History on the wall

Historical events of South Kanara starting from the re-building of Mangaladevi Temple in 968 AD and happenings that took place in the last decade of the 20th Century has been written on the tall wooden boards.

These boards can serve not only as a guide for those who visit the DC Office, but also stand as an everlasting document to the history of the region. Due to renovation works, the boards were now kept on one corner of the meeting hall of the DC’s Office. Officials said that the boards will be hanged on the walls once the renovation works were over.

History from 968 AD

The first line of the first board mentions about the rebuilding of Mangaladevi temple in memory of Malabar prince Mangale by Alupa King Kundavarma in 968 AD.

Other major events include - Hoysala Ballal said to have ruled Tuluva country with the capital at Barkur between 1117 and 1137 AD; Birth of Madhwacharya at Belle in 1199; The beginning of Vijayanagara rule in 1336; Visit of African traveller Ibn Batuta and the erection of Gomata statue by Veerapandya, son of Bairavendra at Karkala in 1342; Landing of Vasco Da Gama on St Mary’s isles near Malpe in 1498; Ascension of Krishnadevaraya to the throne of Vijayanagar in 1508; Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa’s visit in 1514; Capture of Mangalore Port by the Portuguese in 1523; Vasco Da Gama’s attack on Basrur and the subsequent levying a tribute of 500 mudi rice from the local chieftain in 1524. These are some of the prominent events described in the board that took place between 10th and 16th Century in the region. The board also mentions about Abbakka Devi, who defended Ullal and Mangalore against the Portuguese attack in 1567 and later burning of Ullal by the Portugues in 1581.

Wenlock Hospital

Going through the information written on the board, one can learn which year Mangalore witnessed the inaugural of major historical monuments and institutions. It has been recorded in the board that the Government Wenlock Hospital, the first hospital in Mangalore, was opened in 1848. Basel Mission Evangelical High School, the first high school was opened in 1838. Government College, Mangalore, the first Arts College, was established in 1865 and the establishment of Mangalore Municipality in 1866.

One of the major events recalled in the board is the publication of first Kannada - English dictionary by Rev Ferdinand Kittel.

Many Mangaloreans may not be remembering about the plague attack in Mangalore. The first plague attack had killed 836 persons in Mangalore in 1902.

As per the information available on the board, the railway line was extended to Mangalore in 1907.

Though the boards provide vital information about the history of South Kanara district, it is now lying in a pathetic condition. However, officials said that there are plans to clean and polish the boards. If everything goes as per plan, the boards on the walls of Deputy Commissioner’s Office will provide visitors valubale information about the region on a historical perspective.

Officials also said that they have plans to continue the tradition of keeping the history alive by adding recent major events including the Mangalore aircrash.