Mangalore: Historic Tomb Stone to be preserved at Rosario Cathedral

Mangalore: Historic Tomb Stone to be preserved at Rosario Cathedral

Mangalore Today News Network

By I J Saldanha-Shet
Mangalore, April 1, 2013: Indeed a pleasant Easter surprise, on March 30,2013. At last the Tomb Stone dating back to 1629; pertaining to the Portuguese Captain of the first Fortress opposite the confluence of two rivers (Nethravathi and Gurpura) - in Mangalore, has finally reached Rosario Cathedral. Many have put in efforts under the leadership of the Rosario Parish Priest Rev Fr Stany Goveas,  Steven Fernandes, (Gurkar of Ignatius Ward), a resident of  "Haleya Kote"  where the stone rested for centuries, along with their team were instrumental.  The owner of the plot extended co-operation so that the historic stone can be preserved and conveniently seen by interested public. It will be aesthetically set alongside a stone of 1712, (can be seen in the far left of the picture) with fading French markings that existed at Rosario Cathedral.

Going back to the discovery of the stone, it may be recalled that the local press and web sites have been  highlighting the matter since it was located in March 2009 behind ’Haleya Kote Mukhyaprana Temple’ and Bolar Battery Garden, opposite the confluence of the two rivers with the Arabian Sea. It was located by a fan of local history and journalistic orientation, a resident of the area, who has pursued the matter. A year ago, the inscriptions were deciphered The inscription  translates as  "Domingos de Mourao Coutinho, the captain of the fortress of Mangalore, who died on April 30, 1629. “ It would have been installed over his grave which in all probability was located within the first church in Mangalore, the Portuguese  "Nossa Senora de Rosario", known as the ‘poyeda igerji’ (Tulu) or  ’church in the sand’, within the fortress, the fore runner of Rosario Cathedral now to the North near Head Post Office.

It is probably the only identified existing monument,  related to the Portuguese  fort which since the 1500s formed a part of old Mangalore’s history. Preserving ancient relics to ensure they do not disappear into the dust, like much of local history, needs top priority.