Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 18: Basel missionarys memorial auditorium was inaugurated on Tuesday, October 18 by district-in charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj near mission compound Udupi.
J R Lobo MLA from Mangaluru South inaugurated a water pool along with president of Karnataka state Backward and Minority development committee.
The inaugural programme was organized by United Basel district church board and United Basel mission church trust association, South Canara and Coorg district.
While addressing the gathering, minister Madhwaraj said, “Protestant missionaries have contributed a lot to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in terms of health and technology, industry, religious and other fields. Rs 75 crores cost memorial auditorium is the biggest contribution by them for city. We do not have such huge auditorium in city. The auditorium has been built on behalf of Basel missionary to commemorate the contribution of our ancestors.”
“There is a provision that the government could provide Rs 1 crore fund for any minorities group for building community auditorium,” he said while wishing them all the best.
MLA J R Lobo released the souvenir and congratulated the trust for constructing such a huge community hall.
“History is important for understanding milestones. This year chief minister has reserved Rs 125 crores in the budget for the development of minorities. Protestants do not claim government benefits often in comparison to other communities. I urge them to keep unity in the community. Unity strengthens one's confidence. If there is any problem or complaint, we need to sort out within us. It is better to avoid taking the issue to the court.”
MLA Kaup Vinay Kumar Sorake, Moulana Rasheed Ahmed Umri, Imam Jamia Masjid, K Raghupati Bhat, Former MLA, Udupi, Ln MJF Indrali Jayakar Shetty, general manager, Badagubettu Credit Co-operative society, Udupi, Fr Fred Muscaranhas, Parish priest, Mother of Sorrows church, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, president, Udupi CMC, Narasimha Murthy, Chairman, Udupi Urban Development authority, Udupi, Amritha Krishnamurthy, former president, CMC Udupi, Fr Denis D'Sa and others were present.
A procession was organized to mark the inaugural cememony which commenced from Jodukatte and proceeded via Taluk office, Diana circle and ended at UBM Jubilee Church, Udupi.
The generous donors were felicitated on the occasion. They are Rathnappa Maben, Manmohan Attavar, Yatish Shetty, Dumabi, Jerry Vincent Dias, president of CREDAI , WD Salians, ARP Clare, Sudhakar Gojer, S R Jacob and Dr Sushil Jathanna, medical Director, L M Mission hospital, Udupi.
Jayaprakash Simons president UBMC DCB and trust association welcomed the gathering. Rev Vijaya Harvin preached the sermon and Dr Peter Wilson Prabhaker read out the history of Basel mission.
The auditorium is located near Mission Compound, in Udupi city. The community hall is spread in 46,000 square feet. There is a separate non-vegetarian kitchen room in 2000 square feet.
The well designed hall has 1200 seating capacity. Dining hall can accommodate 500 people for dinner at a time. 250 people can be accommodated in a mini hall and the top roof party hall has 300 seating capacity. There is a 40*30 vast platform and a green room with air condition facility. The hall has also five-double bed guest room with AC and lift facility.
A separate toilet facility has been constructed for men and women. There is ample space for parking area. It is the first project in Udupi which can accommodate 1000 vehicle at a time.