Mangalore, Jan 25: Speaking at the 175th anniversary celebration of BEM Institution, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala said that he had happily accepted the invitation of the institution, since it has educated large number of people across the district.
He also said that he is proud to be the part of celebration of 175th anniversary and had also participated in the 150th year celebration of the institution. My father the late Ratnavarma Heggade also studied in this institution, he added.
Speaking on the institution, Heggade said that Basel Mission which came to Mangalore brought many changes in society giving importance to education. It is true that country had a history of 5,000 years and education system was there before the arrival of Basel Mission, but it was only for the upper class children. But the mission had spread education in society irrespective of caste and class, which also influenced the lifestyle of people. Apart from it, they also involved themselves in business, politics, economics, and agriculture.
During the occasion, Dr Heggade unveiled the blueprint of the 3D future building project plan which will be constructed by Prakash Simons, builder at the cost of Rs 2 crore.
Delivering the key note address, Walter J Maben said that Protestant Christian missionaries arrived the country from Germany and Switzerland, deputed by the Evangelical Mission Society also called as Basel Mission. They broke the superstitious beliefs among people of lower class being suppressed by upper class. They educated all the children irrespective of caste, class, creed, and sex with the sole aim of equality.
The institution also felicitated 11 retired teaching and non-teaching staffs.
Raghavendra Rao, former president of MUDA, Suresh Ballal, Roshan Kumar, PUC principal, Jayanthi Purushotham, Alwyn Colaco and many others were present on the occasion.
