Three volume ’Mangaluru Darshana’ nearly ready

Three volume ’Mangaluru Darshana’ nearly ready

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru: A comprehensive past and present history of Mangaluru will be available in three printed volumes probably by 2016, beginning of the New Year.

A draft copy of Mangaluru Darshana, a compendium on the history, culture and lifestyle of Mangaluru, is ready, its chief editor and scholar B.A. Vivek Rai told media.  MUDA - Mangaluru Urban Development Authority would publish them.

The Commissioner of MUDA Mohammed Nazir said that the government has set aside Rs. 50 lakh for the project of collecting the information and publishing the volumes. Up until now, Rs. 13 lakh has been spent on the project.

He said that 2,000 copies of each volume, totally 6,000 copies, would be published. It would be given to prominent libraries as it would serve as a reference book for researchers.   MUDA Commissioner Nazir said that the volumes would be published by inviting bids from publishers. A decision on fixing the price for the volumes has not been taken yet.

Editor  Rai said that the three volumes put together would be about 2,000 pages. The work on the project commenced last July. Information in the volumes covered the jurisdiction of MUDA.

He said that volume I will have information on the geography of Mangaluru and its rulers like Alupas, Keladi, Banga and Vijayanagar rulers. Articles on geography have been written by experts. An article mentioned that Mangaluru area probably up to Alape was once under the sea. The volume covers articles relating to various language-speaking communities in the city.

Volume II has some interesting information on the old badavanes (extensions) in the city. It has names of 550 badavanes and 600 roads. This particular volume recalled the history of the Mangaluru City Corporation, century-old schools in the city, how Mangaluru became a city and the like.

Volume III focused on language and aspects of literature.  It mentions theatres in the city, Tulu cinema, art and culture, including Yakshagana, classical music and dances, and communicable diseases which hit the city.

President of MUDA Ibrahim Kodijal said that in all likelihood, the volumes would be released in December 2015.