The contributions of Rev. John Hands, a lesser-known missionary who spent more than three decades in Ballari towards popularising Kannada and establishing Kannada medium schools, much earlier to Rev. Fernand Kittel, is being recalled by celebrating bicentennial celebrations of his arrival here way back in 1810.

John Hands has many firsts to his credit. He was the first Protestant missionary to be sent by the London Missionary Society to come over here on May 5, 1810, with a view of establishing a Canarese (Kannada) Mission. He commenced the study of the ‘Canarese’ language. On realising that it was difficult for him to study without a dictionary or grammar book, he laid emphasis on preparing a lexicon from English to Kannada and vice-versa, as well as studying Kannada grammar.

In 1811, he established a Kannada-medium residential school in Fort area of the city, and an English-medium school for the children of the British. He was also instrumental in setting up a school for girls in Fort area.

Rev. Hands was also the first to translate the Bible in Kannada.

In recognition of his pro-academic activities, the East India Company allotted ‘Neelamma Garden’ to him in Brucepet, which came to be known as mission garden, where Rev. Hands established a Kannada school, a church, a Kannada printing press (the first to be established).

In 1844, the first Kannada news paper ‘Samachar’ was printed at the Ballari Mission Press. Several Kannada books, including Bible, were also published from here.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Ballari – February 04th, 2015