Mangaluru: Good news for people who speak Konkani language that the Konkani study department was officially inaugurated today in Mangaluru University.

Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande inaugurated the department at Ravindra Bhavan in Mangaluru University. He addressed the gathering and said that the department will help in learning Kopnkani language culture and life style.

There are many study departments working already in the university, the addition of Konakani department is the happiest thing he said.

Mangaluru Bishop Rev.F.Alosiyus Pavl Dsouza gave blessings. MP Nalin Kumar, MLA J.R.Lobo, V.V. Chancellor Prof. Bhairappa, Mayor Jacinta, Karnataka Konkani Academy president Roy Castelino were present.

Mangaluru:  A National level seminar was hosted at Canara College on Thursday by Forest Ministry, aboriginals union and various other organizations.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the seminar. Karnataka Book Authority president Banjagere Jayaprakash gave away a guidance speech. Registrar of Mangaluru University Dr.P.S.Yadapadiyttaya, Canara High School Association president S.S Kamat, Secretary Ranganath Bhat participated in the seminar.

Mangaluru: In a cultural extravaganza, Mangalore University felicitated the prize winners in inter-university sports and cultural competitions and inter-collegiate sports championships for 2014-15 at a function on the university campus on Wednesday.

Olympian Sahana Kumari was the star attraction at the felicitation function.

Overall championship

Students of Alva’s College, Moodbidri, walked away with the overall championship for the inter-collegiate sports competitions of the university for the ninth consecutive time with the rolling silver trophy. Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara College, Ujire, bagged the runner-up trophy and Mangalore University campus team took away the third–place trophy.

In the men and women categories in the inter-collegiate sports competitions, the winning trophies were bagged by Alva’s College, Moodbidri, along with Rs. 20,000. SDM College, Ujire, won the runner-up trophies with Rs. 12,000 and the third-place trophies went to the university campus teams with Rs. 8,000.

In the individual category in inter-collegiate sports competitions, the gold medallists were given Rs. 25,000 each; the silver medallists bagged Rs. 15,000 each and the bronze medallists were given Rs. 10,000 each.

Those who participated and won medals in the inter-university sports and cultural competitions were also given cash prizes and mementos which depended based on categories of sports and cultural competitions.

Grace marks

Addressing students and teachers on the occasion, K. Byrappa, varsity Vice-Chancellor, said that the Department of Physical Education has requested the university to give grace marks to medal winners in various levels of competitions. The university would place this proposal before a 14-member expert committee constituted to draft the new draft policy. A decision would be taken based on the recommendation of the expert committee.

Mr. Byrappa said that a multi-gym for men would be opened on the university campus either this month-end or next month. A multi-gym for women was inaugurated a month ago. Banjara dance, a north-eastern dance, mime and other dances added glitter to the felicitation ceremony reminding one film award presentation functions.

Ullala: Demanding for unbiased and impartial probe into the mysterious death of DC of Kolar, D.K.Ravi, a protest march was demonstrated in the college campus at Konaje. This march was led by the students of research and post graduation department of Mangalagangotri University of Mangalore.

The procession marched from Mangala auditorium to main gate of the university. It is not important that the matter is given to COD or CID. It is important that impartial probe must be done and culprits must be punished. The opposition has a fear that the CID which works under State government will not probe the matter impartially. On the other hand Government has feared that verdict will go against the government. But the people and victims family wants nothing but justice.

Right now it is suspected that MR.Ravi has committed suicide but honest and courageous officer like him who took decisions without haste will never committed suicide. In Kolar when I met him in a fair I had a chance to see his working style closely. I had been to seek his guidance to right exams. He had treated me well like an ordinary person without showing power of his designation, explained student of the college Harish.

IAS officer Mahantesh too had received threat calls. But cops instead of investigating the people who gave calls they started to interrogate Mahantesh. If the matter was taken seriously by then D.K.Ravi wouldn’t have lost his life now.  If the death of an honest officer doesn’t get justice massive protest will be demonstrated; warned the students.

A student named Rachana said that the state had lost an honest officer like Ravi. He must get justice. IAS officers must work without fear. Corruption must be evacuated she demanded.

Student leaders Somanna, Anil, Rajashekhar, Raviraj and others were present.

Mangaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that State government would set up a Konkani study chair at Mangaluru University and promised required financial support from the government in this regard.
The Chief Minister was responding to an appeal made by Dr. P. Dayananda Pai, president of the Bengaluru Konkani Samaj, at the award ceremony of the Karnataka Sahitya Academy. 

Rs. 1 crore for the study chair

Pai said at least Rs. One crore was needed to set up an academic chair for research and development for the language - Konkani, at the university. He said the Konkani community would raise upto Rs 50 lakh and requested the chief minister to contribute an equal sum.

Siddaramaiah said the financial assistance requested for the Konkani study chair would be provided in the next financial year. He appreciated the community’s efforts in preserving Konkani though there is no script for the language.