileged schools in India, he is deeply passionate about Tulu drama, Yakshagana, and literacy, taking great pride in reading and writing the Tulu script.
Puja Shetty
Boston Area, USA
Biography & Heritage
Puja Shetty is a software engineer with over 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, living in the Boston suburbs with her husband, Ashwin, and daughter, Sneha. Growing up in Bhadravathi and graduating from Malnad College of Engineering (Hassan), she is the granddaughter of late Mrs. Leelavathi Rai (the first female MLA in Dakshina Kannada). Her father, Sudhakar Rai, is from Vitla, Kundadka, and Kaidale; her mother, Geetha Rai, is from the Kodial Guthu and Bakrabail family; and her brother, Vikas, lives in Bengaluru.
Community & Cultural Leadership
Deeply connected to her roots, Puja serves as a board member and New England regional representative for BANA (Bunts Association of North America). She previously served a two-term tenure (2015–2019) as General Secretary of the New England Tulu Koota in Boston and has volunteered for the New England Kannada Koota Seva Mandaara since 2013.
Passion for Tulu
A fluent Tulu speaker, Puja reached a proud personal milestone in 2020 by learning to read and write the Tulu script through online Tulu Lipi classes under Satish Agpala.
Holistic Healing & Life Coaching
Beyond her corporate and community leadership, Puja is a certified Ho'oponopono Healer, Life Coach, and Graphotherapist. Through her practice, themed around "Don't solve, evolve," she guides individuals toward personal growth, helping them navigate health, relationships, career, and finance to achieve lasting life balance.