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BARKUR EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY – BRIEF BACKGROUND
Now about some Sixty years ago, on
6th June, 1946,
the greatest revolution that took place in our Barkur in the field
of Education was that, the foundation stone laid for a High
School. The real force behind this gigantic step against all odds
was ‘The Barkur Educational Society’. It is normally, a Primary or
Elementary School being the base, getting promoted as High School,
but here veterans of Barkur once again re-written the pages of
history, by starting a High school itself.
Let me be brief on the back ground – this was the time, high
school education was having the highest value and respects. There
were just a dozen High Schools in the whole of undivided District
of South Kanara and that privilege to have one, restricted to
Taluk Headquarters. In other words there were two High Schools in
Udupi, one at Kallianpur – Milagres and next only at Coondapur.
Moreover, to send their children to these places during the time
there were no bridges and poor transport facilities, since an
approach to Barkur extremely difficult, during those days,
naturally high school education just the dream of average
household.
To start a High school at a rural place like Barkur, the role of
the Barkur Educational Society is un- parallel. At a time, money
was scarce, resources were limited, agriculture was the only one
field where people employed and occupied, with a very few
exceptions engaged in business like copper smith, merchants or
small traders or cottage petty occupations. Naturally, it was a
dream mission of few like minded people, to pool whatever little
they had united, for the sake of a better tomorrow, just not for
their own but to the whole community.
The first ever governing body of this organization explains a
lot:
President :H.H Shri Vidyamanya Theertha Swamiar of
Bhandarkeri Mutt
Vice President :Shri. H.T.Ramanna Shetty
Secretary :Shri. Altar Ramanna Shetty
Joint. Secretary :Shri John Peter Sequeira
Treasurer: :Dr. A.S.Hebbar
Manager and Correspondent of the High School: Dr. B.Krishna Bairi.
There were members like Shri Dennis Picardo, K. Srinivasa Rao,
Shri. Louis D’Lima, Shri B.Laxmi Narayana Rao, Shri Manjunatha Pai,
Shri B.L.Adiga and many others. The point I would like to stress
over here is the society was non sectarian trust, representing all
communities of the locality, and the surroundings which till this
day a special and unique salient feature of the group. There were
educated people who aware of the value of learning and
un-educated, under educated, who had a vision to foresee its
importance in the future, and we all are beneficiaries the value
of which can not be measured.
They teamed up and proved equal to the task. It was this spirit of
one ness of the Governing Body induced, rather convinced to first
ever Head master Shri P.N.Bhoja Rao to leave the then town Udupi,
and Christian High school, where he was teaching, to shoulder the
Herculean task of heading and managing the just born Institution.
He has to start every thing from scratch and he admitted openly,
‘as a team we are successful’, on his retirement day after some 26
years of dedicated service – ‘a life accomplished’. A full fledged
Junior College, with all amenities for quality education, was
standing in a beautiful surrounding.
While we were perusing our studies in NJC, Shri. Yajna Narayana
Rao was the Manager and Correspondent in 70’s. For a short term
though marked by some controversies Shri Janardhan Kamath lead the
society. Thereafter it was the long term of Shri V.L.Roche at the
helm and well supported by Dr. Somayaji and other public specified
people. Understand Shri B.Seetarama Shetty our former Principal
for a record 25 plus years, is now the Manager and Correspondent.
Now the
National Junior College, earlier known as National High School on
the verge of completing 60 successful years. A land mark on its
own, in any measurement. We feel being a fellow Barkurian, we must
be grateful to our forefathers who sacrificed a lot to have better
educational facilities in Barkur. It is al together a different
story - today Education is not remained as service to the
humanity, but commercialized.
Mother of quality education – Barkur High School, a pioneer
institution, since the independence years, it has and is bringing
out national minded batches, year after year.
Well started is half done, against all odds, trials and
tribulations, the BES grown in its mission and now run two Higher
Elementary Schools, Two High schools, a Junior College, an ITI and
a
First Grade College!
Let us join hands, instead of falling in the trap of portraying
old, abandoned clichéd image of Barkur, this web site, is more
than happy to dedicate its space to introduce and invite the world
to see it as a modern citadel of quality education ideally located
in a serene surroundings, especially the mammoth NJC at 13 acres
of prime land. Let us re-invent, reshape and re-search new avenues
and re-dedicate ourselves to the changing circumstances to give
the best in the field of education.
‘Barkur on line Team’
recognize ‘Barkur Educational Society’s’ forward looking
strategies in re-shaping and re-designing the values of education
and reaching to all in the locality and neighborhood with quality
and equality, and voluntarily participate in its effort to enlarge
its perspective in coming days, years…..
On behalf of Barkur-online and ICYM Barkur Ex-Member’s
Association,
P. Archibald Furtado,
Muscat – 23/04/2006. |
