Town Hall may be named in memory of Kudmul Ranga Rao

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 30, 2016: The council of the Mangaluru City Corporation in its meeting on July 29, Friday resolved to call  the Town Hall in Mangaluru city, as Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial Town Hall.   Late Ranga Rao fought for the rights of Dalits and strived for their welfare.

Born on June 29, 1895 in a village called Kudmul in Kasaragod district of Kerala, Ranga Rao lost his father when he was a boy.  He shifted to Mangaluru and worked as a teacher and an advocate.  Most of his clients were poor and hence, he was known as “advocate of the poor”.

He opened Panchama schools in Kankanady, Udupi, Mulki, Ullal, Bannanje, Boloor, Babugudde, Nejaru, Daddalkadu and Attavar for educating Dalits.   He was instrumental in getting government sites for Koragas in Puttur and Udupi.  He gave up his land for Dalits in Udupi, Bannanje, Udyavara, Panambur, Tannirbavi, Baikampady and Daddalkadu.  He distributed land to them freely.

Mahatma Gandhi had visited Ranga Rao’s office in Mangaluru in 1934.  Earlier, whip in the council M. Shashidhar Hegde moved a proposal to this effect.  The Town Hall was renovated in 2015 and addition works in taken up further.