October 2012

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012
DITOR EDITORS
EDGE
Publisher and Editor
V. U. GEORGE
Executive Editor MAHESH NAYAK Associate Editor JAYASHREE SUDHIR Copy Editors SONIA DCOSTA SHREELATHA NAYAK VISHAYA RAI Special Correspondents ESHWAR SUNDARESAN (Bangalore) ANAND LOBO (Baharain) ADOLPH LOBO (Dubai) MADHUSUDAN KUMAR (Mumbai) HARSHA DSOUZA (Mangalore) Contributors Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK I. J. SALDANHA SHET BHAMY V. SHENOY Maj. Gen. S.G.VOMBATKERE Production & Marketing SHASHIDHARA AGALA Contributing Photographers MANJU RAMACHANDRA BHAT MANOJ VENU HOSABETTU PRASHANTH NAYAK
A Divine Centenary A Divine Centenary
aste based dominance and oppression ruled the scene in Indian society in early 20th century. The situation was no different in this part of the region. The Billawa community, though in majority, suffered silent subjugation. The temples were then a fortress of caste-superiority and domination. The shrines and the divinity were kept away from them. The community lived in abject poverty and was forced to believe that it is their fate to be born an outcaste and their duty to live in servility. Then came the Messiah of Hope, Brahmashree Narayana Guru who was instrumental in consecrating Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli for the community in Mangalore, leading to radical social transformation. He proved to them that they are not inferior to anyone and they need not bend their knees before any audacious people. He showed them the way to lead a life with dignity and self-respect. The temple brought about a silent revolution and changed the lives of the backward classes for better and has earned them self-respect and esteem in society. This majestic and imposing shrine today occupies a place of pride in the hearts of the Billawa community. It was the year 1908, Shree Narayana Guru paid his maiden visit to Mangalore and laid the foundation for the temple at Kudroli. The temple construction was complete in the year 1912 when Shree Narayana Guru visited for the third time. He consecrated the temple on February 21, 1912, on the auspicious day of Mahashivaratri by installing a sacred Shivalinga. He named the place Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra. The rest is history. The Temple thus heralded a new beginning in the lives of the backward and oppressed classes who were tired of slavery and servility and the clarion call of Shree Narayana Guru One Caste, One Religion. One God reverberated all over. On the occasion of the Centenary celebration of the Temple, Mangalore Today is happy to bring a special issue on the temple and its history. Hope our readers will appreciate our effort in bringing out this colourful issue. We have an exclusive article on the formation of the new Catholic Diocese at Udupi in addition to our regular columns.
Editorial, marketing & correspondence office : 26 Venkatramana Building, Temple Square, Car Street, Mangalore 575 001 Phone: 0824-2492549, 4252549 E-mail: info@mangaloretoday.com Edited and published by V.U.George, Mangalore Today, 26, Venkatramana Building, Temple Square, Car Street, Mangalore 575 001 Printed by V U George at Prakash Offset Printers, Plot # 164, Industrial Area, Baikampadi, Mangalore 575 011
Views and opinions expressed in individual articles are those of the writers and need not necessarily reflect the opinions of MANGALORE TODAY.
All disputes and legal proceedings are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in MANGALORE only.
CONTENTS
Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, Mangalore
A Divine Centenary
The abode of Lord Shree Gokarnanatha at Kudroli in Mangalore which brought about a radical reformation in the society through enlightenment and empowerment of the backward classes, particularly the Billawa community, is celebrating its Glorious Centenary.
COVER STORY .....

COMMUNITY
16
38
DIOCESE OF UDUPI
Reactions ................................... 6 Wordzworth ................................ 7 Editorial ...................................... 8 City Politix .................................. 9 DK Diary ................................... 10 Column ..................................... 12 Airport ...................................... 27 Centenary ................................ 30 Poetic License .......................... 33 Picturesque .............................. 34 Feature ..................................... 36 Happenings .............................. 41 Opinion ..................................... 46 Youth ........................................ 48 Humour .................................... 54 Kids .......................................... 56 City Information ........................ 58 News Briefs .............................. 60 People ...................................... 62
A dream fulfilled
The Udupi Diocese which has been inaugurated in the Year of Faith is expected to pave way for alround development of the community, both spiritually as well as in other fields with due co-operation of every member of the community.
TRIBUTE B Ganapathi Pai
46
A Noble Visionary
B Ganapathi Pai, Chairman of Bharath Group, a noble visionary is no more, but his indomitable spirit will continue to be a guiding light in the times to come.
EACTION REACTION
The UPCL is wreaking havoc on the lives of the people of Ellur and surrounding areas and still the government has given the go ahead for the second unit which will also be generating 600 mw power on par with the first unit. It is a pity that the various protests against the commencement of the second unit has failed to yield result. Probably, a united protest is something that is very much lacking. Had our farmers and political parties protested unitedly by sinking all differences, then the situation would have been different. NARENDRA K, Mangalore concrete to end the woes of the people? PRAKASH MN, Pune Normally, whenever there is a hike in price of any essential or if there is some controversy, various political parties and organizations stage demonstrations as a mark of protest. But when it comes to a very much pressing problem that has affected the lives of thousands for no fault of theirs, all these parties ad organizations do not think of coming together to fight for a cause. UPCL would not have seen the light of the day had the various political parties as well as several likeminded organizations joined hands in protesting. Even now, it is not too late.Though one cannot demand the closure of this plant at this juncture, the parties as well as organizations can very well demand stern steps to reduce pollution. US KARKERA, Mangalore Mangalore Today Cover Story on UPCL reveals the grim scenario due to the UPCL thermal power plant. There is no doubt that this plant could establish its base here due to the patronage of the state government. Though former CMs Yeddyurappa and DV Sadananda Gowda while in power had promised to end the problems and ensure steps to reduce the pollution, they have not been successful, or they lacked the will power to do so. Isnt it high time the Jagadish Shettar government did something 6 The Dilemma of a Believer by KP Vasudeva Rao has duly highlighted the recent trend that is gaining popularity among Hindus. You have wealth in abundance, then you gift it to a temple in the form of golden crowns, palanquins, doors etc etc to some temple of your choice and earn the blessings of the Almighty. What do you enjoy in the process? Nothing but publicity with newspapers flashing photos of the donation of the golden gifts to the Lord. But, is this essential at a time when the Hindu society is plagued with numerous problems and several weaker sections in the community are living in dire straits? Why is it that these so called dignitaries are spending on golden crowns and such other things instead of building orphanages, old age homes or home for the destitutes? SUKUMAR RAJ, Mangalore Konkani world has lost a gifted and versatile poet with the demise of JB Sequeira. Mangalore Today has paid a UPCL has made Ellur and its vicinity a hell on earth. Today villagers are suffering from various ailments, due to the fly ash released from the plant and also due to the contamination of water sources. The company on its part, has made no effort to reduce the pollution caused though it has been claiming that it was using the best of technology to minimise pollution. The Nandikur Jana Jagarithi Samithi which has waged a legal battle however says the company was using sub-standard equipment resulting in high pollution levels. FS SALDANHA, Udupi befitting tribute to the great poet through the write-up Poet of the Soul. KAVITHA REGO, Mangalore Royal Zoom gave an insight into the world of Royal Enfield and also about the Royal Reunion of Royal Enfield bike owners at Udhakamandalam. Royal Enfield is indeed an owners pride. MS KAMATH, Mangalore Statecon-2012 held in Mangalore last month under the aegis of CREDAI gave a golden opportunity to the real estate developers to duly highlight their cause. The theme of the convention Home for All was widely appreciated and there is a hope that the CREDAI would strive to achieve its endeavor. MADHUKAR NAIK, Mangalore Ganesha Avatar showcasing the Ganesha in all forms, sizes and shapes, a collection of Sanjay H made good reading. Sanjays hobby has surely won him commendation. We wish he would collect many more such Ganesha idols. SUMAN PK, Mangalore
Unlike any other
Visit:
www.mangaloretoday.com
ORDZWORTH WORDZWORTH
Flip Flop
MEMORY LANE
Scam Masters: Lokayukta court has issued summons to former CM, D V Sadananda Gowda and his wife in a Land Scam in addition to another private case on grabbing property. They say, there are more on the anvil. How does Yeddyurappa feel now?!
A MEMORABLE MOMENT Late Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi at the consecration ceremony of the renovated Sri Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli in February 1991. Also seen are: the pontiff of Shringeri Shri Sharada Peetha and senior leader B Janardhan Poojari, the brain behind the renovation of the shrine into a marvelous and imposing structure which is now celebrating its centenary.
VOICE MODE
There are two mantras of higher education today. The first is expansion, inclusion and excellence and the second is liberalization, privatization and globalization, Dr S Ramananda Shetty, Vice Chancellor of Nitte University at a seminar on Higher Education in Mangalore. Industrialization alone cannot help a country grow and bring back the golden era which it has enjoyed, - District Minister CT Ravi at the inaugural of Agriculture Information and Awareness Campaign in Mangalore. Literature needs to be critically appreciated by people leaving behind their inhibitions, barriers and compartmentalization, thereby contributing to its enhancement, - Basti Vaman Shenoy, President of Konkani Bhas and Sanskriti Prathishtan at a symposium on Century Growth of Konkani Novels. The developmental path which India has embarked is completely un-Gandhian, - Jnanpeeth Award winning writer UR Ananthamurthy at a talk on Mahatma Gandhi and Contemporary India in Manipal. The Panchayatraj system which is at the grass root level governance will prove efficient only when the machinery is used meticulously - Minister for Mujrai and Ports Kota Srinivas Poojari at a workshop for PDOs at Udupi.
DITORIAL EDITORIAL
PUBLICITY STUNT
Publicity is something which every individual enjoys, but things take an ugly turn when the publicity craze crosses its limit as happened on Gandhi Jayanthi Day in Mangalore
On Gandhi Jayanthi Day, an incident that took place in Mangalore made Mangaloreans hang their heads in shame. It was nothing but Disrespect which was what the Father of the Nation got, courtesy a leader on the occasion of his birthday celebrated by Bharath Seva Dal in Mangalore. Pradeep Kumar Kalkura, the President of the DK District Kannada Sahitya Parishat was all smiles that day with his hand proudly resting on the shoulders of the statue of the Mahatma even as Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker was garlanding the statue. The photographs of that event that have been flashed in various media, shows Kalkura in that striking pose, least bothered about the fact that he was only showing disrespect to the great soul. This incident calls for stern action. But the tragedy is that so far no such move has been made though there have been instances earlier when people, to be precise leaders, have been booked for offending the Mahatma. In a case reported from Lucknow in December 2007, a BSP leader of Uttar Pradesh Daya Ram Sen was booked for showing disrespect to Gandhiji in Ferozabad district. In another case, the latest one, reported from Pali district in Rajasthan, Badri Ram Jakhar, a local Congress MP from the area, garlanded would earn them political mileage and also free publicity. Sometimes even protocols are given a go by in their haste to enjoy free publicity. In the case of the recent Gandhi Jayanthi incident, except for a couple of media including mangaloretoday.com, none thought of highlighting the incident and the way in which the Mahatma was offended by a publicity monger. This so called leader could have at least come up with an apology for his act, but that has not been the case. For that matter, publicity is something which many, barring a few exceptions, crave for. Be it a protest or a dharna for some cause, the organizations that stage the protest duly pose for photographs, as if the protests are being staged just to enjoy publicity so that the news along with the photographs appear in the media, both in print and web. One would certainly like to question the very motive behind staging such protests. Are they genuinely interested in protesting for the cause? Questions arise. There is a need to give a serious thought to this issue wherein publicity mongers try to overshine those striving for some genuine cause but fail to get the due publicity. Publicity is good to some extent, but things take an ugly turn when publicity craze crosses its limit.
Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the town square, raised slogans, and then to everybody's surprise used the head of Mahatma Gandhi's statue as a hand-rest to help him maintain his balance before getting down from the dais. In the case of Mangalore, what was Kalkura trying to prove? What message was he conveying to the people as well as the hundreds of Seva Dal children who had gathered there and were watching them? Probably, this instance is just the tip of the ice berg. Today, it is the publicity and power hungry people who reign supreme in politics. Our leaders want power as well as publicity and even the common man is no exception. Whenever there arises a problem or there occurs a tragedy,it is these leaders who vie with each other to visit the place, to shed crocodile tears and then of course pose for photographs. They hope their visits
CITYPOLITIX
A Yatra by Palemar
I n d i a n politics has seen Yatras by different names by different Netas of different political parties. All for a common cause-wooing the voters. This time, it was the turn of a sitting MLA who is also a former minister. He too chose a Yatra of a different kind.It was Vikasa Yatre, not a road show, but something to do with writing. It was a 28 page booklet named Vikasa Yatre highlighting the developmental projects initiated in Ulaibettu GP since 2008. The booklet released recently had much to boast about projects worth a few crores conducted in the Gram Panchayat. Not just that, the former MLA, none other than Krishna Palemar was even felicitated by former CM DV Sadananda Gowda. Why the all of a sudden felicitation? Political pundits say it is nothing but a run up to the Assembly election and sure the BJP which had totally neglected Palemar in the recent past, has decided to give him a chance again.
Blows galore
Just about a month ago, the District Congress office in Mangalore had turned into a battleground over the issue of induction of a leader into the party. Recently, the JD(S) office in Mangalore too witnessed a similar scene. This one too over the induction of a former BJP leader into the party. It was a scene worth watching with JD(S) men virtually involved in fist fighting. Interestingly, one faction which was involved in this fight backed the district chief of the party. Sources say the district chief was not at all pleased with the induction of the ex-BJP leader into the JD(S). His fear is that the defector may in all likelihood be given a plump post, just with an eye on the Bunt vote bank. The recent fracas has once again proved that the party is a divided house and will continue to remain a divided house, thanks to the dissidence. What would be the next move of HDK? Will he rope in ex-Puttur MLA after the ex-coastal development authority chairman? Political pundits are wondering.
OFFTRACK
A good nights sleep

With ATM theft cases on the rise, the ATM centres in every nook and corner of the city need good security and of course all the ATM centres have security staff. But, what if they, instead of guarding the centre, decide to have a good nights sleep in the comfort of the air conditioned room? In that case, what else can it be termed but an open invitation for burglars?
PIC: PRASHANTH NAYAK
DK
DIARY DIARY
More Gulf flights from Mangalore on anvil: Koragappa Naik elected DK ZP President MR Vasudeva K. Koragappa Naik
Mangalore International Airport Director MR Vasudeva has said that airline companies like Etihad and Air Arabia have evinced interest in operating flights between Mangalore and Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. Addressing a Meet the Press programme in Mangalore recently, he said the increased flights would benefit the passengers. He said by March 2013 at least five or six additional aircrafts to Gulf countries will be introduced by three to four airline companies. Vasudeva pointed out that Bajpe airport which did not see any significant development, ten years after its inception, has in the recent years taken rapid strides and is now an international airport. He also stated that the international tag for the airport has dispelled all fears regarding the table top nature of the airport. Vasudeva who will be retiring October end, said the region will see more development once the air cargo complex comes up. He said the passenger traffic in the airport has also seen a sharp rise to four times higher now than in the year 2002. He said this year the airport has seen a passenger traffic of 9.3 lakhs. was elected as the President of the DK Zilla Panchayat at the election held recently in the presence of MV Jayanthi, Returning Officer and Mysore regional commissioner. Rithesh Shetty was elected theVice President. Both of them were elected unopposed. Speaking after being elected the new ZP Chief, Koragappa Naik said he would continue the good work done by his predecessor Shailaja Bhat who has brought laurels to the Zilla Panchayat through her outstanding performance. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Monappa Bhandary, District BJP President Padmanabha Kottary, ZP CEO Dr. K. N. Vijayprakash, and others were also present. hanged my body to a nearby tree in the forest when I breathed my last. I cried out Amma twice before I died. It seems the spirit has also answered the query of the family as to who killed him, and has mentioned the names of two friends who are residents of Aloor area. At the same time it said it does not know about the others. The next time Gulabi was possessed by the evil spirit was when the family was getting ready to go to Gokarna in Yogishs vehicle itself for some rituals. This time the spirit asked them not to go in his vehicle. Whatever may be the mystery behind the death, Yogishs brother Jagadish has lodged a complaint with the Gangolli police mentioning the names of two persons revealed by the spirit. Police have now said that the investigation is in progress. This case has aroused much curiosity in the area and people are wondering what would be outcome of the police investigation and whether the probe would prove that the spirit was right.
Ghastly Crime; Ghostly Tale

The spirit of a young taxi driver from near Kundapur who met a mysterious death, has entered the body of his own mother to bust the mystery behind his death. Well, this is not a scene straight from some Bollywood thriller, but a real life incident reported from Hemmady. There has been a new but dramatic twist to the case of suspicious death of taxi driver Yogish Ganiga of Thariberu near Hemmady whose body was found hanging from a tree at Kabettu cross on Nada-Aloor Main road on September 26. According to reports, Yogishs mother was recently possessed by the spirit of her deceased son which revealed that Yogish was murdered and that it was not a suicide. This new and unbelievable twist to this case, has landed Yogishs family including his mother and elder brother in complete dilemma as also the cops. Yogishs body was found hanging from a tree using his own trousers and the feet was touching the ground, giving room
for suspicion. If reports are to be believed, it was exactly four days after the death of Yogish that his mother Gulabi was possessed by her dead sons spirit. This was what the spirit reportedly told At around 9 pm on September 25, I was on way to Nada from Aloor, when two friends stopped my vehicle at Harkur Moorukai and sought a drop. I agreed and later four more persons whose identity I do not know joined them. As the vehicle neared Kabettu cross, those in the vehicle, strangulated me using the seat belt. Later, they dragged me out of the vehicle and
10
DK
DIARY DIARY
Burqa ro colleg Burqa row in KSS college No more plastics in Mangalore The ends on a peaceful note Administration District will be
Kukke Sri Subrahmanya College in the pilgrim town of Subrahamanya, managed by the Temple administration was in the midst of a controversy recently when uniforms were made mandatory for all students and Muslim students were asked to enter the college campus only after removing the burqa. This new rule was resented by the handful of female Muslim students pursuing education in the college as they found it embarrassing to remove the burqa on the roadside before entering the campus. This apart, there was no such stiff resistance to the order. Finally things settled down, after Deputy commissioner Dr NS Channappa Gowda, taking cognizance of the seriousness of the case, held talks with the college authorities and directed the management to revoke the order and instead allow the students to enter the campus wearing burqa so that they could later remove the burqa in the ladies room. This is a peculiar case wherein a middle aged woman hailing from Mumbai is running from pillar to post for justice following two different judgements from a single court with regard to a divorce petition. She is Carmeline Pereira, wife of late Everest Pereira who worked in France and owned property worth crores in his homeland. Problem cropped up for Carmeline after the death of Everest who owned properties in Mangalore, Puttur, Bantwal and Mumbai apart from various other assets. Carmeline says the systematic plot to grab property began when Everest Pereira had moved the Mangalore Principal Civil Judges Court in 2004 seeking divorce from Carmeline. The couple was married in 1975. But Everest passed away even before the hearing could complete following which the court cancelled the case as the petitioner no longer existed, says Carmeline. This case took a new turn with the implementing a plastic ban in Mangalore city and taluk from November 1 as part of its initiative to ban use of plastics in the whole of district in a phased manner. Plastic has already been banned in Moodbidri TMC limits. Deputy Commissioner Channappa Gowda who addressed a meeting held in this connection has assured that the total ban would be implemented after taking everyone concerned into confidence including the plastic manufacturers and the apex trade body-the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Already, plastic bags of below 40 micron thickness have been banned in the district and the corporation authorities have been raiding shops and business establishments and penalizing those which were found using the banned plastic bags. The DC has said that financial assistance will also be provided to SHGs to manufacture clothe bags which can replace the plastic bags. The meeting was attended by top officials including MCC Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr KN Vijayaprakash and Pollution Control Officer Lakshman. Meanwhile, Carmeline alleges that several acres of property owned by Everest in Puttur and Bantwal have already been sold without her knowledge. Ever since then, it has been a struggle for justice for Carmeline and her question is how the court which had cancelled the divorce process following the death of Everest, has passed another ruling that the divorce process was complete. She also strongly suspects foul play as there was no chance of a court delivering two judgments in a single case. Already Carmeline has appealed to the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, High Court, and Chief Secretary of the state government as well as the Chief Minister seeking a thorough probe into this case. Now, as a silver lining, the Under Secretary of the Government of India, has in a letter to the Registrar General of the Karnataka High Court, has directed the latter to look into the case and take appropriate action at the earliest. 11
2 judgments in a divorce case by Mangalore court!
entry of Gladys Almeida from Puttur who produced a copy of a court verdict which said Everest had divorced Carmeline. Gladys also claimed that she had married Everest while working in France.
OLUMN COLUMN
IN BLACK & WHITE
Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK
The Tainted icons of the middle class

The Indian middle class will have to look for a new set of saviours soon as the most recent icons have lost their sheen, quips Prof. Narendra Nayak
ORE THAN A YEAR AGO, I had analysed the phenomena of the newly found heroes of the great Indian middle class and published it under the heading- icons of the Indian middle class. Now, after what has happened last year and more importantly what has been seen in the past few months, one has to change the title. The Indian middle class is in search of saviors- those who fit into the mould of what has been drummed into their minds from a very young age. That we shall have a savior, a benign all knowing dictator with sound judgment and impeccable integrity who shall lead us into making ourselves into a strong, prosperous and yes a Hindu nation which will restore the glory of the ancient times when streams of milk and honey used to flow, gold and diamonds sold in heaps on the road side etc. Into this utopia shall our country be lead by the savior who shall be the prophet of the newly to be made nation. This benign leader would have the traits which one imagines should be possessed by this messiah- coming from a rural background and having consumed pure, unadulterated food which would make his brain superior 12
to that of the city bred folks who are used to all sorts of impure edibles, having breathed the unpolluted rural air which would naturally make his brains superior and body fitter etc. He would also have to be a bachelor and hence free from all worldly bondage which would make him corrupt and so on. If you wonder why the word he has been used again and again, that too is a prerequisite -the messiah has to be a male. Our mindset naturally considers the female as inferior as ordained by the great law giver Manu and hence it has to be a man. A rajayogi as it is said- a man with the qualities of a warrior and a sage- only one of them would not be fitting the bill as a former would have only muscle power and the latter only mind power. So, it has to be a combination of the two. Thus came the two who would fit into the picture Anna Hazare, the ex army man now turned leader and Ram Kishan Yadav, the yoga guru who is now a leader-politician, in his most recent avatar. The paths traversed by the two of them have been similar and have also intersected at several times until they decided to part ways recently. This is an
analysis of this phenomenon and the forces behind them and what is to follow. In the nation which is now ruled by a coalition of parties with diverse ideologies, beset by problems created by ourselves, but some due to global recession there is a need to find scapegoats for all the short comings take advantage of these failings and somehow grab power. It is also that the parties denied of their share of power due to political manipulations are desperate to grab power. It is into this cauldron of seething, boiling political, casteist, communal brew that our aforementioned saviors decided to jump in! Again, the backroom manipulators are out with their various calculations for a winning combination and in this process are going to unleash some forces which would be very difficult to control once they get the taste of power. Anna Hazare for one has quaint ideas about ones diet, consumption of alcohol, education and a number of other things. In his village, even if one has to go on a fast, his permission has to be taken and someone who wanted to do it was not allowed by the villagers who informed him that only
OLUMN COLUMN
Anna was allowed to fast there! He has made a number of flip-flops in his policies, tactics, stands and every time rationalized it with lame excuses. A number of others joined these leaders, tried to bask in their reflected glory and then became leaders on their own. The beaurocrat who had quit his job, the retired policewoman, the father son lawyer duo, the retired general(soon after he was out of his job) and a motley crowd joined in this movement to save the country. They adopted various tactics starting from sit-ins to try to storm the residences of the Prime minister and the leader of the opposition particularly during the coal gate scam days. Then again the cracks, I mean those among themselves. After leading futile agitations against the ruling party which any way is in its death throes but refused to bow in to the demands, they decided to disband their motley group and then came the drama. Kejriwal, the ex babu, decided to float a political outfit to enter the parliament to fight the battles from within the system. This angered Anna and he launched a tirade against that. This was followed by an opinion poll and a long drawn drama and finally the old man relented and made a statement that though he did not believe in fighting electoral battles, he would ask people to vote for the party which brings us back to square onecontesting for elections leading to corruption etc. Once the group decided to enter the electoral arena the usual moneypower- graft nexus will come into play and result in the formation of yet another political group which is going to win the mandate of the people. Once the electoral political matters come up, the primary intention will be to get elected at any cost and the constantly advanced argument that one should get into the ruling combination to do any good. It would be impossible to get into any ruling combination without the element of corruption coming in and then it would be the same vicious cycle again. A most recent claim by the leader Kejriwal is that he would put an end to VIP politics which in effect means that he would like to join the ranks of VIPs who are in politics. But there is one good thing happening in this party that a Jayaprakash Narayan from Andhra Pradesh who is also an ex-IAS officer and having a political party of his own has decided to join hands with the new outfit. However, this party though in existence for many years has hardly made a dent in the political scenario of that state. It has one MLA and that is the founder of the party himself. We dont know whether the coming together of the two will cause more ego clashes and subsequent splits etc. In the meanwhile, the UPA govt. is going on full scale with its reforms and one cannot say whether it is an attempt to make hay before the sun sets or with the audacity that no political party would like to bring down the govt and cause a midterm poll which no one seems to wanting! The contortionist turned healer turned social reformer now politician has now thrown in his lot with the saffron gang probably indicating where his heart is and it is likely that he has been promised that all investigations into the sources of wealth and the tax cases will be withdrawn once the combination supported by him comes to rule. So, it looks now that the Indian middle class will have to look for a new set of saviours soon as the most recent icons have lost their sheen. While I may sound cynical, it is for the middle class to decide now whether they prefer the known devils to the unknown angels or vice versa! But like the myth of Sisyphus the quest for the messiah goes on and like him we are ever condemned to roll a stone up a hill only for it to come down and the process going on eternally! Or is it like the Kannada proverb linking marriage and mental illness- huchu bidade maduveyagolla, maduveyagade huchu bidolla, which translated means that unless the boy gets married the madness will not be cured and he cannot get married unless the madness is cured! Substitute the two by corruption and political power and the situation becomes clear. Unless one gets political power corruption cannot be eradicated and unless one is corrupt political power cannot be got! It has to be also understood that behind these icons there are the money bags and the new gang of favor seekers who are financing the so called movement. If the paranoid Congress can be trusted there are rumors of a foreign hand behind these movements too. One can also espy an element of vote bank politics too with the movement taking away a fraction of the votes and upsetting the political apple cart. Well, we can just wait, watch and hope for the best.
Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK is a consumer activist and a rationalist. This is a regular column and we invite readers response. The writer can be reached at: narenyen@gmail.com
13
Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, Mangalore
A Divine Cen
The abode of Lord Shree Gokarnanatha at Kudroli in Mangalore which brought about a radical reformation in the society through enlightenment and empowerment of the backward classes, particularly the Billawa community, is celebrating its Glorious Centenary.
ntenary
COVER
By JAYASHREE SUDHIR
STOR ORY STORY
Early 20th century. Caste based dominance and oppression ruled the scene in Indian society.The situation was no different in this part of the region then under the Mysore Province. The Billawa community, though in majority, suffered silent subjugation. The temples were then a fortress of caste-superiority and domination. The sacredness of the shrines and the divinity were kept away from the eyes of the so called lower classes except the privileged sections. The community lived in abject poverty and was forced to believe that it is their fate to be born an outcaste and their duty to live in servility..............................
..............It
was at this juncture came a Messiah of Hope and Change Brahmashree Narayana Guru who was instrumental in consecrating a temple for this community in Mangalore, eventually leading to radical social transformation. A telling answer was thus given to the gross exploitation of the lower classes.He proved to them through their own development that they are not inferior to anyone and they need not bend their knees
The then management board of Kudroli Temple under the leadership of Late H.C. Somasundaram. (Sitting LtoR) Narayana Babu, Kasargod Krishnappa, H.C. Somasundaram(Committee President) B Narsappa Salyan, Sridhar. (Standing LtoR) Somappanna, Vaasappa Mestry, Balanna, Doomappa Master. 16
before some audacious people. He showed them the way to lead a life with dignity and self-respect through education and economic power. The result is before everyone. Today many of those community members who once suffered in silence, now wield intellectual powers and professional skills and have progressed in all walks and echelons of life. Today, this imposing and brilliant architectural splendor called Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli has been providing succor and solace to lakhs and lakhs of people. It is a place where the silent revolution that took place at Aravipuram in Kerala in 1888 is echoing and reverberating. It incidentally is also considered the first temple in Karnataka which was thrown open to every section of the society. This is the story of a temple that brought about a silent revolution and changed the lives of the backward classes for better and has earned them self-respect and esteem in society. This majestic and imposing shrine today occupies a place of pride in the hearts of the Billawa community. At this juncture, when Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli in Mangalore is celebrating its glorious Centenary, it is most apt to recall the circumstances that led to the formation of
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
Shree Narayana Guru - Spiritual Leader

The greatest Indian poet and Nobel Laurete Rabindranath Tagore had once said I have to frankly admit that I have never come across one who is spiritually greater than Swami Shree Narayana Guru. Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, the Architect of the Indian Constitution had described the great saint and social reformer as so. "Hundreds of Leaders have come and gone. They could raise the dust but could not raise the level of the untouchables in India. This is where Shree Narayana Guru succeeded". Such was the greatness of the spiritual leader Brahmashree Narayana Guru who could influence millions of minds and hearts and could bring about a silent revolution in his home state Kerala at a time when the society was in the clutches of the evil called caste system that bestowed untold miseries to the lower starta of the society. This visionary reformer through his universal saying One Caste, One Religion, One God tried to convey a very simple thing which would solve all the problems arising out of the rigid caste system. He was the first man in Kerala who gave the clarion call against caste system. He consecrated temples at various places by defying the caste Chempazhanthy Pillai and later learnt Tamil language and literature. He had his higher education under Kummampally Raman Pillai at Varanapally House A great scholar of ancient scriptures including Vedas and Shastras, he expounded his philosophy by denouncing the practice of untouchability. In 1880 he installed an idol of Lord Shiva at Arivippuram which later became a great centre of pilgrimage for people of all castes. He is learnt to have consecrated over 50 temples and prominent among them is the Sri Gokarnanatha Temple in Mangalore. When people rallied round to make new temples, the chief passion that moved them was their thirst for liberty from the chains of social oppression and the enslavement of caste traditions. From the first experiment of founding a Shiva temple at Aruvipuram he came to know how temples could become instrumental in changing the life of people. He founded Shri Narayan Dharmaparipalana Yogam in 1903 which aimed at uplift of the downtrodden and low caste. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala is the headquarters of Shree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of the disciples of Shree Narayana Guru. The saint had also installed the idol of Goddess Sharada here in 1912.It was here that Shree Narayana Guru is said to have attained salvation The most important and very the last act of consecration by Gurudev was done with mirror at Chertala Kalavankode temple in 1927. He attained Samadhi at Shivagiri Mutt here in 1928. At Gokarnanatha Temple in Kudroli, all poojas and rituals begin by first offering the Guru Pooja to the supreme embodiment who was instrumental in consecrating this temple.
system and allowing entry to the so called untouchables. According to him, true religion should include the peace of Buddha, the compassion of Christ and the brotherhood of Mohammad. Born on August 20, 1855 in Champazhanti near Trivandrum in the Elava or Ezhava community, he was named Narayan and fondly called Naanu. He hailed from a community which was totally outside the four-fold varnas of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras. Narayana Guru's father was Madan Asan and his mother was Kutti Amma. As a child he showed great brilliance and a spiritual bent of mind and did not care for the rules of untouchability, because he did not find any logic in it. He had basic education under
Former Governor Rameshwar Thakur offering prayers to Shree Narayan Guru
17
COVER
this Temple and how it transformed a community into a power in itself, by the reforms initiated by one of the greatest saint of India Brahmashree Narayana Guru. A century ago, in the then Mysore Province, about 24 communities including Billawas, Namdharis, Ediga, Baidya and Belchadas were considered untouchables and led a pathetic life of servility. Though men from these communities were denied entry into temples, their offerings to temples were willingly accepted. A few members of these communities though were educated; they could not come out of the shackles of Sahukar Koragappa subjugation. Learning after the social reforms undertaken by Shree Narayana Guru in Kerala, the then leaders of the Billawa community in Mangalore too thought of approaching the great saint to find a solution to the problems faced by the backward class people of this region. Thus, a delegation of Billawa leaders led by Sahukar Koragappa, and comprising Somayya Mestri, Aithappa Poojari, Ammanna Mestri and Doomappa Master, left for Kerala and met Shree Narayana Guru. They presented before the saint the pathetic plight of the community back in their home town and requested the saint to establish a temple in Mangalore too on the lines of the shrine founded by him in Talachery. It was the year 1908. Heeding to the request, Shree Narayana Guru paid his maiden visit to Mangalore and learnt about the condition of the backward classes. Determined to construct a temple, he visited three places in Mangalore to choose an ideal location and finally chose the present place at Kudroli. The place then had a very ancient peepul tree in one corner and a Bhootha Gudi in another corner. There was even a thumba flower plant, the favourite of 18
STOR ORY STORY
Man of the Masses

Ask the man, the leader and the brain behind the renovation of Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatheshwara Temple anything and he will reply humbly,I have done nothing. He, Lord Gokarnanatheshwara is instrumental behind this entire marvel. B Janardhan Poojari, a senior leader of the Billawa community and a former union minister,who is the rallying force behind the development and renovation of the Shree Gokarnanatha Kshetra, would like to attribute everything to Lord Shree Gokarnanatha.The credit should go to him, not me, without his blessings nothing could be achieved,he says. The leader with a mass appeal is popular as the Man of the Masses. His straightforward thinking and words might have on occasions, earned him many detractors, but he is a leader with a genuine concern for the well being of the community in particular and society in general. He is kind, compassionate and ever ready to assist any one in need and has remained at the helm of affairs of the temple. I organised as many as 32 meetings in undivided Dakshina Kannada, Bangalore and Mumbai and people of every caste and community contributed for the cause. At one place, even a beggar offered 5 paise of his earnings, Poojari points out. Everything could take place with his (Lord Gokarnanathas ) blessings. The special thing about Mangalore Dasara is that it is a Peoples Dasara as not even a penny grant is availed from the government for this magnanimous event which includes a huge expenditure, he makes it a point. A social reform : If the shrine was founded by the revolutionary saint philosopher Shree Narayana Guru, another reformation of sorts took place in the temple during the Dasara 2011 when probably for the first time in the history of the nation, an attempt was made to secure widows their rightful place in the society. They were made to pull the silver chariot in the temple precincts. They also offered poornahuti to a Homa. There was another pathbreaking event. Thousands of Sumangalis also vowed before the Lord that they will not shun Mangalasutra, vermillion, tilak, bangles, flowers or the toe rings, the symbols of a Sumangali, even in the unforeseen case of them losing their life partners. Thousands of women had taken part in this historic event for which all kudos has to go to B Janardhan Poojari who took great pains for the success of this event and in the process creating an awakening in the society to break the shackles of some unwelcome customs and tradition.
COVER
Lord Shiva. Shree Narayana Guru through his inner vision said there must be an abode of Anantheshwara in the vicinity and accordingly he was taken to the place, the Kadri Temple. Later, Shree Narayana Guru laid the foundation for the temple at Kudroli and directed the local community leaders to raise a small shrine and offer their prayers by placing a photograph of Lord Shiva. Thus began the works of the Temple under the leadership of elders like Sahukar Koragappa and with due contribution of various members of the community. In a couple of years, Shree Narayana Guru once again visited the place and suggested digging of a well for the temple purpose. As the well was dug at the location chosen by Shree Narayana Guru, to everyone surprise there sprang fresh water while all other wells in the area had saline water. The well can be seen in the temple precincts. The temple construction was complete in the year 1912 when Shree Narayana Guru visited for the third time. He consecrated the temple on February 21, 1912, on the auspicious day of Mahashivaratri by installing a sacred Shivalinga. He named the place Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra. The Temple thus heralded a new beginning in the lives of the backward and oppressed classes who were tired of slavery and servility and the clarion call of Shree Narayana Guru One Caste, One Religion, One God reverberated all over.
STOR ORY STORY
After a weeklong stay, Shree Narayana Guru left the shrine after exhorting the people by stating each individual irrespective of caste, creed or religion must worship one divine force, known by different names. The Guru also made it a point to the Billawas that mere construction of a temple was not the end of problems, but there was a need to shed all superstitions and inhibitions and alongside temples even educational institutions should come up in order to empower the community in the true sense The seer also inaugurated the Shiva Bhakti Yoga Sangha and exhorted it to strive for the unity of the community. Sahukar Koragappa who had donated the land needed for the Kshetra was also chosen as its first administrative head. Gokarnanatheshwara Main deity of the temple
19
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
The Remarkable Renovation Shree Gokarnanatha Temple though continued as one of the major pilgrim shrines of the region since its inception in 1912 not much progress took place in the later years except for some developmental works under the leadership of late Damodar Suvarna. It was in the year 1989, that a major decision was taken to renovate the shrine with the idea mainly coming from a senior leader of the community and former union minister B Janardhan Poojari. The then temple managing President H.C. Somasundaram and Vice President A. Vishwanath, gave a go ahead with due backing of all leaders of the community. Janardhana Poojary himself laid the foundation stone for the Rajagopuram (main tower) of this Kshethra. The community from across the state and the nation and spread over various parts of the globe extended its wholehearted co20
Krishna Mandir
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
Architectural Splendour
Much toil has gone into making this brilliant and imposing Shree Gokarnanatha shrine a reality. The splendid architectural work is credited to the renowned sculptor Dakshina Murthi who was ably assisted by a team of nearly 150 sculptors and 700 labourers who worked with immense dedication to make the project a reality. The stones for the Rajagopuram and the idols were brought from several places including Karkala, Vellore and Mahabalipuram. The new Rajagopuram is 60 feet in height and beckons devotees. One can see intricate carvings of Vaishnava in the Gopura to the west, Brahma in the northern Gopura and Shiva Purana related carvings in the Gopura to the South. A marble statue of Shree Narayana Guru was erected close by the main entrance to the left of the sanctum sanctorum. There is the Shani Mantap, Gudis of Mahaganapathi, Lord Subrahmanya, Goddess Annapoorneshwarai, Kalabhairava and Navagrihas. The sanctum sanctorum of the presiding deity Lord Sri Gokarnanatheshwara is in Kerala
Architectural style and a sight of it will leave anyone soaked with devotion. The beautiful carvings depicting Shiva Tandava Dance, Swarnakrishna, Nandikeshwara, Ardhanarishwara, Veerabhadra and Gajasamhara in the exterior of the temple building, the carvings of Sivanartana, Sri Rama Lakshmana offering prayers to Shivalinga etc on either side of the entrance to the east are captivating. The Nandi in the outer yards of the temples and the two black pachyderms at the entrance all add to the great aura. The
Sri Krishna Mandir is a wonderful structure and one can also see the master craftsmanship depicting Geetopadesha scene in all its essence. In the year 2007 Bhagawan Hanuman Mandir was built at the entrance of the temple, adding one more feather to a marvel called Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra. To the left of Krishna Mandir is the Koragappa Kalyana Mantap, Santoshi Kalyana Mantap, the beautiful temple lake with a gigantic fountain Gangavatarana , the Punyakoti Park are all the major attractions of this pilgrim shrine which also offers Anna Dana to devoees every day.
21
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
Former Prime minister PV Narasimha Rao February 8, 1991: Then prime minister Late Rajeev Gandhi at the inauguration of the renovated Shree Gokarnanatha srhine.
operation in cash, kind and deed and the result was the emegence of a totally renovated Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra in a record 13 months, raising its stature and making it one of the glorious temples of the world. The renovated shrine was consecrated on February 8, 1991 in the presence of Shringeri Seer and the then prime minister Late Rajeev Gandhi. The Brahmakalashotsava of the Shri Kshethra was also performed to mark the reconsecration. Today, this imposing and brilliant architectural splendor called Sri Gokarnanatha Temple in Chola Style is a marvel in itself.
Shree Gokarnanatheshwara College
Rahul Gandhis visit to the temple
Late President Shanker Dayal Sharma at the temple
Service initiatives: True to the vision of Shree Narayana Guru, the Sri Venkatesha Shivabhakti Yoga Sangha founded at the directive of the saint, is running the Sri Gokarnanatheshwara First Grade College and a B.Ed College which are temples of knowledge and a means to empower the community. It is also bringing out Griha Patrike, a monthly journal which can very well be considered the mouthpiece of the Billawa community. Various other social service initiatives including scholarships for meritorious students are also organized by the Temple which presently has H.S.Sairam as its President and Raghavendra Kulur as is Vice President. The Temple Development Committee has Jaya C.Suvarna, the Chairman of Bharath Co-operative Bank, Mumbai, as its President and Urmila Ramesh Kumar as its CoPresident among other office bearers, Trustees and Development Committee Members who are striving for the smooth functioning of a temple which has a very onerous responsibility of guiding the Billawa community in the right direction and leading them on the path of righteousness.
22
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
A Cherished Centenary Celebration

It turned out to be a very cherished moment and a great day in the history of Shree Gokarnanatha Temple at Kudroli in Mangalore, when Congress President Sonia Gandhi unveiled the Centenary plaque and inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the shrine on October 18. The 2012 Mangalore Dasara celebrations were also inaugurated by Sonia. The Day also brought back memories of the reconsecration of the renovated Sri Gokarnanatha Temple. For, almost 21 years ago, it was on February 8, 1991 that the renovated shrine was inaugurated by the then prime minister Late Rajeev Gandhi. Sonia even recollected that Day in her address saying Twenty one years ago, three months before his death, my husband late Rajiv Gandhi had visited the temple to inaugurate the renovated temple. Hence, I consider it as a privilege to visit this temple and this visit is personally special for me. Let us re-dedicate ourselves to the values and ideals of Shree Narayana Guru who propagated unity in diversity. His philosophy of one caste, one religion and one God has been preserved with great sanctity by Kudroli Temple. The Sri Gokarnanatha Shrine is a symbol of social harmony, she added. B Janardhan Poojari, the man behind the renovation of the Kshetra as also the Mangalore Dasara, was visibly overwhelmed to have Sonia for the centenary fete.I am the luckiest person today, being here with Madam Gandhi. I have no words to express my joy, he said. The Congress President also offered special prayers at the Temple and was presented a shawl as a mark of respect and honour. An idol of Radha-Krishna was also gifted as a memento to Sonia on the occasion. Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha Member, K H Muniyappa, Union Minister of State for Railways, Siddaramaiah, State opposition leader, Ramesh Kumar, noted builder, Urmila Ramesh Kumar, CoPresident of Temple Development Committee and HS Sairam, Temple Management Board Chairman were among others present.
23
COVER
Hasiru Hore Kanike procession which marked the beginning of the centenary celebrations.
STOR ORY STORY
Magical Mangalore Dasara

The renovation of Shree Gokarnanatha Temple in 1991 also saw a new beginning. The Temple which, since its inception in 1912 used to celebrate Navaratri by installing and worshipping the idol of Goddess Sharada, decided to take the glory of Mangalore Dasara worldwide by installing the idols of Navadurgis and Lord Ganapathi along with the main deity Goddess Sharada.This novel tradition brought fame and glory to the temple with lakhs and lakhs of devotees thronging the temple to witness this Marvel called Mangalore Dasara in all its glory and grandeur when the whole of Mangalore is wearing a bridal look illuminated with colourful lights. Mangalore Dasara 2012 is special for Kudroli Shree Gokarnanatha Temple as it coincides with the centenary celebrations of the Temple. The Hore Kanike procession which marked the beginning of the Mangalore Dasara celebrations was itself unique and a splendid example of all-religion harmony. For the first time in the history of any temple in India, thousands of vehicles marched in a procession from Nehru Maidan to the Temple carrying offerings from devotees not only from the state, but also from Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat, irrespective of caste or community affiliations, thereby displaying their unstinted devotion to Lord Shree Gokarnanatha. The installation of the idols of Goddess Sharada and Navadurgis were held on October 16 in the presence of Western Range IGP Pratap Reddy and several dignitaries apart from the temple management board members and a large number of devotees. Brahmakalashotsava was also offered in the Temple on October 19 and 20 with thousands visiting the temple to offer
24
COVER
STOR ORY STORY
prayers to Lord Shree Gokarnanatha and seek his blessings. The grand Mangalore Dasara Procession on October 24 will be another great occasion - for the procession on the centenary year of the Kshetra will be unique. This time over a hundred tableaux from across the district, would display the exemplary glory of the land, its culture and tradition before thousands of devotees. The Huli Vesha Teams as usual will add a special glitter to the celebrations, while the idols of the Goddess Sharada and Navadurgis will be taken in tastefully decorated tableaux with all grace. The Dasara of Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple is beckoning devotees to be a part of this great occasion.
Goddess Sharada Idol
25
Subscribe
The only English monthly of DK & Udupi
Rs. 150/- per year

SUBSCRIBE for 3 YEARS
AND SAVE RS. 140/-
Rs. 400
PAY
For 1 year Rs. 150/- (12 issues including postage, against cover price of Rs. 180/- [Rs. 15/- per copy]) For 2 years : Rs. 275/-, 3 years : Rs. 400/-)
YES
Name
I would like to subscribe to MANGALORE TODAY. Please post it to me at the following address. : ..................................................................
Please issue the cheque/DD in favour of MANGALORE TODAY payable at Mangalore My cheque / DD No. ................................................................... Date : ........................................................................................ for Rs. drawn on .........................................................
Address : .................................................................. ................................................................................... State........................................................................... Country:.......................................................................

PINCODE:
.................................................................................................. is enclosed herewith ...................................................................
Mail the form to: The Circulation Manager, MANGALORE TODAY 26/27 Venkataramana Bldg.,Car Street, MANGALORE - 575 001.
Subscription for any country other than India: Rs. 900/- including postage for 12 issues
IRPORT AIRPORT
Our International Airport
Airbus 310 maiden landing F THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL flight, an Air India Express flight from Dubai had landed at Mangalore Airport on October 3, 2006, exactly six years later, on October 4, 2012, the Airport got the much awaited international tag October 4 thus turned out to be a great day in the history of Mangalore when the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs finally declared the Bajpe airport in Mangalore as an international airport. MR Vasudeva, Director of Mangalore Airport is optimistic that the international tag to the airport would attract more airlines to commence operations from Mangalore which is also the second best connected airport in Karnataka next only to Bangalore.
Udupi-Chikmagalur MP K Jayaprakash Hegde, who too had tried to exert pressure on the authorities in this regard, has expressed his pleasure over the grant of international tag for Mangalore airport. Even the apex trade body, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased with the international tag and now wants the government to declare the old terminal of the airport as an air cargo complex at the earliest. Union Minister for Corporate Affairs Veerappa Moily says Mangalore airport which has been functioning since 1951, deserves to be declared an international airport. If Mangalore which was hitherto considered as a tier-II city, it will henceforth be identified as a city which can boast of
an international airport, which will go a long way in boosting the image of Mangalore.Mangalore Airport had a passenger traffic of 9.29 lakh till June 2012 including 2.25 lakh international passengers. As of now, Air India Express operates Mangalore-Kuwait-Doha, Bahrain, Dubai, Muscat and Abu Dhabi flights from Mangalore airport. Currently, Mangalore airport has the facilities to handle 400 passengers in the domestic arrival hall and 150 passengers in the international hall. Fears dispelled: The general fear that the table top Mangalore airport was not suitable for big aircrafts, particularly after the worst ever air tragedy that took place two years ago, was almost dispelled with Airbus 310 safely landing in the new terminal recently to take Haj pilgrims. This aircraft weighs 1.44 lakh kgs as against the normal aircrafts which weigh just 70,000 kgs. Air Cargo Complex: Another long standing demand has been to set up an air cargo complex in Mangalore. D. Purushottam, Commissioner of Customs, says he has been pursuing the proposal of the trade and commerce bodies to set up an air cargo complex. The KCCI meanwhile says it has been demanding an air cargo complex since 1998.
27
COMMUNITY
DIOCESE OF UDUPI
A dream fulfilled
A
LONGSTANDING DREAM OF the Catholic community of Udupi was fulfilled when the Diocese of Udupi was installed and Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo took charge as the First Bishop of the Diocese at a graceful ceremony held at the Milagres Cathedral grounds at Kalianpur on October 15. Thousands of people including Diocesan Clergy, religious priests, brothers, nuns, a host of dignitaries from all faiths as well as a large number of Catholic brethren were witness to this grand ceremony. Carved out of the Latin rite Mangalore Diocese, which celebrated its postcentenary silver jubilee in February this year, Udupi is the fourth Diocese in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. The
28
COMMUNITY
other two Dioceses in the district, apart from the Mangalore Diocese are the Puttur Diocese of the Syro-Malankara rite and Belthangady Diocese of the Syro-Malabar rite. The Udupi Diocese is the 14th in the state and the 166th in India. The Church of Our Lady of Miracles is the ChurchCathedral of the newly-erected diocese. It was on July 16, 2012 that the Pope Benedict XVI announced the erection of the Diocese of Udupi and appointed Most. Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, hitherto the Bishop of Shimoga, as its first Bishop, much to the joy of the Catholic community of the region which was hoping for the early formation of the Diocese. The new Diocese of Udupi has a Catholic population of 1,06,149, and has 58 diocesan priests, 28 religious priests, and 225 Women Religious. Apolistic Nuncio of India Dr Salvatore Pennacchio Udupi inaugurated the Udupi Diocese which is the ninth Roman Catholic Diocese under the Archdiocese of Bangalore. The inaugural ceremony was followed by a Eucharistic Mass. Fr Henry Sequeira, Chancellor, Mangalore Diocese read out the letter in Latin from Pope Benedict XVI, while Parish Priest of Milagres Cathedral Fr Stany Lobo read the Konkani translation of the same. Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the new Bishop formally took charge after the Mangalore Bishop Fr Aloysius Paul DSouza and Archbishop Dr Bernard Moras escorted him to the Cathedra. The scepter was presented to the new Bishop by Dr Salvatore Pennacchio. Year of Faith inaugurated: The new Bishop Rev. Dr Gerald Lobo inaugurated the Year of Faith by lighting the lamp along with Apolistic Nuncio Dr Salvatore Pennacchio in the presence of the representatives of the five deaneries Fr Fred Mascarenhas, Fr Anil, Fr John Barboza, Fr Stany B Lobo and Fr Stany B Tauro and the Mangalore Bishop
A Guiding Light
Most. Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Udupi is a spiritual leader with a down to earth approach. He considers himself very fortunate to be the Bishop of this Diocese in the Year of Faith and has full confidence of taking the Diocese of Udupi on the path of spiritual progress and development. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobos spiritual career spans over three decades Born in Agrar of Bantwal Taluk on Novermber 14, 1949 to Aloysius and Mary Lobo, he had his early education at SVS High School Bantwal and collegiate studies at St Aloysius College, Mangalore. Rev. Dr Lobo had his Seminary Education at the Jeppu Seminary in Mangalore and was ordained Priest in 1977. He has the experience of serving as Assistant Parish Priest in Urva and Shirva churches. He has served as Parish Priest in Badyar too. Considering his administrative capabilities, he was appointed Director of Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP) of Mangalore Diocese and later as Episcopal Vicar of Kasargod District. The Vamanjoor Agricultural School too has benefitted from his services. Further, he even worked as Director of RUSEMP Pakshikere, before being appointed as the Bishop of Shimoga Diocese in March, 2000. including Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Puttige Mutt, Jayaprakash Hegde, MP of Udupi, Chikmagalur and Rev Sadananda, CSI Bishop, Fr Ignatius Pinto, former Archbishop of Bangalore, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi in-charge minister, Raghupathi Bhat, MLA, N B Aboobakker, Chairman, Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation and Sunitha S Poojary, President of Kallianpur gram Panchayat. The Udupi Diocese which has been inaugurated in the Year of Faith is expected to pave way for alround development of the community, both spiritually as well as in other fields with due co-operation of every member of the community. 29
and the Archbishop. Representatives of the five Deaneries also made their offerings including coconut sapling, banana plant, rice and food grains, fruits and groceries. A formal felicitation ceremony organized in honour of the new Bishop, was attended by several dignitaries
ENTENARY CENTENARY
Bejai like other Catholic parishes of greater Mangalore was once a part of the first parish of Rosario Church established in the sixteenth Century. Gradually with the growth of the population, long distances from the church and difficulties experienced, land was obtained for a cemetery and a mortuary chapel was set up; that was the fore runner of Bijai Parish and later the St.Francis Xavier Church. Visiting priests offered masses and so on here. Gradually other parishes to were carved out of Rosario:Milagres 1680, Urva 1866, Cordel(Kulshekar) 1904, Bendur 1914, Angelore, Valencia and Cascia 1935, and so on. Jubilantly the erection of the New Udupi Diocese on October 15, 2012 at Kallianpur Milagres Church will positively change the features of Mangalore Diocese for the future.
Mangalores Bejai Parish

I J Saldanha-Shet traces the origin and evolution of the century old Bejai Parish in Mangalore.
Historic Trail: St. Francis Xavier Parish, Bijai was established here in the year 1912, the early published account documented in "The History of Mangalore Diocese" of 1905, Compiled by Fr.J.Moore SJ, (pages 240/ 1) states: "A large chapel at Bijay cemetry,built 1886-1899 and dedicated to St.Francis Xavier, is attended from it (namely Rosario Cathedral) every Sunday." On March 22, 1912, Bishop Paul Perini, S.J., gave Bejai a resident chaplain -Fr Sebastian Noronha. The site of the present church was given by an influential Catholic, Munsiff Joseph Lobo Prabhu. Munsiff Joseph's father is the donor of the land for St Aloysius College, several descendants of this donor reside in the vicinity of Mangalore. There have been 14 Parish priests and about 50 assistants in the last 100 years. Later, Fr Joseph Peter Fernandes built a portion of the presbytery. The present 30
A Centenarian
church was built during 1924-28 by Fr A. E. Colaco who had succeeded Fr Fernandes. Fr Leo Saldanha completed the belfry it in 1937. Fr Robert L. M. Pinto renovated the church and progressively developed it. This centenary - 100 years marks the establishment of Parish which does not signify the buildings, but the people the parishioners who are paramount in a church. The St Francis Xavier School for boys and Lourdes girls school started in the year 1915. A great number of boys and girls from Bejai and surrounding areas studied here and remember with gratitude the dedicated teachers who taught them and many have pursued higher studies and are shining in different fields and banks, government services and are working abroad. In 1963, due to the efforts of very Rev. Mgr. F. J. M. Pinto , a girls high school was opened by the Ursuline Franciscan sisters of Mangalore. This parish thus continuously progressed in all directions.
More Recent Developments: In 1998, Fr. Bernard DSouza ventured into a gigantic project of giving students education in CBSE syllabus to prepare them for competitive exams and also opportunity to children who came from abroad who require CBSE education.In the year 1999, Lourdes Central School came into being which is now a premier school in the city. Fr Bernard L. DSouza constructed a commercial complex and also the Hall for income generation to the church.The vision of Fr Joseph Peter Tauro consolidated these into a more modern base.Science stream PCM computer and PCM Biology classes commenced on 16.06.2008 and this School has now grown into a Senior Secondary Institution.The new spacious Presbytery was inaugurated on 3rd December, 2006 on the feast of St Francis Xavier by Mangalore Bishop Rev.Aloysius Paul DSouza. Presently, a dynamic and motivated
ENTENARY CENTENARY
senior priest of the Diocese,Rev. Fr. Victor Machado is the parish priest of Bejai. The parish has 23 wards (basic units of the parish), 1321 families and about 5400 parishioners. This parish has made great strides in creating a vibrant Christian community and be a witness to the Kingdom of God. Bejai is noted for the large number of vocations (it has given two Archbishops). It is known for cultural and other social events and activities with it's gifted and enthusiastic youth. Presently perceived is a deepening of faith which has resulted in a slew of good works social and charitable through the many societies and Associations that actively function under the prayerful and active guidance of the parish pastors and leaders. Presently many religious congregations serve within this Parish some the 74 year old Church structure has been renovated inside and out side. The high alter has undergone a major change with the focus now on 'Jesus on the cross', earlier St.Francis Xavier was the center piece. On October 14,2012, the Bishop of Mangalore inaugurated the renovated Grotto, a new shrine of St.Francis Xavier and an adoration chapel for round the clock personal silent prayer on the church premises. There is ever a palpable need to preserve the community culture,heritage, artifacts and monuments for future generations, by rebuilding,refurbishing and strengthening. Demolition and erection of over sized, unaesthetic and ostentatious architectures are not essential. With dwindling population and changed interests there is needed a rational and sober approach to expansion. Precious wealth must be equitably shared to benefit the ordinary people,the have-nots and suffering to address their plight with humane Rev Dr Aloysius P D'Souza said "Believe in God. Believe in your real Catholic faith. Believe in yourself ". The Chief Guest Charles Lobo, Post Master General Goa, who hails from Bijai spoke in glowing terms about the work of this parish. Former parish priests, assistant priests, vice-presidents, ward gurkars and Church association presidents were honoured on the occasion. Those who have contributed to the Church and parishioners who were achievers in various fields were also felicitated. The plans for the future are many, to name a few: Homes for the marginalized, improving the environment, Scholarships to encourage education, upgrading the educational institutions and so on. The unique centenary celebrations highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the Parish, made of flesh and blood people. The Bejai Parishioners and their leaders have paid special importance to the growth of Catholic faith and the cultivation of social, civic and nationalistic responsibilities of it's families and members in the past and hope to make foot prints in the sands of time in the future. Apostle of the Indies. St. Francis Xavier, (15061552) was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in Spain and cofounder of the Society of Jesus. (S J). and one of the first seven Jesuits. He led a mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time and landed in Goa in 1543 AD. He was influential in the spreading and upkeep of Catholicism in India, but also ventured into Japan, Borneo, the Moluccas, and other areas which had thus far not been visited by Christian missionaries. He moved all over South India and is well known. He died on a voyage to China in 1552, his in-corrupt body was brought to Goa and is still venerated in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. He was proclaimed a saint in 1622. 31
of the older ones are: Capuchins on Jail road, Jesuit formation house, Ursuline Franciscan Sisters and so on. Almost every possible devout association and group can be found working in this parish,like many others in this area. The Glorious Centenary: It is note worthy that no effort has been spared to give the entire campus a face lift - a new main gate (Maha dwara) is built,
consideration as per the teaching. The Parish clergy and the faithful of St.Francis Xavier Church Bejai Mangalore Celebrated the Centenary Closing on Sunday, Oct.14,2012, with great fervour and devotion; the year long remembrance commenced on August 7,2011, with several innovative multifaceted programmes.A Parish Pastoral Parishad near a 100 strong works with the priests of the parish. At the celebrations the Bishop of Mangalore
TRIBUTE
A Noble Visionary
B Ganapathi Pai, Chairman of Bharath Group, a noble visionary is no more, but his indomitable spirit will continue to be a guiding light in the times to come.
GREAT PERSONALITY AND A noble soul who steered the renowned Bharath Group to great heights through his dynamism and realistic vision, is no more. B. Ganapathi Pai, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharath Group, well known for its flagship company Bharath Beedi Works Pvt Ltd, manufacturers of No.30 Brand of Beedies, passed away on October 10 following a brief illness at the age of 76. It was his zeal and passion towards the business which he had taken over from his father Manjunath Pai, the Founder of the Group, and his tireless endeavour that saw the establishment scale greater heights in the span of a few decades. No. 30 Brand Beedies which had a humble origin in the hilly town of Karkala, an enduring initiative of Late Manjunath Pai, has today grown into a gigantic establishment. Born on June 29, 1936 in Karkala, life was never a cake walk for Ganapathi Pai.Tragedy struck him when he was hardly 11 months old following the demise of his mother. While Ganapathi Pai was lucky to have a very fond and affectionate stepmother, his father continued to be his greatest inspiration right since his young days. Ganapathi Pai who had his primary and high school education at Bhuvanendra Oriental School of Karkala and Board School completed his inter-mediate at St Aloysius school in Mangalore. It was in the year 1954 that Ganapathi Pai had joined his father in business. There was no looking back since then as the zealousness of the young man was proved in the efficient functioning of the establishment along with his two brothers who however passed away early in life. The administrative office was subsequently shifted to Mangalore in the year 1995. 32
Although the death of Manjunath Pai in the year 1982 was a major jolt, Ganapathi Pai had forged ahead undeterred and had singlehandedly managed the show with great resolute for nearly 15 years. Under his visionary leadership, the 30 Brand Beedies emerged as one of the top brands and pioneering leader in Beedi industry with a Pan-Indian presence. While having diversified into various other sectors, still No. 30 Brand beedies remains its core business. Today, Bharath Beedi Works Pvt Ltd and other concerns coming under Bharath Group including Bharath Exports, Bharath Builders, Bharath Printers & Alaknanda Printers, Bharath Auto Cars, Bharath Mall, Book Mark, employ over 50,000 people directly and indirectly. It was the great vision of Late Pai which helped the Bharath Group to diversify and the Group has thus gifted Mangalore its first Multiplex in the form of Bharath Mall. The Group is being efficiently managed by B Ganapathi Pais sons Ananth, Anand and his nephews Nagendra, Sudhir, Subraya and Venkatesh. Today, if thousands of families are earning a livelihood,they are all ever
grateful to Ganapathi Pai who had provided them a source of income through the beedi industry, despite the industry facing turbulent times.It was the sheer resilient spirit of this great personality which helped him steer through the business even in the toughest of times. Despite his hectic schedule,Ganapathi Pai always responded to educational, religious, cultural and other social causes and was trying his level best to contribute something to the society on special occasions like the birth centenary of the Founder and other celebrations of the Bharath Group. He was even instrumental in setting up the Manjunath Pai High School at Durga Tellar his home town and had contributed towards the setting up of the Government College in Karkala. Liberal contributions had also been made towards the setting up of the post-graduate study centre at the Bhuvanendra College. The formation of the B Manjunath Pai Cultural Foundation and the construction of an auditorium at Karkala due to the initiative of Late Pai, are worth recollecting. Pai who had also actively involved himself in various organizations always responded to the problems of the work force of his establishment. He often used to say that it were the sincere efforts of the work force coupled with the experience of its staff that helped him in taking the firm to great heights. He had strongly believed that good human resources are the real assets of any industry. Pai is survived by his wife Geetha Pai, who had been his pillar of strength all through, two sons, Ananth, Anand and daughters Roopa and Rekha, apart from a host of well-wishers. May his soul rest in peace.
POETIC
OUTSIDER
I remember mother packing me off to school with a wet kiss and a satchel full of loneliness. I remember the unfriendly classrooms and the sunlight weeping in a corner. In the river the fish refused to bite my worm. Maybe they didnt like little boys whose nights burned with a banished light. A girl with the distances in her eyes broke my silence. The first hairs broke on warm flesh and the first cigarette the white innocence of teeth. Sandal: mother turned away disgusted while the younger crowd lit candles in their eyes. I shaved my head not so much in repentance as in quiet celebration. At college it was all fashions and passions. Strikes, fights, rights. A crumbling sky held up by a dragger of young blood. And at home between dinner tables noeuvres and the wall lizard frozen in penance, I understood the meaning of alienation. Vinayan Bhaskaran
LICENSE
chant in chorus the Great Name till the voices go hoarse Lest the desolate screams of the wouldbe-god reach heretic ears A gentle nudge into the fire, or, if need be, a firm whack in the rib cage would only help speed up the glorious journey to godhood Till yesterday she was just a daughter, a sister, a other, a negihbour Young and pretty she was setting several hearts on fire The flagrant pyre is but a centaur with its wings aflutter, raring to transport her to the company of gods Pious as we are, we could do with one more god, set the fresh widow aflame. S. Ganapathi
THE MAKING OF A GOD

One more to the already large Pantheon wouldnt do any harm Push her into the raging pyre of her imbecile husband When it comes to gods the more they are the merrier for us Let the heavenward tongues of fire raise her to the celestial abode Clang the cymbals, beat the drums and
MANGALORE TODAY CROSSWORD

1 2 3 3 4 5
ACROSS 1. Murmur (4) 3. Relnquish throne (8) 6. Concise (7) 9. Pulsate (5) 12. Look fixedly (4) 14. Measure of length (3) 15. Relinquish (9) 17. Declare (4) 18. Ocean (3) 19. Holly book (5) 21. Unusual (3) 22. Frog-like amphibian (4) 23. Say again (9) 27. Self-esteem (3) 29. Hasten (4) 30. Recoon-like animal (5) 31. Petition (7) 33. Facing (8) 34. Charity (4)
DOWN 1. S.American missile (5) 2. Menagerie (3) 3. Put in order (5) 4. Intrude (9) 5. Gadget (4) 7. Buttonhole flower (9) 8. Rotter (3) 10. Blackguard (9) 11. Amalgamate (5) 13. Fervour (4) 16. Discomfit (9) 18. Brush clean (5) 20. Notion (4) 24. Frozen water (3) 25. Stretched (5) 26. Doorway (5) 28. Puff (4) 32. Lacerate (3)
7 14 12
8 13
9 12 16 17
10 14 17
11
15 15 18 22 16
16
19
20 24
21 25 26 32 31 32 32
23 27 30 28 30 29
24
25
34 33
34
Solutions on page no. 48

33
PICTURESQUE
ock Music is something which can bowl over fun loving youngsters. What if the rock song is in ones own mother tongue? The response would be thunderous. Thats exactly what Roopesh T. Shetty, the dashing and talented youngster of Tulunad is up to. Hailing from Kasargod, but settled in Mangalore where he works as VJ for the Namma TV Channel, it was Roopeshs sheer love for his mother tongue Tulu that encouraged him to tread a road less travelled. He chose to compose and present Tulu rock songs and his very first experiment was a roaring success. There was an enthusiastic response to his first Tulu love song (audio with video) Mokay which he uploaded to YouTube four years ago. Later, came the devotional Bolpu and then Kolaveri Ponnu Marlu which too was uploaded to YouTube and left youth crazy as was evident from the over 50,000 hits within a few days.
h Roopes Rocking
His latest presentation Collegidu onji Ponnu, Baari Soku Alena Kannu (A Girl in College Whose Eyes are a beauty) too was an instant hit bringing over 800 hits in two days. Rakesh has truly left the youth rocking with his super hit Tulu rock songs.
Mugamoodi girl
The bubbly, fun loving girl in the much acclaimed Tamil film Mugamoodi might have won many hearts. But not many from the coastal districts may be aware that this lead star of the film is a Mangalorean girl. Pooja Hegde who made her debut in this Tamil film, has her roots in Mangalore, though born and brought up in Mumbai. Pooja thinks its nothing but sheer destiny that drove her towards the film industry though she was least interested in making acting her career. The pretty girl who is a second runner-up of Miss Universe India 2010 is also the Miss India south 2010 runner up. She was also crowned Miss India South glamorous Hair 2010 and Miss India talented 2009. The titles she has won all speak volumes of her beauty and her glam looks which opened her door to stardom. Pooja considers the ever charming Madhuri Dixit as her role model for her superb dancing and acting skills. Pooja also strongly feels that South films are the gateway to stardom in I Hindi movies. She is already getting offers and is confident of having a great career.
34
PICTURESQUE
Mesmerizing Mooshik
Its the worlds smallest e-bike-Mooshik. Its length is just 1.5 feet and height just one feet.The capacity of this miniature bike is 62 kg and it gives a speed of 15 km per hour and runs on battery. This mini bike is the result of the hard works put in by Santosh Kumar of Betkeri near Moodbidri.This twowheeler was the star attraction at the valedictory of the Ganeshotsava celebrations held at Moodbidri recently. Mooshik mesmerized Moodbidri people so much that it had to be later presented on stage following huge demand. Mooshik has already made its way into the Limca Book of Records and Asian Book of Records. Santosh is
also an avid rallyist and has already represented Karnataka in Himalayan bike rally twice. The name of the bike has also won equal commendation and Santosh says he chose the name which he thought was apt as Mooshik was also the vehicle of Lord Ganesha.
The Golden Trophy
Indian team might have failed to make it to the top at the T-20 World Cup, but still it has the World Cup with it-not the real one, but a miniature World Cup Trophy made out of pure gold and silver. This mini Trophy is the creation of Satish Acharya of Kundadabettu in Venur, a goldsmith by profession. He has used 1.2 grams of gold for this mini trophy at a cost of just around Rs 3500. He has put in at least three hours of hard work to create this trophy which is his prized possession. I have dedicated this trophy to the Indian team hoping it would give its best at all times, Acharya smiles as he says this.
His passion for climbing trees and hills during childhood was scoffed at by his parents saying it would not give them their daily bread. But this passion has, but helped to ward off the poverty in the family to some extent as he soon learnt the unusual trick of scaling the Chitradurga Fort with ease. Meet this young man with a sparkle in his eyes. He is popular as Kothi Raja or Kothi Rama and he loves being called so. Jyothi Raj alias Kothi Rama was in Mangalore recently and stunned
Monkey Man
stuns Mangalore
people when he scaled a multi-storied building near PVS in Mangalore with effortless ease. Hundreds of eyes filled with curiosity gazed the daring act of this young man with amaze and was all praise for him. The crowd that gathered around had heard about Jyothi Raj and had also witnessed his skill on television. But watching his action live gave them a thrilling and unforgettable experience. Ask him about his inspiration and he has
no hesitation in saying it were the monkeys and adds he used to closely watch the animals climbing the steep rocks by flexing their muscles and balancing their weights . Watching him live, one feels he has perfectly mastered the skill.
35
EATURE FEATURE
Poornapragnya Vasati Nilaya run by the Gokarna Parthagali Jeevotham Math, has initiated a new concept in the care for the elderly, writes IJ Saldanha Shet
ODAY THE DAWN OF OCTOBER seems to recall the aged and aging. Aging is a perfectly natural and inevitable life process in humans. People today have a greater life expectancy and this trend is seen world wide, experts tell us. The increasing number of the elderly above the age of 60 is phenomenal in present times and would touch high percentages in the near future. In India, a larger proportion would be in rural areas. Hence, there is an urgent need to focus on all angles in this scenario. Healthy aging with a higher degree of activeness requires a paradigm shift through a whole lot of
Active Old Age Paradigm

regulation and care infrastructure from all facets official and social which are not yet in sight. This would involve governments at several levels, civil society, senior citizens forums, academic and research institutions, private sector, youth and community. The formation of the national council for senior citizens recently, which would deal with the welfare of the countrys elderly population is far from functional. The Council would advise the Central and State Governments on issues related to welfare of senior citizens and enhancement of their quality of life, a statement from the Prime Ministers Office had said some time ago.This is now seen as a mere myth. There needs to be serious enforcement to bring about even a degree of relief. Will this have some level of reality in this atmosphere of uncertainty and absence of any honesty? It is indeed a pertinent question being asked by the concerned. Here, take a brief look at what a group from the Konkani Saraswat Community set-up has recently in Mangalore. It points to a shift in the paradigm. ESCALATING ELDERLY: The rapid increase in the number of the aging population brings in it's trail the urgent need to create a better handling
system, environment and quality facilities to meet the vital demands of these aging people. Since, size of families are shrinking, it is found more difficult to care for the aged who can't fend for themselves enough and need well designed support systems and financial means as well. Alongside this very critical scenario, cases of indifference, callousness, cruelty to the elderly and even murders for gain too are escalating alarmingly. Children often are not in a position to provide the care that their aged parents may be in need of even if they want to due to various compulsions. Though geriatrics is an important medical speciality in many countries in India it does
36
EATURE FEATURE
not yet have a place. Sometimes the situation becomes very serious these 'no more wanted' humans are ready to be abandoned, this in a more care concerned India. Old age can be translated into a God given opportunity, it is for the wellness sector and society to give adequate weightage to the experience and accumulated knowledge of these old people and channel them into activity and contribution that can bring positive results to the young in society and even the Government's efforts. PARADIGM MANGALORE: Mangalore and its surroundings in the last few years has seen a slew of high end
Shrimad Vidyadhiraja Theertha Shripad Vader Swamiji
The Author of Active Old Age Concept

Shrimad Vidyadhiraja Theertha Shripada Vader Swamiji. 23rd in the pontifical lineage was given Sanyas Deeksha on 26th Feb.,1967 in Shri Ram Mandir Wadala, Mumbai , Shri Gokarn Math. Presiding Deity: Shri Ramadev and Shri Veera Vithal. The math was Established by : Param Poojya Shrimad Narayan Theertha on Chaitra Shukla Dwitiya, Shalivahana Shaka 1397 corresponding to 1475 AD. Shrimad Vidyadhiraja Theertha Shripad Vader Swamiji is the sole heart and mind behind this venture he has given generously and regulated the concept of the project on no loss no profit basis. The returnable deposit is indeed a revolution in the paid old age care concept; the income is used to build and develop the infrastructure and support for the aged residents who could have the satisfaction that they can contribute to the welfare of their heirs even after they have lived out a dignified and active life on this earth! and treatment. The authorities or a casual representative present almost always is unable and not equipped to provide any past history of the aged patient, shockingly no past history record or proper documents are available from the institution side. Also old age homes due to various difficulties in availability of reasonably trained and efficient, experienced caregivers do not have regular, suitable and sufficient personnel for good care. The staff turnover is indeed high. Care of the aged in the past was basically a charity service by dedicated avowed religious women, but the present scenario has drastically changed, young women (and men) do not opt for such services any more. All these practical concerns need to be addressed and the governmental power system and enforcement of a high caliber is a pressing need. A HUMANE SARASWAT CONCEPT - Vasati Nilaya: Gokarn Partagali Jeevotham Math opened Poornapragnya Vasati Nilaya for senior citizens from Saraswat and Goud Saraswat communities. The three storey state of the art building is situated in a prime convenient area off Bhavanti Street behind the Gokarn matt (Car Street locality) in Mangalore city. This senior citizens' home was inaugurated on May 1, 2012, by
'Homes' that provide 'Care' to the elderly, usually above 60 years of age. This is positively to the fact that the people, be it from the family side or the civil society together with the religious atmosphere is favourable to a better degree. But, if one takes a closer educated look, it may surface that though started with a good aim in mind by people of high thinking, the practical operating personnel has found this to be a lucrative money spinning tool and changed and shifted the paradigm. In the absence of deeper and serious monitoring by local empowered bodies and since some quarters willingly shell out money and material to rid
themselves of the 'burden' a false facade has developed which has warped the true picture. Not only is there no empowered authority to verify the various parameters and charges for levels of care; even those who have placed their elders in institutions almost never ask valid questions of those responsible which gives full freedom to those running these care institutions for the helpless aged who are far from the position of complaining even to their own kith and kin - the aged are total subalterns here. Consider the scenario when health emergency arises, the aged patient loses all faculties and is admitted in the casualty of a hospital for assessment of his illness
37
EATURE FEATURE
Vidyadhiraja Theertha Swamiji of the math, which completes 352 years of setting up of its Temple in Mangalore. Poornapragnya Vasati Nilaya, is an attractive building with 60 rooms to accommodate 100 people. They are for aged Saraswats who want to spend time in the city actively, rather than with their children, who have settled in metropolitan cities overseas the swamiji said. There were many from the communities who made names in various professions in the country and abroad, the swamiji added. The swamiji said Vasati Nilaya would go a long way in serving the aged. The math has spent Rs. 5 crore on this cause, apart from making available prime land double room Rs. 10 lakh. The rooms single - 300.sq ft and double - 400. sq ft have furnishings, all basics needed attached bath plus Kitchenette. These deposits may not earn any interest but the rare advantage is it would be returned at the end of the stay of the individual or to his nominee/s, this is purely due to the magnanimity of Vidyadhiraja Theertha Swamiji of the math. Almost all other such institutions which charge a lump sum admission fee stipulate that no refund will be given after a period of 3 to 5 years stay. Matter of food is entirely the choice of the occupants; who may choose to cook or get catering from outside to supply, or she/he may eat out. The fixed maintenance In any emergency, the management of the Vasati Nilaya will render immediate assistance and/or make due arrangements as per instructions of the resident until the arrival of the local guardian who has to take charge of all arrangements and decisions on behalf of the individual. The Managing Committee has a moral duty to give all consideration to reasonable requests within the rules of the institution in a transparent manner. RELEVANCE NOW & IN THE FUTURE: But old age has its own perks which you can enjoy if you know how. One is to let everything go and not hold on and cling as if your very life and happiness depended on it. If you are old and are reading this, thank God for everything in your past life, even for what may appear as negative things. God made all to be happy here on earth and forever happy in the life to come! Think of old age as a God-given opportunity to do all the good possible. Obviously one cannot do everything but some things can and should. Even if you are vulnerable and weak let your mind be strong. Don't give a chance for those who are serving you to take the upper hand; be kind and good to them like your own family but also don't let them violate your dignity and rights. There are two types of Old Age Homes in India. One is the "Free" type which cares for the destitute old people who have no one else to care for them and little or no means. They are given shelter, food, clothing and medical care. The second type is the "Paid" home where care is provided for a fee. Nowadays, such "Retirement" homes have become very popular in India and they are well worth considering. These homes and the people residing in them should not be looked upon as 'incarceration homes' and it must be clear that these are constructive residences and their residents are normal citizens who are there for the comfort, facility and security that they promise. The Centre for the Study of
estimated to be valued at over Four crore rupees. Devotees have collectively worked hand in hand for the general welfare in raising the building and involved themselves in the math's development initiatives as well he said. Kumble Narasimha Prabhu, secretary of Gokarna Math, said Vasati Nilaya was different from an old age home. The occupants would be given food, medical care, security, and other generous amenities on nominal payment. The chief aim is to support the aged above 60 years of age to remain active and healthy in spirit,mind and body! A single room would expect a returnable deposit of Rs. 6 lakh, and a 38
charges for each type of room apart from Gas & Electricity will be approximately Rs.1500, which includes Manager Salary, Generator , Diesel , Watchman , Lift & Common maintenance. A local member of the residents family or community has to stand surety or local guardian. The affairs of the "Vasathi Nilaya" are managed on democratic lines by the Managing Committee, now headed by Sri Prabhakar Kamath a well known local community leader and entrepreneur. The views of the bonafide residents are always to be given respect and place as per the regulations. As far as medical aid is concerned, it is to the account and choice of the individual and the local guardian.
EATURE FEATURE
automatically assume a martyr complex which deteriorates their mental and physical faculties rapidly. This undermines their comprehensive well being and gives rise to health problems too. It is solely the responsibility of the family, the civil society and concerned authorities locally to monitor ensure and enforce a system that is fair and lawful. Ombudsmen and authority that can audit, correct and punish the faulty must be available consistently. Grievance solution could be similar to the fast track family courts and consumer courts and so on. The age old idea that those who live in institutions are enslaved and have no freedom must change with proper exposure and education of people. Paramount are training and proper motivation for those involved in care of the aged and weak - can we make this a viable service around us to fit the demands? Awareness and sensitizing people at early ages can no doubt go a long way within a proper operational and social infrastructure. IJ SALDANHA SHET
Developing Societies survey reveals a significant number of elderly people dont want to live with their children's families. Their lifestyles are different and we dont fit into that pizza-eating culture. Those opting for stay in institutions majority of which are run on payment lines have little or no 'Transparency' in their operation. Most people in the higher age brackets
who are not able to fend for their basic needs and weak develop a fear and nervous tension due to the arrogant and aggressive behaviour of many of the care givers there has to be a methodology for a local peer volunteer group to monitor and prevent such abuse to the aged. Since the fear syndrome among the elderly is deeply entrenched due their helplessness, they
SUBSCRIBE for 3 YEARS

AND SAVE RS. 140/-
Rs. 400
PAY
For 1 year Rs. 150/- (12 issues including postage, against cover price of Rs. 180/- [Rs. 15/- per copy]) For 2 years : Rs. 275/-, 3 years : Rs. 400/-)
YES
Name
I would like to subscribe to MANGALORE TODAY. Please post it to me at the following address. : ..................................................................
Please issue the cheque/DD in favour of MANGALORE TODAY payable at Mangalore My cheque / DD No. ................................................................... Date : ........................................................................................ for Rs. drawn on .........................................................
Address : .................................................................. ................................................................................... State........................................................................... Country:.......................................................................

PINCODE:
.................................................................................................. is enclosed herewith ...................................................................
Mail the form to: The Circulation Manager, MANGALORE TODAY 26/27 Venkataramana Bldg.,Car Street, MANGALORE - 575 001.
Subscription for any country other than India: Rs. 900/- including postage for 12 issues
39
Cl
ake up to the echoes of a thousand temple bells, mingled with the delicate fragrance of the Mangalore Mallige. Feel the flamboyant sea lashing out passionately, challenging the very virginity of bewitching beaches. Wander in the rain drenched lush green paddy fields, in the back drop of the mighty Western Ghats. Visit a temple, church, mosque of your preference. Most of them are over a century old. Wake up! You are just at the threshold of the enticing Dakshina Kannada. Whether you are on business or holiday or even a weekend get away, you are bound to fall in love with this land of beauty and bliss!
ose your eyes... Flirt your mind... Have fun ...
HEART OF DAKSHINA KANNADA & UDUPI
MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012 EXOTIC BEACHES ENIGMATIC LANDSCAPES SCENIC BACK WATERS UNIQUE CULTURE ANCIENT TEMPLES & MONUMENTS
HAPPENINGS
Sonia visit revitalizes Congress
The visit of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to Mangalore has re-energized the party and taken the enthusiasm levels of the grass-root level workers to a new height. It was a visit of a most awaited leader and the visit saw several leaders of the Congress descend to the port city of Mangalore, despite differences looming large over several issues. The leaders had managed to put up a united show and it was one of the rare occasions when almost all top leaders of the Congress in Karnataka as well as party leaders from DK district were seen on a common platform. Still the Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not leave the issue of differences among party leaders untouched during her public address. Resolve your differences as it is the only way to return to power, This was the clear and firm message which Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi gave to the party leaders in Karnataka, at a mammoth convention of party workers convened at the Nehru Maidan in Mangalore on October 18. Leave your personal ambition aside and work collectively for the party, she told the party leaders. While appreciating the enthusiasm of party activists, Sonia
gave a clarion call to them to transform their enthusiasm into action and bring the party back to power in Karnataka. Touching upon the corruption issue, the Congress President questioned why the BJP has failed to tackle corruption in the party ruled states like Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, and came down heavily on the party for instead targeting the UPA on corruption issues. She claimed that no other party has tackled corruption as the Congress did and added the RTI Act has exposed several corruption cases. Sonia further took a dig at the opposition for the criticisms against FDI in retail sector, and said it actually benefitted the farmers to a great extent while providing a direct link between the
farmers and the markets. She also said even the BJP would have implemented FDI had it been in power. She also exhorted party workers to defeat the communal forces in the state. On the frequent grouse of the BJP government about the step-motherly attitude of the Centre toward the State, Sonia said the UPA Government has released Rs 80,000 crores to the state during its term while the erstwhile Vajpayee government of the NDA had released Rs 30,000 crores. She asked the party men to question the government as to how the funds released by the UPA government have been channelized. Earlier, Sonia Gandhi received a guard of honour from the Seva Dal. She even administered oath to Seva Dal members below the age of 15. Differently abled Suresh Nayak and Yoga exponent Shivaramegowda were felicitated. Congress leaders G Parameshwar, SR Patil, Madhusudan Mistri, Rehman Khan,SR Patil, Jaffer Sharief, Oscar Fernandes, Siddaramaiah, Veerappa Moily, local leaders including DCC President Ramanatha Rai, Janardhan Poojari, Vinaykumar Sorake, Mayor Gulzar Banu, MLA UT Khader and others were present. 40
HAPPENINGS Manish Kharbikar is new Mangalore Police Commissioner

Manish Kharbikar, an IPS officer of the 1998 batch took charge as the Mangalore Police Commissioner recently. Hailing from Bhilai in Chattisgarh, the city has high expectations from the top cop who has also promised to live upto the expectations of Mangaloreans by ensuring law and order in the commissionerate limits. Manish who worked as a probationary IPS officer in Bellary, has worked as assistant SP at Bhalki and SP at Gadag, Gulbarga, Mandya and Mysore. He was DIGP (CRE cell) prior to his current posting in Mangalore.
Survey of Endo-hit people on in district
Shiv Khera resents caste based reservation

Management Guru Shiv Khera has expressed his displeasure over the caste based reservation in educational institutions. Speaking to reporters in Mangalore, he said he has already filed a PIL before Supreme Court opposing the reservation system. He also pointed out how as many as 90 per cent of graduates in India were not employable. Further criticizing the present education system in India, he said most of the teachers serving government schools were not qualified and that 50 per cent of the government schools did not have the much needed blackboards in classrooms. Raising his apprehensions over the increasing number of Bangladeshi immigrants in the country, Shiv Khera said if the present trend continued, then the day was not far off when the nation may have a Bangladeshi as its prime minister.
As per the government directive, a survey of Endosulfan affected people has been initiated in the district beginning from October 10. The tahsildar, the taluk health officers, representatives of Dharmasthala Rural Development Project and members of taluk level committees will conduct the survey and submit a report to the Deputy Commissioner. A meeting was held in this connection under the presidentship of Deputy Commissioner Dr Channappa Gowda. District Health Officer Dr. O. R. Srirangappa and other officials attended the meeting. Each surveyor will receive a list of 1000 people and will cover 250 300 houses per day. October 23 is the deadline to submit the report to the DC.
Overspeeding bus drivers to face action

The Mangalore Regional Transport Authority has decided to initiate stern action against the over speeding bus drivers. At a Transport Adalat held in Mangalore recently, Regional Transport Officer Mallikarjuna said that a sticker bearing the phone numbers of the police and the RTO will be pasted on the back of all buses in Mangalore from November so that members of the public can immediately lodge complaints regarding rash driving. The RTO further said no sooner the complaint is received, its genuineness will be verified by summoning both the complainant as well as the bus driver and owner concerned and the latter if found guilty will be penalized. Representatives of various organizations like Hanumanth Kamath, President of the Nagarika Hitharakshana Vedike, Choodamani, Secretary of the Mangalore Citizens Association, and Judith Mascarenhas, former deputy mayor aired various grievances pertaining to public transport system and sought early solution to the same.
42
HAPPENINGS Hawala racket unearthed in Mangalore

A major hawala racket which was unearthed in the city recently, leading to the arrest of as many as 27 persons, took Mangaloreans by shock.he racket was busted when the City Crime Branch cops led by Mangalore Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar raided a house at Kodialguttu on a definite information. Cash of over Rs 78 lakhs was seized from the accused who however were later released on bail. The house was rented by Suresh from Gujarat and the operations were underway in the name of one Ahmedabad based firm called Patel Ashish Kumar Kantilal and Company. All the dealings were over mobile phones, based purely on trust. Huge cash was found in possession of several of the accused.
CM inaugurates Udupi Town Hall

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar inaugurated the newly constructed Town Hall in Udupi recently. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister was appreciative of the good works done by Udupi CMC which has earned it three state and national awards. CM Shettar also inaugurated the Bhujanga Park and unveiled a bust of Karamballi Sanjeeva Shetty at Ambagilu Junction. He also launched several other projects. He laid the foundation stone for the four-lane work at Kalsanka and inaugurated Patrika Bhavan among other projects. Raghupathi Bhat, Udupi MLA, Udupi District-in-charge Minister Kota Shrinivas Poojary, CMC President Kiran Kumar, Vice President Bharathi Chandrashekar, Deputy Commissioner Dr. M. T. Reju, MP Jayaprakash Hegde, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, SP Dr. Boralingaiah and others were present on the occasion.
Karnataka Yuvajanotsava - 2012 exhorts youth to have great vision for the nation
Dr Henry DSouza, Honorable Bishop of Bellary Diocese, has called upon the youth to materialize the vision of a strong society by breaking barriers of caste and creed. He was speaking after inaugurating the three-day Karnataka Yuvajanotsava 2012, the eighth Regional Catholic Youth Convention at the Holy Redeemer Church premises Belthangady, under the aegis of the Youth Commission of Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops Council and Youth Indian Catholic Movement of Belthangady Diocese. Bishop Rev Fr. Henry DSouza said the main aim of the convention was to inculcate leadership qualities in the youth. He also exhorted the younger generation to be harbingers of change. Earlier, hoisting the Convention flag,Rev Fr Lawrence Mukkuzy, Honorable Bishop of Belthangady Diocese, said the nation can flourish, prosper and progress on expected lines when youth engage in constructive works without going
astray. They should have a great vision for their nation, he added. A large number of young delegates added grace and grandeur to the convention. Rev Fr Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, Bishop of Puttur,Fr Franklin DSouza, National Director of Youth Commission , Fr James DSouza. Parish Priest of Holy
Redeemer Church, Fr.Jose Variyaparambil, Fr Zobi,Youth Representatives Brijesh, Joslin Vas, Richard , Ramson Menezes and others were on the dais. A peace rally marked the valedictory of the two day event. Outstanding young achievers of the Catholic community were also honoured. 43
HAPPENINGS
Basheer Puraskaram Karnataka Bank conferred on UR launches Ananthamurthy KBL Mobile

The Basheer Puraskaram 2012 was conferred on U. R. Ananthamurthy at an award ceremony organized by Manipal University and Pravasi Doha at Manipal recently. M. T. Vasudevan Naik, Jnanapeetha award winner, presented the award and said that writer Basheer was still alive in the minds and hearts of his readers through his writings. Veteran columnist T. J. S. George who was the chief guest, spoke on the life of Basheer and how he rose to be a great writer despite being illiterate. He wrote in his own unique way ignoring basic grammar rules, George said. An endowment scholarship of Rs. 15,000, given in honor of Prof. M. N. Vijayan, scholar and critic, was conferred on Abhishek, a student of Tudur Government High School in Shimoga Karnataka Bank Limited launched KBL Mobile, a technology-based product, and also a caller tune recently.P Jayaram Bhat, Managing Director of the Bank, launched the service. Customers can register their mobile phones with Karnataka bank and use their mobile phones for banking transactions. Customers can use their pre-registered mobile phones for transactions worth Rs. 50,000 per day, provided the mobile sets are GPRS/J2ME enabled. The limit for users of other mobile handsets is Rs. 5000 per day. KBL Mobile gives top priority to safety and convenience.
Children Declare War Against Malaria With Colours

As many as 227 girls brought their artistic creativity as Senior Commercial Artist Vishnu Shevgoor launched the MMV Drawing Competition Mangalore 2012 at the Government Girls High School, Balmatta recently. The month-long event is being organized Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, partnered by Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, DK District Health Department and Malaria Cell of Mangalore City Corporation and coordinated by city based NGO Centre for Integrated Learning. The intra-school event was launched as Shivgoor symbolically handed over the painting materials to the Principal of the School Vasudev Kamath. The highlight of the launching programme was the quick strokes of colours by the chief guest who in just moments produced a illustration depicting the intensity of Malaria disease which is engulfing our world Dr. Arun Kumar, District Officer for Vector Borne Disease Control, Ranganath Kini, local corporator, Srilatha Ullal, National Service Scheme (NSS) Coordinator of Nitte University, Abdul Khader,Headmaster of the school,S Nandagopal, Convener of Centre for Integrated Learning and others were present. Awareness posters of the event were released by inmates of Childrens Home in the city in presence of Senior Advocate Prithviraj Rai, Journalist Mahesh Nayak and Executive Director of Centre for Integrated Learning, Sachitha Nandagopal.
DCCW launches Sahay
Sahay, a golden jubilee project of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) was inaugurated by Mangalore Bishop Dr. Aloysius Paul DSouza at St. Anthonys Ashram, Jeppu recently. Sahay includes facilities such as computer courses and counseling centre for the needy at nominal fees. DCCW Vice President Reni Pillai introduced Sahay and said that the project aims to create a better society, adding that new facilities will be soon added taking cognizance of the feedback of the beneficiaries. Fr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr. Francis DSouza, Lydia DCunha, and others. 44
HAPPENINGS
Theatre artiste B Jayashree conferred Karanth Hometown Award
Veteran theatre artiste and Rajya Sabha Member Dr B Jayashree was conferred the Dr Kota Shivaram Karanth Hometown Award 2012 at a function held at Kota Giliyaru Shambhavi School premises at Kotathattu gram panchayat. The Award instituted by the Kotathattu gram panchayat, is given annually and this is the seventh year of the presentation of the Award. Speaking on the occasion, Jayashree said it was the most momentous occasion of her life for having received the Award given in name of a great personality like Karanth. She also said the Award has increased the responsibilities on her shoulders.
Land Trades Adonia launched

The Foundation laying ceremony for Adonia Luxury Apartments, a project of Land Trades Builders and Developers on Alvares Road, Kadri, was held recently. Srinath Hebbar, Managing Director of Land Trades, KC Naik, MD of Mahabaleshwara Promoters and Builders, Pushparaj Jain, MD, Abish Developers, Bhaskar Moily, Corporator, Shashidhar Hegde, former mayor, Ashok Kumar D K, Corporator, Sadanand Shetty, MD, Sri Devi Group of Colleges, Mohan Amin, Naveen Rodrigues, Peter and Paul, Architects and Krishna Shetty, Structural Engineer were present on the occasion. Land Trades Builders & Developers are the premier real estate developers and builders in Mangalore, India. Established in the year 1992 by Shrinath Hebbar, the company has rapidly grown over the last two decades to emerge as the leading builders in Mangalore.
Nehru Yuva Sanghatan holds Youth Convention in Mangalore

The youth must try their level best to contribute their level best to build a strong India, said D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala. He was speaking at the inaugural of a district youth Convention held at Milagres Jubilee Hall in Mangalore recently under the auspices of the Nehru Yuva Sanghatan. The Sanghatan has under it nearly three lakh clubs in 620 districts with an objective of empowering the youth. M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister for Corporate Affairs, Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha member, Salim Ahmed, NYKS Director General for Dakshina Kannada, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Ramanath Rai, MLA Manish Karbikar, Mangalore Police Commissioner, Gulzar Banu, Mayor, Dr NS Channappa Gowda, Deputy Commissioner
Ryan Intl Group to open school in Mangalore

Ryan International Group of Institutions, the largest group of privately owned schools in the nation, will be starting a school in Mangalore very soon. Informing this to reporters here, Grace Pinto, MD, Ryan International Group of Institutions, said the Ryan International Group has a network of more than 120 schools and has its presence in 40 cities in 15 states in the country. There are three schools in Bangalore, she informed. As part of its corporate social responsibility the Group has adopted 400 children from the deprived class in Pondicherry and Haryana, she informed. Grace Pinto who hails from Bajpe is also the recipient of the National Educational Excellence Award instituted by the National Education and Human Resource Development Organization, in the year 2012 for the excellence in the field of education.
45
OPINION
We cannot escape our guilt by condemning the conditions of our society nor can the community escape its collective guilt by denying its responsibility for cutting us off from each other Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Scarlet Letter
HEN I WAS IN MY LATE teens, I had to attend the funeral of a gentleman who died at the age of forty due to cancer. As the custom prevailed in Hindu community the priests made preparation for the last rites. His wife, who was in her early thirties was brought to the place where the body was kept. What followed was a gory sight i.e., pulling flowers off from her head, wiping kumkum, bindi from her forehead and a few other crude things followed. They were very shameful and cannot be put in writing. All this instantaneously evoked a sense of revulsion in me and has never vanished from my minds eye all these years. Such details are vividly presented in Kannada novel Ghatashradha revealing how Hindu orthodoxy was immune to the very gentle feelings of a young widow. Subsequently when I joined Law College, a decided case of Madras High Court was part of our law syllabus, known as Ranganayaki Vs. Alwar Chetty. The facts of the case are as follows:- a girl aged 14 years lost her husband. The parents-inlaw refused to cremate the body of her husband unless she adopts a child of their choice and abandons her claims to the property of the deceased husband. The hapless girl did accede to all their demands. After the cremation took place, she was pushed to the streets. Fortunately, Madras High Court restored her, the assets of her late husband and commented on the acts of indignity meted to the young widow and likened it to the grab of an eagle pouncing on a rabbit. The readers will have to appreciate that the judges took the humane view under natural justice and equity even when there was no codified law ensuring safety or property rights to a Hindu widow. Much later, thanks to the erstwhile King
THE HINDU WIDOWS

Then and Now
of Mysore who passed a Legislation in 1934, assuring life interest rights to a Hindu widow in the assets of her deceased husband. A better law was passed by British Parliament in 1937, known as Hindu Married Womens Property Act of 1937. That gave some stability to a Hindu widow. After passing of Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the rights of Hindu Widow are very much secured. The farsightedness of then Judge of Calcutta High Court, Justice Charu Chandra Bishwas (who became Law Minister in Nehrus Cabinet), was responsible for this law being enacted. What has been mentioned above is from the legal point of view. There are emotional and social aspects pertaining to a widows life clouded by customs. The purpose of this article is to throw some light on the unscientific customs prevailing in Hindu Society.
We must adopt a humane approach with a philosophical outlook to wipe the tears of many widows, writers K P Vasudeva Rao First and foremost, the religious hierarchy, i.e., Mathadhipathis and priestly class never think of a widows well being. They seldom give prasadam to widows. The coterie around a Mathadhipathi will prevent the widow from receiving prasadam or blessings. It sounds hollow logic as to why a widow is not entitled to benediction from a Mathadhipathi. Our religious leaders have no answer for this. Many avoid the question and escape by saying we are not social reformers. Even if a widows son or daughter is getting married, then the marriage invitation will not bear her name. Strangely, this rule will not be made applicable to a widower. There are incidents of widows losing the soundness of mind after a few years. A few years ago, a Press Reporter married a helpless widow with 4 children. His only ambition was to become a Trustee
46
OPINION
of a local temple, a post necessarily an embodiment of religious power. The ruling Mathadhipathy ordained that he is disabled from becoming a Trustee, since he has married a woman who is not a Kanya (virgin).What a fossilized thinking? The Constitution of India guarantees every citizen the fundamental rights. The very eminent and outstanding legal luminary, freedom fighter, educationist, founder of Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, late. K.M. Munshi married a Jain widow and held many positions inclusive of being a Trustee of religious institutions. Even in Mangalore. late Ammembala Subba Rao Pai patronized widow re-marriage in 1902. The Kannada author Niranjana has thrown more light on this aspect. The religious leaders suffer from selective amnesia, because the most famous Vedavyasa did follow the then prevalent religious practice called Niyoga on widows of Kuru Dynasty and rest is Mythological History. Today,it is an offence under Penal Laws. Women becoming widows had become very much common in the 19th century due to war, pestilence, stress oriented life, premature deaths in males. In patriarchal family customs, normally a wife will be younger to her husband by a few years. It means seventy five percent of women survived their husbands. In such a contingency, the human society ought to have been considerate towards these widows. Remarriage was then unthinkable even to widows who were in their thirties or even forties and most of them will live like unpaid maid servants or female helpers. They were fed with outdated religious sermons ; they led a frustrating life by practicing forced austerity, fasting etc and ultimately die unsung. On death, there will be a grand lunch to religious hierarchy, who are called to transport the soul of the dead to unseen heaven. Except Sri Narayana Guru of Kerala, who prevented their exploitation and conversion to other religions in the nineteenth and early twentieth century other Hindu Religious Leaders did not show even tender mercy to these women. The only interest they showed was to fleece their assets. I had even seen a case of the children who admitted their widowed mother to the old home, promptly arriving after her death to claim her assets. There had been even cases in the past when helpless widows were lured by other religions and were assured of some emotional stability or comfort. The logic then was instead of jumping in the funeral pyre to follow Sathi, they could at least lead a decent life. It was this alarming factor that forced Raja Ram Mohan Roy to write a letter to the then Viceroy William Bentinck to pass a suitable law and abolish the practice of Sathi. Long back, India Today had made an in-depth study on the sad plight of widows at Brindavan / Mathura where widows from different parts of our country were brought and abandoned forcing them to live like beggars and suffer exploitation. The Allahabad High Court in Umadath Pande Vs Mannusingh case criticized religious leaders practicing undue influence to assure heaven to a princely aristocratic widow and getting all her properties transferred to himself. There was another dignified way of exploitation. If any issueless woman becomes a widow, then the first thing her brothers and sisters will do is to claim through her all the assets of her late husband forcing her to live at their mercy. A living example is in my closest relative circle. In this regard the oldest reported case is of Calcutta High Court case known as Bhaval Sanyasi case wherein the long lost husband who was believed to be dead, appeared after 13 years. But the wife under the influence of her brother refused to recognize him. The brother knocked off all the properties of deceased brother in law. There are even instances when a widow who chooses to stay in her deceased husbands house, is exploited and driven to court to claim her share in her husbands property. Where lies the solution ? The Hindu mindset is total allegiance to Matadhipathis and family priests. They are highly respected by the position and status they
occupy and the authority they wield. They should re-orient their minds and come out of their Ivory Tower of customs. They should take the suggestions of great authors, thinkers and social reformers and openly give Blessings and Prasadam to widows. It will ensure confidence in these women. They should encourage and organise widow re-marriages. This will be the first step. If possible they should attend the widow re-marriage functions. If there is any poor widow with children, but left with no assets, the mutts shall extend help to educate her children. If any widow is involved in legal battle to secure her rights, the religious heads should hold mediations to settle her claim without going to court. Whatever may be the qualification, status or wealth etc., ninety nine percent of Hindus tend to cling to some Swamy or Matadhipathi of his clan. All the Hindu religious heads invariably believe in godliness of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna. But they forget that Lord Rama had the highest respect for widows, even to (wrong doer) Kaikeyi and docile Mandodari (the wife of his enemy). Similarly Lord Krishna touched the feet of Kunti, a widow, the first thing he did on entering Hastinapura in Udyoga Parva. At least these mythological events should remove the clog from the minds of our men of religion. Therefore let us not assure the widows, the unseen Heaven when they undergo hell on Earth on account of our apathy. It is but right in what Nathaniel Hawthorne opined,- it is the collective guilt of whole community- I would add perpetrated for centuries. We have a fair share in it. If we witness and yet do not criticize the double standards pursued when it came to widows, then it means that we are only resorting to escapism. We can liberate from this collective guilt if we practice humane approach with philosophical outlook so that we can wipe tears of many widows. Let us assure that Utopian Earth for Hindu widows. K P Vasudeva Rao
47
YOUTH
Random Thoughts
DONT HOPE,DECIDE! While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about - the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family. First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each others face, I heard the father say, Its so good to see you, son. I missed you so much! His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, Me, too, Dad! Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his sons face in his hands said, Youre already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach! They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. After several moments, Ive saved the best for last! and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. I love you so much! They stared at each others eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldnt possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arms length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, Wow! How long have you two been married? Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those. he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wifes face. Well then, how long have you been away? I asked. The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. Two whole days! Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed hed been gone for at least several weeks if not months. I know my expression betrayed me. I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years! The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, Dont hope, friend decide! Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, By Michael D. God bless!
ANKIT Age / Gender: 20 / male. Hobbies: Making friends , chatting and making fun. E-mail ID: mrcool_ankit@yahoo.com IMTIAZ Age / Gender: 19 / male, Hobbies: Playing cricket, watching movies, chating with friends.E-mail ID: mohd_imtiaz1987@yahoo.com RONEY Age / Gender: 27 / male, Hobbies: madellapraveen@gmail.com
Playing Basketball. E-mail ID:
HARSHA Age / Gender:19 / female. Hobbies: I LIKE MAKING NEW FRIEND. DANCE, CHATTING, COOKING. E-mail ID: thane-rabbit_purple@yahoo.co.in RAJEEV Age / Gender: 28 / male. Hobbies: fast driving, and late night parties. Email ID: rsrajeevsingh@yahoo.com
Readers who wish to introduce themselves through this column can send their messages to: info@mangaloretoday.com
Solution to MANGALORE TODAY Crossword

(From page No.33)
D I S C U S H A S S E P T I C H E V E R P I R A T E E V O Y A P P A L N E S S E C E L L G E L E D E C A T H O R E G A L R A I N B O W D E L T A K L A V E E E D D E W S O B R E S C U M S P U R N B U R P O V E R T U R E A M A N U R E S O A R N D E S E R T
48
HUMOUR
TRUE LIES
OH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!
For Some....English is not Easy at all
In a City restaurant: Open seven days a week and weekends.
Dogs Day Out

An eerie silence had pervaded that house. The house which was bubbling with activities had all of a sudden fallen silent. All members of the Thakur family were confined to their rooms. Their faces looked sullen. They were all worried. They had preferred to go to bed without having supper that day. The domestic help Ramu was sitting on the kitchen floor. He had cooked supper, but no one was willing to eat. His stomach was crying out of hunger, but, he dared not eat unless his employers had their supper. Soon all lights were off and everyone fell asleep. Ramu finally mustered courage to eat something. He wondered why the entire family was upset over the missing of Pony. It was the pet dog of the house which everyone loved. But she had gone missing all of a sudden since that morning. Ramu had searched for her all around the area but in vain. The family had finally decided to put up an ad in the local newspaper and also announce a prize for the person who will trace Pony. Two days went by and there was no news about Pony. The children in the family were greatly upset. Ramu wondered if at all the prize amount would be given to anyone as the family was known to be miserly. A week passed and there was no sign of Pony. Ramu was on his way to the local market that day when suddenly he felt he saw something 50 familiar. He looked back again. Yes, it was Pony who was gleefully in the company of many others of her tribe. It seemed as if for a moment she was in a wonderful world. Ramu called by her name and she would look not at him, for she was so busy in the company of her new friends. When Ramu realized that Pony was unrelenting, he rushed home and informed Thakur about Pony. Soon all members of the family rushed to the spot and called Pony by her name. No, even this time Pony did not look up towards them. Thakur went closer to the dog, when the other dogs in the company of Pony began to bark loudly as if to say that they wanted everyone away. Pony was enjoying the company of her new friends and was in no mood to return to her house. The family returned disappointed. The next morning, dogs were heard barking outside the house and as everyone came out, Pony and all her friends were out there barking loudly. The children rushed and called out Pony and opened the gates and all the dogs rushed inside and sat politely. They had found a new home along with Pony. There were at least six of them and the Thakurs who loved Pony decided to take care of all of them. But very soon a municipal lorry arrived and took all of them except Pony.
Tokyo hotels rules and regulations: Guests are requested not to smoke or do other disgusting behaviours in bed. On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to hope for. In a Tokyo bar: Special cocktails for the ladies with nuts. Hotel, Yugoslavia : The flattening of underwear with pleasure is the job of the chambermaid. Hotel, Japan : You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid. In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a Russian Orthodox monastery: You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous russian and soviet composers, artists, and writers are buried daily except Thursday. Hotel, Zurich: Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose. A laundry in Rome: Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time
HUMOUR
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) While your larger focus this month is likely to be your intimate life, dear Aries, you have opportunities to transform a professional dream into a reality. You can feel especially inspired by a work project, and while physical energy may not be at its highest, inspiration can motivate you to do more. Be sure to feed your thirst for nonroutine adventures. TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This is a potentially excellent month for communicating with special people in your life, dear Taurus. You enjoy increased personal charisma. You are more playful and communicative than usual. Nevertheless, there can be some challenges this month with shared resources - money owed and/or shared with a partner. As well, you are entering a long-term cycle in which relationships go through some tests. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Freer, more creative, and forward-looking energy is with you in October, dear Gemini. Mid-month brings strong opportunities to begin anew, whether this is creatively or romantically. Your social life looks excellent this month. While there can be some ups and downs, your love life is sure to be animated in October. CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Excellent energy is with you this month for romantic and creative expression, dear Cancer. Conversations feed your feeling of being loved and appreciated. Communication is the key to happiness in love in October. Nevertheless, you are entering a long-term cycle in which commitment can become a big issue. Relationships that don't live up to their potential are likely to be questioned, particularly around the 24-25 this month, but also as a general theme going forward. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 22) From the 7th forward, you have strong energy to get out and really experience life, dear Sagittarius. Your personal magnetism is strong, and your ability to ask for what you want without apology is increased. You can find new forums for creativity and self-expression. Avoid impatience, however. Focusing on your desires is appropriate now, but avoid overdoing this. CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20) Both work and your social life are likely to demand your attention this month, dear Capricorn. The New Moon mid-month provides you with a new start and renewed perspective on your professional and public life. Someone could be changing your world in special ways with a fresh perspective. AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb. 19) This is an important month for your career, dear Aquarius. You're likely to uncover new goals and attitudes, and you are likely to work hard at achieving some of your more realistic dreams. You are entering a long-term cycle that will be with you until 2015 in which you are likely to reassess your career and standing, realigning your attitudes to better serve your purpose. PISCES (Feb. 20 - March 20) You are entering a period in your life in which getting organized is a priority, and easier than usual. Meeting your responsibilities also comes more naturally this month. Money is at a peak this month. Take advantage by asking for a raise, making a long-term investment, or going over your budget, but avoid the 3rd, 7-8, and 29th, when it can be difficult to get what you want.
CK R STU STA
LEO (July 24 - Aug 23) Good energy is with you for pursuing your heart's desire this month, dear Leo. Saturn's transit of your third house in recent years has limited your responsiveness to social contact. This influence lifts in October. Going forward, you are more motivated to branch out and network. The lines of communication open. The last week of October can involve a culmination of a career project. VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sept 23) October is a generally stabilizing month for you, dear Virgo.Both casual and committed relationships can thrive this month. Make a few wishes, dare to say them aloud, and expect results. Saturn's entry into Scorpio this month is generally good news for you. LIBRA (Sept 24 - Oct 23) Saturn leaving your sign this month, dear Libra, can bring about a feeling that a heavy weight has been lifted. You're likely to be more outgoing than you have been for some time. Ideally, you've built strength and balance in your life since 2009, when Saturn first entered your sign. Confidence now comes from a stronger sense of reality. SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22) Get extra rest and avoid pushing yourself this month, dear Scorpio, with Saturn entering your sign (where it will transit until 2015), and the Sun in your privacy sector until the 22nd. You're likely to sense that you need more time for rest and reflection, and it's wise to listen to your inner signals.
Believe it or not, we are definitely not responsible for your fate!

51
KIDS
YOUNG ACHIEVER Sara
SKATING SUCCESS
Seeliya and Aishwarya
Sucheta Kriplani - Woman of Grit

Sucheta Kriplani was one of the prominent freedom fighters of India and also a politician par excellence who went on to become the first woman chief minister of a state in India when she took charge as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1963. Born in Ambala, Haryana in June 1908 to a Bengali family, her father S.N.Majumdar was a government doctor and a nationalist. After her education at Indraprastha College and St.Stephen's College, New Delhi she became a lecturer at the Banaras Hindu University. In 1936, she married socialist Acharya Jivatram Kripalani and became involved with the Indian National Congress. Like her contemporaries, Aruna Asaf Ali and Usha Mehta, she came to the forefront during the Quit India Movement. She later worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi. She was one amongst the handful women who got elected to the Constituent Assembly and was part of the subcommittee that was handed over the task of laying down the charter for the constitution of India. On the first Independence Day, she sang the national song Vande Mataram during the historic Independence Session of the Constituent Assembly. During the post Independence period, she played a vital role in Uttar Pradesh politics. She was elected to the Lok Sabha in the year 1952 and 1957. She also served as the Minister of State for Small Scale Industries. In the year 1962, she was elected to the U.P Assembly and the very next year she became the first woman to hold a prestigious position of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. One of her greatest achievements during her long tenure has been the effective handling of the 62 day long strike by the state employees. In the year 1971, she took retirement from politics and remained away from public life. Sucheta Kriplani passed away in 1974 following a cardiac arrest.
52
PIC:PRASHANTH NAYAK
Mangalore can boast of talents par excellence in various sports.In Skating, two of citys extremely talented skaters have been qualified for the CBSE National Roller Skating Championship to be held at Amritsar in November.Seeliya Simmith, a X standard student of Lourdes Central School and Aishwarya Mathews, a class 9 student of Presidency School, both members of Mangalore Roller Skating Club, have brought laurels to Mangalore by bagging medals at the CBSE South Zone Roller Skating event held at Mysore recently. If Seeliya bagged two gold medals in 5000 M road race and 300 M rink race 3, apart from individual championship, Aishwarya bagged gold in 3000m road race and silver in the 300m rink race1. Both are being coached by Mahesh Kumar of the Club.
KIDS
STORYLINE Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in search of food. This flock was led by their king. Once, it happened as such that the flock had flown a long distance and all the doves got tired. The king of doves encouraged the doves to fly a little more. One of the doves picked up pace and found some rice grains scattered under a banyan tree. All the doves were happy to find the food and happily landed on the ground. As soon as they began to eat the grains, a huge net fell over them and all of them got trapped. The doves fluttered their wings desperately trying to come out, but it was of no avail. Just then, they saw the hunter coming towards them. He appeared quite happy to find a huge number of doves trapped inside the net. The whole flock was frightened on seeing the fowler. However, the king of doves was very intelligent and clever. He didnt lose his patience and devised a plan to come out from this adverse situation. He advised to other doves, In order to get free from the net of this hunter, we should all fly up together clutching the net in our beaks. There is strength in unity. We will decide our next course of action later. Now, come on and lets fly. Hearing the king, each dove picked
The Hunter and the Doves

up a portion of the huge net and they flew up together, carrying the net with them. The hunter was surprised to see the birds flying, along with the huge net. He ran after the birds, shouting madly, but could not catch them. Soon, they flew high over hills and valleys getting out of his sight. When the king dove saw that the hunter had given up the chase, he said to his friends, "Now we all have to get out of this net. A mouse lives on the nearby hill. He is good friend of mine. Let's go to him for his help." They flew to a hill near a city of temples where the mouse lived. When the mouse heard the loud noise of doves approach, he got frightened and hid himself deeper into his hole. The King dove asked, Dear friend, I have come, the king dove. Were in great difficulty. Please come out and help us. Hearing the voice of the king dove, the mouse came out of his hole and saw the king dove and his friends trapped in the net. The mouse said, Oh! Whos done all this to you? The king dove explained the whole story to the mouse. He told him that they require mouses help to nibble the net and set them free. The mouse immediately started nibbling the net around the king dove. The king dove said, No, dear. First set my followers free. A king cannot keep his subjects in pain and enjoy the freedom for himself." The mouse understood the kings feelings and praised the king for his nobleness. As per the kings wish, the mouse nibbled at the portion of the net and one by one all the doves got freed including the king dove. They thanked the mouse for his effort and flew away together happily to their destination. Moral: Strength lies in unity.
HOCUS - FOCUS
Check out how sharp your eyes are. Find out at least 6 differences between the pictures below.
53
CITY
RAILWAY TIMINGS
General Information: Dial 139 or 2423137
INFO
04.35 20.40 04.35 11.10 02.30 19.25 04.35 16.10 16.10 16.10 16.10 05.55 10.50 13.30 14.00 22.30 07.50 13.15 20.30 20.30 20.30 05.45 20.30 12.25 19.40 04.50 20.30 04.50 04.50 04.50 04.50 23.20 17.45 22.30 04.50 12.25 04.45 20.50 04.45 11.20 02.40 19.35 04.45 16.15 16.15 16.15 16.15 06.05 10.50 13.40 02.10 22.40 08.00 16.45 20.40 20.40 20.40 05.55 20.40 12.35 19.50 05.00 20.40 05.00 05.00 05.00 05.00 23.30 17.50 22.40 05.00 12.35
MANGALORE CENTRAL STATION Tr.No. Destination and Train Name Day 12602 Mangalore -Chennai Mail Daily 12620 Mlore-Lokmanya Tilak Matsyagandha Exp. Daily 12654 Mlore -Tiruchchirapally Express Sun 12686 Mlore Central-Chennai Express (Except Mon) 16044 Mlore Central-Puduchery Express Mon 16108 Mangalore Central-Chennai Egmore Exp. Daily 16348 Mlore -Thiruvananthapuram Exp. Daily 16518 Kannur-Yashwatpur Express Daily 16517 Yashwantpur-Kannur Express Daily 16604 Thiruvananthapuram-Mlore Maveli Express Daily 16605 Mangalore Central-Nagarcoil Eranad Exp. Daily 16628 Mlore -Chennai West Coast Express Daily 16630 Mlore -Thiruvananthapuram Malabar Exp. Daily 16649 Mlore -Thiruvananthapuram Parasuram Exp. Daily 16687 Mlore -Jammutawi Navyug Exp. (Arival:Sun) Mon 22609 Mangalore-Palakkad Intercity Express* Daily 22852 Mlore-Santragachi Vivek Express Daily 56324 Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast Passenger Daily 56640 Mangalore Central-Madgoan Passenger Daily 56643 Kabakaputtur-Mangalore Central Passenger Daily 56645 Mlore -Subramanya Road Passenger Daily 56647 Mlore -Subramanya Road Passenger Daily 56654 Mangalore-Callicut Passenger Daily 56656 Mlore-Kannur Passenger Daily MANGALORE JUNCTION STATION Mangalore Junction (towords South) Tr.No. Source-Destination and Train Name Day 10215 Madgaon-Ernakulam Express Mon 11097 Pune-Ernakulam Poorna Express Sun 12201 Lokmanya Tilak-Kochuveli Garib Rath Exp. Tue,Sat 12218 Chandigarh-Kochuveli Sampark Kranti Exp. Fri
Ari. 12.25 10.15 5.25 9.05 9.05 22.00 11.10 19.15 08.40 08.50 17.30 4.35 10.05 8.25 18.15 13.40 09.45 20.00 22.00 09.15 21.30 15.55 10.45 10.45
Dep. 13.15 12.50 20.45 16.10 16.10 06.50 14.30 19.45 09.00 17.45 07.20 21.45 18.25 4.40 17.05 12.00 22.45 07.45 06.20 6.00 18.20 10.30 05.25 16.35
12288 12432 12484 12520 12618 12978 12998 16311 16333 16335 16337 16345 16516 19620 11097
Dehdradun-Kochuveli Express Wed Nizamuddin-TRV Rajdhani Express Mon,Wed,Thu Amritsar-Kochuveli Express Tue Pune-Ernakulam Express Thu,Mon Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Exp. Daily Ajmer-Ernakulam Marusagar Express Sat Happa-Tirunelveli Express Sun,Mon Bikaner-Kochuveli Express Thu Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express Fri Gandhidham-Nagarcoil Express Sat Okha-Ernakulam Express Tue,Sun Lokmanya Tilak-TRV Netravathy Exp. Daily Karwar-Yashwantpur Exp (via Arsikere)Tue,Thu,Sat Bhavanagar-Kochuveli Expres (Mon) Mon Pune-Ernakulam Express Sun, Thu
Ari. 03.00 19.35 10.15 04.35
Dep. 03.10 19.45 10.25 04.45
Mangalore Junction (towords North) 10216 Ernakulam-Madgaon Express Mon 11098 Ernakulam-Pune Poorna Express Tue 12134 Mangalore Jn-Mumbai CST Express Daily 12202 Kochuveli-LokmanyaTilak Garib Rath Exp. Sun,Thu 12217 Kochuveli-Chandigarh Sampark Kranti Exp. Sat 12287 Kochuveli-Dehradun Express Fri 12431 TRV-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Exp. Wed,Fri,Sat 12483 Kochuveli-Amritsar Express Wed 12519 Ernakulam-Pune Express Fri,Tue 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Exp. Daily 12977 Ernakulam-Ajmer Marusagar Express Mon 12997 Tirunelveli-Happa Express Mon,Tue 16312 Kochuveli-Bikaner Express Sun 16334 Thiruvananthapuram-Veraval Express Tue 16336 Nagarcoil-Gandhidham Express Wed 16338 Ernakulam-Okha Express Thu,Sat 16346 Lokmanya Tilak-TRV Netravathy Exp. Daily 16515 Yashwantpur-Karwar Express Mon,Wed,Fri 19261 Kochuveli-Porbunder Express* Sun 19259 Kochuveli-Bhavnagar Express* Fri 11097 Pune-Ernakulam Express Tue, Fri
2220584 2220588 2220590 2220578 2423675 2220587 2220313 2220301 2220310 2445806 2457498 2444005 2220577 2424254 2407341 2212286 2429197 2411840
PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES:

POLICE l00 FIRE 101 AMBULANCE 102
2220501 2220801 2220503 2220555 2220500 2220525 2220524 2451303 2451190 2425599 2407756 2423127 2475379 2468383 DEPT. OF POLICE IGP Commissioner of Police SP City Control Room District Control Room Womens Police Station Traffic Police Station Coastal Security Police ELECTRICITY COMPLAINTS Lalbagh MESCOM 1600-44-1917 Mallikatta Attavar 2442076 Panambur Jeppu 2418066 State Bank Kankanady 2439140 Surathkal Kavoor 2482060 Ullal Kulshekar 2231039
DC OFFICE:(General) Dy. Commissioner Asst. Commissioner Zilla Panchyat Office Taluk Panchayat Office Tahasildar, Mangalore Taluk CITY CORPORATION:( Enquiry) Mayor Commissioner INCOME TAX, Attavar CONSUMER COURT, Lalbagh DISTRICT COURT, Kodialbail Regional Transport Office (KA19) Information & Publicity, Maidan Road New Mangalore Port Trust, Panambur Circuit House, Kadri Lokayuktha, DC Office Compound Passport Office, Kodialbail
VEHICLE BREAKDOWN SERVICES Auto Matix (Tata) 9845377488 / 6539237 Bharath Auto Cars (Maruthi) 99865 43030 / 2223030 Cauvery Ford (Ford) 9845059961/ 2450083 Frontline (Chevrolet) 9845119112 / 9845398691 Karnataka Agencis(Mahindra) 9845338004 Kanchana Automobiles(Hyundai) 984404407/2430618 Peninsular Honda (Honda) 9845977000 Mandovi Motors (Maruthi) 9845724365 United Toyota (Toyota) 9845086811 Volkswagen 97423 03030 / 2433530 RENT-A-CAR Cell Cab, Balmatta Road 60609090 East West Tourist Corp., Milagres Cross Road 4254071 Pinto Tourist Promotions, Kankanady 4277888 Rovian Tourist Promotions, Valencia 2437683 DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, Mangalore 2453926
AMBULANCE SERVICE Jeeva - AJ Hospital, Kuntikana 2225555 Hitech Ambulance - KMC,Attavar 2444777 Fr. Mullers General Hospital, Kankanady 2436301 Unity Health Complex, Falnir 4245555, 105 707 Wenlock Hospital, Hampankatta 2410701
24 HOUR INFORMATION SERVICE
Getitnow! Call: 4444 444

54
CITY
AIR TIMINGS
Dep. Jet Airways 11.15 / 14.55 Kingfisher Airlines (IT143/144) 15.35 Air India Express (DN 802) 10.00
MANGALORE - MUMBAI MANGALORE - BANGALORE Jet Airways (9W 520) 7.15 / 19.45 Kingfisher Airlines (IT 2441/45) 19.00
INFO
LUXURY BUS TIMINGS

Arr. 10.40/14.20 15.05 19.15 9.15 / 20.30 20.00 15.25 / 8.35 18.05 6.25 20.20 07.20 19.30 07.35 14.40 TO BANGALORE Bharath Travels Anand Travels HN Travels VRL KODIALBAIL Ballal Motors Ganesh Travels TO MUMBAI Anand Travels Canara Pinto Vishal Travels Mahabaleshwara Canara Travels Neetha Travels Sadhan Travels TO BELGAUM Ganesh Travels Sri Durgamba Durgamba Motors TO HUBLI Ganesh Travels Sri Durgamba TO MYSORE Durgamba TO GOA Ganesh Travels
TEL TIMINGS
TEMPLES &TOURIST SPOTS

Dist. in Km.
4254071 2427737 2428085 2493536 2441997 2441277
21.30 21.30 20.30 22.00, 23.00 21.30 21.30 12.00 12.00 12.00 14.00 (Volvo) 12.00 13.30, 16.00 14.00 20.00, 21.00, 22.00 20.00 20.00, 21.00, 22.00 20.30 20.00 21.30 20.30
Kingfisher
MANGALORE - CHENNAI Kingfisher Airlines (IT 122)
15.50 / 9.30
18.30
MANGALORE - DUBAI Air India Express (IX813/14) 21.30 Air India Express (IX383/4) (Thu, Fri, Sat)11.50 ABU DHABI - MUSCAT - MANGALORE Air India Express (Mon, Thu & Sat) MANGALORE - BAHRAIN - DOHA Air India Express (Wed, Fri, Sun) MANGALORE - KUWAIT Air India Express (Tue, Thu, Sat) MANGALORE - HYDERABAD Spice Jet (IT 122)
2427737 2422646 2423917 2424322 2426811 2427099 2411145
Dharmasthala Manjunatha Swami Temple 75 Kukke Subrahmanya Temple 104 1000 Pillars Basadi, Moodbidri 38 Gomateshwara, Karkala 52 Krishna Temple, Udupi 60 St. Lawrence Church, Karkala 56 Mookambika Temple, Kollur 128 Sharadamba Temple, Sringeri 165 Sayyed Madani Dargah, Ullal 12 Durgaparameshwari Temple 27 St. Aloysius Chapel, Mangalore 1 Gokarnatheshwara Temple, Mangalore 2 Sri Gopalkrishna Temple, Shaktinagar 6
21.25 08.50 21.00 15.00
2440977 2420303 2497225
BANKING
Axis Bank, Bunts Hostel Road Bank of Baroda, Hampankatta Bank of India, K S Rao Road Bank of Maharastra, GHS Road Canara Bank, Balmatta Road Corporation Bank, Pandeshwar ICICI Bank, PM Rao Road Indian Overseas Bank, Bunder ING Vysya Bank, KS Rao Road Karnataka Bank, Mahaveera Circle State Bank of Hyderabad State Bank of India State Bank of Patiala, Kankanady State Bank of Travancore, Hampankatta Syndicate Bank, Light House Hill Road Uco Bank, Opp: Sharavu Temple Union Bank of India, Hampankatta Vijaya Bank, Near Jyoti Circle Abhiman, Bunts Hostel Road Ayodhya,Kodialbail Deepa Comforts, MG Road Ganesh Mahal, KS Rao Road Ganesh Prasad,KS Rao Road Goldfinch, Bunts Hostel Road Mangalore Intl.,KS Rao Road Maya International, Bendoorwell Nalapad Residency, LHH Road Ocean Pearl, Kodialbail Panchmahal, Kodialbail Pentagon, Pumpwell Prestige, Bendoor, Collectors Gate Poonja Intl., KS Rao Road Roopa Hotel, Balmatta Road Safron, GHS Raod Srinivas Hotel, GHS Road Taj Mahal, Hampankatta The Gateway Hotel, Old Port Road Woodlands,BuntsHostel Road 2410981 2424182 2440640 2441751 2422475 2426416 4288777 2411625 2441010 2228222 2447766 2420328 2438364 2441608 2446152 2441351 2426229 2442903 2446304 2493681 2497101 2440632 2440418 4245678 2444860 2435111 2424757 2413800 2495574 2249203 2410601 2440171 2421271 4255542 2440061 2421286 2420420 2443751
2440977 2420303
2497225
- Please Check with the Flight Enquiry on the day of the travel
Mangalore Airport - 2220422 (Enquery/Resvervation) Air india Express - 2450673 (O), 2220450 (Airport) Air India (Domestic) - 2254253, 2220451 (Airport) Jet Airways - 2440794(O), 2253432 (Airport) Kingfisher Airlines - 2220463(O), 2254433 (Airport)
2440977
TO KOCHI/ERNAKULAM/KOTTAYAM Ganesh Travels 2440977 20.00 Durgamba 2420303 20.30 TO HYDERABAD Surabhi Ashok Travels
2214444 2215909
CLUBS
LEISURE CLUBS Canara Club, Kadri Eden Aquatic & Sports Club, Nantoor Mangalore Club, Jeppu-Bolar Country Club, Yekkur SERVICE CLUBS JCI Mangalore, Urva Ladies Club, Light House Hill Road Lions Club, Kadri Rotary Club, Ladyhill Toastmasters Club 2211086 2211617 2414146 4252585 9243300775 2425051 2216854 2459246 9845493400
12.00, 16.00(Volvo) 20.00
CINEMA
ADLABS, Lalbagh JYOTI, Balmatta Road CENTRAL, Maidan Road PRABHAT, KS Rao Road SUCHITRA, KS Rao Road RAMAKANTI, Market Road RUPAVANI, Central Market PLATINUM, Falnir NEW CHITRA, Car Street 2222022 2424660 2423108 2440467 2427534 2423494 2423199 2427126 2496337
BOARDING / LODGING
MANGALORE
City White Pages
A unique ready reference Pocket Book
BEACH RESORTS
Mangalore Holiday Village,Someshwar 2281061 Red Rock Residency, Mukka 2477190 Paradise Isle, Malpe 0820 - 2537791 Summer Sands, Ullal 2467690
MUSEUMS
EDITION
2012
Shreemanthibai Memorial Govt. Museum, Bejai 2211106 Aloyseum, St. Aloysius College, Lighthouse Hill Rd. 2426143 Manjusha Museum, Dharmasthala 08256 - 277121
55
NEWS
Awarded
Eighteen railway employees from Palakkad division who retired from service between April 2010 to March 2011 were awarded Accident Free Service Awards at a function organized by Safety Organization of Palakkad Railway Division, recently. Piyush Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager, Palakkad presided over the function. formed Bajpe Valaya Bunts Sangha covering 20 villages.Vijaynath Vittal Shetty is the Managing Director of Vijaynath Interiors & Exteriors Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai based industrial roofing company having offices in Pune, Nashik, Kholapur and Mangalore. Prasad Raj Kanchan was unanimously elected as the president of the Udupi Chamber of Commerce of Industry (UCCI) during its annual general body meeting held recently. The others elected are Diwakar Shetty (vice president), entrepreneur K. Balakrishna Shenoy (chief secretary), CA Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak (treasurer), and Dr. Vijendra Rao (joint secretary).
BRIEFS
Inaugurated
Senior Congress leader and former union minister B. Janardhan Poojary inaugurated the 50th branch of Bharath Cooperative Bank at Trade Centre, BC Road recently. Shri Satyananda Teertha Swamiji of Shivagiri Mutt, Shri Paramananda Swamiji, Jaya C. Suvarna, Chairman of the Bank, Rohini J. Salian, Deputy Chairperson and several others were present on the occasion. A three Yakshagana extravaganza Yaksha Triveni was inaugurated at Town Hall in Mangalore recently by MLC Capt. Ganesh Karnik. The programme was been jointly organized by the Sri Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali, Keremane, Honnavar taluk. K. R. Ramakrishna, Commissioner of the Kannada and Culture Department, inaugurated an art camp Naadha Kalaanudi at Sahodaya Hall, Balmatta recently under the auspices of the Department of Archeology and Museums, Department of Kannada and Culture and the Karavali Chitrakala Chavadi. Senior artist K. Pundalik Shenoy was honored on this occasion.
Celebrated
Naravi Parish celebrated its Founders Day recently. Dr Aloysius Paul DSouza, Bishop of Mangalore, was the chief guest. The statue of Fr. Faustine Corti, architect of Naravi church, was taken in a grand procession to mark the celebrations. Organised The Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy organized Konkani Stree programme recently. Jayashree Shanbagh, former director of Mangalore Akashvani, social worker Judith Mascarenhas and Gladys Rego, writer, were felicitated on the occasion. The birth centenary celebrations of veteran Yakshagana artiste Kuriya Vittal Shastri was organised at the Ujire Sri Janardhan Temple premises recently under the auspices of the Kuriya Vittal Shastri Yakshagana Pratishtana. Dr K Chinnappa Gowda, Director of Mangalore University Yakshagana Study Centre, presided over the function.
Felicitated
Harekala Hajabba, the orange seller who despite being illiterate saw to it that his village Harekala, got a school and a pre-university college, was conferred the Ramzan Saab Award by Akhila Karnataka Mahamadeeyara Sangha at a function organized by Kannada Sahitya Parishat at Bangalore.
Elected
Harish K and Rajeevi Kemapamannu of BJP have been elected as the President and Vice President respectively of Mangalore Taluk Panchayat at the elections held recently. Vijaynath Vittal Shetty, Chief Co-ordinator of Shasthavu Sri Bhoothanatheshwara Temple has been unanimously elected as the founder president of the newly
Dr. Aloysius Paul DSouza, Bishop of Mangalore releasing the Year of the Faith logo at special function organized at Rosario Cathedral, Mangalore recently.
56
NEWS BRIEFS
OBITUARY
Rev. Fr Fredrick Moniz, a priest of the Diocese of Mangalore passed away recently. He was 89. Hailing from Moodbidri Parish, he was ordained priest of the Diocese of Mangalore after his priestly studies at the St Josephs Seminary. He had also served as priest at Takode,Bantwal, Pezar, Kadaba, Narampady, Karkala and Permannur. He was a renowned preacher of retreats. Shaihuna Raeesul Ulema Kalambadi Muhammed Musliyar (78), a noted scholar and President of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulema passed away recently. He had served Pattikkad Jamia Nooris Arabic College since 1993 and has trained as many as 5000 students. Manmohan Malli, a noted builder of Mangalore and Managing Director of Abhiman Group met a tragic end when he reportedly fell off a moving train in which he was travelling to Mangalore from Goa His body was found on the railway track at Innanje. Malli is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Well-known cartoonist and Ayurveda physician Satish Shringeri (44) passed away recently following a brief illness. Dr. Satish regularly contributed cartoons of wit and humour, to Kannada daily Samyukta Karnataka. He had also arranged several exhibitions of his cartoons. He is survived by his parents, wife, son a brother and sister.
Renowned German musicians Reinhard Armleder and Dagmar Hartmann performed a western classical music concert at the KTC auditorium in Mangalore recently. Former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda recently inaugurated a day care centre for Endosulfan victims at Koila in Puttur taluk. Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP and other leaders were present.
Organised
A seminar on Century growth of Konkani novels was held at the Bishop House Hall in Mangalore under the auspices of Kendra Sahitya Academy and Raknno.
Launched
Moulana Abdussalam, head of the Mangalore Unity Centre, formally launched the Diploma Education in Arabic Language (DEAL) in Mangalore recently. DEAL, an 8-month course for female Arabic teachers, is an initiative of Hidaya Mesco Arabic Academy, a wing of Hidaya Foundation, and Campus Career Academy (CCA) of Mangalore.
Released
'Vaasthavada Odakugalu Ithihaasada Thodakugalu' a book on history by Barkur Uday was released by human rights activist Shivasunder, at a function held at Sahodaya hall, Balmatta in Mangalore. The programme was jointly organized by Tulunadu publications and Chintana Pustaka, Bangalore. The Konkani translation of Sri Lakshmi Shobhane Pada Grantha authored in Kannada by Sri Vadiraja was released by Sri Vishwa Vallabha Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sode Mutt, at the Sarvajna Peetha of the Sri Krishna Mutt recently. The Konkani translation has been done by Venkatraya Shanbagh, former general manager of Syndicate Bank.
Observed
World Mental Health Day was observed at the Pediatric Centre of Wenlock Hospital recently. The theme of the Day is Depression- a global crisis.The programme was organized by Department of Psychiatry, KMC along with Wenlock district hospital and Manaswini, Thunga Institute of Psychiatry. Various contests like poster making, paper presentation, psychiatry quiz were held for the special students.
Staged
The people of Shanthinagar in Mangalore recently protested against the bad roads and open drains in their locality, fed up with the failure of the authorities to hear to their pleas.
57
PEOPLE
Gifted Journalist
Meet Suman Talwar, our very own man who has conquered the south Indian film industry through his superb acting skills and stunts. He started off as a Karate Master,but soon ventured into films and became a versatile actor.He attributes his success to his patience, hard work and sincerity. Hailing from Hejamady, but born and brought up in Chennai, Talwar, a Tuluva talent belonging to the Billawa community, today has over 300 films to his credit, including 99 Telugu films in which he has played the lead role. Suman who had his schooling from The Besant
TULUVA HERO
To win a coveted award for an enlightening report at a very young age is a great honour. Sandhya Christabel DSouza from Deccan Herald, is the gifted journalist who is the recipient of the prestigious Sarojini Naidu Prize 2012 for best English reporting on Women and Panchayat Raj given by The Hunger Project. A very active student right since her school days, Sandhya even bagged the Rashtrapathi Puraskar for Scouts and Guides. An alumnus of St Agnes and St Aloysius Colleges in Mangalore, Sandhya was passionate about making short films during her college days and has over 15 films to her credit. She has also won prizes in student level short film making contests. She also worked as a casual RJ at AIR during her college days. Sandhya began her stint in Deccan Herald as a reporter cum sub-editor in the year 2010. It was a momentous occasion for her when she recently received the Sarojini Naidu Prize from Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at a function held in New Delhi. Her award winning article Laila Ladies Ensure Safety is the story of a self-help group of Laila village which manufactures low cost bio-degradable sanitary napkins in order to ensure that all rural women maintain menstrual hygiene. Theosophical High School, Chennai, later graduated from the Pachayappas College with a B.A. in English Literature. He has learnt Sanskrit and also Veena and Guitar. Suman who also holds a Black Belt in Karate from Shotokan Karate Association, started his career as a Karate (Sensei) Master. His entry into the film industry was by sheer chance, thanks to his skills in martial arts. His potential was noticed by a producer while he was teaching Karate. His first Tamil movie Neechal Kulam in which his role was of a police officer, hit the silver screens in 1977 and that was a turning point in his career. He turned out to be an ace in effectively portraying mythological characters.Be it an action oriented film or a romantic film, Suman is simply the Best. Suman is happily married to Sirisha and the couple has a daughter Akilaja Prathyusha.Unlike many other actors, this extremely talented Tuluva star just loves to speak in his mother tongue and converses fluently in Tulu. A great admirer of Tuluva culture and tradition, Suman drives home a strong message when he says one should not forget his mother land, mother tongue and the Almighty, at any point in life.
Power for All

If men with Power in hands rule the nation, people who manage Power supply too play a crucial role in development. MESCOM, the power supplying authority of the district, now has a new Managing Director. He is S Sumanth who took charge recently. Known to be a sincere and efficient officer, Sumanth has the experience of serving in the same posting in Mangalore a few years ago. Sumanth who joined the Electricity Department as a Probationary Assistant Director in the year 1977, later served the KEB and Karnataka Power Transmission
Corporation Ltd in various capacities before being appointed Executive Director of MESCOM. Prior to taking charge as MESCOM Managing Director, he was the Director of KPTCL, Bangalore. Sumanth has taken charge of his new posting at a time when the Corporate Office of MESCOM in Mangalore was planning to go green by installing solar panels to light up the corporate office, a project planned by the erstwhile MD Vijayanarasimha. There is a hope that the MESCOM would see a highly efficient functioning under Sumanths dynamic leadership.
58

October 2012

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

October 2012

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Publisher and Editor

A Divine Centenary A Divine Centenary

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, Mangalore

COVER STORY .....

TRIBUTE B Ganapathi Pai

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Unlike any other

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

A good nights sleep

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Ghastly Crime; Ghostly Tale

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

2 judgments in a divorce case by Mangalore court!

IN BLACK & WHITE

Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK

The Tainted icons of the middle class

Sri Gokarnanatha Kshetra, Mangalore

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

STOR ORY STORY

Shree Narayana Guru - Spiritual Leader

Former Governor Rameshwar Thakur offering prayers to Shree Narayan Guru

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

Man of the Masses

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

STOR ORY STORY

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

Rahul Gandhis visit to the temple

Late President Shanker Dayal Sharma at the temple

STOR ORY STORY

A Cherished Centenary Celebration

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

Magical Mangalore Dasara

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

STOR ORY STORY

Goddess Sharada Idol

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Rs. 150/- per year

AND SAVE RS. 140/-

.................................................................................................. is enclosed herewith ...................................................................

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Our International Airport

Mangalores Bejai Parish

THE MAKING OF A GOD

MANGALORE TODAY CROSSWORD

Solutions on page no. 48

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

The Golden Trophy

MANGALORE TODAY - OCTOBER 2012

Active Old Age Paradigm

Shrimad Vidyadhiraja Theertha Shripad Vader Swamiji