’Bunts in History and Culture’ Book Released
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangalore, November 7: ‘Bunts in History and Culture’, a scholarly study tracing the history, heritage and contribution to society of the Bunt community was released today by Justice N. Santhosh Hegde, Lokayukta in Karnataka at a function held at T. V. Raman Pai Convention Centre in the city.
The book, authored by Dr. B. Surendra Rao, formerly Professor of History, Mangalore University is published by Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra, Udupi and World Bunts’ Foundation Trust, Mangalore.
Addressing the gathering after releasing the book, by Justice N. Santhosh Hegde congratulated the author and the persons responsible for the compilation of the book and observed that such a study was important as it enabled the community people to connect with their roots.
Earlier, explaining the genesis of the book, Dr. K.R. Shetty, the Project Director of World Bunts’ Foundation Trust said that the idea of compiling a book on the community’s culture and heritage first came up when he realized that whenever he went out to meet the community people he was confronted with questions regarding the community’s past. Hence it was decided to commission an authentic book on the community’s history and culture based on hard research, under the auspices of World Bunts’ Foundation Trust.
In order to avoid self glorification and also to make the book more objective, it was decided that it should be authored by a person from outside the community. As a result, Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra, based at MGM College, Udupi was selected to guide the research work and eminent historian Dr. B. Surendra Rao was engaged to be the author.
In the course of compiling information for the book, the research team visited innumerable traditional ‘gutthu’ houses, uncovered old documents, records and references, interviewed large number of knowledgeable people and also took expert advice from architects, scholars etc, he said.
Speaking on the book, Dr. K. Chinnappa Gowda, Registrar of Mangalore University said the book spanning 370 pages was divided into 10 chapters and traced the authentic history of the Bunt community to as far back as 800 years. Pointing out that writing a history of a community was a very difficult task as the expectations from such a project will be very high, he observed that having a healthy and non-prejudiced ideology was one of the prerequisites for writing the book and he congratulated the author on adopting a balanced and distanced approach.
The book’s author, Dr. B. Surendra Rao said he has written the book merely as a historian and not to please anyone. “The Bunts are a dynamic community as they have been able to adapt to change over the centuries. Our study has traced the roots of the community from as far back in time as evidence permitted and we have concluded at the sweeping impact of the Land Reforms Act in the early 70’s, which is the most discernible landmark in the evolution of this agricultural community,” he said.
Dr. K.V. Ramesh, formerly Joint Director General of Archeological Survey of India and noted litterateur Aerya Laxminarayana Alva also spoke as the guests of honour on the occasion.
Both the author Dr. B. Surendra Rao and the project director Dr. K.R. Shetty were felicitated by Justice N. Santhosh Hegde. Dr. H. Krishna Bhat, Director of Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra welcomed the gathering and K. Jairaj B. Rai, Secretary of World Bunts’ Foundation Trust proposed the Vote of Thanks.
Eminent orthopedic surgeon and Vice Chancellor of Nitte University, Dr. M. Shantharam Shetty presided over the function.
The book is priced at Rs. 500 (US $30) and can be procured from leading book shops in the city or from:
Rashtrakavi Govind Pai Samshodhana Kendra, Udupi
MGM College, Udupi 576102
Tel.: 0820 2521159
E-mail: mgmcollegeudupi@dataone.in
and
World Bunts’ Foundation Trust
SRS Home, Mangalore 575003
Tel.: 0824 2494205
E-mail: wbft@rediffmail.com