Mangalore Today March 2015

MANGALORE TODAY - MARCH 2015
EDIT
ORS
DITOR
VOL 19
ISSUE 3
EDGE
MARCH 2015
Long live the Saint

Publisher and Editor
V. U. GEORGE
Executive Editor
MAHESH NAYAK
Associate Editor
JAYASHREE SUDHIR
Special Correspondents
ESHWAR SUNDARESAN (Bangalore)
HARSHA DSOUZA (Mangalore)
RAMESH S PERLA (Mangalore)
ADOLPH LOBO (Dubai)
MADHUSUDAN KUMAR (Mumbai)
Contributors
Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK
I. J. SALDANHA SHET
S NANDAGOPAL
V MOHAN RAO
BHAMY V. SHENOY
Maj. Gen. S.G.VOMBATKERE
Production & Marketing
SHASHIDHARA AGALA
Copy Desk
VISHAYA RAI
POOJA
Contributing Photographers
MANJU RAMACHANDRA BHAT
MANOJ VENU HOSABETTU
PRASHANTH NAYAK
Editorial, marketing & correspondence office:

26, Venkatramana Building,Temple Square,
Car Street, Mangalore 575 001
Phone: 0824-2492549, Mobile: 98455 24558
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,
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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.
2015 is a significant year in the history of the 500 year old Shree Kashi Math
Samsthan as its revered Head and Pontiff His Holiness Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha
Swamiji is celebrating his Navathi Janma Mahotsav or 90th Birthday.
Shree Kashi Math Samsthan is based at Varanasi on the banks of River Ganga
and it owns 35 temples across the country. His personality is the glue that binds
the GSB community and gives it identity. Gifted with phenomenal grasping
power, sharp memory and extraordinary intelligence, he is also a great orator
whom people can relate to with ease. His benevolent, smiling face as well as the
austere countenance has struck a chord with his followers and has earned him the
recognition of a spiritual leader with great charisma and personal appeal. He
enjoys iconic stature among his followers among the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin
(GSB) community. To him goes the credit of giving a new dimension to the
Shree Kashi Mutt Samsthan and bestowing it a distinct place and honour in the
entire nation.
To signify the occasion of Navathi, his followers have planned a grand
celebration at Shree Vyasashram in Haridwar in the first week of April. Our
current issue of Mangalore Today commemorates this grand event and is a tribute
to the seer.
Being situated close to Sri Venkatramana Temple, Car Street, we at Mangalore
Today share a close bond with the temple and the GSB community. I am also
personally an admirer of Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji and I have had the
pleasure of meeting him several times. Each meeting without exception was
impressive and I found myself much inspired with his interaction.
Hence we at Mangalore Today convey our best wishes to His Holiness on
this occasion and pray that he will be blessed with good
health and long life so that the society will continue to
be benefited by his saintly guidance.
We have taken great pains to compile a comprehensive
profile of Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji along with
rare archival photographs. We hope you will find the
issue as interesting and engaging as the persona of its
subject.
All disputes and legal proceedings are subject

to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent
courts and forums in MANGALORE only.
COVER PHOTO: SURESH V. KAMATH
90
Saint Supreme
SRIMAD SUDHINDRATHIRTHA SWAMIJI
As the pontiff enters his 90th year, setting a

new record as the longest serving head of Sri
Kashi Math Samsthan, devotees celebrate his
era of leading the community with grace,
divinity, scholarship and example.
n COVER STORY .....

n FEATURE
16
31
Nun who lived in

Mangaluru -1870-72,
to be Canonized
(St). Mariam Baouardy to be canonized in
Rome on May 17, 2015; came to Mangaluru in
1870 as a pioneer Cloistered Carmel Nun. It
was in this our city that she took the vows of
the cloister, writes I J Saldanha-Shet
n TRIBUTE
38
Inimitable
K.N.Tailor era ends
K.N. Tailor, a man of humble origin who shot to
fame through his heart-touching, entertaining
and mesmerizing Tulu plays and films, also
placed Tulu theatre and film industry on a firm
ground. Mangalore Today pays its heartfelt
tributes to this versatile dramatist and actor
who passed away recently.
Reactions ................................... 6
Wordzworth ................................ 7
Editorial ...................................... 8
City Politix ................................... 9
DK Diary ................................... 10
Column ..................................... 12
Picturesque .............................. 36
Tribute ...................................... 34
Happenings .............................. 41
Here and There ........................ 46
Opinion ..................................... 47
Life experience ......................... 48
Humour .................................... 50
Kids .......................................... 52
City Information ........................ 54
News Briefs .............................. 56
People ...................................... 58
REA
CTION
EACTION
nThe Yettinahole or Netravathi Diversion
Project is once again giving a head ache
to the people of Dakshina Kannada
district. The reason behind the
governments keenness is crystal clear- it
is eying the votes of people of Kolar,
Chikkaballapur and other districts which
will benefit if the project is implemented,
even if it meant at the cost of Dakshina
Kannadas lifeline-River Netravathi.
VINAY KUMAR, Mangaluru
nWhy have voices in Dakshina Kannada

district fallen silent against the Yettinahole
or Netravathi Diversion Project? There
were protests against the project by some
organizations a few months back, but not
now. People of the district known for their
intelligence and enterprise, have
surprisingly chosen to remain tightlipped.
ALAN RESQUINHA, Mangaluru
nThe Mangalore Today Editorial The
Land Trouble has pinpointed a matter of
great concern. The Union Government is
overzealous to go ahead with the Land
Acquisition Act which many feel is
arbitrary. The land owner has no say as
the consent clause has vanished. In a
democracy, the absence of the consent
clause while acquisition can never be
accepted. The passing of the Act in its
present form would mean the common man
and the farmer will have no say when any
company wants to acquire his land for any
project.
JAYAKAR BHAT, Mangaluru
nThe pristine beaches of Mangaluru are
a tourist attraction. People not only from
the city but also tourists from various parts
of the city and the state visit these beaches
and enjoy the beauty of the mighty waves
and the picturesque land scape. But it is
6
here have virtually forgotten about the

project and also to protest against it,
barring a couple of organizations which
are continuing their fight.
DINESH PAI, Mangaluru
nThe Mangalore Today Cover Story on

Yettinahole Project certainly is a reminder
to the people of the district to fight against
a project that may destroy their lifeline. It
is nothing but a surprise that the people
nThere is no doubt that Yettinahole

Project would spell disaster and doom
for DK District apart from gravely
affecting the Western Ghats one of the
ecological hotspots of the world.
Diverting the course of a river is nothing
but going against Nature. Man has
already been forced to bear the brunt
for wreaking havoc on nature. Its time
the Govt shelved this disastrous project.
KEITH LOBO, Mangaluru
indeed sad to know that the casuarine

groves adjoining the beaches have of late
turned into a party spot for merry makers.
The piles of bottles which some cleanliness
activists have gathered only presents a grim
picture. Beaches are becoming a haven
for merry makers who come, have fun
and then vanish from the scene littering
the entire beach. Where are our
authorities?
VASUDEV SHENOY, Mangaluru
nFr Joseph Vaz who was canonized by

the Pope in Srilanka recently is always
revered by the faithful in the district. The
hills at Mudipu where his shrine is located
is also known as Miracle Hill as Fr Joseph
Vaz now Blessed Joseph Vaz is said to
have performed many miracles there. I J
Saldanha Shet has wonderfully presented
the saga of the first Konkani Saint of the
Church.
PHILOMINA PINTO, Mangaluru
nThanks to Mangalore Today for giving

an insight into the lives and achievements
of two outstanding lady entrepreneurs from
the region - Vidya Ramachandran and
Shantha Martin. Both are shining
examples of women entrepreneurship and
have proved that provided will power and
determination women folk can achieve
anything. Youngsters need to derive
inspiration from them.
DURGA PRASAD, Mangaluru
nThe present generation has to learn a lot

from a youngster like Sachin Bhandari
who is on a novel mission of learning
while travelling. Many of us might have
never thought of learning something new
whenever we travelled to a new city or a
new nation. But Sachin has thought
differently and is on a great learning
mission. The society must appreciate his
mission.
ARVIND NAYAK, Mangaluru
HOT PROPERTIES IN MANGALORE

8 CENTS land for sale
in Kodialguthu,
Mangalore
Rs. 20 Lacs per cent
50 Cents land for

sale in Mannaguda
(Near Ladyhill)
Rs. 40 Lacs per cent
4 cents in Kavoor,
and 5 Cents land in
Akashbhavan
Rs. 5.5 lacs per cent
CONTACT: 95915 20629 / 98455 24558

PICTURE OF THE MONTH
POWERPOINT
Change of Guard: Smiles all over as outgoing mayor Mahabala Maarla congratulates newly elected Mayor
Jacintha Vijay Alfred in the presence of several party men. Let the Smiles last forever and let them bring Smile on the
faces of Mangalureans solving citys longstanding woes.
WORDSWORTH
What happened to Nirbhaya

in Delhi was happening to
Dalit women in rural India on
a daily basis. We are silent
when it comes to the
powerless and vulnerable,
Olga, Telugu writer & womens activist at a conference of women writers at Mangalore University.
Tourism should go hand in

hand with hospitality.
Unfortunately, hospitality in
many tourist spots in India is
not up to the mark and lacks
professionalism,
Prof. K Bhyrappa, VC,Mangalore University at
a national seminar on Advanced Innovations
in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Government is working
towards a better climate
prediction system and
studying the consequences
of climatic changes in a more
systematic manner,
Dr Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Union
Ministry of Earth Sciences atICWRCOE2015 held at NITK-Suratkal.
Swachch Bharat can be

achieved only by eradicating
corruption, communalism and
terrorism which are a
hindrance to the development
of the country,
Roy Castelino, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya
Academy President at the inaugural of a
Childrens Fest organized by Bharat Seva Dal.
Local governance should be

given additional powers
incorporating decision-making
process,
Savitha Shivaram Kotian, Zilla Panchayat
President at a seminar on Draft of amendments
to Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, 1993.
7
EDIT
ORIAL
DITORIAL
The ugly vigilante attacks

The fringe groups are creating a communal divide with a deliberate intention of disrupting
peace in a district which was known for peace but has turned out to be
communally sensitive in the recent few years
The coastal city of Mangaluru
and its outskirts seem to be
embroiled in a turmoil of sorts.
There is some amount of panic.
Young boys and girls studying in
various educational institutions have
a sense of insecurity and an
unknown fear. A fear that is
triggered by a spate of untoward
incidents- moral policing acts by
self-styled vigilante groups which
consider themselves to be saviours
of their particular religion.
First, it was the case involving
a few students of a college in Suratkal
whose photo wherein a boy was lying on
the lap of five girls seated on a bench,
went viral on social messaging site
Whatsapp. What added fuel to fire was
that the girl students were Hindus and
the boy on their laps was a Muslim,
though religion never came in the minds
of the students in their act of Mere fun
in the college premises. Though the
college suspended the students seen in the
photo, a vigilante group targeted one
particular student who was seen in the
photo and assaulted him. The controversy
however subsided after the college
revoked the suspension of the students
after majority students of the institution
stood in support of them.
It is undeniable that religion never
comes in the minds of the young students
both boys and girls who study in various
institutions in the city known as the
educational hub. Then why target students
and divide them on communal lines
through moral policing incidents? There
have been umpteen cases when self-styled
activists have attacked and manhandled
young pairs found in beaches, whenever
it was found that they belonged to
different communities. Though some such

cases are reported, many go unreported.
The latest incident to the tally was
reported from Mudipu in the outskirts of
the city when students of a local
Government College who were travelling
in a bus on an excursion were accosted
and forced to cancel the tour organised
by the College management. The bus
bore the brunt of the vigilante group
merely because the students who were
going on tour included both Hindus and
Muslims. Even four teachers were part
of the tour to ensure safety of students,
but that is immaterial for the moral
policemen who do not want boys and girls
of different communities to mingle. A
primitive mindset in this modern age?
Though one may scoff at this, it is true
that such incidents are taking place in a
city which is known for its intelligent and
enterprising populace.
But there are many who contend that
the moral policemen have at times saved
many innocent youngsters who would
have otherwise fallen prey to
unscrupulous elements. Ever since the
BJP came to power for the first time in
Karnataka in 2008, the district was
described as the Hindutva lab of the Sangh
Parivar and as if to substantiate this

there was the infamous pub attack,
the home stay attack and the spate
of church attacks that left the image
of the district dented forever.
The developments in the recent
past are disturbing and a matter
of great concern. What is more
disturbing is that most untoward
incidents reported are taking
communal overtones resulting in
tension and a difficult situation for
the police to handle. At times one
is also forced to think if even the
common man has come to terms with such
ugly acts or else these anti-social elements
would have never dared to raise their
heads again.
Meanwhile the rise of Muslim
fundamentalism too on lines of Hindu
fundamentalism in the recent past also
cannot be undermined.
Though the Chief Minister as well as
the Police Department have time and
again assured to deal moral policing with
an iron hand, the bitter truth is that never
there has been concerted action to crack
down the vigilante groups which consider
it their right to target anyone who is doing
a wrong according to them. City Police
Commissioner S Murugan has already
said that stern action would follow against
those resorting to unlawful acts in the
name of moral policing. But such
incidents are continuing to take place
almost on a daily basis.
When will this ugly culture of moral
policing end in a civilized society? Why
is a communal divide created with a
deliberate intention of disrupting peace
in a district which has turned out to be
communally sensitive in the recent few
years? Questions remain unanswered.n
CITYPOLITIX
Land Dispute
Remembering Garibi Hatao!
Believe it or, a Land Dispute is raging

between the BJP led Centre and the
opposition parties including the Congress.
It indeed is a dispute over Land, to be
precise the controversial Land
Acquisition Act proposed by the BJP
Government. The Ruling Party says the
Act is in the interests of the farmers, while
Opposition says its in the interests of the
Corporates. Whom should the lay man
believe? None, says an enlightened voter.
Politicians irrespective of party affiliations
are known to lock horns publicly and
rub shoulders otherwise. They all belong
to the same clan, believe none, says
another voter. No doubt, the Land
Acquisition Act is controversial as the
consent clause is now missing. Still the
BJP argues its in the interests of farmers.
Any takers for this argument? Nonetheless
the issue has given a tool in the hands of
the toothless opposition, comments
another voter.
Senior Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary turned

nostalgic recently when he remembered his favourite leader,
none other than the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The
credit must of course go to CM Siddaramaiah. But for him,
Poojary would not have reminisced the famous Garibi Hatao
campaign of the late PM.
The Congress stalwart while showering praises on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
over the State Budget for 2015-16, raised eyebrows when he said I am reminded of
the bygone Indira Gandhi era. But why? Poojary has an answer for that too. He
says CM Siddus scheme reminded him of Garibi Hatao campaign of the late Prime
Minister. The Congress leader sprang another surprise by saying that CM Siddu
was following Indira Gandhis footsteps by waging war against poverty. But how?
The free rice to BPL card holders, a first of its kind scheme by any state had
inspired Poojary to draw comparisons between Siddus and the late PM Indira Gandhis
rule. Many Congressmen smilingly nodded heads to the comparison.
Waste Matters
The Intelligent and Civic Conscious people of Mangaluru are still not used to the
new door to door waste collection system introduced in all the 60 wards of
MCC. If that was not the case one couldnt have spotted the overflowing garbage
bins and heaps of rotting wastes on some roadsides. An ambitious project but
not so enthusiastic response!, quipped a senior citizen.
OFFTRACK
Broken Promise
Isnt it high time
Mangalureans lodged
Missing complaints with
the MCC? The much
needed and vital
Footpaths are either
missing or in bad shape on
many roads. The erstwhile
mayor Mahabala Maarla
soon after taking charge, had
promised construction of
footpaths wherever they are
lacking. But, nothing much
happened. The new Mayor
Jacintha Alfred too has made
a similar promise. Will she
keep up her words?
PIC: PRASHANTH NAYAK
DK DIAR
Y
IARY
Gregory Patrao gives up

fight, lets land for MRPL
Gregory Patrao, agriculturist from Kalavaru village in

Surathkal, whose name hit headlines about five years ago after
he was defiant and disallowed acquisition of his 14.27 acre of
land for the MRPL by the KIADB, has finally given up.
It may be mentioned here that it was in April 2010 that the
ancestral home of Patrao and the standing crops in his field
were razed by a team of KIADB officials amid police protection
for Phase III of MRPL. However, a defiant Patrao and his family
stayed at the same place in a temporary shelter.
Though Patrao since then had waged several protests, he
had finally withdrawn his stir after the then CM Yeddyurappa
assured justice, but in vain. However his fight has given him
higher compensation as it was fixed as per the land rates of 2006
instead of 1996. The recent High Court order on February 10,
2015 had directed Patrao and six others of his family to vacate
the land by March 10.
Irked by low wages, he

stoned the Panir shrine
A person named Ananda
(30) from Ukkuda in Kinya
has
been
arrested by the
police
on
charges
of
stoning the St
Joseph Vaz
prayer centre
at Panir. The glass enclosure of the statue of Mother Mary and
Infant Jesus was damaged in the stoning reported on February
24 night.
What is more surprising in this case is that the accused has
reportedly confessed to the police that he was not happy with
the low wages he earned as a painter at the shrine and that
instigated him to resort to stoning.
City Police Commissioner S Murugan said interrogations
of the accused revealed that he used to work as a painter for the
church earlier and had quit the job due to low pay. The
Commissioner said the accused hurled stones towards the shrine
on February 24 under the influence of alcohol while sitting at
the graveyard close by the prayer centre.
Complex surgery by Unity doctors saves arm of 10 yr old

A team of doctors at the Unity Health
Complex, led by Dr Jalaluddin Akbar
has performed a rare and complex
surgery to save the arm of a ten year old
girl suffering from cancer of the right
arm bone. The surgery which lasted for
12 hours was the first such surgery
performed in the region.
Earlier, the patient was presented
before the Mangalore Institute of
Oncology whose Tumor Board decided
to perform the complex surgery. The
complex procedure involved the removal
of the bone and joint of the right arm
and reconstruction of the same by taking
one of the bone from the leg of the
patient.
Dr Jalaluddin said the well equipped
state of the art operation theatre in the
Unity Health Complex facilitated in
10
conducting the operation. Continuing,

he said in case of this patient, her arm
has been saved and this is possible when
patients approach the doctors at an early
stage. The team of doctors who assisted
Dr Jalaluddin in this complex procedure
are Dr Suresh, Dr Imthiaz, Dr Dinesh
Kadam and Dr Mahendra Ullal.
DK DIAR
Y
IARY
Techie Prabhas tragic death

leaves pall of gloom in Amtoor
A pall of gloom still descends Amtoor,

a village near Kalladka in Bantwal taluk.
The villagers including the family of
Mahabala Shetty, Sarojini couple are still
not unable to recover from the shock of
the tragic death of their 41 year old
daughter Prabha Arun Kumar. Prabha,

an IT consultant with MindTree and
working in Sydney, Australia was stabbed
to death by unidentified assailants at
Paramatta Park, Sydney while she was
returning home from office on March 7.
Prabha was in Australia on a three

year assignment and was scheduled to
return in April. But fate had different
plans for her. Her husband Arun Kumar
and 10 year old daughter Meghana stayed
in Bengaluru.
Prabhas mortal remains which were
brought to Mangaluru Airport by a
special flight from Bengaluru, were later
taken to Amtoor by an ambulance.
Several dignitaries including DK
District in-charge Minister Ramanatha
Rai, Health Minister UT Khader, MLC
Ivan D'Souza, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel,
MLAs Mohiuddeen Bava, Shakuntala
Shetty, former minister Nagaraj Shetty
and others paid their last respects to the
departed soul. Hundreds of people also
paid homage to Prabha who met an
untimely death.
Officials from MindTree in Australia
and Bengaluru were also present at the
funeral.
Unfulfilled promises
of former mayor
Cops arrest woman
Mangalurus erstwhile mayor Mahabala

Maarla who recently handed over charge to
the new incumbent Jacintha Vijay Alfred, will
always have a regret of not fulfilling several
of the promises made by him while assuming
office in March last year.
One of the major assurances - to computerise MCC
operations, is not yet a reality, though Maarla shortly before
handing over charge said the work has been entrusted to
KEONICS and that its officials had visited the MCC office for
a study on the requirements for computerisation.
Maarla had proposed to computerise all works pertaining to
issuing building, trade licences, water billing, property tax at a
cost of Rs 3.44. However, he promises that the computerisation
of MCC operations would be a reality within the five year tenure
of the Congress rule.
Another promise of Maarla was to install digital water meters
for industries, apartments and commercial complexes. Though
even this has not yet been fulfilled, Maarla says the meters are
ready for installation and the plan would be implemented in the
next few days. Even an assurance to hold water adalats has met
with the same fate, while the ward committees too have not been
constituted.
In an interesting case
wherein it has been alleged
that a woman had produced
fake divorce decree to the
First Additional Civil Judges
Court in Mangaluru, the
police have arrested the
woman in the city recently.
The accused is Gladys
Almeida (40) who claimed to be the second wife of Everest
Pereira. The arrest followed a complaint filed by the Shirastedar
of Principal Civil Judge Court Shivakumara Swamy. As per
the complaint, Gladys had submitted the fake divorce decree
before the court to prove that Everest Pereira to whom property
worth several crores belonged to had divorced his first wife
Carmeline Pereira. The alleged fake divorce decree was
produced before the court after Carmeline Pereira staked claim
over the property of her deceased husband.
The Court which looked into the petition filed by Carmeline
found that no order granting divorce to Carmeline from her
husband Everest had been issued. The Court also found that
the seals and signatures found in the alleged fake divorce decree
were not that of the court.
Fake divorce decree case:
11
COL
UMN
OLUMN
IN BLACK
&
WHITE
Prof. NARENDRA NAYAK
The superstitions of the

great Indian middle class
The top superstition of the middle class is that their beliefs are the most rational ones with the
capacity to change everything, opines Prof. Narendra Nayak.
HILE THE TERMINOLOGY

that I have used may sound
sarcastic, it would be an
attempt for introspection as the one who
has written and those who read all belong
to this category! While the population of
our country itself is huge the large group
of people who can be said to constitute
the middle class- that is who do not fall
into the category of 1% of the super rich
or that of the ultra poor who may
constitute 40%, those who fall in the
middle of the either- are we the middle
class who are the most vocal,
cantankerous, argumentative and
probably the most superstitious too! Well,
Amartya Sens term the Argumentative
Indian must have been coined with us in
mind! Let me also add that we have also
been at the forefront of many of the
struggles for justice and movements for
change. On one hand we snigger at the
economically backward people who are
struggling for their livelihood with their
12
own low class superstitions like going

to the local witch doctor for treatment
to sacrificing the occasional poultry or a
goat for the blood thirsty local goddess
to the gurus of the rich, our own ones
are conveniently ignored or rationalized.
This is an attempt at change- which is
very much needed if we are to become a
humanistic society based on respect for
human rights. While the term human
rights may sound like the latest fetish of
the West, an egalitarian society needs
human rights for all and the greatest
violators of these are the superstitions.
The top superstition of the middle
class is that their beliefs are the most
rational ones with the capacity to change
everything. The foremost among them
is the faith in a messiah who is idolized
to the point of hero worship or even
formation of a cult- it could be any one
from a man with a muffler who promises
to solve problems of all to a bearded
contortionist who promises solutions to
the problems of the middle aged! This class

has the superstitious belief that one such
would come, wave a magic wand and solve
the problems. They idolize such, carry
them to dizzying heights and then drop
them when the problems look like they
will not be solved! One would not like to
organise a movement or develop a system
to solve these problems in a systematic
organized accountable manner but look
up to a single person to do that and as it is
wont to, the individual fails to be dropped
like the proverbial hot potato. It has
happened many times in the past and is
likely to happen again in the future unless
this superstition can be overcome. We
need a systematic change and not
something which is expected to come from
the top like dropping from an individual.
This could also apply to those movements
against superstitions which should also
come from the grass roots and only when
this happens a change in the system as
such can happen.
COL
UMN
OLUMN
The glory of the past is another
superstition to which the middle class is
addicted. While the inferiority complex
brought on by the rule of the so called
decadent West has made us go back to
the glorious past in which rivers of milk
and honey flowed while gems were being
sold by the fistful on road sides! This is
conveniently forgetting the history that
all golden ages of history were eras
where human rights were trampled upon
to the most. In the absence of technology
and machinery, the construction of all the
surviving monuments of such ages were
built by the forced labour of a vast section
of the population who had to sacrifice
and today we have Prime ministers out

to revive these with papers being
presented in Indian Science congress
about such of course without the for any
practical demonstrations! Well if that is
demanded one can say that it is for the
future generations to rebuild the past and
restore the glory.
However, all the admiration of the
past glories will not prevent us from going
for the latest gadgets wherever they may
come from and they could all be used to
glorify the past. Any way, we owe no
apology to any one because all of them
originated here and were stolen later
without leaving a trace here except for
Prof. Narendra Nayak demonstrates a

ritual practised in the country
their human rights or rather were made

to do that by rulers who wallowed in
luxury. This apart, the fascination would
be for the golden eras of science and
technology of a bygone age when there
were aero planes capable of moving in
all directions and distances including
interplanetary travel. Medical technology
was advanced to a stage that heads of
elephants could be transplanted on to
humans, test tube babies grown to
maturity in pots of ghee and so on. There
is no evidence for this and none is sought
either- that it is mentioned in mythology
is more than sufficient! Well all this
wondrous scientific advancement became
extinct as miraculously as it had existed
oral traditions glorifying them! So, we

can use cell phones for pujas, internet
for live broadcast of rituals! As we all
see TV is liberally used to glorify our
ancient traditions and also to condemn
the very science that brought it into
existence in the first place. As I have been
saying again and again, the problem with
us is that of a sixteenth century mind set
superimposed on 21st century technology.
The mind set was not excusable in those
days as it now too, but at that time
superstitions took a long time to travel
by word of mouth. But, now due to the
onset of technology provided by
science(which is anathema to us) the same
can be done in minutes. That is why we
have the religious gurus condemning he

decadent west while having no
compunctions about using all the comforts
that it can provide. We invent new
supernatural beings and connected rituals
too. Things like Santoshi Maa Vrat,
Akshya Tritiya, Karwa chowth are a few
examples of these.
Another convenient approach is the
justification of some of the irrational
practices of the older generations with
pseudo science. Well marriage is to be
banned in the same gotras- because of
DNA! Yes genetics -though marriages can
happen between first cousins who are not
of the same gotra and then genetics does
not matter! A cousin on the paternal side
to a degree of n which may be more than
a hundred cannot be a spouse while a first
cousin on the matrimonial side or even a
brother of the mother can be a spouse in
some communities of the south! Yes caste
system can also be justified it was based
on occupation if it were to be so then
some Brahmins who are supposed to be
now working for Sulabh shouchalayas
could be now classified as dalits and hence
untouchable! Or some dalits be employed
as priests and called Brahmins afterwards?
Well that is for the middle class to decide.
But, one thing we can sure of is that the
middle class has another superstition that
the affirmative action or reservation. This
is supposed to bring down the standards
and probably cause the system to collapse
one fine morning! Well this is also
supposed to bring down standards in the
education system- though it is well known
that the system is dominated by the private
sector where the capacity to pay
determines who gets which degree!
Women and children are always the
worst victims of superstitions and the
middle class has to be conforming to that.
We have numerous malnourished women
keeping fasts for the well being of the
men while you will never find it the other
way- a man keeping it for the well being
of a woman! They are also held to be
incapable of handling finances, taking
decisions about whom to marry, what to
13
COL
UMN
OLUMN
wear and so on. While the income from
women is welcome, the right to take
independent decisions is not. The
thrusting of superstitions down the throats
of children is not a prerogative of the
middle class it is their privilege. While
some of them may be religion linked there
are a lot which may not be- we have brain
improvement courses, high proteinvitamin enriched foods, things like yoga
and pranayama etc. Many a time the
practices are forced upon the children.
Here we have to also mention the
enforcement of the religious beliefs of the
parents on the children.
The uncertainties of the future are
always weighing heavy on the minds of
the middle class, so resort to astrologers,
palmists, sooth sayers and people of their
ilk is inevitable. Again, the belief in their
particular godman or whoever it is not a
superstition, those of the others is! Theirs
is infallible and once he/she turns out to
be not so, they go to the next telling all
concerned that the present one is the best.
This cycle goes on some times for
generations.
We could take a look at the health

related superstitions too. While for acute
diseases they would not resort to quackery
for chronic diseases, superstitions will
play a heavy role. We are always in
search for cures for the life style related
diseases- while hypertension, diabetes,
obesity are common, those who promise
ready cures for these are at hand to exploit
the superstitious mind sets. There are
promises of ready cures without involving
any rigorous exercises or dieting- a few
magical asanas, a panacea to be drunk, a
powder to be eaten, a mantra to be uttered
which prey on the middle class making
use of their superstitions. There are so
called therapies without a shred of
evidence and superstitions like
homeopathy, various therapies like music,
color, Reiki, pranic healing thrive making
use of the gullibility of the middle class.
Superstitions do change too! For
example at one those who crossed the seas
were considered as excommunicated from
religions but are now welcomed every
where! Perhaps what they bring when
they come might have caused this change
or may be the presence of such in every

family. So, this shows that if really needed
we can get over the superstitions! Though
the individual superstitions do change the
mind set does not. The tragedy of our
nation is that we are a society in which a
twenty first century technology is
superimposed on a sixteenth century mind
set. Unless we change this we cannot
become a modern nation. Even the so
called external signs of modernity break
down when a strong enough challenge
comes. When that comes the whole setup collapses and we go back to our
primitive practices.
So, the message is simple -start
thinking rationally and reject all these
superstitions. All you will lose are your
chains of irrational bondage that prevent
you from progress-social, economic and
make you a better person in your
relationships.n
n 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
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COVER
ST
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ORY
As the pontiff enters his 90th year, setting a new record as the
longest serving head of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, devotees
celebrate his era of leading the community with grace,
divinity, scholarship and example.
SRIMAD SUDHINDRA
THIRTHA SWAMIJI
90
Saint
Supreme
By MAHESH NAYAK
and JAYASHREE SUDHIR
Photo Collection:
MANJU NEERESHWALLYA
with archival sources
COVER
AINTHOOD IS THE HIGHEST

stature one can attain in the world
of divinity. It is an exclusive
honour reserved only for those
who personify unimpeachable virtue.
That Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swami,
the 20th Pontiff of the Varanasi based
Shree Kashi Math Samsthan deserves this
lofty title is something that millions of
devotees will heartily agree with. Now
as he lives out his 90th year on this planet,
they have in fact decided to go a step
further to celebrate his era with befitting
pomp and gaiety.
The Navati Janma Mahotsav The
90th Birthday Celebrations - of Srimad
Sudhindra Thirtha Swami due to be
observed in the first week of April
promises to be an event of unprecedented
splendour for his devotees from among
the Gauda Saraswat Brahmin (GSB)
community. This community which has
strong roots in Mangalore has even
chartered an entire train to ferry the
revellers from the city on a 2774 km ride
to Haridwar in Uttarakhand for a tryst
with their beloved Guru Maharaj.
Though based at Varanasi, the
venerable swamis presence is most
powerfully felt in this part of the country
where the 5-million strong GSB
community is settled along the coastline
of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and
Kerala. Hence it is only natural that we
too join in the festivity with an in-depth
picturesque profile of the momentous life
and times of His Holiness Srimad
Sudhindra Thirtha Swami.
swami or spiritual preceptor the path

is cut short to only two stages: the first
and the last, the intermediate stages being
considered redundant. In practical terms,
it is like having to pass through the
spiritual equivalent of an interstellar
wormhole, for an innocent child to
transform into a supremely enlightened
being - the ultimate dimension of life.
Ernakulam on March 31, 1926, as the

fourth son of Draupadi and Ramdas
Shenoy, a trustee of the local GSB
community temple, young Sadashiv had
completed his schooling at St. Alberts
High School, Ernakulam. He was
learning for his intermediate class (I
group) at Maharajas College, with
Natural Science, Physics and Chemistry
With his Guru Sukrithindra Thirtha
INDU DHARMA PRESCRIBES

Ashrama system as the road map
for ideal living. This traditional
module identifies four stages of living:
Brahamacharaya (the bachelor-student),
Grahastha (the family man), Vanaprastha
(the retired elder) and Sanyasa (total
renunciation and detachment). Dutifully
observing these stages ensures a
systematic fulfilment of all our worldly
desires, hopes and expectations and
prepares one for attaining Moksha, the
final liberation of the soul. However for
those rare individuals who are born to
fulfil a different role in life that of a
ST
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ORY
It was such a brave journey that a

young boy of 18, called Sadashiv Shenoy
chose to undertake on May 24, 1944
when he accepted Sanyas standing waist
deep in the flowing waters of Shambhavi
river at Mulki, near Mangalore. Born at
as his subjects, when the call came from

the 500-year old pontifical order of Shree
Kashi Math Samsthan.
Tradition has it that the identity of
the successor is first revealed to the
Matadhipathi of Kashi Math in a dream.
A background check of the chosen one
is then rigorously done. It is mandatory
that his horoscope should indicate both
Sanyasayoga (destiny of asceticism) and
Rajayoga (destiny to be a king) as his
future role would embody both these
qualities. Srimad Sukrithindra Thirtha
Swami, the 19th Pontiff of the Samsthan
is said to have been very impressed with
the boys sense of devotion and
immediately decided to take him under
his wings.
After the Sanyas Sweekar ritual at
Mulky, Sadashiv Shenoy instantly
became Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha,
thereby forever relinquishing all his
worldly attachments. Then began an
extended period of rigorous religious
training in preparation for his future role.
As a disciple he underwent training in
Sanskrit and Dharmas Shastras at Sri
Bhuvanendra College, Karkala. Having
17
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Kashi Math Samsthan: The Supreme Edifice

The Kashi Math Samsthan is one of
the three religious seats of the GSB
community, the other two being Kaivalya
Math and Gokarna Parthagali Math.
Kashi Math was founded in 1541 AD by
Sri Vijayendra Thirtha Swamiji of
Kumbakonam Math who gave Deeksha
to the first pontiff, Srimad Yadavendra
Thirtha Swami.
Historians and research scholars of
Shree Kashi Math are of the view that
the Math was established at the instance
of the community members of Cochin.
Available evidence suggests that they
made a request to Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha,
the junior Swamiji of Sri Kumbakonam
Math to give sanyas deeksha to a
suitable Gowda Saraswat vatu to start
a religious seat of their own. As directed
by him they purchased a place in
Varanasi, built a Math and started a
pontifical lineage under the name of
Shree Kashi Math. He had selected
Varanasi as he was proceeding to
that pilgrimage centre after
concluding his Chaturmas in Cochin.
He also obtained approval and
recognition from his preceptor Sri
Surendra Tirtha as evidenced by a
copper plate inscription and
rayasapatram. History says that
Sri Kumbakonam Math gave two
idols of Lord Rama and Lord Vyasa
to Sri Yadavendra Thirtha along with
the rights to guide the GSB Samaj
in spiritual matters.
The second pontiff discovered
the idol of Lord Veda Vyasa in River
Ganga in the 17th century and this
idol is today the patron deity of the
math. Shiva Purana mentions that
Lord Shiva had requested Lord
Vishnu to assume Veda Vyasa avatar
to preserve and propagate the holy
word that is Vedas. Sri Adi
Shankaracharya worships him as
Lord
Vishnu
while
Sri
Madhwacharya giving his mantra
states that by worshipping Sri Vyasa
18
alone one will get all round knowledge.

According to Bhagawat Purana, Sri Veda
Vyasa is the seventeenth incarnation of
Lord Vishnu. He was born 5000 years
ago as the son of Parashara and Satyavati.
Vedavyasa recompiled the sacred texts
of the Vedas so that they might become
more easily understandable to men.
The Kashi Math Samsthan is
headquartered in Kashi or Varanasi and
owns 35 temples spread across India. The
imposing edifice of Shree Kashi Math
stands on Brahma Ghat of the River
Ganga in Varanasi. The Math is housed
in a spacious building and has about 110
rooms. A legend says that the Math was
RIGHT: The idol of Lord Vyas

Raghupathi, the Patron Deity
BOTTOM: Sri Vijayeendra Tirtha
of Sri Kumbakonam Math,
founder of Sri Kashi Math
constructed and gifted by the ruler of

Kashi to one of the seers of Shree Kashi
Math who resolved the problem of
sudden disappearance of the bangles kept
by the princess while taking a dip in
Ganga. Sri Kashi Math follows Dwaita
philosophy, which propounds that the
Soul is separate from Soul Supreme God.
The Math belongs to Vaishnava
Sampradaya that submits to the
supremacy of Lord Vishnu. Inside the
Math there are four small shrines in
which the following deities are installed
and worshipped: (1) Sri Rama installed
by 1st Guru, Srimad Yadavendra
Thirtha; (2) Sri Gopalkrishna installed
by 3rd Guru, Srimad
Upendra Thirtha; (3) Sri
Lakshmi Narasimha by 5th
Guru, Srimad Raghavendra
Thirtha; and (4) Sri Bindu
Madhava by the 7th Guru
Srimad
Madhavendra
Thirtha.
Srimad
Sudhindra
Thirtha undertook the
renovation of the original
Kashi Math at Varanasi in
1977 and in 2011 the
sanctum sanctorum of Lord
Narasimha was reconstructed and
Punar Pratishta performed by the
Swamiji. The seer also held his
Chaturmasa Vritha here in 1977 and
since then has made it a practice to
camp at Varanasi for a few days
every year.
A dormitory has also been built
for GSB pilgrims visiting Kashi.
Vrindavans (mausoleum shrines) of
earlier seers Upendra Thirtha,
Raghavendra Thirtha and Vishnu
Thirtha have been renovated.
The Samsthan building is
definitely a heritage site for all GSBs
and more so for Shree Kashi Math
followers. Every seer of the
Guruparampara has carved a name
among the saints of the GSB Samaj.
COVER
studied the Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad-Gita
and the Upanishads, he is also
acknowledged as a great scholar in
Dwaita philosophy propagated by Sri
Madhwacharya. His quest for knowledge
had surprised even his teachers.
Sudhindra Thirtha accompanied his
Guru to various places and received his
personal mentoring in his future
responsibilities and immersed himself in
the age old traditions of the Math. His
earnestness and willingness to learn won
him the love of his Guru.
When Sudhindra Thirtha was
informed of the deteriorating health of
his Guru in Kochi, he rushed to be at his
bedside. When Sukrathindra Swami
passed away in 1949 at Kochi, Sudhindra
Thirtha dutifully accepted his new role
and took over the reigns as the new
Matadhipathi of Shree Kashi Math
Samsthan. Since then he has been leading
the Samsthan and guiding the community
as a spiritual leader with great care and
devotion. Kindness, compassion,
generosity and farsightedness are the
hallmarks of his personality, which invite
the steady admiration of his followers.
ABOVE: The elaborate floral decoration of the

deity during pooja is a treat for the eyes of the
devotees.
RIGHT: Holy dip in the river Ganga with the
sacred idol of Vyas Raghupathi, the patron deity
of Shree Kashi Math
NLIKE THE RELAXED PACE

of life of laymen, the role of
the Matadhipathi is a very
demanding one. It is a 24x7 commitment
with no space for rest. Being a monk, he
is not privileged to permanent residence
and he has to be on the move visiting
town after town to meet and interact with
his followers. GSB community claims its
origins to the banks of the mythical river
Saraswati in north India. Thousands of
years ago, when this river dried up, the
community was forced to relocate to new
pastures. This resulted in mass migrations
from time to time, which finally
culminated in them settling along the
Konkan coast of Goa. But advent of the
Portuguese and their infamous Inquisition
once again put them on the move and
today they are widely scattered along the
west coast of India. It is perhaps due to
this historical reason that the GSB
community lays a premium on their faith
and in the institution of swami, whom
they fondly call Guru Maharaj.
ST
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ORY
In every town where GSBs are settled

in large numbers, a community temple
is built and the entire communitys social
life and cultural life revolves around this
temple. Independent of these temples are
the three Math Samsthans or pontifical
orders. Apart from Kashi Math, there
are also the Kaivalya Math and Gokarna
Parthagali Math, each headed by a
Matadhipathi. While allegiance to the
Maths is rather loose and all three Maths
are revered with equal devotion, Kashi
Math is more popular in Dakshina
Kannada and Kerala, while the other two
Maths have a larger following in Uttar
Kannada, Goa and southern Maharashtra.
Through glorifying this system of
community temples and Maths, the GSB
community has sought to preserve its

social and cultural identity.
Hence the swamis role in this
elaborate system is both unique and
paramount. Continuous mass contact and
engagement with devotees is essential for
the swami to remain connected with the
flock. Typically it is the swami who is
invited by the community leaders of the
different towns. The swami obliges them
by camping in the community temple for
a few days. An elaborate system of
protocols governs this entire process and
the swami is to be accorded the highest
respect by the laity on these visits. The
high point of the annual cycle is an
extended camp lasting for about two
months when the swami observes
Chaturmasa Vritham. The different
towns get into great competition with
each other for this honour.
For the great personal sacrifice made
by the individual in being head of the
Samsthan, the community reciprocates
with unquestioned devotion. The swami
is considered to be infallible and his
words are treated as the gospel truth. The
21
THE SPIRITUAL
TRAIL
A photo montage of various facets of Srimad Sudhindra
Thirtha Swamis life as a monk beginning with his
initiation into Sanyas - the life of an ascetic in the
waters of River Shambhavi at Mulky in 1944, to his
mentoring in spiritual life by his guru Srimad
Sukrithindra Swami and his gradual emergence as the
revered Matadhipathi of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan
COVER
ST
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ORY
A RARE OCCASION: Sudhinda Thirtha during a meeting of the swamis of the three
maths - Kashi Math, Kaivalya Math and Gokarna Parthagali Math
Matadhipathi of Kashi Math has the

bounden duty to perform Trikala Pooja
thrice a day prayer is offered to his
patron deity Vyasa Raghupathi. Apart
from this he has to regularly give spiritual
discourse and also give personal audience
to the devotees while he is camping in

the different temples. An austere life of
personal poverty and chastity along with
high intellectual and spiritual demands
are a part of the Swamis everyday
routine, a superhuman pursuit indeed.
N THE FINAL ANALYSIS THE role

of swami is a complex mix of being a
spiritual guide, a philosopher, an
inspiring community leader, a far-sighted
visionary, a communicator and a
compassionate healer. He is an icon, a
human institution and the glue that binds
people together, lifts them above the law
of averages and ennobles their living with
meaning and purpose. In his tenure
lasting the better part of the past seven
decades, Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha has
accurately understood this role and
steadfastly performed it to perfection,
keeping the community completely
focussed even amidst the chaotic
influences of modern times.
His reformist and progressive bent
of mind has shined forth in every quest
he has pursued. When Sudhindra Thirtha
Swami took over the reins of the
Samsthan in 1949, the financial position
of the Kashi Math was far from
satisfactory. Sri Sudhindra Thirtha who
WELFARE
ACTIVITIES
Sri Sudhindra Thirtha Swami has
spearheaded many welfare projects
aimed at overall community
development. The following are some
of the institutions run by him.
Shree Keshavendra Charitable
Trust: Was founded in 2009 to give
scholarships to students aspiring for
higher education.
Sri Kashi Math Welfare Fund: Was

instituted in Udupi in 1956 with the
objective of solving social and
economic problems of the community.
Sudhindra Medical Mission: Runs

a full-fledged hospital in Ernakulam.
Sukrathindra Oriental Research

Institute: Based at Ernakulam, this unit
is dedicated to conserving Sanskrit
language and has a good collection of
palmleaf manuscripts, a library and
research facilities.
Shri Bhuvanendra Balakashrama:

Was established at Basur in 1965 with
fifteen students. A second unit was started
by the Swamiji in Karkala in 1974 in
memory of his Guru to accommodate
more students. The third Balakashrama
in the name of Varadendra Thirtha was
later set up at Ernakulam.
Srinivas Nigamagama Patashala:

Situated at VT Road, Mangalore, it
grooms Brahmin children for priestly
profession by teaching them Sanskrit,
Hindu pooja rituals and Vedic studies.
Sri Bhuvanendra Kripaposhitha

Vridhashrama: A shelter for senior
citizens, disabled and destitute people
in Kochi, it accommodates 20 inmates.
In 2010 another similar old age home
was set up in Basrur.
Matha Sharada Nilaya: This

museum, established at Dahisar Shree
Kashi Math on 23 March, 2012, houses
ancient artefacts which were until then
scattered in different branch Maths.
Devotees can visit this museum during
specified visitor hours.
25
COVER
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Shree Vyasashrama: A Splendid Structure

Shree Vyasashrama, the venue for the 90th Birth Year
Celebration of Sri Sudhindra Thirtha, commemorates
Bhagavan Shree Vedavyas and is built at Haridwar on a 8.5
acre land under the initiative of the seer and as requested by
a senior community member, late Kudpi Srinivas Shenoy.
The Vyasashrama has an auditorium, Yatri Nivas and a
hospital in memory of seventh Guru Madhavendra Thirtha.
The clinic has outpatient facilities and also space to
accommodate 12 in-patients, a lab and x-ray unit. The hospital
is managed by Sri Vedavyasa Charitable Trust and offers
free food for a large number of sadhus who visit the place
daily. Visitors are offered breakfast, lunch and dinner. A
goshala for 50 cows has come up.
Since 1989 the seer has made it a point to visit the place
every year on the occasion of the Pratishta Vardanthi and
bless the devotees. In 2001 June, Srimad Sudhindra Thirtha
consecrated Sri Balavedavyasa Mandir at Kalpi, the
birthplace of Lord Shree Vedavyasa on a ten acre land.
was just 23 at that time, soon realised
that people paid little interest to religious
matters as the nation at that juncture was
greatly attracted towards Gandhian
ideologies. A determined Sudhindra
Thirtha made every possible effort to
encourage community members to
develop devotion. He kindled a
resurgence of interest in Dharma and
Dharmic issues. He travelled widely,
camped wherever his devotees invited
him and blessed them. When members
of the community prospered and
progressed in business and various fields
and when they achieved name and fame
across the globe, the seer ensured that
they maintained a strong bonding back
home. Devotees today agree in one voice
that all this was possible due to the
guidance of the revered swami.
Alongside, he also undertook great
expansion activities. If the Kashi Math
had only 13 branch Maths when he took
charge, the number has today risen to
35. Understanding the role played by
temples in spiritually uniting the
community, Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha
Swami, like his predecessors, has
performed installation or reinstallation
ceremonies in innumerable community
temples too.
RI SUDHINDRA THIRTHA
Swami also proved to be a good
organiser after he initiated the
concept of Grama Sabha in Kerala in
order to bring about amity among
members of the community at village
level and encouraged peoples
participation. Later he ensured formation
of committees at district and state level

and thus was instrumental in the
formation of a good organisation.
In another move he ensured
observance of Vasantha Maasa and
celebration of 15 day Vyasotsava which
gave the opportunity to temples in small
towns to organise the programmes. He
Sudhinda Thirtha with Sri Vishvesha Thirtha Swami of Sri Pejavar Math, Udupi and
Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala
27
COVER
tried to personally attend such
programmes and his visit has always
brought about a sense of unity among
members of the community and in turn
promoted amity and brotherhood.
Initially he used to camp at one shrine
for about 15 days, but later his popularity
rose so high that he reduced his days of
stay to four days so that he could accept
invitations to visit more places.
His small initiatives have also made
a big difference. Whenever the Swami
camped in a town, there was a tradition
wherein he offers Gandha Prasada to the
devotees. Gandha Prasada is first given
to the Managing Trustee, the Seva
offerers and then to the devotees. The
swami brought about a change to the
practice and began to first offer Prasada
to a senior member who is present at the
time of the Pooja, thus revealing his true
concern for the welfare of society.
Such programmes have helped in
bringing the temple, the Gurupeetha and
the community together. He blesses
every single devotee who approaches him
and his connect with the laity is amazing.
Gifted with a phenomenal memory and
sharp powers of observation, he is known
to astonish his devotees by correctly
recalling names and family antecedents.
His ability to interpret complex spiritual
concepts with simple metaphor never
fails to amaze the masses.
ESPITE THESE GOOD deeds,

the unthinkable happened in the
early 90s when for the first time
he had to endure the pain of betrayal. In
July 1989, Sudhindra Thirtha had
anointed a boy called Shivananda Pai as
his successor and given him the title of
Raghavendra Thirtha. In view of his
advanced age, he also gave him full
charge of the Math. This proved to be a
tragic mistake, as Raghavendra Thirtha
became rebellious and soon lost the
confidence of the people. It is said that
he was controlled by a coterie and his
audacious defiance of his own guru did
not go down well with the followers also.
The resulting acrimony threatened to
fracture the community and destroy the
institution itself.
ST
OR
Y
STOR
ORY
Sudhinda Thirtha with his disciple and future successor Pattashishya Srimad
Samyamindra Thirtha Swami
The matter ended up in court, where

thankfully, the ruling favoured Sudhindra
Thirtha. A 500-year old institution was
saved in the nick of time, but it was still
a long battle to recover the sacred
paraphernalia comprising 27 idols
including the holy idol of Vyas
Ragupathu. The delinquent disciple was
refusing to part with these, despite court
orders. Following the recovery of the
idols, a grand reinstallation ceremony
was organised in Mangalore to restore
faith in the deity. Meanwhile, on June
20, 2002, Sudhindra Thirtha anointed a
new successor Umesh Mallya, who was
rechristened Srimad Samyamindra
Thirtha and is now poised to succeed the
guru as the 21st Pontiff of the Samsthan.
The entire episode, though a dark
chapter in GSB history, earned further
admiration of the community for
Sudhindra Thirtha. For even in the
darkest hour, and at the ripe old age of
80, he had proved his great inner strength
to reinvent himself and rebuild the
institution from shambles. This singular
achievement will perhaps be seen as his
most glowing contribution to the
community, inspiring generations to
come. Like in all cases of true greatness,
adversity only elevated him to legend.
OW COMPLETING 90 YEARS
on 31st March, Sudhindra Thirtha
continues to guide the
community to tread the path of
righteousness. He has been heading the
community and guiding it for about five
generations. He has completed 71 years
of Sanyas Ashrama and 66 years as
Mathadipathi.
These are unique events in the
Samsthan. The first pontiff Yadavendra
Thirthas Sanyas Ashrama and
Mathadipathya was about 66-67 years.
Sudhindra Thirtha has already surpassed
that period in Sanyas Ashrama. The
second pontiff Keshavendra Thirthas
Mathadipathya was about 62 years which
has also been surpassed by Sudhindra
Thirtha. In another year, Sudhindra
Thirthas Mathadipathya would be 67
years surpassing all records in the Math.
This is indeed an occasion for the
community to rejoice. To this end, the
Navati Janma Mahotsav (90th Birthday
celebrations) will be held at Sri
Vyasashram, Haridwar from April 1 to
April 6. The celebration will include an
array of religious rituals, spiritual
engagements, festivity and gaiety, a
celebration which is a fitting tribute to
an exemplary soul. n
29
FEA
TURE
EATURE
Nun who lived in

Mangaluru -1870-72,
to be Canonized
(St). Mariam Baouardy to be canonized in Rome on
May 17, 2015; came to Mangaluru in 1870 as a
pioneer Cloistered Carmel Nun. It was in this our city
that she took the vows of the cloister. A reason to
celebrate that another who walked our soil is a saint,
writes hagiographer I J Saldanha-Shet
HROUGH MANY CENTURIES IN

and around Mangaluru, the historic
mosaic of cultures, languages and beliefs
have been in harmonious step with human
lives. The traditions point to a strong
educational base and simple living and high
thinking. In general terms, India since
ancient times has been saturated with sages
and saints; Kanara has a prime place share
too. Faiths and religions have moved hand
in hand in high secular principles of this
holy land, Christianity is prominent among
these. Recently, on January 14, 2015 we

saw a son of Goa, who served in and
around Mangaluru 1681-87 and thereafter
left to serve in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka),
was canonized a saint by Pope Francis in
Colombo Sri Lanka (see 'Mangaluru
Today' Feb.2015). A miracle on March
9, 2015, it was announced by the Vatican
and also relayed by the Cloistered convent
nuns at Kankanady cloister that one of their
pioneers, who also lived in Mangaluru
(1870 to 1872), Mariam Baouardy whose
St.Ann's Convent in
Rosario, Mangaluru, where
Mariam Baouardy lived
32
religious name was "Sr Mary of Jesus

Crucified", is to be canonized in Rome on
May 17, 2015. There is indeed much to
ponder that Mangaluru has this good
fortune to see two of it's former religious
residents to be declared saints in a span of
just a few months. Indeed it is a singularly
joyous event.
Several saintly people who have lived
in Mangaluru are little known, they are
from several communities. Among the
Catholics, few now in the race for
sainthood in the church who have been in
Mangaluru apart from St.Pope John Paul
II, who visited Mangaluru in 1986 and
canonized; is Mother Teresa of Kolkota.
Then Mangaluru's very own son,
Msgr.Raymond F C Mascarenhas (1875 -
FEA
TURE
EATURE
1960) from a well known local family, a
diocesan priest, who was the first parish
priest of Bendur, a great educationist,
social activist and founder of the Bethany
nuns of Bendur who now serve not only
all over India but also over seas, has been
a candidate (Servant of God) since 2008,
'Mangaluru Today' has significantly
covered these episodes and from other
back grounds too for it's readers.
A few people would be aware of a
unique and enigmatic French Arab Nun
who attained the 'Blessed' church title, the
final of the steps to full sainthood. She
lived in Mangaluru for two years 187072, a French citizen of Lebanese origin.
She is "Mariam Baouardy" her religious
name "Sr Mary of Jesus Crucified". In
1870 she came from France with a band
of Pioneer 'Carmelites' and lived in the
present Carmel Convent, St. Ann's,
between 'State Bank' the centre of the city
and Rosario Cathedral the oldest church
of the region. It is indeed a thrilling story
at this point in time, with her canonization
in sight.
pilgrimage to the birth place of Christ Bethlehem. She was orphaned even before
she was three and was adopted by relatives.
She gladly embraced many sufferings in
the orphaned life and developed a special
love for religion and holiness. The
Carmelite nuns out of love and concern
and admiration gave her work and shelter
and whatever education that was possible.
Her pious nature compelled the prioress
of the convent to admit her as a novice
nun and she was sent to Pau in France as
part of the initiation in May 1867. The
following year the then Bishop of
Mangaluru - Marie Ephrem OCD of
France (Who died in 1873, and is buried
LIFE HISTORY:
This holy mystic Mariam Baouardy,
of Lebanese origin by birth was born on
January 5,1846 in upper Galilee. It is said
she was born after her parents made a
The Cloistered Convent at Kankanady
in Rosario Cathedral Mangaluru), on his

visit there expressed his desire to have a
group of nuns come over and start work
on the West Coast of India. Obtaining
permission from Vatican, the Carmelites
mustered a pioneer group for the task.
Strangely the fervent novice Mariam
Baouardy was the youngest chosen for
this mission. Destiny thus directed her to
India and Mangaluru.
On November 19,1870 the courageous
group after a grueling journey of near 100
days landed at Mangaluru port, via Madras
(Chennai) and Calicut (Kozikode). The
rough voyage sadly took the lives of four
of the group which was not too unusual in
those times. Commencing their mission of
prayer, penance and work to call down
God's blessing on this region they took up
temporary shelter with the newly
established "Apostolic Carmel" convent
still flourishing not far from old port or
'Bunder' in Mangaluru city center. St.
Ann's convent as it is still called, near
Rosario Cathedral, was formerly the
barracks of the British military and later,
even when the convent opened the first
Post Office of Mangaluru was housed here.
The tiny room or cell where the holy nun
lived and prayed and the old oratory/chapel
where on November 21, 1871 she took
her first vows are treated as sacred and
preserved even today here. A memorial
pillar is preserved beside the small plant
that the saintly nun was often seen
meditating outside her cell.
Mariam took the name of "Sr Mary of
Jesus Crucified" and was often referred to
as the 'Little Arab' among her community.
On the day that she was accorded the habit
and the white veil at Pau in France,
Sr.Mary of Jesus Crucified, foretold her
sojourn in India, I received the holy habit
here, But it is in India that I shall
pronounce my vows. In the founding of
the Mangaluru Carmel a mystical story is
recorded in the documentation of
Sr.Mariam; it is seen she had role in
finding the Founder revealed as Belgian
Count George de Nedonchel. He was a
generous Catholic, who had mysteriously
33
FEA
TURE
EATURE
lost his 24 year old daughter a pious girlMatilda. Mariam it is said had strange
revelations of Matilda to approach her
father Count George , and it came to
pass that a letter sent to the Count by the
prioress on the instance of Sr. Mariam bore
fruit and the Count became the founder
of the Mangaluru Carmel contributing to
all expense of the voyages and later in
1880 the cloister at Kankanady
Comparing the holy nun's life with that
of St (Sr) Alphonsa of Kerala; many
similarities can be drawn. In keeping with
her vows, she was called upon to return to
France and left Mangaluru on September
23, 1972. After her return to Pau from
Mangaluru in 1872. She was instrumental
in resolving the constitutional uncertainty
that a new order Betharram Farthers'
were facng and thus she is reputed to be
a pioneer of this order of priests who now
have an institution at Bondel in Mangaluru
too. After an exemplary holy life in
Pau,France; she was sent to her mother
land where she laboured hard to establish
a large convent in Bethlehem, the place of
Christ's birth. She died at the young age
of 33 on August 26, 1879. The important
convent she founded in Bethlehem, reflects
her greatness today. Soon after her death
at the Bethlehem cloister her heart was
removed and certified by many priests and
nuns present are witness to it. It is
preserved in the cradle of the Carmel order
at Pau in France till today. Many miracles
are cited. She was declared "Blessed" , a
the final step before sainthood, on
November 13,1983 at the Vatican. Her
life is often seen near in many ways to a
recent saint of Kerala origin, St (Sr)
Alphonsa. It is indeed a miracle that this
holy Bl Mariam, has succeeded in the strict
process of sainthood and the Vatican has
announced her 'Canonization' in the
church to be raised to the alters on May
17, 2015.
THE PRESENT:
Time changes traditions and
perspectives and a lot more. The devout
of Mangaluru, particularly the young
34
student groups appear to have reason to

seek the intercession of Bl Mariam
Baouardy. Since, 1882 the Cloistered
Carmel Convent and Sacred Heart Chapel
at the Kankanady Circle has been a
veritable land mark with Fr.Muller's
opposite. The majestic cloister a 'power
house' of prayer and meditation has
become a solace to the region. A grotto
like shrine, with a few spartan belongings
used by Bl.Mariam, was opened here on
August 28, 2002. For some years it has
been the practice that Eucharist and novena
is conducted every Wednesday at 5.30 pm,

for the devotees - many youth/students
from Fr.Muller's are regulars.
It is a credit to Mangaluru that holiness
of this caliber whatever the roots or creed,
inspires people for upliftment to the great
heights. Even in these modern times, the
prayerful contemplative nuns of Clisterd
Carmel are shut out from the world
voluntarily to Glorify God. Presently there
are 13 nuns at the Cloistered Convent in
bustling Kankanady. In India there are 34
convents of this order of nuns whose life
shuts out the world. They are preparing
with hopeful support for the big even - the
canonization of their pioneer Bl. Mariam.
They hope to publish an updated life of
the new saint and distribute relics, plans
will follow the generosity from all quarters,
they are wished well in their endevours.
The meaningful hymn that is sung here in
honour of this mystic saint plainly called
Mariam Baouardy, a part translated from
Konkani reads:
"Sister Mary of Jesus Crucified
- your name is beloved,
Who once among us in Mangaluru lived
- Becoming for us a treasure"
COMPILED: I J SALDANHA-SHET
PICTURESQUE
Dine while you Float!
Planning to enjoy a quiet dinner

with your loved ones amid natures
beauty? Then heres a golden
opportunity for you. Head straight
to Sultan Batheri. There awaits a
floating restaurant a Dhow in

the Gurupur River for you.
Welcome Aboard this Dhow
which can accommodate 200
guests on its two decks, the lower
deck an air conditioned one.

Enjoy a cruise from Sultan Batheri
to Gurupur dam in a speed boat
and then relish a sumptuous lunch
on board the Dhow. Will not that
be a great experience?
Charandas V Karkera, a partner
of this novel venture hopes the
new amenity in a serene area
would attract people. Karkera who
had earlier launched Cruise and
Dine at old port could not meet
with success owing to limited
guests and the fish smell in the
area.
He hopes the new venture
would not only attract tourists but
also Mangalureans to enjoy the
hospitality of the Dhow.n
A Thai House in Inna

Thailand is a land of beauty. The
beauty of this mesmerizing country
has been brought down to India in the
form of a Thai modeled log house at
Inna village. Named Sukanthai
which looks completely Thai, it is
derived from a few letters from the
names of its owners Sukanya,
Chandrakantha Rao and the name of
the village Inna. Sukanthai made of
Green Teak also has delicate carvings
at the entrance. The log house is
nestled in a sprawling 8.5 acre farm
of Rao named Praakruti Fruit
Orchard where he has grown
endemic and exotic varieties of fruits
from across the world.
Sukanthai was a dream come
true for Inna Chandrakantha Rao, a
mechanical engineering graduate
from NITK who had worked for
several top corporate companies
across the globe and wanted to lead
a retired life in his native village.
Thats not all, Rao wants to give back
to his native village which had
36
PIC: SATHISH IRA
nurtured him through programmes

aimed at helping rural children face
the competitive world boldly. The
income generated from the farm and
the lawn rented out for private
programmes goes to Advaitha
Bharathiya Community Development
and Education Trust (ABCDE Trust)
which holds special English tutorials
to Kannada medium students studying
in Inna and other nearby schools.n
PICTURESQUE
Light Company. Their lifes story is nothing short of any
reel life story. Their Lighting facility has contributed to the
success of several movies including Black and Saavaria
of Sanjay Leela Bansali and Ra-one of Shahrukh Khan
owned Red Chillies Entertainment. For that matter even the
Dharma Productions of Karan Johar or the Yashraj films, it
is the Shetty brothers who are much sought after. Its a
matter of great pride for the Shetty brothers that even the
famed Hollywood Cinematographer Steven Bastin consults
them on lighting matters.
Their company founded in 2001 shot to fame within a
few years and is in the Number 2 position among Lighting
Lighting
Success
Until a few years ago, they were ordinary light men who
worked behind the scenes for various Hindi movies. Today
they are the proud owners of a company that offers Lighting
facilities which play a crucial role behind the success of
many movies.
This is the interesting success story of the Shetty
brothers- Pradeep Shetty, Prakash J Shetty and Prashanth J
Shetty hailing from Kaup who own the Sri Ganesh Movie
Companies in Mumbai. If
Pradeep manages the business,
Prakash involves in lighting
design while Prashanth deals
with the technical aspects. The
three brothers thus make a
perfect combination. But success
has never carried them away and
the brothers are truly down-toearth and humble.n
A Nano Reward
Yes, it was indeed a Nano Reward,
to be precise a Reward in the form of a
Nano Twist of Tata Motors. To whom
and why? City based businessman
Varadaraj Kamalaksh Nayak has an
answer. It is he who gifted a Nano Twist
to each of his 12 most deserving
employees. Nayak, the Managing
Director of Ballscrews and Bearing, a
Pune based company which has a
manufacturing unit in the city is the
generous businessman who chose to
present a costly gift to his wealth
creators his employees
A great way to appreciate the
invaluable services of employees who
have been an integral part of his firm

and have helped him succeed. He has
shared the benefits of his profits with his
outstanding employees. . Certainly,

Kamalaksh Nayak is a class apart from
many of his tribe.n
37
TRIBUTE
Inimitable K.N.Tailor era ends

K.N. Tailor, a man of humble origin who shot to fame through his heart-touching,
entertaining and mesmerizing Tulu plays and films, also placed Tulu theatre and film
industry on a firm ground. Mangalore Today pays its heartfelt tributes to this versatile
dramatist and actor who passed away recently.
N TAILOR - Yes, this was the

name that struck a chord with
Tuluvas for almost over five decades.
Today K.N. Taylor, the legendary
veteran Tulu dramatist, actor and film
maker is no longer with us. But his works
are forever etched in the minds and
hearts of his innumerous fans and
admirers.
K.N.Tailor who passed away on
March 18 at the age of 76 following an
illness was a man for whom Tulu theatre
and films were far more dear than
anything else. His full name was
Kadandale Narayana Tailor, the last tag
to his name coming from his Tailoring
Profession- he owned a small tailoring
shop at Carstreet in Mangaluru which
he subsequently closed down later to
pursue his passion-theatre and films.
Some of his friends recall how he used
to knit stories even while pursuing
tailoring and narrate it before them.
Inspired by a friends suggestion, he later
founded the Sri Ganesha Nataka Sabha
in 1958 and soon presented plays that lent
a new dimension to Tulu Theatre industry.
People flocked to see Tailors plays and
were mesmerized.The Sabhas Bombaya
Kandane, Sainagaandla Satya Panla
and 15 other plays have seen over one
thousand shows. Some of his other
popular plays are Pudar Kenade,
Doctor Shanker, Tammale Arvattana
Kola, Yenan Badkere Budle, Sanyasi
Aape, Kaljigada Vishwanatha Meneka,
Indrana Aasti, Kalluda Dever,
Eerenla Nambodchi, Dever Korper
and Badaida Bangar.
Tailor made his foray into Tulu film
industry at at a young age of 19 in 1970
through the hit film Daareda Bodedi. His
38
another famous film Bisatti Babu even

won the third Best Film Award of the state
government for the year 1972-73. Some
of his other films are Pagetha Puge,
Yaan Sanyasi Aape, Yeru Maltina
Tappu, Tulunada Siri and Saviradorthi
Savithri. Bhagyavanthedi was his last
film. This film even won the Special Award
from the State Government. Tailor had
contributed a total of nine Tulu films.
He had won innumerous awards
including the Karnataka Rajyotsava
Award, The Tulu Sahitya Academy
Award, Sandesha Award and
Navabharatha Tulu Koota Awards. He
also won the Best Actor Award for his
role in the movie Yaan Sanyasi Aape.
To him goes the credit of taking a
team of Tulu theatre artistes to the Gulf
for the very first time. His style and
mannerisms and his moustache made him
famous as the Rajkumar of Tulu films.
Even the Kannada film icon Dr Rajkumar
had much appreciated the talents of

Tailor.
KN Tailor was a great personality
who always encouraged and introduced
talented artistes. Kannadas famed
actress Jayamala who shot to fame
through Tailors drama was later
introduced to Dr Rajkumar by Tailor
himself. Even actresses like Mamatha
Shenoy, Sarojini Shetty, Ratnamala and
Hemalatha who worked in his plays and
films earned popularity.
Tailor always brought about novelty
in his dramas and films. Interestingly,
the screen play, dialogue and songs of
all the films in which he acted were his
own. To this great man goes the credit
of nurturing the Tulu theatre and film
industry. That he was felicitated at the
Indian Film Industrys Centenary held
at Chennai in 2013 was a great honour
for Tulu filmdom.
Despite his failing health in his last
few years, Tailor wanted to contribute
much to the Tulu film and Theatre
industry and even planned to celebrate
the 60th anniversary of his wedded life
and the 57th anniversary of Ganesha
Nataka Sabha in April this year.But fate
had something else in store.
Even another dream of Tailor to make
his last film Namma Bhagya a reality
did not succeed. Tailors first colour film
which was shot 25 years ago with Manjula
as the lead actress could not be competed.
He had aspired to complete it but never
succeeded.
KN.Tailor has left behind his wife, four
daughters and a son. The Tulu Theatre
and film industry will forever be indebted
to him for laying a strong and firm
foundation for it to prosper and progress.n
HAPPENINGS
Karnataka Bank launches e-lobby centre in M'luru

Karnataka Bank MD and CEO P
Jayaram Bhat said the bank would open
21 e-lobbies in the next financial year
across the country. He was speaking after
inaugurating e-lobby 24x7 centre, which
provides essential banking facilities such
as ATM, cash depositor, cheque depositor
and passbook printer, at Kodialbail.
He said the bank has already opened
three e-lobbies in Bengaluru. The number
of Karnataka Bank ATMs would reach
1,000 by March 31. The response of
customers is quite impressive to the
Alternative Delivery Channels. Out of 8.55
lakh transactions per day, the ratio of
manual and ADC is 67:33 at present. The
growth of ADC is good, he said.
Chief General Manager M S
Mahabaleshwara Bhat said that Karnataka
Bank has opened 75 branched in the year
2014-15, which is a record for the bank.

By launching e-lobby service, the bank has
made its products simple and more easily
accessible. It is proved that it is a first
generation bank with modern technology.
Manipal University former vice
Wenlock to soon have Janasanjeevini

generic medical centre
Former union minister Oscar Fernandes laid the foundation for the Janasanjeevini
Generic Medical Centre at the Government Wenlock Hospital in the city recently.
The Shraddhanjali Vehicle donated by the Sasvat and UT Fareed Foundation was
also inaugurated by Oscar on the occasion.
Oscar who spoke on the occasion said Wenlock Hospital has been a ray of hope
for the poor from not only the district but also outside districts.
State Health Minister UT Khader who was present as a chief guest said such
generic medical centres offering generic drugs will be opened in all districts within
the next three months. Generic medicines will be available at concessional rates at
these centres, he informed. The Minister also stated that Wenlock Hospital will soon
be equipped with better facilities including CT Scan and MRI.
JR Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru South, Mohiuddeen Bava, MLA of Mangaluru
North, Ivan DSouza, MLC, Rajeshwari Devi, District Medical Officer and several
others were present.
chancellor B M Hegde, AGM H B

Ravindranath Hande, Senior General
Manager Jayaram Hande, General
Managers Meera Arahna, Raghuram,
Raghavendra Bhat, Radha Ram Dorai of
FIS were present.
Balmatta-Bendorewell
Road to be named
after Blasius DSouza
JR Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru South
has informed that the State Government
has agreed to name the stretch of road
from the Balmatta Canara Bank Circle to
Karavali Circle at Bendorewell as Blasius
M DSouza Road in honour of the former
labour and law minister and Congress
leader. Lobo said the official
announcement regarding the naming of
the road is likely to be made soon. Blasius
DSouza who had served as District
Congress President for many years was
even Mangaluru City Council Member
and MLC. DSouza was also the Founder
of Mangaluru Wildlife Trust and
Governing Council Member of Fr Muller
Charitable Institution.
He further stated that the government
has decided to honour Blasius by naming
a road after him in recognition of his
services to the society. Lobo also thanked
the government, district administration as
well as all those who supported the cause.
41
HAPPENINGS
A spectacular
fashion show by
Special kids
The visually impaired children from
the Roman and Catherine Lobo School for
Blind and the differently-abled kids from
Saanidhya Special School won the hearts
of many at a fashion show named Walk
with Confidence organised especially for
them at Kadri Park recently. Mangaluru
Institute of Fashion Technology (MIFT)
and Mandev Educational and Charitable
Trust were the organisers of the event.
The participants also enacted various
traditional and folk characters like Koti
Chennaya. There was even a Pili Vesha
or tiger dance which too mesmerised the

gathering.
Earlier, Mahabala Maarla, former
mayor inaugurated the programme and
appreciated the efforts of the organisers
DC visits accident zone Nanthur

Junction; promises remedial measures
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim who recently visited the Nanthur Junction
which has turned into an accident zone in the recent past, has assured to initiate
remedial measures to curb accidents on the route. The DC was accompanied by
MCC Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati and other officials.
The visit comes in the wake of a gory road mishap at the junction recently which
claimed three lives and left three others injured.
The Deputy Commissioner who inspected the spot, later told reporters that there
was a need to have speed breakers to reduce the speed of vehicles. While admitting
that the rising accidents has been a cause of concern, the DC suggested that the bus
stop at Nanthur be shifted 100 meters away. While stating that it would only be a
temporary solution, the DC also informed about a proposal of the NHAI to upgrade
Nanthur junction at a cost of Rs 60 crore.
Uday Nayak, ACP (Traffic) informed that an under pass or a fly over can be a
permanent solution to the problem
Vishnuvardhan, DCP (Crime) and NHAI officials were present on the occasion.
42
in holding such an event which boosted

the morale of the special kids.
MG Hegde, Director of MIFT,
Chandralekha Gowda, Principal of MIFT
and Nagaraj Shetty were also present.
MP Nalin assures efforts

to redress problems of
cashew industry
Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar
Kateel has stressed the need for everyone
to work towards redressing the problems
faced by the cashew industry.
Speaking at the inaugural of the
platinum jubilee celebrations of Karnataka
Cashew Manufacturers Association
recently, the MP said reduction in cashew
production was a cause of concern as
cashew was a good foreign exchange
earner for the nation. He also assured all
out efforts on his part to redress the
problems of the industry.
B Rahul Kamath, President of the
Association sought enough encouragement
for cashew cultivation from the
government. A memorandum urging
drafting of a cashew policy among other
things was submitted to Ivan DSouza,
MLC by Walter DSouza, Chairman of
Platinum Jubilee Celebration Committee.
Speaking on the occasion, Walter said
the Association plans distribution of 60,000
cashew saplings to farmers in the state in
order to encourage cashew cultivation.
HAPPENINGS
AI pilots presence of
mind saves Russian
passengers life
A Russian passenger who suffered a
stroke mid-air while travelling in a
Tiruvananthapuram- Mumbai Air India
Express flight, was saved in the nick of
time after the alert pilot made an
emergency landing at the Mangaluru
International Airport.
The incident is learnt to have taken
place on February 24. The Russian
passenger named Artur Izotov (47) was
rushed to the hospital from the airport
where an ambulance and a doctor were
ready to attend on the patient.
Nagesh Shetty, Air India Station
Manager who had accompanied the
patient to the hospital, says the patient
who recovered in the hospital, later left
for Goa by the Matsyagandha Express.
Margaret Alva deplores disinterest

towards Womens Reservation Bill
The Womens Reservation Bill
seeking 33 per cent reservation for
women in assemblies and Parliament
could be a reality if the ruling party
pursued it with the same
determination with which it is
pursuing the Land Acquisition
(Amendment) Bill, opined Margaret
Alva, senior Congress leader and
former Governor of Uttarakhand,
Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Delivering the first Mother
Mary Aloysia AC Endowment
Lecture at St Agnes College here recently, Margaret Alva regretted that most men
parliamentarians never showed the keenness in the Bill. Though women Parliamentarians
constitute 12 per cent of the total MPs, that is still 21 per cent below the mark of 33 per
cent, she said.
Speaking about Mother Mary Aloysia, Margaret Alva said the principles advocated
by the great personality should serve as an inspiration to everyone. Margaret Alva was
also conferred the first Mother Mary Aloysia Award which is given to an Agnesian
who has outstanding performances to her credit.
Dr M Supriya AC, Principal of the College, Usha Fernandes, Vice President of St
Agnes Alumnae Association and others were present.
Special courts must

handle sexual assault
cases on priority
Education authorities
basis: Nanaiah
keeping strict eye on
MC Nanaiah, former law minister
and Chairman of Expert Committee admission procedure
looking into cases of sexual assaults in
the state, has observed that the Special in pvt schools
Courts should give priority to cases of
sexual assaults on women and children.
He said so while pointing out those
courts designated to try cases of sexual
assaults were also hearing cases pertaining
to other crimes like murder. He said the
same view was aired at a meeting of
public prosecutors held recently. He said
his committee would write to the
government as well as the High Court on
the issue very soon. The Committee led
by Nanaiah and other members even
spoke to representatives of womens
organizations which aired before the
committee the problems of victims of
sexual assault.
The District level Education

Regulation Authority led by Deputy
Commissioner AB Ibrahim will be strictly
monitoring the process of admission in
private schools for seats in pre-primary,
primary and high school sections.
The Commissioner of Department of
Public Instructions Mohammad Mohsin
has already directed all DDPIs and BEOs
to ensure that no school charges excessive
fees or violates norms during admission
procedure for the academic year 2015-16.
DDPI Walter DMello too says that
the Department would look into all
complaints and will act against those
schools which violate admission rules.
Another dam proposed

across Swarna River:
MLA Madhwaraj
Udupi MLA pramod Madhwaraj has
informed about the plans to construct a
second dam across River Swarna to
mitigate drinking water problem which the
temple town faced during summer.
The MLA said the proposal is to
construct the dam near Manipal End Point.
He also stated that a team of experts would
visit the spot to study the feasibility of the
project. Udupi presently has dams at Baje
and Shiroor which can store water enough
for 70 days for summer while the third
dam if constructed would supply water for
an additional 50 days.
He further informed that a sum of Rs
30 crore has been released for improving
drinking water facility in Udupi under the
KUSEMP Scheme.
43
HAPPENINGS
Surfing Championship
planned in city
The Surfing Federation Of India along
with Panambur Beach Tourism
Development Project will organise a
National Surfing and SUP Championship
at Panambur beach in May. Jonty Rhodes,
former South African cricketer and Hindi
star Sunil Shetty who are also keen in
surfing, are likely to attend the event as
guests, said Yathish Baikampady, CEO
of
Panambur Beach Tourism
Development Project.
The three-day championship at
Panambur Beach would be the first such
event in Karnataka and aims at promoting
beach and Surfing Tourism in the state.
Climate changes
need to be studied
systematically
The government is working towards
a better climate prediction system and to
study the consequences of climatic
changes in a more systematic manner,
said Dr Shailesh Nayak, Secretary of
the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
He was delivering the inaugural
address at an International Conference on
Water Resources, Coastal and Ocean
Engineering
(ICWRCOE-2015),
organised by Department of Applied
Mechanics and Hydraulics at NITK
Surathkal recently.
Nayak further stated that the Centre
has launched Mission Monsoon
programme towards improving rainfall
predictions and towards addressing the
challenge of seasonal and climate changes.
Water scarcity is turning out to be a
serious problem in coastal regions too.
Though desalinated sea water is being used
for industry, it is an expensive process,
he observed. A grave issue wherein
pesticide residue and other toxic wastes
are released to water needs to be tackled
as it would lead to health hazards, he
added.
44
Mangalurus Gujjarakere to be revived
Gujjarakere, one of Mangalurus ancient lakes would soon regain its last glory.
The lake would be revived by removing silt, constructing retention walls and
developing a park nearby, informed JR Lobo, MLA of Mangaluru South.
He was speaking after inaugurating the lake rejuvenation works recently. The
MLA informed that a sum of Rs one crore has been released for the lake rejuvenation
project. Though the project was once taken up earlier, it could not go ahead due to
financial problem, Lobo said.
It may be recalled here that residents of the area had been demanding since long
for the rejuvenation of the lake which has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes
for want of cleanliness. Locals had even formed a committee to fight for the cause.
Seat belts made mandatory for car

drivers; violators to be penalized
Deputy Commissioner AB
Ibrahim has said that seat belts
have been made mandatory for
all car drivers under the Motor
Vehicles act. The DC said such
a move was necessary to
safeguard the drivers as well as
the general public.
Presiding over a road safety meeting
held at the DC office auditorium said the
rule has to be strictly followed considering
the rising accidents in the city. He
further stated that though there is a rule
that seat belts have to be worn by drivers
while driving, many did not follow the
rules. He directed the police and the RTO
official to slap penalty on those violating
the rule. At the same time, the DC
suggested that it was advisable for bus
drivers too to wear seat belts.

Kantharaju,
Deputy
Commissioner of MCC said
speed breakers have been put up
in 31 places in the city as per
the instructions of the traffic
police.
MCC
Commissioner
Hephsiba Rani Korlapati suggested
suitable action against errant bus crew
for overloading the buses and even
harassing passengers.
On the complaints of absence of
footpaths as well as poor condition of
footpaths in some places, the MCC
Commissioner said necessary measures
would be taken after visiting the spot.
DCP Vishnuvardhan, RTO Afzal
Ahmed Khan and others were present.
HAPPENINGS
Enmakaje Pilichamundi
Nemotsava held with
traditional fervour
The historic Pilichamundi Nemotsava
of Enmakaje was held with traditional
fervour and passion at Enmakaje near
Perla in Kasargod district recently.
Enmakaje is the hometown of Sudhir
Kumar Shetty, President, UAE
Exchange. His family has been organizing
the festival since time immemorial.
Thousands of devotees from Seraje,
Poovanadka, Katukukke, Padre, Sheni
village of Enmakaje Panchayath area and
far and wide places like Kasaragod and
Mangaluru participated in the Nemotsava
and sought the blessings of Pilichamundi
Daiva and received Sirimudi Arasina
Prasada. Many devotees pleaded solace
with Pilichamundi (Shree Vishnu Murthy)
Daiva and Daiva offered words of wisdom
and blessed them all his invisible support
for them throughout their life.
Manjeshwara MLA Mr.P.B.Abdul
Razak, Ex MLA, Mr.Kunjambu, VHP
leader Prof.M.B.Puranik and many
eminent personalities were present and
sought the blessings of the Daiva.
The Nemotsava of Raktheshwari
and Parivara Daivas was also held with
much fanfare and grandeur as part of the
five-day religious festivities at the
Enmakaje Beedina Mane, once the
residence of Village Head.

The Nemotsava is performed in the
first week of March every year under the
headship of Enmakaje Vishwanath Rai
who represents the entire clan at all
functions and religious ceremonies.
Nemotsava became an annual event in
2004, when the temple, which was
destroyed in a fire in 1994, was
reconstructed under the support of Sudhir
Shetty and his family members. During
the course of the five-day event, meals
and refreshments are served to the guests
and locals.
Since times immemorial, Daivas of

Enmakaje used to be worshipped by many
Daiva Banas in Yenmakaje and
Bedrampalla in Kumbla-Perla road. This
used to be followed by Bedrampalla cock
fighting and fair for five days and was
one of the major festivals of the region.
However, things were not the same for a
few decades owing to rules and
regulations of the administration.
Villagers are now immensely happy
that the Pilichamundi and Parivara Daiva
Nemotsava being held every year in
grandeur.n
45
HERE
Youths bid to loot bank foiled

A youth who entered the Halladi Branch of
Syndicate Bank in Kota village and threatened
the manager at gun point demanding a cash of
Rs 5 lakh and gold, was somehow trapped by
the public and handed over to police recently.
The accused has been identified as Ajith
Shetty. Sources said the accused had earlier even
pointed towards a small button which he had and
threatened that the entire bank would explode if he
pressed the button. It has been gathered that he had
even placed a black gadget in one corner of the bank.
In the meantime, the manager pretending to direct the attender to get the key
managed to raise an alarm. The accused tried to escape and in the process hit straight
at the shutter door when the bank staff overpowered him.
A fake pistol, a bag and a sharp knife has been seized from him.
Peeping Tom trapped; 2 others flee

Police have arrested a Peeping Tom and are on the look out for two of his
accomplices who tried to peep through the bathroom window of the house of a
school teacher and then attempted to video record her bathing.
It is learnt the trio even threatened and tried to arrest the teachers maid who
happened to see them peeping. The arrested person is Gooli Shafii alias
Mohammad Shafi (30). The other accused are Addu alias Naushad and Unais
Madaka. Police are on the lookout for them.
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTR

OVERSY
CONTRO
Auto driver arrested for

derogatory FB posts
Youth lands in trouble over

anti-Christianity comments
A youth identified as Naveen K

Gowda(25), an autorickshaw driver from
Rekhya village near Enjira in Belthangady
taluk was arrested by the police recently
for allegedly spreading defamatory and
malicious messages through social sites
regarding Dharmasthala Temple and its
Dharmadhikari Dr D Veerendra
Heggade.
He used to reportedly post Whatsapp
and Facebook messages defaming the
Temple and the management. Police
investigations revealed that the messages
were sent through his cell phone. The
police acted after some people including
Dhanakeerthi Ariga and Rajendra Das
filed complaints. Sources said police are
searching for some more people likely to
have been involved in the act.
A Shivamogga youth was recently

arrested from Bengaluru for reportedly
posting abusive comments against
Christianity on Facebook. He was later
granted bail by the Second JMF Court in
Mangaluru.
The accused identified as Shriram(27)
had posted the comments on a newslink
on the local web portals FB page.
Christian leaders from the city had met
the Mangaluru Police Commissioner after
snapshots of the comments posted by
Shriram went viral. Subsequently, a
complaint was lodged with Pandeshwar
police. Soon after Shriram posted an
apology for his comment and even deleted
the abusive comment. It has been gathered
that he had made derogatory comments
even in the past.
46
AND THERE
Mysteriously
missing youth
traced
A youth from Belthangady named
Safwan (25) who was reported missing
from the Mumbai Airport on February 22
was traced a few days later by some people
of his hometown in Mumbai
Safwan who had left the airport on Feb.
22 had visited several railway stations in
Maharashtra and returned to Mumbai
when he was spotted by some people who
had seen his photo on social sites after news
of his going missing went viral.They
immediately contacted the youths family
and even informed the police.
Safwan who worked in Riyadh had
landed in Mumbai on February 22 but
went missing the same day though he was
supposed to take a connecting flight to
Mangaluru. CCTV footages showed him
moving out of the airport towards the
auto stand with just a hand bag.
Safwans father Aboobakker was shot
dead in Riyadh in October last year by
some unidentified men and the incident
had been great shock to Safwan who had
decided to return hometown as requested
by his mother.
Killer of parents gets lifer

The Additional District and
Sessions Court here has sentenced a
youth named Suresh Marakala to life
imprisonment for killing his parents.
The convict Suresh(29) is from
Honnekumbri in Heggunje village of
the taluk. The incident had taken place
on the afternoon of May 2, 2012 when
Suresh who grew angry when his
parents refused to give him money as
demanded, hacked them to death using
a wooden club when they were asleep.
He had then dumped the bodies in a
nearby cashew plantation.
Even in the past he had pestered
his parents Babi Marakalti (60) and
Heriya Marakala (65) for money.
OPINION
Banning India's
Daughter only
shows our lack of
self-confidence
The argument that Leslee Udwins
documentary India's Daughter should be
banned because she did not secure
permission from the Indian authorities for
commercial use of her work and because
she breached the conditions laid by the Tihar
jail authorities is outrageously silly. These
are peripheral technical matters with hardly
anything to do with the core issue. We know
that, dont we?
But we have to cook up clever excuses.
Leslees work makes us come face to face
with what we are most uncomfortable
dealing with: our own hypocrisy. At some
level we connect and subscribe to the idea
of social honour held dear by khap
panchayats, religious fundamentalists of all
denominations and even many political
leaders. We have to protect and defend the
collective honour come what may, the
individual be damned.
Thus while seeking a ban on the
documentary we ignore the fact that
Nibhayas parents, the people who matter
the most, and have been incredibly brave
in expressing themselves. We would ignore
that the lawyers for the accused come across
no better that the accused himself. Its not
easy to accept the courage of the victims
parents; its difficult to justify what the
lawyers said and its still more difficult to
let some outsider escape after making us
look ugly. So technicalities it has to be.
A ban does not mean much in a highly
connected world. If we thought it would
make us look better, smarter, we have
embarrassed ourselves thoroughly, both by
our poor understanding of technology and
That would have

taken us several
notches up in others
estimation. But we
have banned them
from being heard.
our eagerness to conceal what is public
knowledge already. In a perverse way, we
were trying to protect the criminal, the
criminal mentality that prevails in our
society. Lets see how.
Here's an example: A four-year-old kid
is sexually assaulted by her uncle at her
home. She is too immature to express it
before her parents. So it goes on. When
the matter finally comes to the knowledge
of the family a few years later, it tries to
hush the matter up. Isnt it embarrassing if
others know about it? So the uncle is asked
to stay away from the kid. Everything is
presumed to be normal. The matter is
buried. His crime goes unpunished. The
fact that he could do this to other kids too is
ignored. The young girl is left to live with
the mental scar for ever.
At schools and colleges, the
management would try to brush anything
uncomfortable under the carpet, so is the
case in work places. The dominant tendency
is to protect the reputation of the institution.
Exposing serious criminal acts within and
bringing the culprits to book, for some

strange reason, is not seen as appropriate
and judicious. The reputation of the
institution is bigger than that of the
individuals. It has to be protected. The
victim does not matter; it does not matter
that theres a problem at hand and that it
needs to be addressed.
At a higher level, the community frowns
upon any act it perceives to be in conflict
with its settled rules. It becomes a matter
of prestige of the community if its young
marry on their own, girls get educated
beyond a point and so on. It has to hush up
any act of supposed deviance, even if it
means killing people. The big concern, what
if other people come to know of it? Honour
killings occur because of this mindset. The
culprits in such cases are usually
unrepentant because theres social sanction
and acceptability behind such acts.
While defending the ban on Leslees
documentary we are responding to our
instinctive tendency to be secretive about
our weaknesses and inadequacies. Its also
a sign of a society low on self-confidence.
In fact, our confidence in ourselves is so
fragile that we believe a criminals views
on women and life would cause a serious
damage to our image. We dont see any
merit in supporting the courage of the
victims parents. The country should be
applauding them. That would have taken
us several notches up in others estimation.
But we have banned them from being heard.
Surely, we need to grow up. This
silliness has to stop.n
AKSHAYA MISHRA
47
LIFE
Manthan
in the Making
Who would have known then that Shyam,
who was possibly mentally enacting
Manthan in action in that gloomy cowshed
in those bygone days, would become one of
Indias greatest film-makers!
ho has not heard of the path-breaking, award

winning film Ankur which catapulted Shyam
Benegal to international fame! Though originally
considered an art film, it did brisk business at the box
office. Shabana Azmis popularity suddenly went up and
Anant Nag, the matinee idol of the Marathi stage, and later
of Kannada films, became hot property in Bollywood.
Manthan, another masterpiece on the world famous Amul
success story of co-operative venture, directed by Benegal, is
still considered one of its kind.
In each new venture of his, be it Mandi, Trikaal,
Nishant, Kalyug and many more, Benegal has tackled
topical themes. His latest on Subhash Chandra Bose has once
again become the topic of discussion among elite circles. But
these hoipolloi should be jealous of me because I rubbed
shoulders with the genius much before he bloomed - as a
boy-student eager to learn from Nature!
48
EXPERIENCE
It happened in Udupi in the late 40s, when I was a

student of the Board High School. Our annual exams were
just over and we were awaiting the results. Somehow, that
year there was no scope for a summer vacation either at
Karkala or at Golikatte alias Shankarnarayan as there were
no weddings or thread ceremonies among our relatives
residing there. It became routine for me to spend time in the
Municipal Library near Ramakrishna Theatre or walk further
to a small library run by Dr Pai at Diana Circle. My most
favourite magazine was Shankers Weekly. Not because it
had my name in part, but for the cartoons!
One morning, at breakfast, the topic of conversation was
the menu for the evening snacks, as we were to have some
guests from Calcutta - the Benegal family who had a kid
almost my age. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to
have appam (hoping it was not a common item in Calcutta),
Mysorepak (a sweet common in Karnataka), and plantain
wafers / chaklis. The option for coffee or tea was kept open
as both could be served at a few minutes notice.
The ladies got busy in the kitchen to prepare appams.
The special utensil needed for this unique item was got into
shape - washed, wiped and duly oiled. Then someone popped
the question: Where will we serve the snacks? We did not
have a dining table. The venue arrived at unanimously was
the main hall so that eating could be combined with an
exchange of views. I was told not to butt in during the ladies
conversation: I had done so once before and put them in an
awkward position!
Around 4 p.m., when I heard the screeching of the
compound gate opening synchronized with our dog Motis
barks, I was sure the guests had arrived. The house lady, my
aunt, the senior-most family member, welcomed the visitors
in the porch. During the exchange of pleasantries I learnt
that the name of the lady visitor was Saraswati, and that of
the boy, Shyam.
While the ladies were busy recalling their younger days,
Shyam appeared like a fish out of water. He was looking all
around, observing particularly the wooden beam overhead on
which hung huge pumpkins, ash gourds and cucumbers,
stored for rainy days.
By then I got a call to assist the team in the kitchen and
got busy cleaning the plates, arranging all the items in the
plates and putting them on serving trays. Copper tumblers
were filled with water. A small towel (I did not know the
word napkin then), duly folded, was kept ready.
When I reached the hall with the tray containing the
water tumblers, Shyam was missing! On request, I let out a
yell a la Tarzan to draw his attention. A few minutes passed,
with no response. Since our compound was fairly huge with
lots of trees, I was told to locate Shyam and fetch him as the
eatables were getting cold.
LIFE
I wondered what sort of a

funny city boy he was - one
who could sit in a cowshed
stinking with the odour of dung
and urine, repeatedly warding
off the onslaught of flies!
I was a little upset over the failure of the Tarzan call I
was famous for. It was reasonable to assume that Shyam
must be strolling as we had not planned playing hide-andseek. Our conversation had been limited to exchanging
names and the level of our studies. He had a different accent.
It was then that I heard of Rosogullas, the famous Bengali
sweet.
When even after 15 minutes of combing the entire
compound did not yield any result, I was really worried, as
our well did not have a high enough parapet.I rushed to it
only to find a few dry leaves floating in it.
It was then that I heard Yamuna, our cow, trying to draw
my attention. Without wasting time, I rushed towards the
shed where Yamuna was tied. Peeping in from the rear
entrance, I was greeted by a strange sight: Shyam sitting
engrossed in a corner, watching the newborn calf sucking its
mothers udder! Though I stood there for a couple of
minutes, Shyam was unaware of my presence. The level of
his concentration was so high. I wondered what sort of a
funny city boy he was - one who could sit in a cowshed
stinking with the odour of dung and urine, repeatedly
warding off the onslaught of flies!
Shyam, your mother is calling you, I said hesitantly.
Tell her I am busy here. I will join her later, he said,
without even lifting his head, his eyes glued to the scene,
observing acutely. I had no alternative but to beat a retreat,
feeling guilty like Menaka, the apsara who sought to disturb
the tapasya of Maharshi Vishwamitra!
On reporting to Shyams mother, she exclaimed, I dont
know what this boy is going to do when he grows up. He is
always like that. Yesterday he did the same thing in some
other compound, where coconuts were being plucked!
Who would have known then that Shyam, who was
possibly mentally enacting Manthan in
action in that gloomy cowshed in those
bygone days, would become one of Indias
greatest film-makers! n
By: S N SURKUND
The author of famous book Ad-ventures of a PR Man.
EXPERIENCE
Random Thoughts
Help
A man an avid Gardener saw a small Butterfly laying
few eggs in one of the pots in his garden. Since that day he
looked at the egg with ever growing curiosity and eagerness.
The egg started to move and shake a little. He was exited
to see a new life coming up right in front of his eyes. He
spent hours watching the egg now. The egg started to
expand and develop cracks.. A tiny head and antennae
started to come out ever so slowly. The man's excitement
knew no bounds. He got his magnifying glasses and sat to
watch the life and body of a pupa coming out. He saw the
struggle of the tender pupa and couldn't resist his urge to
"HELP".
He went and got a tender forceps to help the egg break,
a nip here a nip there to help the struggling life and the
pupa was out. The man was ecstatic! He waited now each
day for the pupa to grow and fly like a beautiful butterfly,
but alas that never happened. The larvae pupa had a
oversized head and kept crawling along in the pot for the
full 4 weeks and died!
Depressed the man went to his botanist friend and asked
the reason. His friend told him the struggle to break out of
the egg helps the larvae to send blood to its wings and the
head push helps the head to remain small so that the tender
wings can support it thru its 4 week life cycle. In his
eagerness to help, the man destroyed a beautiful life!
Struggles help all of us, that's why a wee bit of effort
goes a long way to develop our strength to face life's
difficulties! As parents, we sometimes go too far trying to
help and protect our kids from life's harsh realities and
disappointments. We don't want our kids to struggle like
we did.
Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Dan Kindlon says that overprotected children are more likely to struggle in
relationships and with challenges.
We're sending our kids the message that they're not
capable of helping themselves.
To quote clinical psychologist, Dr. Wendy's Moral: "It
is Our Job to prepare Our Children for the Road & Not
prepare the Road for Our Children"n
49
HUMOUR
TRUE
LIES
Air Hostess to passenger:
"Sir would you like to have dinner?"
Passenger: "What are the options?"
Air Hostess: "Yes and No."
amyukta - She was as beautiful as her

name. Her friends used to call her a
Princess and she was the Darling of her
family.Samyukta was equally brilliant in
her studies. A final year engineering
student she was busy preparing for exams
since the past one week. No cell phone,
No TV and No Friends was her rule. She
used to switch off her cell phone and
remain locked inside her room most of
the time during the day. She used to come
out only for breakfast, lunch and dinner
that too after her mother repeatedly calls
her.
As usual, Samyuktas room remained
locked from inside. Her mother, Kamala
called her daughter at least a dozen times
for lunch as it was already 2 pm. Initially,
she thought Samyukta might have fallen
asleep. But when repeated knocking at
the door of her room proved futile,
Kamala called her husband who was busy
watching TV. The two went outside the
house to peep through the window. There
was no sight of Samyukta inside the room.
They looked at the door, it was not locked
from inside. That answered their question.
Samyukta had locked the room from
outside and left somewhere.
The parents tried to contact her
through her cell phone but it was switched
off. They then telephoned all her friends
who said she had not contacted them since
50
a week.
Finally, Ratnaker approached the
nearest police station and filed a missing
complaint. Within half an hour, the local
station inspector was there along with
Ratnaker. The inspector enquired both
Ratnaker and Kamala. Where is
Samyukta? this one question haunted
them without any answers.
Suddenly, Ratnaker remembered
something. He recalled a day when
Samyukta had told him that she always
wished to go to a temple and read amid
calm surroundings. Ratnaker headed
towards the temple. As it was a special
day, there was huge rush. Ratnaker was
at a loss to find his daughter amidst the
huge crowd. Desperately he walked
towards home, when he heard someone
saying Papa, I am here. He turned
around, to his surprise, it was
Samyukta. Along with her was
Kamalas mother. Ratnaker looked at her
enquiringly, Papa, myself and granny
wanted to give you and mother a pleasant
surprise. Granny had decided to come to
our house, by breaking her own promise
of not visiting her daughter Kamalas
house just because she had a love
marriage 25 years ago. Ratnaker smiled
and they returned home smilingly. There
were tears of joy and unlimited hugs
between Kamala and her mother.n
Hammering the Point Home

A judge tells the defendant, Youre
charged with attacking your boss with
a hammer.
You jerk! yells a voice from the back
of the courtroom.
Youre also charged with attacking a
bartender with a hammer, says the
judge.
Jerrrrkkkk! bellows the same man.
Sir, says the judge, one more
outburst, and Ill charge you with
contempt.
Im sorry, Your Honor, says the
man. But Ive been this jerks neighbor
for ten years, and every time I asked to
borrow a hammer, he said he didnt
have one.
A military base commander called to
complain that the weather-forecasting
software company created for them kept
reporting unexplainable wind shifts.
Do you know where the sensor is
located? coworker asked.
Of course, he responded. Its where
we park the helicopters.
Inside a Best Buy store.
Customer: Can you help me? Im
looking for a shredder.
Coworker: We have all types of
shredders. What will you be shredding
primarily?
Customer: Collard greens.
Facebook Love
My ex and I had a very amicable
divorce. I know this because when I
wrote the Facebook status Im getting
a divorce, he was the first one to click
Like.
HUMOUR
ARIES (March 21 - April 20)
With bountiful Jupiter in your
creativity sector once again
harmonizing with Uranus in
your sign. You can more
easily see where excessive emotionality or
lack of confidence have been tripping you
up in the past, and you're seeking out new
avenues for self-expression. The last week
of the month, you feel stronger and more
comfortable in the spotlight.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)
This is a big month for
friendships, dear Taurus. It's
also strong, once again, for
behind the scenes activities and
your emotional/personal life. A secret or
past problem may be lifted, leading to a
sense of relief.A friendship may begin or
end.The 29-30 is beautiful for personal
charisma.Soul-searching is essential in
March and some important decision
making will need to wait.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)
Both your work and social life
are active and in focus this
month, dear Gemini. There can
be surprise encounters with old
schoolmates or friends. This is an
important time for joining groups and
sharing your ideas. You are finding your
voice in some way, and you readily inspire
others. From the 22-24, you're looking
good and others start listening closely.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23)
Your professional charisma is
brilliant in March, dear
Cancer, and there could be
social opportunities through
business events. Work having to do with
promotion, publishing, and marketing is
favorable with your especially creative flair
this month. You are both spirited and hardworking. Even so, there can be some
hurdles to jump.This is an important time
to think in terms of upgrades and advances,
especially when it comes to your practical
affairs, money, and career.
UCK
T
S
R
STA
LEO (July 24 - Aug 23)
In the first week of March,
look for ways to make
upgrades, improvements, and
advancements that enhance
your life, dear Leo. Review recent creative
or educational ventures and look for ways
to improve efficiency. March is about
freeing yourself from situations that limit
you, and these can be attitudes, living
conditions, or even relationships.
VIRGO (Aug 24 - Sept 23)
The first week of March brings
strong energy for physical and
psychological healing, dear
Virgo. Desires and interests are
piqued, unusual, and compelling. There
is a focus on the past but from a
progressive, positive angle. Family affairs,
work, health, and inner life or spiritual
development are all strengthening.
LIBRA (Sept 24 - Oct 23)
There can be a real feeling of
excitement in the first week of
March, dear Libra. Recent
plans and goals may need some
revision, but it's a process that you enjoy.
This process began in September and
continues until June. There may be some
challenges in your closest relationships
regardless of the feeling of moving forward.
SCORPIO (Oct 24 - Nov 22)
Pursuits related to your career
or work, finances, and health
can prosper in the first week
of March, dear Scorpio. It's a
time that favors thinking progressively, in
terms of upgrading, improving, inventing,
and innovating. You can be excited about
where things are headed.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23 - Dec 22)

March is strong for reinvigoration of your energy
and motivation levels, even if
there is some tendency to
withdraw and keep to yourself. The first
week of the month, there could be a
renewal of a resource or unexpected source
of income figuring strongly. The Solar
Eclipse on the 20th can bring powerful
new beginnings of major new long-term
projects and possibly family related affairs.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 23 - Jan. 20)
March can bring increased
motivation to pursue new plans
and the opening up of
opportunities in your personal
life, with family, and intimate
relationships, dear Capricorn. Some of you
could enjoy a financial boost, particularly
in the form of support or joint money and
resources. This is a time for thinking in
terms of progress and upgrades.
AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb. 19)
March is strong for mental
pursuits and challenges,
learning, and sharing, dear
Aquarius. You want to come
out a winner, and while there can be some
tension and possibly conflicts involved,
you're in an excellent position to really
take control of your life.Relationships can
open up.
PISCES (Feb. 20 - March 20)
There is general movement
towards better working
conditions or more suitable
work, dear Pisces, and in
March, you'll see some improvements,
with more to come later. This month and
next, you're working on your financial
situation. In fact, mid-March can bring a
confrontation that ends issues altogether.
The focus is on starting fresh this month.
Believe it or not, we are definitely

not responsible for your fate!
51
KIDS
YOUNG ACHIEVER
Aadya Shenoy
Karate Champion
PIC:SHANKARI POSAVANIKE
Sahana M. Shetty hailing from a remote village

called Moodupadukodi in Bantwal taluk has proved that
Indias villages have got talent. This outstanding
Karatekar, an eighth standard student of SVS High
School, Bantwal is the gold medalist in the 26-30 kg
sub-junior category at the N.K.F.I. Open International
Karate and Boxing Championship held at Pune recently.
A Black Belt holder at a very young age, she has
several gold medals to her credit and is now qualified to take part in an
International Karate Championship to be held in Bhutan.Daughter of Mohan
Shetty, Sahana is being coached by Nadeem and Sarfaraz of Shorine Ryu
Karate Association of Moodbidri.
Jataka Tales - Treasures of Wisdom

The Jataka is among the most
ancient story collections in human
history, dating to the time of the
Buddha, more than twenty-five hundred
years ago. While there are references
to the Buddha recollecting his previous
lives in the early texts of Theravada
Buddhism, the Jataka Tales are
generally considered to be reworkings
of Indian folklore. Preserved,
embellished, and transcribed by early
monks, they have been called "the laypersons entrance into the Buddhist
teachings."
According to folklore, Buddha often
recited stories from his past lives to
teach his disciples the right conduct of
life which came to be compiled as the
Jatakas. The Jatakas reflect the travails
and experiences that Buddha underwent
to attain the wisdom. They are
popularly believed to be pearls of
wisdom as they are supposed to be
from the mouth of the Buddha himself.
There are a number of forms of
Buddhism, including the Mahayana
Buddhism often practiced in China,
Vietnam and Korea; Zen or Chan
52
Buddhism that is often associated with

Japan; as well as Tibetan forms of
Buddhism. The Jatakas are not a
universal component of all forms of
Buddhism. They are primarily
associated with Theravada Buddhism,
which is today practiced predominantly
in Sir Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand,
Cambodia and Laos.
As of today, there are a total of 547

extant Jatakas arranged roughly by
increasing number of verses. But there
are indications that the actual number
of Jatakas could be 550. The
Kariyapitaka, another book of the Pali
Canon contains alternative versions of
some of the stories. A number of
individual stories can also be found
scattered around other books of the
Canon. Jatakas tales hold a treasure of
wisdom in them. The essence of these
stories lays emphasis over the law of
Karma which states that every being
becomes what he makes himself.
Karma, here, means the actions and
includes all the casual connections
between these actions and their
consequences. The Buddha revealed the
inner complexities of karmas
workings, and pointed out that one can,
change the course of ones life, by
understanding the nature of karma.
The underlying revelation behind
the Jataka stories is that the Bodhisattva
too achieved Buddhahood after he had
accumulated enough good karmas over
a period of many births. n
KIDS
STORYLINE
Once upon a time there was a cruel
monkey king who ruled in the
Himalayas. All the monkeys in his band
were his own wives and children. He
was afraid that one of his sons might
grow up and take over as king. So it
was his policy to bite each son just
after he was born so that he would be
too weak to ever challenge his father.
A Prince of
MONKEYS
A certain wife of the monkey king
was pregnant. She wanted to protect
her to-be born child and so ran away
to a forest of a distant mountain
where she soon gave birth to a bright
little baby boy monkey.
Before long this baby grew up to
be big and strong. One day he asked
his mother about his father. When the
mother told him that his father was a
king, the monkey asked her to take
him to his father.The mother monkey
replied "No my son, I am afraid to do

so. Your father bites all his sons in
order to weaken them for life. He is
afraid one of his sons will replace him
as king." The prince said, "Don't be
afraid for me, mother. I can take care
of myself."
The mother monkey then took him
to his father. When the cruel old king
saw his strong young son, he decided
to squeeze him to death.
Cunningly, he welcomed his son,
took him in his arms and kept

squeezing harder and harder.But the
prince of monkeys was so strong that
he hugged his father and squeezed
him tighter and tighter, until he could
feel the old king's ribs starting to
crack.
The terrified king thought of
another plan and sent his son to the
nearby pond said to be possessed by a
demon and asked him to get two kinds
of white water lilies, three kinds of
blue water lilies and five types of
lotuses.
The prince monkey realised that
his father had sent him so that he
would be killed by the demon.He
cleverly managed to jump from one
side of the pond and pick the flowers
one by one. The demon in the pond was
impressed by his skill, courage and
wisdom and carried the flowers for the
monkey. The King was shocked to see
his son come along with the demon
with flowers in his hands.
The king was panic stricken and his
heart broke into seven pieces and he
died on the spot. The monkey band
later made the strong young prince
their new king.n
HOCUS - FOCUS
Check out how sharp your eyes are. Find out at least 5 differences between the pictures below
53
RAILWAY TIMINGS
General Information - Dial 139 or 2423137
MANGALORE CENTRAL STATION
Tr.No. Destination and Train Name
Day
12601 Mangalore -Chennai Mangalore Mail
Daily
12620 Mlore-Lokmanya Tilak Matsyagandha Exp. Daily
12686 Mlore Central-Chennai Express
Daily
16348 Mlore-Trivendrum Exp.
Daily
16517 Blore-Kannur Exp. Via Mysore
Daily
16518 Blore-Kannur Exp. Via Mysore
Daily
16523 Bangalore-Mlore-Karwar
Daily
16524 Bangalore-Mlore-Karwar
Daily
16566 Mlore-Yashwanthpur (Via Salem, Kasargod) 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 -Nagarcoil Parasuram Exp.
Daily
16687 Mlore -Jammutawi Navyug Exp. (Arival:Sun) Mon
16855 Mlore-Puduchery Weekly Express
Mon
22609 Mangalore-Puducheri Central Express*
Sun
16108 Mangalore-Chennai Egmore Exp.
Daily
17605 Mlore-Kachegudda Exp
Wed/ Sat
22609 Mangalore-Coimbatore Intercity Exp
Daily
22636 Mangalore Central-Madgoan Intercity Exp
Daily
22851 Mlore-Santragachi Vivek Express
Sat
56323 Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast Passenger
Daily
22636 Mangalore-Madgoan Passenger
Daily
56642 Mlore -Kabaka Puttur Passenger
Daily
56644 Kabakaputtur-Mangalore Central Passenger Daily
56647 Mlore -Subramanya Road Passenger
Daily
56654 Mangalore-Kozhikode Passenger
Daily
56656 Mlore-Kannur Passenger
Daily
56661 Mlore-Madgaon DEMU
(Except Sunday)
MANGALORE JUNCTION STATION
Tr.No. Source-Destination and Train Name
Mangalore Junction (towords North)
10216 Ernakulam-Madgaon Express
11098 Ernakulam-Pune Poorna Express
PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES:

POLICE l00
FIRE 101
AMBULANCE 102
DEPT. OF POLICE
Commissioner of Police
IGP
SP
City Control Room
District Control Room
Womens Police Station
Traffic Police Station
Coastal Security Police
ELECTRICITY DEPOT
MESCOM 1600-44-1917
Attavar
2442076
Jeppu
2418066
Kankanady 2439140
Kavoor
2482060
54
Kulshekar
Lalbagh
Mallikatta
Panambur
State Bank
Surathkal
Ullal
2220801
2220501
2220503
2220555
2220500
2220525
2220524
2451303
2231039
2451190
2425599
2407756
2423127
2475379
2468383
Ari.
12.25
7.30
9.05
10.55
8.40
18.55
08.20
20.20
17.40
08.05
17.20
4.20
10.05
20.25
22.45
9.30
11.10
21.50
11.10
13.50
22.00
9.30
19.35
20.50
9.15
21.55
15.55
10.35
12.05
Dep.
13.20
14.35
16.20
14.20
9.00
20.55
08.35
20.35
20.00
17.45
07.20
22.00
18.20
5.00
16.50
16.50
16.50
06.50
20.00
11.45
08.15
23.00
7.40
5.50
06.05
18.25
10.15
05.20
16.35
02.55
Day
Ari.
Dep.
Mon
Tue
21.20
07.05
21.30
07.15
12134
12202
12217
12287
12431
12483
12519
12617
12977
12997
16312
16334
16336
16338
16346
16515
19259
19261
19577
22114
22149
22476
22630
22633
Mangalore Jn-Mumbai CST Express

Daily
Kochuveli-LokmanyaTilak Garib Rath Exp.Sun,Thu
Kochuveli-Chandigarh Sampark Kranti Exp. Sat
Kochuveli-Dehradun Express
Fri
TRV-Nizamuddin Rajdhani Exp.
Wed,Fri,Sat
Kochuveli-Amritsar Express
Wed
Ernakulam-Pune Express
Fri,Tue
Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Exp.
Daily
Ernakulam-Ajmer Marusagar Express
Mon
Tirunelveli-Happa Express
Mon,Tue
Kochuveli-Bikaner Express
Sun
Thiruvananthapuram-Veraval Express
Tue
Nagarcoil-Gandhidham Express
Wed
Ernakulam-Okha Express
Thu,Sat
Lokmanya Tilak-TRV Netravathy Exp.
Daily
Yashwantpur-Karwar Express
Mon,Wed,Fri
Kochuveli-Bhavnagar Express*
Fri
Kochuveli-Porbander Express*
Sun
Kochuveli-Tirunelveli-Hapa
Mon, Tue
Kochuveli-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Ex.Mon,Thu
Pune-Ernakulam Express
Tue, Fri
Coimbatore_Bikaner AC Superfast
Sat
Tirunelveli-Dadar Express
Wed
Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat (Superfast)
Thu
Mangalore Junction (towords South)

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
12288 Dehdradun-Kochuveli Express
Wed
12432 Nizamuddin-TRV Rajdhani Express Mon,Wed,Thu
12484 Amritsar-Kochuveli Express
Tue
12520 Pune-Ernakulam Express
Thu,Mon
12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Exp.
Daily
12978 Ajmer-Ernakulam Marusagar Express
Sat
12998 Happa-Tirunelveli Express
Sun,Mon
16311 Bikaner-Kochuveli Express
Thu
16333 Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express
Fri
16335 Gandhidham-Nagarcoil Express
Sat
16337 Okha-Ernakulam Express
Tue,Sun
16345 Lokmanya Tilak-TRV Netravathy Exp.
Daily
16516 Karwar-Yashwantpur Exp (via Arsikere)Tue,Thu,Sat
19620 Bhavanagar-Kochuveli Expres (Mon)
Mon
DC OFFICE:(General)
Dy. Commissioner
Asst. Commissioner
Zilla Panchyat Office
Taluk Panchayat Office
Tahasildar, Mangalore Taluk
2220584
2220588
2220590
2220578
2423675
2220587
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
2220313
2220301
2220310
2445806
2457498
2444005
2220577
2424254
2407341
2212286
2429197
2411840
TOURIST INFORMATION
Department of Tourism, Lalbagh
GUIDE: Mr. Anil Salian
RENT-A-CAR
Cell Cab, Balmatta Road
Ola Cabs, Mangalore
Rovian Tourist Promotions, Valencia
CITY
INFO
12.40
20.30
20.30
20.30
05.30
20.30
12.25
21.50
04.50
20.20
04.50
04.50
04.50
04.50
23.20
17.40
04.50
22.20
22.20
12.25
12.25
22.20
22.20
02.30
13.55
20.40
20.40
20.40
05.40
20.40
12.35
22.00
05.00
20.30
05.00
05.00
05.00
05.00
23.30
18.00
05.00
22.30
22.30
12.35
12.35
22.30
22.30
02.40
03.00
19.25
08.05
02.15
03.00
17.50
03.00
11.10
00.40
19.25
02.15
13.30
13.30
13.30
13.30
04.35
10.53
13.40
03.10
19.35
08.15
02.25
03.10
18.00
03.10
11.20
00.50
19.35
02.25
13.40
13.40
13.40
13.40
04.45
10.55
13.50
2453926
94485 03170
60609090
3355335
2437683
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
CITY
LUXURY BUS TIMINGS
AIR TIMINGS
Dep.
MANGALORE - MUMBAI
Arr.
Jet Airways
9.05/11.10/15.10 10.35/14.35/22.05
Spicejet (IT143/144)
18.05
14.30
Air India (AI680)
12.50
12.15
Air India Express (Mon/Fri)
6.05
13.00
MANGALORE - BANGALORE
Jet Airways
Jet Airways (Except Tue)
Spice Jet (SG3232)
Air India (Thu,Fri,Sat)
8.55 / 20.40
16.15
09.15/15.05
17.50
08.25 /20.05
15.40
08.55/17.55
17.20
MANGALORE - DELHI
Jet Airways (Daily Except Tue)
16.15
15.40
MANGALORE - BAHRAIN/KUWAIT
Air India Express (Mon,Wed,Fri)
7.30
19.25
MANGALORE - DUBAI
Air India Express(IX813/883) 8.55 / 22.55
Jet Airways (9W-532)
23.25
7.35 / 17.25
08.00
TO BANGALORE
Anand Travels
Ballal Motors
Ganesh Travels
VRL KODIALBAIL
Pragathi
SRS Travels
TO MUMBAI
Anand Travels
Canara Pinto
Canara Travels
Neetha Travels
Sagar Travels
Vishal Travels
VRL KODIALBAIL
TEL
2443055
4255680
2427737
2422646
2426811
2427099
2425408
2423917
2493536
12.00
12.00, 14.00(Volvo)
12.00
13.30, 16.00
11.00, 14.30
12.00
14.00, 15.00, 17.00
TO HUBLI/ DHARWAD / BELGAUM

Durgamba Motors
2497225
20.00, 21.00, 22.00
Ganesh Travels
2440977
20.00, 21.00, 22.00
Sri Durgamba
2420303
20.00
ABU DHABI - MUSCAT

Air India Express (Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun)10.05
20.10
TO RAICHUR / BIJAPUR / GULBARGA

VRL KODIALBAIL
2493536
18.00, 18.30, 19.00
Ganesh Travels
2440977
16.30, 18.30, 19.15
MANGALORE - DOHA
Air India Express (Thu, Sat)
17.05
TO MYSORE
Durgamba
2497225
21.30
TO GOA
Paulo Travels
2426874
20.30
MANGALORE - DAMMAM
Air India Express (Wed, Sat)
18.05
21.20
07.35
- Please Check with the Flight Enquiry on the day of the travel
Mangalore International Airport - 2220400 (Director)

Air india Express - 2450673 (O), 2220450 (Airport)
Air India (Domestic) - 2254253, 2220451 (Airport)
Jet Airways - 2440794 (O), 2253432 (Airport)
Spicejet - 2252452 (Airport)
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
TO KOCHI/ERNAKULAM/KOTTAYAM
Durgamba
2420303
20.30
Kallada Travels
9343855500 20.00
Ganesh Travels
2440977
20.00
TO HYDERABAD
Kesineni Travels
VRL
CLUBS
2211086
2211617
2414146
4252585
9243300775
2425051
2216854
2459246
9845493400
MANGALORE
City White Pages
2427878
2493536
15.00
14.00
CINEMA
Big Cenema, Bharath Mall, Bejai
3989545
Cinepolis Cinema, City Centre Mall 4261315
Central, Maidan Road
2423108
Jyoti, Balmatta Road
2424660
New Chitra, Car Street
2496337
Platinum, Falnir
2427126
PVR Cinemas, Forum Mall
8800900009
Ramakanti, Market Road
2423494
Roopavani, Central Market
2423199
Suchitra / Prabhat, KS Rao Road
2440467
BEACH RESORTS
A unique ready
reference
Pocket Book
TEMPLES &TOURIST SPOTS

Dist. in Km.
TIMINGS
21.30
21.30
21.30
22.00, 22.30
22.00
22.15
2427737
2441997
2441277
2493536
Mangalore Holiday Village,Someshwar 2281061

Red Rock Residency, Mukka
2477190
Paradise Isle, Malpe
0820 - 2537791
Summer Sands, Ullal
2467690
MUSEUMS
Shreemanthibai Memorial Museum, Bejai 2211106
Aloyseum, St. Aloysius College, LHH Road. 2426143
Manjusha Museum, Dharmasthala 08256 - 277121
INFO
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
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
2410981
2424182
2440640
2441751
2422475
2426416
4288777
2411625
2441010
2228222
2447766
2420328
2438364
2441608
2446152
2441351
2426229
2442903
BOARDING / LODGING
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
2446304
2493681
2497101
2440632
2440418
4245678
2444860
2435111
2424757
2413800
2495574
2249203
2410601
2440171
2421271
4255542
2440061
2421751
2420420
2443751
55
NEWS
Appointed
Ibrahim Kodijal, the
interim President of the DK
District
Congress
Committee has been
appointed the new Chief of Mangaluru
Urban Development Authority (MUDA).
Celebrated
l The Centenary of Teachers Cooperative Bank
of Udupi was
inaugurated by Udupi District in-charge
Minister and State Minister for Urban
Development at a function held at the
Ravindra Mantap of MGM College.
Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA released the
souvenir brought out to commemorate the
occasion.
lThe Graduation Day and Annual Day
of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences and
Research Centre was celebrated recently.
Dr KS Ravindranath, Vice Chancellor of
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health
Sciences presented degrees to the
students. S Murugan, City Police
Commissioner, AJ Shetty, Chairman of
Laxmi Memorial Education Trust and
others were present.
DSouza is also the President of High

School Head Masters Association and
P.U College Principals Association.
Staged
The Lawyers fraternity of the city under
the aegis of the Mangaluru Bar
Association staged a protest in front of
the District Court complex demanding
justice to the family of Nabi Ahmed, an
advocate who fell victim to police bullets
in front of Allahabad Court. The
Association
has
demanded
a
compensation of Rs one crore to the
family of the victim. Mangaluru Bar
Association President SP Chengappa,
Yashodhar Karkera, Vice President,
Raghavendra H, General Secretary,
Yatish, Treasure and others participated
in the protest.
Inaugurated
l Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
inaugurated the Mini Vidhana Saudha at
Puttur constructed at a cost of Rs 9.27
crores. DK District in-charge Minister B
BRIEFS
Ramanatha Rai, Deputy Commissioner

AB Ibrahim, Udupi in-charge Minister
Vinay Kumar Sorake, State Ministers HC
Mahadevappa, DK Shivakumar, MLAs
Abhayachandra, Shakuntala Shetty,
Moidin Bava and others were present.
lA Rotary Bhavan constructed at Bajpe
at a cost of Rs 45 lakhs was inaugurated
by Dr Bhasker S, District Rotary
Governor. Sooryaprakash Bhat, Rotary
Counsellor was present as a chief guest.
Observed
lNo Smoking Day was observed at the
Yenepoya University campus recently
under the joint aegis of Centre for
Prevention of Substance Abuse and the
University. Chandramohan, Vice
Chancellor of the University presided
over the function.
lWorld Consumers Day was observed
at the Netravathi Auditorium of Zilla
Panchayat recently under the auspices of
the District Administration, Food and
Civil Supplies Department, District
Conferred
Veteran Yakshagana artiste Balipa
Narayana Bhagavatha was conferred the
Kalkura Lifetime Achievement Award on
behalf of Kalkura Foundation at a function
held at Don Bosco Hall recently. DK
District in-charge Minister and State
Minister for Forest B Ramanatha Rai
conferred the award.
Elected
Aloysius
DSouza,
Headmaster of Rosario
High School has been
unanimously elected as the
President of Mangalore Reachers Cooperative Credit Society. The Society
consists of 3700 members in DK and
Udupi districts. He was earlier serving
as Director of the Society for two terms.
56
Mangalurus newly elected Mayor Jacintha Vijay Alfred was felicitated along with the new Bantwal
Urban Development Authority Chairman Pius Rodrigues and MP Noronha, advocate and Syndicate
Member of Mangalore University at a function held at Bishop House. Roy Castelino, President of
the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Ivan DSouza, MLC, Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, Fr JB
Crasta, Parish Priest of Rosario Church, Louis J Pinto, President of Mandd Sobhann, Sabitha
Misquith, Asha DSilva, Clifford Lobo, Corporators and others were present on the occasion.
NEWS BRIEFS
Won
At the
District Body Building
Championships conducted recently,
Kumar Putran, an employee of Port
Facilities Department won the first place
in Masters above 40 and Seniors 79 kg
categories. The event was organised by
the Dakshina Kannada Association of
Body Builders.
O B I T UA RY
P Jayarama Bhat, Managing Director and CEO, Karnataka Bank Ltd and Tarun Chugh, Managing
Director and CEO, PMLI handing over the 32 seater school bus to Prajna Counseling Center in
Mangaluru recently as part of CSR program to benefit underprivileged children and their families
residing in DK and Udupi districts. M S Mahabaleshwara Bhat, Chief General Manager of Karnataka
Bank, Hilda Rayappan, Director, Prajna Counselling Centre and others were present.
Federation of Consumer Organizations.
Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim
presided over the function.
Organised
Kavita Trust, and A T Lobo Foundation,
organised A T Lobo- a Poetic Journey,
in commemoration of Konkani writer and
poet Apollo Thomas Lobo, on his 95th
birth anniversary recently.A book of
Lobos poetry A T Lobo - a Poetic
Journey in Konkani, published by Kavita
Trust was released on the occasion. The
book comprises of Konkani Shayaris and
Qawali songs.
Released
lA book entitled Women and Health
edited by Malini Mukund, former Head
of the Department of Sociology of School
of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya was
released recently by Olinda Pereira,
Founder Principal of Roshni Nilaya and
Director of Vishwas Trust.
lThe Kannada translation of a book
named The RSS and the BJP: A Division
of Labour authored by AG Noorani was
released by noted journalist Ramjan

Darga at a function held recently.The
Kannada translation was done by Suresh
Bhat Bakrabail.
Takes charge
l Pius Rodrigues took
charge as the new
Chairman of Bantwal
Urban
Development
Authority at a function held at Bantwal
TMC Building recently. Pius is the
General Secretary of the District Congress
Committee.
l Suresh P. Shirwadkar
took charge as Deputy
Chairman
of
New
Mangalore Port Trust
(NMPT) recently. His
appointment was made by
the Ministry of Shipping. Shirwadkar was
earlier serving as Chief Manager (Finance)
in Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust prior. A
native of Ankola, Shirwadkar graduated
from the St Aloysius College in
Mangaluru. He is an associate member of
Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
Mangalurus renowned paediatrician

Dr.
P.N.
Krishnamurthy (84)
passed away recently
due to prolonged
illness. He is survived
by his wife, two sons
and a daughter. His daughter Dr.
Meera Rao is also a paediatrician. He
was the first doctor to be qualified with
an MRCP degree in Pediatrics and
along with late Dr. Rama Rao he was
instrumental in establishing the
Department of Pediatrics at KMC
Mangaluru in 1954. He had served as
Professor and Head of the Department
from 1979 to 1990. After his
retirement, the College conferred on
him the special title of Professor
Emeritus, in recognition of his
contributions. He had even served as
the President of Karnataka Branch of
Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
Well known senior advocate and former
public prosecutor B.
Rajaram Semitha
passed
away
at
Bengaluru on March 14.
He was 85 and was
ailing since some time.
Semitha who hailed from Mangaluru,
had also served for over 25 years as a
professor at SDM Law College in the
city. He is survived by his wife and
two sons.He was an active Rotarian and
had involved himself in wide-ranging
social and cultural activities.
57
PEOPLE
Mangaluru is looking up towards its first
citizen. It is hoping that the citys
longstanding problems would see an early
solution under her leadership. Jacintha
Vijay Alfred who was recently elected the
Mayor has kindled a lot of hope among the
people.They strongly believe that it is a
woman who can best know the problems of
the commoners.
Woman Power
A four time corporator from Falnir
ward, Jacintha, is a BSW graduate from
School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya.
Initially, she worked as a de-addiction
counselor with Link-Trada De-Addiction
Centre and St Josephs Prashanth Nivas Society before
turning to business along with her husband.
It was late Blasius DSouza, the former minister who
had noticed a zealous Jacinthas work as a counselor and
motivated her to join politics. Since then she has
At a time when youngsters are drifting
away from traditional art forms like
Yakshagana, here is a rural talent who is
making waves in the field of Bhagavathike
and has earned accolades galore.
He is Patla Satish Shetty who
has emerged a successful Yakshagana
Bhagavatha in Tenkutittu style over the
past 15 years. Hailing from a village called
Hogenadu in Bantwal taluk, Satish was
born to Patla Mahabala Shetty and Lalitha
Shetty couple. Satish developed a keen
interest in Yakshagana while pursuing his
Pre-University course and learnt
Yakshagana Bhagavathike, Chende and
Maddale from the veteran artiste Mambadi
Subrahmanya. Seemanthur Narayana
Shetty tutored him in Yakshagana
Chandassu while Satish learnt Carnatic
music from Roshan Kumar.
A part of the Shree Durga
Parameshwari Dashavathara Yakshagana
Mandali of Sri Kshetra Kateel since 15
years, Satish is the Chief Bhagavatha of
the 5th Mela of Kateel. Known for his
melodious voice and tone Patla Satish
56
represented Falnir ward four

times and her re-election is a
testimony to her popularity
among the people of her ward.
Jacintha has the experience
of serving as Chairperson of
the Standing Committee on
Taxation, Finance and Appeals
in the council headed by
erstwhile Mayor Mahabala
Maarla.
As the 17th Mayor of
Mangaluru Jacintha promises to
focus on ensuring proper
amenities to the city and its
people. I will continue the good
works done and the various
developmental projects initiated by
my predecessor Mahabala Maarla, says the new Mayor
who hopes to give her best during her tenure.
Happily married to Vijay Alfred, a businessman, the
couple is blessed with a daughter. n
Accomplished
Bhagavatha
Shetty has won innumerous admirers

whom he has mesmerized by his sterling
performances. His inimitable voice which
has great depth has left Yakshagana lovers
spell bound. Many of his fans just wouldnt
mind travelling long distance to hear their
favourite artistes Bhagavathike.
Patla who has earned several titles like
Yuva Bhagavatha, Gaana Mandara, Gaana
Gandharva, Gaana Kogile, has till date
over 500 awards to his credit. The latest
award to his kitty is the Kaalinga Navada
Award presented on behalf of the
Sanskritika mattu Janapada Adyayana
Kendra Trust, Shringeri.
Name and fame has never deviated
Satish from his single minded goal of
pursuing Bhagavathike with great zeal, but
has made him much more determined.
He has travelled extensively and has been
part of Yakshagana shows presented in
various parts of the nation but also overseas
including US, Singapore, Dubai, Kuwait
and Muscat. He recently even visited
London as part of Yaksha Manjusha
Team.n
VISHAYA RAI
Reg. No.MNG/1022/2015-2017
RNI. No. KARENG/2009/40529
Licensed to post without prepayment license No.: SK/WPP/MNG/128/2015-17

Date of Posting: 20th of every Month at Balmatta PO

Mangalore Today March 2015

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MANGALORE TODAY - MARCH 2015