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MOGAVEERS OF DAKSHINA KANNADA
Mogaveeras
are a sea-faring community whose fishing settlements known in local
parlance as "Pattanas" dot Karnataka's coastal districts of Udupi and
Dakshina Kannada. These Pattanas numbering about two hundred are
located in the coastel talukas of Dakshina kannadsa viz. Kundapur,
Udupi and Mangalore and also Kasargod taluka, now a part of Kerala
State. A visit to these pattanas in their picturesque surrounding is
delightful to the eyes. The infinite expanse of the Arabian sea with
numerous fishing boats afloat, countless waves rising , falling and
breaking into sprays , rows and rows of coconut palms waving with the
wind leaves the visitor spell bound! It is in this enrapturing
surroundings that the Mogaveeras struggle for living defying the waves
and often encountering raging storms and tidal waves.
Although
Dakshina Kannada Udupi are together known as Tulu Nadu, not all the
people of the two districts speak Tulu. People of kandapura taluka and
parts of Udupi taluka to the north speak kannada, the dividing line
being kalyanpur river. At Barkur, which was the capital of Tulu Nadu
during the rule of later Alupas and Vijayanagar governors, Talu
language is conspicuous by its absences.
Explaining
the etymology of words "Tulu" and "Tuluva" late Shri Govinda Pai,
eminent Kannada poet and scholar writes that these words have been
derived from the Tamil root "Tulai" (Tulavu in Tulu language ) which
means row ( a boat ). From this Shri Pai surmises that the people of
Tulu country who were mostly fishermen and whose chief business and
activity were on water, may have been called the Tuluvas. Quoting from
"harivmasha" a Sanskrit work belonging to the second century A. D.
Shri. Govinda Pai further state that a fishing community known by the
name " Mudgara" were living in Tulu Nadu, then ruled by king Harita and
the name Mudgara is the Sansktitised form of today's "Mogera" or Mogaveera.
From the above it may be concluded that Mogaveera were among the
earliest inhabitants of Dakshina Kannada. It is significant to note
that Alupas, the native ruling house of Tulu Nadu who ruled for more
than thousand years before the advent of Vijaya Nagar empire in the
14th century A.D. had "Mina Lanchhana" or the fish as their emblem.
Coins minted by Alupas depict two fish under an umbrella shaped canopy
with a lamp on either side.
E. Thurston
who made a comprehensive study of castes and tribes in Southern India
Write that Mogaveeras are the traditional fishermen of South Kanara and
some of later took to other occupation like framing, tuning of
instruction, oil pressing and bearers of palanquin and therefore, came
to be known by their occupational names .
From
time immemorial Mogaveeras are known for their community living in
harmony with others. Every "Pattana" or village had two or more headmen
or Gurikaras, depending on the size and population of the Pattanas,
whose duty it was to see that members of the community observe
prescribed code of conduct and also to settle disputes, if any, between
the members. The pattanas were affiliated to Sanyukta pattanas or the
union of villages known as "Nalku Pattana", "Elu pattana" and "Hadinaru
Pattana" and these in turn were three Hobalis in Dakshina Kannada known
as "Mangaluru Hobali", "Barkuru Hobali" and "Bagwadi Hobali" with an
apex body known as "Sarva Hobali Mahasabha".
Day
to day affairs of the village were looked after by village headmen or
Gurikaras until 1950, or thereabouts, when elected committees were
instituted in most of the village. These representative bodies
regulated fishing, social and religious activities of the Mogaveera
community. In addition , all civil disputes between members of the
community were settled by the committee. A well defined system of
submitting written statements both by the plaintiff and the defendant
and producing witnesses in support of their respective claims were
allowed. The head-man or the President of the committee extensively
questioned the litigants and the witnesses to bring out the truth.
The
statement made in a place of worship where the meetings generally took
place. Used to be honest submissions. if the judgment is not
acceptable, the litigants are allowed to go in appeal to the higher
forums such as the Sanyukta Pattanas, Hobali or the Dakshina Kannada
Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha. In the olden days decision arrived at the
Mogaveera Kula Maha street Amma Temple, at Bennekuduru, Barkur was
considered final as it was the ultimate seat of justice. Mogaveera
kalaguru or the High Priest Known as "Mangala Poojarya" had his head-
quarters here.
If there was any single
connecting link that held together the fabric of the Mogaveera
community scattered in about two hundred pattanas, including those who
migrated to Mumbai and other places, it was their temple at Bennekuduru
presided by their Kuladevata Shree Kula Maha Shree Amma . Mogaveera had
a unique system of electing their Kulaguru, Shree Mangala Poojarya. On
the demise of the Kulaguru , a new Kulaguru was elected, albeit from
among the descendants of the same family., by an electoral collage
consisting of representative of all the Mogaveera pattanas. "Mangala
Poojarya" was the spiritual as well as temporal head of the community
and also dispenser of justice. Daru shilpas of some of the Mangala
Poojary addressed in princely attire with sword in right hand has
convinced historians of the fact that Bennekuduru was the seat of a
princely state and Mangala Poojarya was its head. Some of the
Darushilpas of daivas at Bennekuduru are stated to belong to the 14th
century A.D. and the temple itself has a history of more than 1000
years. Shri Madhava Managala Poojarya, the last Kulaguru of the
Mogaveera died in the year 1966 and the seat is laying vacant since
then.
Towards the end of the 19th century
the traditional unity of the Mogaveeras developed cracks owing to
Bagwadi seceding from the Sarva Hobali Mahasabha . there were also
bickering between the members of the two Hobalis of Mangaluru and
Barkuru. To meet the situation created by these fissiparous tendencies
among the members of the community, a meeting of all the Grama
pratinidhis of the Mangaluru and Barkuru Hobalis was held on January
26,1924 at the premises of Bobbariya Temple at Bappanadu near Mulki,
preside over by the then Mogaveera Kulaguru Shri Madhava Mangala
Poojarya. At the meeting it was resolved to forge unity among the
Mogaveeras by amalgamation of the Mangaluru and Barkuru Hobalis to form
the Dakshina Kannada Mogaveeras Mahajana Sangh and invited bagwadi
Hobali to join it. It was also decided to have uniform code of conduct
for the entire community including on ceremonial occasion like marriage
etc. Framers of this code of conduct were enlightened people who saw
far ahead of their times. Among the rules framed were the compulsory
schooling of at least one child from each house-hold, conducting census
of Mogaveeras in villages of the two Hobalis, prohibition of children
visiting liquor shops, not to serve non-vegetarian meals at marriage
functions and other ceremonial occasion and to restrict the number of
persons attending betrothal function at brides residence to five only.
The Mogaveera Mahajana Sanngha also resolved to build a fund of Rs .One
lakh during the course of next 12 years to improve education and
economic conditions of Mogaveeras and also to meet the expenses of
renovating Mogaveera Temple at Bennekuduru which had surfed extensive
damages during floods in 1923.
In 1957 the
Dakshina kannada Mogaveera Mahajana Sangha built Shri Mahalaxmi Temple
at Uchila on the land gifted by late Shri Udyavara Sadiya Sahuakar on
the plea that the existing Mogaveera Temple at Bennekuduru, Barkur
is not conveniently located for the people of Mangalore taluka to
visit. The builders of the Shree Mahalaxmi Temple had an ambitions plan
to conduct education al institutions to be financed from the income
derived from the temple.
During the days of
British Raj when Dakshina Kannada, then known as South Kanara was part
of the Madras presidency, the madras Governments had established
Fisheries school in most of the coastal village to impart basic
education to fishermen's children. Unfortunately, the succeeding
Government of Karnataka did not extend the same support to these school
after the formation of the new state. Despite the lukewarm attitude of
the new government of Karnataka, most of these schools have since
attained the status of High school, and in some cases as Junior
collages, largely due to efforts of the villages themselves. In this
they were assisted by the young men who had migrated to Mumbai but
whose embilical cords were still buried deep in their village in
Dakshina kannada. These young men of Mumbai knew the importance of
education, having themselves acquired in the hard way . Toiling during
the day and attending schools or collages at night. The Bharat High
school at Ullal , near Mangalore is the first such school to be
upgraded as High school with medium of instruction in English. Dakshina
Kannada Hithasadhana Vedike has also established an English Medium High
School in the vicinity of Shree Mahalaxmi Temple, Uchila. Today,
literacy among the people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi is higher
compared to that of any other districts of Karnataka and the Mogaveera
Community had a major role in this achievement.
MOGAVEERAS AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS IN MUMBAI TOP
Though
regular steam ship services between Mangalore and Mumbai were started
only in the year 1845, Mogaveera are known to have been visiting this
city earlier. In the olden days when road and rail services between
coastal Karnataka and Mumbai were non-existing , fishermen from
Dakshina Kannada used to go sailing in their country crafts and dhows
to Cochin and Colombo in the South and to Karwar, Mumbai, Surat and
Bhavnagar in the north. The dhows owned by some of the well to do
Mogaveeras were hired by traders to carry rice, coconuts, areca nuts
and other merchandise brought to coastal Karnataka from across the
Western Ghats. During theirs frequent visit to Mumbai these Mogaveeras,
literature but hard working and honest . came to the notice of official
of East India company and mercantile community of the city and were
engaged by them to provide infrastructural support to their commercial
establishment as sentries and sepoys. It is on record that the then
Governor of Bombay wrote to his counterpart in madras to depute some
able bodies Mogaveeras from Canara, then part of madras Presidency, to
guard Bombay Currency office where cases of frequent theft were taking
place.
Mogaveeras who settled in Mumbai drew
their Kinsmen here by helping them secure employment and also providing
them with shelter initially, Immigration of Mogaveeras to the city
which began as a trickle in the 19th century assumed the form of an
exodus during 20th century with most of the Mogaveera youth in Dakshina
Kannada aspiring in Mumbai. Cut off from their moorings, these men
clustered together in the fort area. While single men lived in their
office premises, those who had their families with them lived in rented
tenements in the Bazaar Gate , Bohra bazaar of Modi street , then known
as native part of the Bombay city.
These
pioneering Mogaveera migrants had an abundance of prudence,
adaptability to new environment and a foresight that stood them in good
stead during the earlier stage of their life in Mumbai. They not only
rehabilitated themselves but also laid future growth of the community
in this metropolis. Mogaveera are well known in their native land of
Dakshina Kannada for their ancient system of community living , a kind
of panchayat Raj, observing their own customs and code of conduct,
known as "Koodu kattu" where disputes between members of the community
are settled internally without going to courts. In Dakshina Kannada
they have their village Sabhas, Samyta Sabhas, and Hobalis to guide
them in their religious social and cultural activities. Similar
institutions were established in Mumbai too with migrant Mogaveeras of
a particular village or group of village coming together. Thus we have
today scores of village or group of village Sabhas in Mumbai, some of
them tracking their origin more than hundred years back. These village
Sabhas, besides catering to the needs of their members here in Mumbai
by providing loans, scholarship etc contribute funds for welfare works
at their native villages in Dakshina Kannada .
Besides
the village Sabhas, Mogaveeras belonging to a particular "Bali" or
"Santhana" irrespective of the villages they come from. Have organized
themselves in to Moolasthana Sabhas. A "Bali" or "Santhana" constitute
a group representing lineage or "Vamsha" and "Moolasthana" is the place
from where the linage originated.
A large number of Mogaveeras from Mumbai attend annual religious
functions. "Tambila " and "Nagadarshana" held at their Moolasthana
usually during the months April and may. Some of the important
Moolasthana Sabhas existing in Mumbai are Amin, Banera, Kanchan,
Karkera, Kotain, Kuner, Mendon, Puthran , Salian, Suvrna and Thingalaya
Moolshtanas. Besides the villages Sabhas and Moolasthanas Sabhas
Mandhbharata established several other institutions such as Shree
Madhbharata Mandali, Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali, Mogaveera Yuvaka
Sangha, Mogaveera Mahajana Seva Sangha ( Bagwadi Hobali), Shree
Jnanodaya Samaj etc.
The existence of several other society,
education and religious institution of Mogaveeras in the city today is
testimonial to the organization capacity of our forefathers. All the
institutions established by Mogaveera were located in the fort area.
Growing families and acute accommodation problem have forced majority
of the Mogaveeras to shift suburbs and with them went to suburbs most
of their institutions.
Shreemadhbharath Mandali,
established in the year 1878, occupies a place of pride among these
institutions. It is not only the socio-religious organization founded
by migrant Mogaveeras in Mumbai but is also the first among the
institutions of Mumbai Kannadigs. Right since its inception ,
activities of Shreemadhbharath Mandali were being conducted in
difference office premised with the permission of concerned managements
excepts during the period from 1906 to 1922 when it conducted its
poojas in the Mogaveera Hobalis premises at Ghoga street. With the
demolition of the above premises by the Municipality, activities of
Shree Madhbharath Mandali were shifted to the premises of French bank
in 1923 where it continued for well over 40 years. In 1964 Shree
Madhbharath Mandali had to vacate French bank premises and the
Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali came to its rescue by accommodating it
in its own premises at Nanabhai Lane. Shreemadhbharath Mandali has
recently built a temple for Lakshminarayana at Andheri (West) on a plot
land gifted by Shree Mahalaksmi Co-op. Housing Society. It has since
discarded communal character and has thrown its door open to all
without restricting as to caste or creed.
MOGAVEERA VYAVASTHAPAKA MANDALI - NOSTALGIA TOP
The
year was 1902 Saturday the 9th August, 1902 to be exact and the place,
3rd Floor of building No 37 at Hornby Road (since renamed as Dadabhoy
Nowroji Road), Fort, Mumbai. A group of 23 young men belonging to the
Mogaveera community had assemble at the above premises to take part in
a function being held under the president ship of Shri Thimmappa Dewjee
of Suratkal, a distinguished member of the Mogaveera community.
Voluntary contribution were received from those attending the function
to meet the incidental expenses. At the end of the function an amount
of Rs. 17.4.0 annas was left over after meeting the expenses and the
organizer of the function were at a loss as to what to do with this
balance amount. There came a suggestion none over than from Shri Chandu
Annu master of Kadipatna, the man instrumental in bring these 23 men
hailing from different villages in Dakshina Kannada to gather under one
roof. He suggested starting of a Benevolent Fund for the Betterment of
Mogaveera Mogera Vyavasthapaka Mandali was instituted on the same day
i.e. on 9th August, 1902 and an adhoc committee consisting of Shri
Thimmappa Dewjee of Suratkal, Shri Chandu A. Master of Kadipatna, Shri
Bhajane Thyampa of Boloor, Shri Guruva of Yermal, Shri Ponku of
Kannangar and Shri Lingappa of Ola Lachchilu was constituted and the
adhoc committee entrusted with thee task of drafting a constitution for
the Mandali.
Besides drafting a constitution
for the Mandali, the adhoc committees launched a drive to nerol new
members and also collect funds to meet its objectives of promoting the
causes of education among the people of the community. By the end of
year 1902, i.e. within a period of about four months, the adhoc
committee had enrolled 41 members and collected over Rs.200/-. A
meeting of members and other invitees of the community was held
thereafter ob the new year Day , i.e. on 1-1-1903 at the same venue viz
37, Hornby Road, Fort, Mumbai and the same was attended by over 250
members of the community . in the absence of Shri Thimmappa Dewjee who
was on level at Dakshina Kannada, Shri Bhajane Thyampa of Boloor,
another eminent member of the community presided. The statement of
Accounts for the Period from 9-8-1902 to 31-12-1902 was presented at
the meeting by Shri Guruva of Sanna Yermal and was approved. Shri
Guruva then read out the newly drafted constitution of the Mandali and
after discussion, the same was adopted. The administrative machinery of
the Mandali formulated in the constitution was well organized. The
Mandali had four organs to manage its affairs. 1) A Public General
Meeting consisting of members and another who help Mandali with
donations. The member of this body was held once or twice a year. 2)
General Meeting of the Members only which may be held once a month. 3)
Meeting of the Selected Committee and 4) Meeting of the Office Bearers.
The following members were elected as Office Bearers : Shri Thimmappa
Dewjee, President, Sarvashri Boloor Bhajane Thyampa and Kadipatna
Chandu Master, Jt. Secretary, Sarvashri Kannangar Ponku and Sanna
Yermal Guruva, Jt. Treasurers. The meeting concluded with vote of
thanks by Shri Chandu Master and serving of battas (sugar cubes),
bananas and betel leaves to the assembled gathering . Establishment
of the Mogaveera Vyavasthapaka Mandali and the institution of a fund
for promoting the causes of education among the members of the
Mogaveera community was widely reported and acclaimed by English and
Guajarati news papers of the time. Jam-e-Jamshed, a Gujarati daily in
its issue dated 7-1-1903 wrote as under : "We are pleased to report
that the people belonging to Mogaveera Mogera Community residing in
Mumbai have established a Fund to help their kinsmen acquire education.
If the people of the community ear mark part of their salary every
month as contribution to the above Fund there is no doubt that the Fund
would grow in size within a short period. Their example should be
emulated by other backward communities living in Mumbai." A
special general meeting of the Mandali was held at the premises of Sir
Dinshaw Pettit Co. on April 6, 1919 to felicitate Shri Koragappa Salian
of Bocakpatna on his passing the 4 year degree course for Sanitary
Engineers from the Victoria Technical Institute. For the first time an
outsider, Shri Mark Noronha, Advocate High Courte was invited to
preside over Mandali's meeting .Shri Bappanand Varma Rao, a social
worker of the time who became a close associate of the Mandali during
subsequent years, also attended the meeting and addressed the
gathering. Shri Korangppa Salian was presented with a book-shaped
silver casket containing citation. This appears to be the first ever
felicitation of an individual by the Mandali. The occasion was utilized
to discuss about steps to be taken to strengthen Mandalis. |
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