Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
 
Mangalore, Jan 13: A seminar on “South Kanara and Kodagu: colonialism and after” was organized by the Mangalore University history department here on Saturday, Jan 12.
 
Speaking after the inaugural ceremony, Bangalore University history department chairman prof S Chandrashekar informed "The first symptoms of modernity was witnessed in South Kanara in the mid 19th century owing to the Basel mission and the Christian missionaries."

Further he proudly stated that the first launch of printing technology in Kannada took place in South Kanara, which was then followed by many publications later.

According to him modern renaissance had its beginning in the West Coast. In-fact efforts to bring changes in society first found its echo in South Kanara. People were discussing child marriage and widow re-marriage as early as in 1860s and 1870s.

Prof Chandrashekar opined that Indian nationalism was not active in South Kanara, however, south leaders like K K Shetty, K S Rao, U S Mallya have been part of anti-colonial struggles. Other then these stray incidents, no major events have taken place, he pointed out.

Moreover, while people like Govinda Pai, K R Karanth after independence were very active in the unification of Karnataka, the response of the people at the local level is not known. The attitude and response from people of this region was practically zero with regard to the major burning issues of Karnataka, he rued.

Prof Surendra Rao, Prof Keshavan, Dr Hanumanayak and Dr Lokesh were present on the occasion.