Buddha Purnima: Minister exhorts people to end communalism, casteism

[email protected] (CD Network | Anoushka Pinto / Mervyn D'Silva)

May 10, 2017

Mangaluru, May 10: Calling Gautama Buddha a harbinger of democracy, PWD Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa on Wednesday said that the founder of Buddhism had laid emphasis on a democratic setup in the society to protect weaker sections from the oppressors.

The minister, who also hails from a suppressed class, was speaking after inaugurating the Buddha Purnima, the 2561st birthday of Buddha, organised by Bauddha Mahasabha, Dakshina Kannada, at Town Hall in the city.

He said that Dr B R Ambedkar, who embraced the Buddhism in protest against the caste system of Hinduism, too had fought against the oppressors including communal and fascist forces. He also called upon the young generation to uphold the values of Buddhism such as consciousness and compassion and fight against communal and casteist forces.

Claiming that there was no caste system in Indian during the time of Buddha, he called upon the people to work towards establishing a ‘Buddha Bharat’ and a ‘prosperous Bharat’. He also recalled that Pope John Paul II during his first visit to India had stated that “India is a great country where Buddha was born”.

Speaking on the occasion, forest minister B Ramanath Rai urged the people to end hatred. “In this world, we can win over people with love and not with hatred. The solution to hatred is not hatred, but love,” he said.

Recalling Dr Ambedkar’s contribution in preserving Buddhism, C Mahadevayya, Tahsildar, Mangaluru stated “Babasaheb Ambedkar is the reviver of Buddhism”.

Kavitha Sanil, Mayor, Mangaluru City Corporation, Mohiuddin Bava, MLA, Mangalore City North, and B H Khadar, Chairman of the Cashew Development Corporation, also spoke. Kanthappa Alangar, President, Bauddha Mahasabha, Dakshina Kannada presided over the function.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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