Mangalore, July 2: The 153rd birth anniversary of Kudmul Ranga Rao was organised by Akhila Bharatha Mundala Yuvajana Vedike at SDM Law College here on Sunday.
Speaking at the function, N. Yogesh Bhat, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, called him the “pride” of Mangalore for having inspired even Mahatma Gandhi. “He gave society a message through his life. And his fight for the rights to education, equality, employment of the backward classes is reflective of Basaveshwara's fight. Even the Mahatma accepted him as a guru,” he said.
However, he added that apart from the naming of a road in the city, Kudmul Ranga Rao had not been properly commemorated. “Renaming Wenlock Hospital, which has been offering good treatment to the poor, would be a fitting memorial to someone who has uplifted many poor families in his time through education. I will take up this matter with the officials concerned soon,” he said.
The function, organised by Akhila Bharat Mundala Yuva Vedike, saw the release of Ranga Rao's biography as well as the website mundala.org. The organisers said both would illuminate and propagate the message of the social reformer.
The book chronicles the journey of Kudmul Ranga Rao — from his birth in Kasaragod district on July 26, 1859, to his endeavours to provide access to education to the depressed classes. Apart from education, his mission eventually extended to providing housing, drinking water, and even shielding the backward classes against exploitation by upper classes.
On releasing the book, MLA U.T. Khader said the book would bring forth the message of the social reformer to a younger generation which was in danger of forgetting his contributions. “Those who read about the efforts by Kudmul Ranga Rao to uplift the lower castes should also go forth and carry his message to those who still live in oppression,” he said.
Comments
Add new comment