Pramod Madhwaraj Inaugurates Basel Missionaries Memorial Auditorium
Pics by Prasanna Kodavoor, Team Mangalorean
Udupi: The newly-built Basel Missionaries Memorial Auditorium was inaugurated at the Mission Compound here on Tuesday, October 18.
The programme began with an invocation, followed by a welcome dance by the children. Rev. Pramod Goni conducted the prayer service. Jayapraksh Simons President of UBMC DCB and Trust association welcomed the gathering.
Pramod Madhwaraj district minister in-charge and also state minister for Fisheries, sport and youth service inaugurated the Basel Missionaries Memorial Auditorium by cutting the ribbon.
Explaining the history of Basel Missionaries Dr Peter Wilson Prabhakar principal Vivekananda College Puttur said that in 1834, three missionaries of Basel Mission arrived at Calicut in Kerala and spread their activities gradually. At the time when people especially women had less opportunities for education, the Mission worked hard to provide education to all. It is also responsible for opening new chapters in printing, cottage industry, medicine and agriculture.
Basel Mission started its ministry in Mangalore on October 30, 1884 and later extended its services to other parts of the State. Rev Hebich and his companions established many educational institutions including an Anglo-vernacular school.
The first printing press of the region was established in 1841 at Balmatta, Mangaluru. Books were printed in different languages including Kannada, Tulu, Malayalam, Telugu, English, Sanskrit, Tamil, Konkani and German. Basel missionaries Herman Frederick Mogling wrote several books in Kannada and also published ‘Mangalura Samachara’, considered as the first Kannada newspaper.
Prasad informed that Basel Mission started a weaving factory at Balmatta in 1844, tile factories at Jeppu in 1865, at Kudroli in 1882 and at Malpe in 1886. It started the first hospital at Udupi in 1923, first of its kind in the erstwhile South Kanara.
Speaking on the occasion Pramod Madhwaraj lauded the work done by Basel Mission and said that Basel Mission has contributed significantly towards the development of the coastal region, especially in the field of education, industry and health. The people of the coastal region will not forget the contribution of the Basel Mission.
The Sidaramaiah government has initiated many developmental schemes to the minorities. The state government has allotted Rupees One crore grant for any minority community auditorium under the Karnataka State Minorities and Backward Classes Development Corporation. The minister congratulated Basel Mission board for dedicating the Auditorium for the people of Udupi.
J R Lobo MLA Mangaluru and also president of Karnataka State Minorities and Backward Classes Development Committee said that the Siddaramaiah led congress government is committed to the development of Minorities. In the last budgedt Sidaramaiah has allotted Rs 100 crore to the Christian Development Council for the purpose of renovation of churches, building community halls, compound walls, towards orphanages, old age homes and to institutions etc. The committee has distributed Rs 140 crore last year. In the current financial year the government has allotted Rs 120 crore for the purpose. The Siddaramaiah government has also allotted Rs 1 crore for Kittel research study purpose at the Mangaluru University in the current financial year he added.
Vinay Kumar Sorake MLA Kaup and Ex. Minister Karnataka said that, the United Basel Missionaries were providing quality education and health. These institutions have played a vital role in imparting quality-based disciplined education which is commendable. From 1838 the Basel missionaries planned the overall development of Costal Karnataka through their social and economical service. The State government is committed to the welfare and economic development of the minorities. The government is implementing various schemes for the welfare of the minorities, and earmarking crores of rupees in the budget for them, he added.
Fr Denis D’Sa (PRO Udupi Dioceses), Fr Fred Mascarenhas (Parish Priest Mother of Sorrows Church), Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Umri (Imaam Jamia Masjid, Udupi), Raghupathi Bhat (Ex-MLA Udupi), Ln MJF Indrali Jayakar Shetty (General Manager, Badagabettu Credit Co-operative Society, Udupi), Meenakshi Madhwava Bannaje (President CMC Udupi), Rathnappa Maben (Founder Silas International School Udupi), Amirtha Kirshnamoorthi (Ex-vice president and Councillor CMC Udupi) Jayaprakash Simons, Sadananda Kanchan, Gladson Salins and others were present.
