Thousands Pay Last Respect to Mijaruguthu Anand Alva, the Father of Dr Mohan Alva, the Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, Moodabidri who passed away at Age 107
Mangaluru: Mijaruguthu Anand Alva, who was a pioneer in the fields of agriculture, education, culture and religion, passed away at the age of 107. He leaves behind three sons, including M Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation, and a daughter. Late Sundari Anand Alva was his wife. Born on August 15, 1916, in the Mijaruguthu ancestral house at Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district, Alva took up agriculture and is credited with introducing the Cavendish variety of banana to the people of undivided Dakshina Kannada.
He became a role model for farmers, especially for the methods of coconut and arecanut cultivation. Founder of Mijar Higher Primary School and Edapadavu Swami Vivekananda High School, Alva was a pioneer of an educational revolution in Moodbidri. He was the inspiration for the foundation of Alva’s Education Foundation, Alva’s Health Care and several other establishments. His contributions to the promotion of kambala in the coastal districts was significant. He introduced Mijar Koti– Chennaya Jodukere Kambala.
As a successful entrepreneur, Alva succeeded in starting the beedi industry that provided jobs to hundreds of families in the coastal districts. A truly religious leader, Alva was actively involved in religious activities like Nagamandala, Brahmakalashotsava, Daivaradhane and several other festivals. He was closely associated with Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade. Veerendra Heggade, Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, and several others from the political, religious and cultural fields condoled the death of Alva and pad floral tributes.