The Mangalore Diaries - Art Kanara Trust

Art Kanara Trust is an NGO looking to promote art, culture and allied projects in South Kanara - Dakshin Kannada, Udupi, Kasargod regions. Jayanth's book 'Red Cherries on the Canara Coast' was published by them. So when we had a bit of time on Saturday he suggested we visit their office which is also the office of the Mangalore INTACH division. 

I met Jayanth at the 'Fiza Nexus' mall where his students from NITTE university, Mass Comm course were organising a chocolate street fest - they provided space for local bakers etc to sell their stuff in the mall. Looked like an interesting project and all stalls seemed to be doing brisk business selling delightful cakes, pastries, tarts etc.

The house in which it is located belongs to the Alva brothers, four of whom played cricket, two at first class. More interestingly the house is featured as a heritage structure in Mangalore, Kodial Guthu or Guthu Mane.

We met Nemiraj Shetty who was handling the affairs of Art Kanara Trust with his team. He recalled fond memories of his stay in Hyderabad, working with the AP Times, and later on, setting up his own art gallery there. 

The Art Kanara Office has some wonderful paintings by local artists, books which included 'Red Cherries' and a couple that I bought - 'Combing Kudla' with pens and brushes - an Urban Sketchers initiative with sketches of over 50 heritage structures, beautifully done. Another book titled 'Chennu' which is a profile of the Mangalore City.

We had a long chat about Hyderbad, heritage work in Mangalore, art, literature etc. He told me that they had a group that organised heritage walks every fortnight - unfortuantely they did not have one the next day. 

It was a lovely outing and I enjoyed meeting Nemiraj and promised to keep in touch with him. We clicked a few pics before Jayanth and I set off.

The Mangalore Diaries - Walking to Central Maidan

Started walking at 730 and headed towards Central Maidan which is a central part of Jayanth Kodkani's book on cricket in Konkan. 

Passed some interesting places on the way - a chapel, and old movie theatre Prabhat Talkies, the University building, the clock tower, St Paul's Church and right in front of the church, the Central Maidan or Nehru maidan as its called now. 

The city was just waking up and people were hurrying to work, to college, to play. There were people sleeping on the sidewalk, a few waiting for daily work, street vendors selling clothes setting up shops early. 

I took a few pics of St Paul's Church which is one of the oldest churches in Mangalore and stepped into Central Maidan. 

There's not a blade of grass on it, it's full of red, hard mud. The walls are lined with trees and there are almost 10 practice nets, all matting.

The pavilion also houses the office of the Uttara Kannada Cricket Association with a prominent score board. Young cricketers were warming up for a match. A few parents hung on. On another side is a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru.

It is surprising that there is no turf wicket and if this is the head quarters of UKCA I'd expect it to be a turf ground. Can't imagine kids playing matches on matting and suddenly playing selection games on turf. 

From the Central Maidan I walked past a lovely astro turfed soccer ground where a lot of kids were training. A vollyball court was filled with amateur players enjoying themselves, egged on by a sporty couple sitting in the bus stand. A few weekend cricketers were playing by the side.

I went past the clock tower, and found the University College of Distance Education which was such a beautiful building that i stepped in to take a closer look much to the worry of a suspicious sweeper lady who suspended all work to keep an eye on me. I normally shrink under any severe eye, and this one was especially severe, so I eggressed from the nearest exit.

Down the road I saw the beautiful Milgres Church, massive, and turned towards the St Aloysius Chapel which is the first sight to see in Mangalore. It was a nice walk uphill to what's called the Lighthouse Hill and I passed the Mangalore Ladies Club and entered the St Aloysius Educational Institutes. 

The watchman guided me to the chapel which one cannot access when a service is on - luckily there was no service and I walked into a quiet chapel with not a soul in it. I sat for a while, looked at the beautiful paintings by an Italian artist, donated some money in a box for the upkeep of the paintings, and stepped out.

Next I descended the steps to the cricket ground which is credited with the beginning of all cricket activity in Mangalore. The year 1878 was when 7 Jesuit priests started the college and cricketing activity which was publicized by Father Moore's lively coverage in his Mangalore Magazine.

Some young cricketers played in the ground, shirtless. One of them bowled real quick too. They guided me to the Academy ground which I think was where those matches happened all those years ago. I passed the gents hostels and walked back to the hostel.

Good walk.

People - Anita Nair - Maitreya Gets Married

Anita sent me the marriage invitation for Maitreya's wedding more than a month ago. He was marrying Anvita Pereira who is from Mangalore so the wedding was in Mangalore at Holy Cross Church. Now, my nephew Shrinjay studies in Mangalore and he was due to get engaged at around the same time so I just left that open.

Turned out that my nephew was getting engaged on the 12th and Maitreya's wedding was on the 10th so I decided I could go a day early. 

The Holy Cross Church was beautiful with stained glass windows, well maintained interiors, huge parking space, a massive function hall for the reception. It was beautiful. 

Everyone dressed up so well that it looked like one of those movies set in Italy like Mama Mia or something. The Bishop was gentle and loving and it all went off beautifully. I met Jayanth Kodkani, ex Editor of Times in Bangalore and we caught up.

The reception was in Cordel Hall next door, another beautiful place that was excellently decorated. A stunning cake, champagne, bar, food, live band and the works. I was too tired from an early morning flight that kept me up all night so left early. 

I realised that Mangalore was full of quaint old houses, churches, buildings, clock towers. 

It's a heritage lovers paradise. Can't wait to go on a walk tomorrow and check out some places.

The Wall of Happyness - Lovely Idea

Saw this lovely concept called 'The Wall of Happyness' at the Fiza Nexus Mall in Mangalore. There's this place with huge open boxes where people can leave clothes they don't need, and if they need any clothes they take it. 

I didn't realise it until i saw a bunch of people just checking stuff and taking stuff away. In Hyderabad we would give away clothes to an NGO owned by Dr Reddy's until they stopped it, and then to Goonj who went far away. Now I have no place to give so I give it away to Ann who gives it to her church I think. 

Loved it. Well done Fiza Nexus.

People - A Wedding - Mohib

Mohib Ali Khan was a stylish batsman and useful off spinner from our University days. He was a high contributing member of our Osmania University team that won the South Zone Championship at Vizag in 1991.

Mohib unfortunately missed out playing for the South Zone varsities despite scoring fifties and a six wicket haul in the final. The University zone selections, now that i look back, were atrocious 

Mohibs daughter got married recently and he invited the entire cricket team from our Osmania side.  He shifted to Uganda early on because he got an opportunity to play and also work. He is now in a senior position in a finance company.

 Our skipper Vijay. Bansi, Venkat Dhatrak and I went together. At the venue we met Shujath Ali Khan. Other cricketers who were present included Riaz, my co-selector and exRanji player, Masood Junior, an elegant left handed batsman, Shujauddin, a right arm fast bowler who bowled outswingers and several others. 

It was a good evening catching up. Thanks Mohib. We took several pics, this one has Mohib in it in a white coat.

Miranda Days - And a First at Lady Irwin College

 And so Orpheus wins the first prize after many seconds and thirds and as it happens with most things, happened when they (A at least) were least expecting it. Isn't it a fact that most artists hate their most popular works - like Guns and Roses do not like 'Sweet Child of Mine'. But that's life, we want to be known for something and the world likes us for something else.

Well done Orpheus (named after the legendary Greek poet musician who had superhuman powers)! 

And the Orpheus journey before they got here - St Stephen's, Kirorimal, Hansraj, DCAS, LSR, Jesus and Mary, Gargi and so on and so forth! More power to you girls!

Thought for the Day - Recreating the Magic

When we miss someone in our life, what do we miss? We miss the things we did together, the way they made you feel, the way you were with them. When the person goes away, we miss these. The laughter, the excitement, the madness, that feeling of understanding and being understood. Waiting for the person who left will not help, so one must find ways to fill that gap and enjoy life as before.

One way to get over the hole in our lives when people move out is to identify what they made you feel, what you did, how you were and then recreate it - with another person or persons or even with oneself. Can I still enjoy a laugh with someone, share a chai with someone, pull someone's leg, share stuff that I learned or discovered, open myself to someone, make plans, sit quietly, listen to music, watch a film, go for a drive...well I am sure they can all be equally fulfilling with other people, with oneself. It should be as much fun I should think. 

To be in that state with oneself is ideal, and if we can be as much fun with ourselves, it will be very easy to attract the right kind of people too. Life goes on as usual - fun, invigorating, learning, sharing, feeling cared, a feeling of belonging.

It's an experiment worth trying.