Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Dec 14: The government school building at Nellikatte, which had been started by the East India Company in the year 1865, which was modeled after the London Theater, was razed to the ground as it was considered dangerous.

The British government had started the first ever school in the region in the heart of Puttur in 1865 when Puttur and a few neighbouring taluks had no schools. A grand building had been constructed for the purpose. High foundation on the model of dais, huge pillars all along the hall, and thick wooden beams supporting the roof, were its highlights. The school has 3.25 acres of land. Its building was considered among very few ancient heritage buildings in the district. A long drawn effort to resurrect the building had been carried out and the struggles and pleas had fallen on deaf ears, culminating in the demolition of the school building.

The school had a mini hall with a Greek style theater in the middle. The stage was at a lower level and there were steps to go down to the stage from both the sides. Plays and other stage shows were performed there and the people could watch the proceedings from the galleries located around. Elders recall that in the past, over 750 students studied in this school at a time. 

Previous MLAs Shakuntala Shetty and Mallika Prasad were requested to sanction grants for the resurrection of the school building. Dr K Shivaram Karanth who shifted his base to Puttur in the 1930s used to conduct theater activities, training for plays etc in the school building. The first ever Dasara of the town was organized in the school premises by the late Dr Karanth. The first Ganeshotsava of the town was held here. For the last some decades, classes were held in neighbouring buildings, and currently the school has a strength of only 80 students.

Long back, when the government first grade college was sanctioned to Puttur, it was run in this old building for some time before it was shifted to its own building at Jidekallu. The women's government college which was sanctioned here also was held next to this building from 2013 to 2015.

School development and monitoring committee (SDMC) president Panchakshari, said that fallen tiles of the building had resulted in injuries to a couple of people. When work began on December 12 to remove tiles, a pillar collapsed. Sensing danger, the building was demolished the same night after holding an emergency SDMC meeting, she stated.

Puttur block education officer Lokesh, said that the building was brought down as it posed danger. He said that further decisions will be taken in consultation with the MLA.

Dr Shivaram Karanth, during his stay in the town, used to provide dance training in this building, which is said to be the oldest in this sub-division. The fans of the late Karanth were hoping that this building would be turned into a memorial in the honour of Dr Karanth.