Mangaluru: Dr. A M Narahari, Registrar of St Aloysius College told the press that the St. Aloysius College Alumni Association had set up an “Action Committee” comprising 125 members including present students, staff, prominent citizens, like-minded organisations and well wishers of the college for further course of action in retaining the name of “St Aloysius College Road” from Catholic Club to Dr. Ambedkar Road stretch.

He was addressing a press meet here on July 28.

It may recalled that the state government has issued a temporary stay on the process of renaming St. Aloysius College Road as Mulki Sundaram Shetty Road on July 1.

Narahari also said that with an intention of giving respect and cooperation to the process of finding a solution to the problem, St. Aloysius College had restrained from precipitating the issue further through any agitational programme in the last few weeks. “However, a few organisations like Bunt’s Sangha have started making baseless, wild allegations against the college and the respected legislators that they have communalised and politicised the issue. The institution has never involved in communalism and politics. In fact, the college is known for harmony with high secular credentials. There is only one community in St. Aloysius that is St. Aloysius Community. Similarly, the legislators have been trying very sincerely to find a solution to the problem. A few organisations especially the Bunts Yane Nadavara Sangha have been misleading the general public through such baseless allegations instead of cooperating for finding an amicable settlement.

The Aloysius college had made attempts to solve the issue with dialogues thrice. St. Aloysuis College is ready to hold dialogues with Vijaya Bank Employees Union under the leadership of District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai. We are not into conflict but the issue should be settled. The Light House Hill Road was named as St. Aloysius Road during the beginning of the centenary celebrations as a mark of respect for the services rendered by the college. It was in 1979, due to special efforts of Late Blazius D’Souza and Late P F Rodrigues, former ministers of Karnataka that the road was inaugurated with the consent of the Municipality (City Corporation had not been formed then). There was no system of notifying a road during that time.

We have given three suggestions to the administration to settle the problem. To make it an amicable settlement we ensure that we are bound to the decision of the district in-charge minister. Mulky Sundharam Shetty’s name can be given to any road in the city but the same is not possible for the institution. The Action Committee will be forced to launch counter measures if other organisations do not cooperate with the process of amicable settlement,” he said.

Fr. Dr. Praveen Martis, Principal of St. Aloysuis College; Archibald Menezes, President of SACAA; N G Mohan, Convener of SACAA and others were present.

St Aloysius College Road- A few Facts (According to press release)

The Light House Hill Road was named as St. Aloysius Road during the beginning of the centenary celebrations as a mark of respect for the services rendered by the college. It was in 1979 due to special efforts of Late Blazius D’Souza and Late P F Rodrigues, former Ministers of Karnataka, the road was inaugurated with the consent of the Municipality (City Corporation had not been formed then). There was no system of notifying a road during that time.

A plaque (Name Board) was installed at the time of inauguration as (St. Aloysius College Road) on to the compound wall of KMC. The plaque is still there. It is a strong proof.

There were three yellow name boards installed under the same name; one in front of Higgin Bothams (then existing book stall), second at the deviation point on the lighthouse hill and third in front of the district library. These name boards were removed during concretisation and road widening. The fact that such a name board existed has been admitted by Ajith kumar Malady, President, Bunts’ Association in his memorandum to the district in-charge minister.

When the LHH road was renamed as St. Aloysius College Road, Mangalore, Catholic Cooperative Bank Ltd (MCC Bank) changed its registered office address clearly mentioning the road as St Aloysius College Road instead of LHH road. All its correspondences were with the changed address for which documentary evidence is available.

The Centenary Souvenir of the college has shown a map wherein it is clearly mentioned as “SAC Road”.

Mangalore City Corporation Website under ward 40 mentions the road in several places as St. Aloysius College Main road, St. Aloysius cross road, etc. The Hon’ble Mayor has admitted this fact in public. This is another proof that the road in fact, was named as St. Aloysius College Road.

Vijaya Bank Officers’ Organisation did not specifically ask for this road. In fact, their application to the Corporation was to name any road in Mangalore as “Sundaram Shetty Road.” Therefore, if an alternative road is suggested by the City Corporation or the Government their demand will be met.

There was no specific debate in Mangalore City Corporation with regard to the approval. Many corporators have openly expressed surprise how the resolution was passed without a debate. Some officials have quietly seen to it that the resolution is recorded as passed.

Mangalore City Corporation should have issued a notice to St. Aloysius College before effecting any change as the road earlier had been named as St. Aloysius College Road. A public notification is not enough.

Roads and circles renamed will not be recognised under the new name by the general public immediately. It takes a long time. For example, Jyothi Circle is named as Ambedkar circle but it is till Jyothi. Similarly the road from Ambedkar circle to Hampankatta is named as Dr. Shivaram Karanth Road. But it is still known as Balmatta road.

St. Aloysius College is also a heritage zone as the Chapel and the Museum are attracting more than 30000 foreigners every year. St. Aloysius College has brought about a transformational change in education, culture and social spheres of life. It is befitting that a road in its name becomes a honour and pride for Mangaluru.