Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network-Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Jun 29: Dakshina Kannada district administration, Mangaluru City Corporation, Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat and social welfare department, Mangaluru on Wednesday June 29 celebrated the 157th birth anniversary of Kudmul Ranga Rao at DC office.
Mangaluru city corporation mayor, K Harinath inaugurated the ceremony and paid tribute to Kudmul Ranga Rao by garlanding his portrait.
In his inaugural address, he said, “Kudmul Ranga Rao was one of the greatest persons Mangaluru had ever seen. He was a social reformer who established ‘Depressed Classes Mission’ in Mangaluru for providing education and empowered the backward classes. He gave away his land to the poor and downtrodden of the society. We will name one of the projects after his name so that his name is remembered forever.”
Retired officer of RTO Keshava Dharani said, “Kudmul Ranga Rao is an inspiration to every one of us. He was born into a rich Saraswat Brahmin family. Dalit reformer Kudmul Ranga Rao wanted to see dalits stand on their feet. Rao had said he would be fortunate to see people from the oppressed classes get government jobs and let the dust from their vehicles fall on his head. He had given all his wealth for the betterment of the suppressed. He was one of the greatest reformers of this land.”
MUDA chairman Ibrahim Kodijal, assistant director of social welfare department, Mangaluru Dr G Santhosh Kumar and others were present.