Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 22: Christian community leaders submitted a letter to the commissioner and mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) objecting the name change of Ladyhill Junction or Ladyhill Circle.

In the letter addressed to commissioner and mayor, the Catholic Sabha has detailed the historical significance of the name 'Ladyhill' and the sentiments attached to the name.

The letter stated, “The Apostolic Carmel sisters landed in Mangaluru from Beyonne, France and started its mission of education. In 1885 when Mother Mary Des Anges first Superior General came down to Mangaluru, local persons had requested her to open a school for girls. The area was hilly. In the said area St Ann's Ladyhill Victoria Girls High School was started. Large numbers of females were being educated in the said school. The term 'Ladyhill' assumes its importance mainly for the reasons that girl children were provided education. As a mark of respect for the women empowerment everybody called the area as Ladyhill. Several thousands of women have been benefited through education. Given the historical significance of area the name 'Ladyhill' should not be allowed to be changed. For more than a century now, the place is called Lady Hill Junction or Lady Hill Circle.

“In fact, the school was started by the Apostolic Carmel sisters under the patronage of our Lady of Mount Carmel. Lady of Mount Carmel refers to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. Catholics revere Mary and which also has religious significance. Change of existing status quo would wound religious feelings of lacs of Catholic residents in Mangaluru city. Hence, in the interest of maintaining communal harmony too it is just and necessary to retain the same name.

“There are educational institutions also which are run under the same banner and style such as Ladyhill Primary School, Ladyhill High School, Ladyhill PU School for more than 100 years. There are also rickshaw and bus stand known as Ladyhill rickshaw stand and Ladyhill Bus Stand.

“Even the bus permits mention the name Ladyhill Junction and a number of buses ply through the Ladyhill junction. So also, Karnataka Bank has been permitted to design, construct and maintain Ladyhill circle at Lady hill Junction for a period of three years as per its resolution of Mangaluru City Corporation dated January 30, 2020.

“So also, as per Mangaluru City Corporation resolution No 98/2018-19 dated February 28, 2019, passed a resolution to name the road from Ladyhill Junction to New Chitra Junction as 'Sri Gokarnatha Kshethra Rasthe'.

“In the said area large number of Catholics reside. Now if the name is altered, it will hurt religious feelings of the Catholics and also twist the history. Earlier in the year 2003 and in the year 2018, attempts were made to change the name of Ladyhill Junction but because of the objections raised by the public the said proposal was dropped. Hence, it is unfair to change the name of the circle,” stated the letter.

Rolphy D’Costa, president, Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh (R), All India Catholic Union president Lancy D'Cunha, P J Rodrigues, Alwin Panir, Sr Ujwala S C, principal, Ladyhill school, Sr Maria Chetana A C, president and members of various association and committee and public, handed the request letter to the commissioner, mayor and other leaders.