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God's own paradise
M.R.M.R.
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Dakshina Kannada is intensely interesting in its cultural and economic possibilities
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The sky is the limit for Dakshina Kannada's potential.
UNDIVIDED DAKSHINA Kannada District spread over 200 km from Thalapady to Shiroor is a land of rich cultural heritage that reflects a secular, cosmopolitan society. Much like the many rivers that criss-cross the district, linguistic and social diversity is a feature of the district for centuries. Tulu is spoken by majority of the people here, while Kannada and Konkani speaking people are also significant in number. The district's three major communities — Hindus, Christians, and Muslims — have by and large a harmonious relationship.
A community history of the district tells us that the dominant Bunt community (landholders) was till recently observing the matriarchal lineage system though abolished by the erstwhile Madras State. The system was prevalent from the time of the Tuluva ruler, Bhutala Pandya of Barkuru Rajya that was part of the Vijayanagar Empire. It is interesting to note that the kingdom of Bhutala Pandya was the first to have a delegation of Chinese traders in this part of the Vijayanagar Empire. Chinese porcelain relics can still be found in the temple built by Bhutala Pandya in Barkur (now in Udupi district). The district has been witness to great battles with the British. Tipu Sultan had fought the British twice from Mangalore. Sultan Bathery, on the sea front near Boloor, a relic to commemorate the broken thumb of Tipu Sultan at the lighthouse hill, and the Gadaykallu in Belthangady are testimonies of Tipu's presence in the district.
Agriculture and fishing are the two main occupations of the district. In the last three decades though, industry has come up. But like in rural areas across the country, nearly 70 per cent of the people depend on agriculture, farming, fishing, weaving, cottage industries and home industries. Horticulture is also becoming popular as a profession. In agriculture, areca, rubber, spices, and vanilla are grown extensively for exports. The district also exports fisheries worth over Rs. 250 crore with four major exporters operating from this district. It is heartening to note that fish exporters in the district maintain quality standards prescribed by the United States, European Economic Community, and Japan. The Marine Produce Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is now preparing to introduce export of ornamental fishes from India. As part of the larger programme in all coastal districts of the country, the MPEDA has been encouraging ornamental fish producers.
The Fisheries College, one of its kind in the country, has been researching various diseases affecting Indian fish. One particular disease, the white-spot disease has been identified in shrimps through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method developed by the Karunasagar couple.
The research helps the crop from being rejected by countries importing the product. The Fisheries College attached to the University of Agricultural sciences at Bangalore too is a nodal consultative agency on scientific matters and has been consulted by various agencies on issues relating to fish progeny and effects of marine pollution on marine ecology.
On the educational front, the district has seen progress from humble beginnings. As early as 1836, German Missionaries headed by Rev. Fr. Samuel Hebich founded the Mission school with only four pupils on May 6 that year.
The Jesuit and Carmelite Missions followed. They set up the St. Aloysius College for boys, St. Ann's Training School, and St. Agnes College, for girls. The missionaries also opened workshops, orphanages, and poor homes in Mangalore.
In the 20th century, the district experienced a revolution in education under the leadership of Dr. T.M.A. Pai, medical practitioner and banker from Udupi, who launched the Academy of General Education in 1942. Dr. Pai with his perseverance brought into academic circles an entire range of people from underprivileged sections.
He also launched the adult education programme in 1936, first in the country. He even offered half an anna incentive to labourers in his tile factory for learning to sign his name. Later, Dr. Pai set up several institutions under the Academy of General Education from the primary school to the professional colleges such as medical, engineering, dental, and disciplines in the humanities. The Manipal Educational Complex was granted Deemed University status by the Government of India in 1996. Other families in Dakshina Kannada too such as Yenepoya, Nitte, K.Venkataramana Gowda, and Fr. Mullers ventured into professional education. The district now has 138 colleges and 355 high schools and has been declared a 100 per cent literacy area, the second district in the State to be declared so only after Bangalore Urban District.
In recent times, Mangalore University has taken a lead in introducing innovative Post-Graduate programmes in the region.
Thanks to the efforts of late Prof. S. Gopal, the then Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University could introduce an M.S. course in Geo-Informatics in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation and M.Sc. in Information Systems in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science. These two PG courses have been a product of the extraordinary research work carried on for over a decade by the department of Marine Geology and the extreme interest shown by the district in information technology, especially when the country was facing a shortage of experts who could decode quickly geo-information sent in by satellite through remote sensing. The first batch is already out and experts are now helping the country in interpreting much needed data received by remote sensing, particularly pertaining to the ocean bed. The PG course on Information System could take the district to a higher plane in IT education.
Earlier, the district was identified by the special task force constituted by former Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee for a comprehensive computer education for which Rs. 45 crore has been set apart.
The district has also contributed to the growth of folk art and Kannada literature. Parthi Subba and Muddanna have been identified as pioneers among the poets of the State.
Together, they compiled much of the Yakshagana lyrics. Others who have contributed to the development of Kannada Yakshagana include Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha, Agari Srinivasan, Damodara Mandecha, Kunavu Bhagavatha, and artistes Bannada Malinga Kukkiyappu (who died recently), Vittal Gopalkrishna Joshi, and Sheni Gopalkrishna Bhat, in Thenku Thittu Style.
In a trend that is unique to Yakshagana and to Dakshina Kannada, the late Uppinakudru Devanna Kamath conceptualised Yakshagana puppetry for which he won the national award for folk arts. His son Kogganna Kamath has sustained this.
Talamaddale is another form of Yakshagana where the artistes sit on the stage and recite prose and songs followed by dialogues and arguments. This is common in Dakshina Kannada during evenings.
In all this is sa district with rich intellectual ambience to the local people.
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