JOIN USThe contributions of Rev Dr Herman Moegling to Kannada literature is immense. Moegling, a German missionary came to Mangalore when he was 25. He not only learnt Kannada but also contributed immensely for the development of the language, said Kannada Litterateur Dr Na D’Souza.
Speaking after unveiling the bust of Dr Herman Moegling on the occassion of Karnataka Christian Educational Society (KACES Day) at KACES campus on Friday, he said that Moegling knew many languages. An excellent translator, he has translated some of the best Kannada works such as ‘Dasara Padha’ into German language. He was the first person to collect Dasara Padha in Kannada language.
His contribution to the filed of Kannada was recognised by a German University and he was conferred a honorary doctorate in 1858, said D’Souza.
He also added that Moegling was a simple man. He left is bunglow and stayed in a small house. He never showed his superiority. Instead, lived as a common man among common people. He used to walk to distant places. He had also collected 3547 Kannda proverbs from his daily interactions with the locals and published them in a book.
He is also considered as the Father of Kannada Journalism. He started the first Kannada paper Mangalooru Samachara, he said.
“Many today do not have access to the literature written by Rev Dr Herman Moegling. KACES has to republish the lietrature and make it available for the general public,” he stressed.
Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Union President P B Harish Rai said that Moegling started the first newspaper with a unique idea. “Moegling felt that the the newspaper will act as a window to the society, it will be a forum for interaction,” he said and added that the contributions of Moegling as a journalist needs to be highlighted. “The day Mangalooru Samachara started is celebarted as the Kannada press day. I have plans to unviel a potrait of Moegling and display it prominently in Press club,” he said.
CCB Inspector H N Venkatesh Prasanna was felicitated on the occassion on being the first researcher of Karnataka Theological Research Institute to be conferred Phd for his research titled ‘Swatantra Poorva Karnatakadhalli Police Vyavasthe’ by the Kannada Hampi University.
KACES Secretary and KTC Principal Dr H R Cabral presided over the programme.
KACES day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of KACES Founder Late Rt Rev Dr C D Jathanna. KACES, an educational organisation was founded in December 1969. The society serves as an umbrella organisation for the various educational and vocational training institutions in which Karnataka Theological College is the nucleus.