Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta
Credit: DH Photo
Mangaluru: The District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting chaired by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta on Tuesday resolved to write to the state government to rename Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru district.
Raising the issue, Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja said that a campaign has been initiated to rename DK as Mangaluru. All the MLAs are in favour of it. A resolution of the Disha meeting in this regard should be submitted to the state government through DC.
He said Bengaluru has received global recognition. Similarly, by renaming the district as Mangaluru, we need to work towards getting global recognition in terms of development.
Supporting the same, DK MP said that a proposal should be sent to the state government.
Meanwhile, Mangaluru Jille Tulupara Horata Samiti said that the demand to rename Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru district will be taken forward in the days to come.
Addressing mediapersons in Mangaluru on Tuesday, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy former Chairman Dayananda Kattalsar said that the ancient 'paddana' and other scriptures never mentioned the word Dakshina Kannada anywhere.
The name Dakshina Kannada was influenced by the British who named the region as South Canara. It is more relevant to name the district at Mangaluru district as it is referred to as Mangaluru by people from various parts of the state, country and abroad. Dakshina Kannada is not referred to by the people when one is asked about one's native place, rather they identify themselves with Mangaluru. Therefore, it is relevant to name the district as Mangaluru.
The district was named as Mangaluru rajya during the Vijayanagara empire. In 1931, a demand was raised at the Zilla Parishat to name the district as ‘Mangaluru’, he said. The Mangaluru brand should be created for the benefit of IT companies and entrepreneurs.
He further stated that the opinion of about 600 people from various walks of life, including leaders of various political parties, was collected before arriving on the common suggestion on the name Mangaluru district.
KPCC general secretary Rakshith Shivaram said that the name Dakshina Kannada might suggest that the district is situated in the Southern part of the state. In reality, the district is situated in the western part.