'Azad's view of communal-free society relevant in Mangalore'

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)
March 27, 2013
Mangalore, Mar 27: Moulana Abul Kalam Azad's perspective of a communal-free society is extremely relevant in today's Mangalore as the coastal city has “changed for the worse” as far as religious intolerance is concerned, said Dr. Gopalan Kutty, Former Professor and HOD-History, Calicut University.

He was delivering the keynote address at the inaugural ceremony of a regional seminar on 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad's Vision on India's Freedom and Education', organized jointly by Department of History, Besant Women's College Mangalore and MANUSHA (Mangalore University History Teachers Association) in Mangalore on Wednesday.

Dr. Kutty said that although Moulana Azad was proud of his Islamic upbringing and traditional values of India, he had great respect for other religions and advocated the policy of adapting to changes with time. However, the scenario has changed a lot today, especially in Mangalore, as certain groups claiming to be protectors of tradition and culture have ruined the harmony in society, Dr. Kutty said, while pointing out that such elements are not aware of their own history.

Moulana Azad was a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity and vehemently opposed the creation of Pakistan, Dr. Kutty noted. “He stood for the cause of unity and practiced secular journalism. Through his 'Al-Hilal' journal, he expressed his opposition to British imperialism and warned people of the 'divide and rule' policy of the British. 'Al-Hilal' had a circulation of 3 lakh and it was banned by the British who saw this effort of Moulana Azad as a threat. The British would refer to him as an 'active Deobandi Jehadi activist who assists the fanatics of Hindusthan', and were aware of the danger he posed to them as he worked towards bringing Hindus and Muslims closer”, Dr. Kutty said.

As the first Education Minister of independent India, Moulana Azad propounded several revolutionary measures including free and compulsory basic education for all, the 12 point programme for development of social education where he advocated the village to be the centre of instruction and the mother tongue to be the medium of instruction, Dr. Kutty said. “His ideas were based on Gandhian principles. He was not in agreement with Jawaharlal Nehru's economic policy, according to which economic development would result in elimination of caste system and other evils in the society”, Dr. Kutty said.

Dr. Devananda Goankar, Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Mangalore, inaugurated the seminar. Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy, President, Women's National Education Society, Mangalore, Dr. Manjula KT, Principal, Besant Women's College, Mangalore, Ganesh Pai, HOD - History, Besant Women's College, Mangalore, were present.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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