Navakarnataka book house will take Athree legacy forward'

April 1, 2012

Mangalore, April 1: Navakarnataka book store will strive to take the legacy of Athree book store forward, said R S Rajaram, Managing Director, Navakarnataka publications after the book store was inaugurated at Balmatta in Mangalore on Sunday.

Addressing the gathering at the formal programme held at Sahodaya auditorium after the inauguration of the new book store, Mr. Rajaram said that Athree and Navakarnataka publications had been maintaining good relations from the past several years. He even recalled his association with the father of G N Ashokvardhan, who owned the Athree book store and said that both Athree and Navakarnataka book stores stand for similar principles. “We are not into the black business of books, neither have we tried pleasing the government. We held our own exhibitions across the state and it is through our readers that we have grown to this level”, he said.

Recalling the genesis of Navakarnataka publications in 1960, Mr. Rajaram said that in those days Mangalore was blessed with many intellectuals and people with intellectual thinking. “But today the situation has changed. Today killings and violence in the name of religion and culture has risen”, he said.

Prof B A Viveka Rai, litterateur and visiting professor at the Wurzburg University of Germany, inaugurated the book store. In his address, he emphasized on encouraging literature with scientific temper. “Athree book store was an example of how an institution based on ideology could be built. One could not find books on astrology or jyotishya-shastra, and other superstitions and blind beliefs at Athree book store. Navakarnataka publications have also encouraged literature with scientific temper”, he opined.

Lamenting that there is a huge 'publishing lobby' that works behind the scenes making book publishing a dirty business, Mr. Rai stated that Mr. Ashokvardhan was an exception. “One expects morality in trade. But today the exponents of morality (books) are being used for immoral purposes”, he said.

Mr. Rai also said that although many are understandably unhappy with Mr. Ashokvardhan's decision to shut Athree down, they must allow him to lead his life the way he wants to. “Everybody wants a retired life. Why should we stop him. He is interested in environmental issues and Yakshagana. We must allow him to do what he wants and stopping him from closing down would be selfish on our part”, he said.

Expressing his thoughts on the occasion Mr. Ashokvardhan said that when he decided to close down Athree, he wanted to make sure that the book business does not get orphaned and hence chose Navakarnataka publications for the hand-over.

Navakarnataka book store has begun sales and has announced 20% discount on book sales for a month.

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Flight cancellations strand passengers overnight at Mangaluru Airport

News Network

December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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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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