Mangalore :

An initiative by the Mangalore City Corporation and Mangalore Urban Development Authority will see people of this coastal city flip through pages an encyclopaedia of sorts on the city. The book planned in two volumes intends to provide insight into historical, cultural, social life and growth of Kudla and is expected to be ready in a year. The project is expected to be completed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh, according to deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim.

Titled Mangalore Darshana volume 1 and 2, the book, Ibrahim, who is also the chairman of Muda, said will chronicle the past and growth of the city limited to the present boundaries of the Corporation. Plans are afoot to print 1,000 copies each of the two volumes, with each volume containing 752 pages. A reader can go through 65 articles with each article running in to 10 pages. Scholar B A Viveka Rai will be the chief editor of the book.

Rai, also former vice-chancellors of Karnataka State Open University, Mysore and Kannada University, Hampi, said Mangalore Darshana volumes will record development based on evidence as well as oral narrative from memory relating personal experiences. The socio-economic, cultural, trade, commerce, education, lifestyle and other aspects of people in the coastal city from pre-history to 21st Century will go on record in this official effort.

Old photographs including those from archives of Bassel Mission will go into embellishing the visual appeal of this book. While oral narratives of leading citizens such as VIPs may not form part of the book, Rai said, experiences of aam aadmi including an old time bus conductor, fish or vegetable sellers, a farm worker or those involved in such routine and sundry chores will form part of this effort at chronicling the city’s history.

Trivia such as Karnataka’s first printing press being set up in this city and the first Kannada newspaper too getting published here will add value. Mangalore Darshana will focus on aspects such as city administration, sports, industry, and politics. Vamana Nandavara, former president, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Muddu Moodubelle, writer will be assistant editors and a 14-member honorary advisory committee will assist them.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / April 24th, 2014