Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (EP)

Mangaluru, Jul 2: Umesh Rao Yekkar, who boasts of a very rare collection of various publications and newspapers, does not need any introduction in this region. He has the capacity to be the guide and Guru for anyone having an interest about newspapers. In spite of having been born and brought up in a rural area, Yekkar near Bajpe, Umesh has since long been involved with the work of collecting all kinds of publications and newspapers, and preserving them in an orderly fashion since decades. This is a hobby that has been very dear to his heart.

Umesh Rao who retired as Vice principal after working as lecturer in Kateel Composite Pre University College for 35 years, cultivated an avid interest towards newspapers since his childhood. Till now, he has written over 2,000 articles, which have been published either as independent articles or in the columns he ran in a number of Kannada newspapers.

Having spent his life among newspapers for the last few decades, he has an excellent collection of over 3,000 publications and newspapers from different countries and languages. While most people view old newspapers as trash, he considers them invaluable. He has collected first issues of most newspapers. He has such a strong passion for this hobby that it has almost become purpose of life for him.

'We do not have the system of collecting and preserving old newspapers and other publications in our country. We find such a collection in foreign museums like the one in London. Such a facility should also be created in out country too,' Rao feels.

Some of the very rare collections in his kitty are collection of very old letters of Christian Sabha of 1884, 'Atmahladini' monthly magazine of 1922, 'Supantha' publication of 1911 carrying price tag of two annas, 'Suvasini' dating back to 1927, 'Sadbodha Chandrike' of 1932, children's book published in 1934, 'Madras Samachara' of 1948, Jayakarnataka of 1951, 'Rashtramatha' belonging to the year 1965 and edited by Kadengodlu Shankar Bhat, 'Ajanta' of 1966 edited by the late M Vyasa, 'Gokula' publication from 1966. Tulu publications like Tulunadu, Tulurajya, Ural, Suil, Madipu, Thoote, Thulubolli, Tuluvarthamana, Thembare, Enklene Chavadi, Thuluvere Kedage, Thuluvere Thudar, Tulu siri, Pathaya and Posakural tulu newspapers also form part of his collection.

He also has with him Konkani publications like Kalakiran, Mithr, Jivith, and Dirven. Kannada paper in Devanagari script, the Illustrated Weekly, Lankesh Patrike, Udayavani, Sudha first issues, Kadathoka Manjunatha Bhagavath collection of Yakshagana, Kesari of Balagangadhar Thilak, newspapers from USA, Malaysia, Kashmir, Andaman Nicobar, China, Australia and such other countries have the potential of holding the visitors spellbound.

Rao has been felicitated by several groups and associations. He has held several newspapers exhibitions. The value of the collection he holds can never be assessed. Rao, who was not prepared to part with his rare collection even when institutions like Hampi Univerity sought it, has expressed his willingness to hand over his collection if Kateel Goddess Durgaparameshwari Temple, if its management is prepared to create a museum.

Rao, hailing from a rural background, has taken up this tremendous adventure and has stood out as a top order achiever. His adventure and passion deserve to be hailed and applauded.