Moodbidri Thousand-pillar Basadi: Alarm over Crash of Ceiling Slab

Moodbidri, Mar 1: Is crass commercialism getting the better of our heritage? There is yet another sign of our history crumbling under the pressure of modernization.

This temple-town, known as Jain Kashi, draws hundreds of pilgrims from all over India and abroad every day. The Jain community woke up to an alarming story the other day.

A ceiling slab on the right hand side of the Bhairadevi mantap in the precincts of the famed, historical Thousand-pillar Basadi crashed to the ground on Saturday. Though the basadi is known so by its common name, its original name is Tribhuvana Tilaka Choodamani Chaityalaya, built, as the inscriptions therein say, between 1429 and 1462 AD. Over the centuries, it has stood the test of time and withstood all elements of nature like rain, sun, storm and lightning.

Swasti Shri Bhattaraka Charukirti Panditacharyavarya Swamiji of the Moodbidri Jain Math convened a media meet on Monday to apprise the public of the situation and the damage.

The Bhairadevi mantap, got built in her name by queen Bhairadevi of Bhairanakote, Bhatkal in 1462, lies at the entrance of the basadi. A part of the ceiling slab came off two days ago. Besides, the monolithic pillar, called maanasthambha, has developed crack recently, perhaps caused by lightning.

The Swamiji said that excessive granite quarrying around Moodbidri, which involves blasting of rocks using explosives, as also a steep increase in the movement of heavy vehicles on the road beside the basadi had been playing havoc on the heritage structures.

The road-widening projects also had brought about hazards to various basadis like Kere basadi, Baikanatikari basadi, Padu basadi, Badagu basadi, Guru basadi and Vikrama Shetty basadi. While development was essential, conservation of heritage should be prioritized, he insisted.

The Swamiji also called for a ban on movement of heavy vehicles within a radius of a kilometre of town, immediate construction of a bypass, which has been long pending, a ban on quarrying within a radius of 10 kms and also a ban on bursting of 'kadani' crackers during festivals and occasions.

News Courtesy:

Mangalorean.com

Moodbidri: Rs 35-crore Plan to Develop Thousand-pillar Basadi

Mangalore / Moodbidri, May 12: District tourism development committee president and deputy commissioner Subodh Yadav has announced that a comprehensive plan for the conservation and development of the renowned Tribhuvan Tilak Choodamani Chaityalaya, commonly known as the Thousand-pillar Basadi in the temple town of Moodbidri, has been submitted to the government.

The architectural marvel attracts hundreds of visitors not just from the Jain community, but others and foreigners as well.

A plan at an outlay of Rs 35,94,08,371 for improvements on the 15th century monument and the surroundings has been submitted to the director of the department of tourism and is now awaiting approval.

The plan covers laying of connecting roads between various of places of historical interest in town, a Mahaveer community hall, parking facility, renovation of monuments, improvements to water resources and natural tanks, renovation of buildings, erection of a map showing tourist hotspot for the benefit of tourists, facelift ot Jain Tirthankar statues, renovation of the palace of the Chowta rulers.

News Courtesy:

Mangalorean.com

Newspaper agent’s son Lalit Jain bags 41st rank in IAS

Chandigarh: It was now or never for 28-year-old Lalit Jain, who, despite three unsuccessful UPSC attempts, did not lose patience. Braving the challenges of life, Lalit stood 41st in the country's most prestigious examination. It was a tough choice for this law graduate to make — dedicate precious years of his life to an uncertain destination.

Speaking to TOI, Lalit said being in his late twenties it was difficult to balance work and studies and this was his biggest challenge. ''At this age, my family expected me to earn my living and build a future. I used to sell newspapers with my father at the local bus stand in the morning and then go to court, where I was practising as a lawyer. In between all of that, I used to take out time for studies,'' he said.

Hungry for success, he used to carry books to the court and read them whenever he got time. ''I would sit in a corner and revise what I had studied the previous night,'' Lalit said, reminiscing about the tough days.

''It might sound cliched but I burned the midnight oil and got the success I had always dreamed of. Though we belong to a small family and are based in a rural area, my father provided me with good education from the best schools. Some of my classmates used to make fun of me, calling me a newspaper seller's son... but this motivated me to make my parents proud,'' Lalit said. Coupled with patience, he would dedicate at least 10 hours every day to studies.

Overjoyed at his son's success, Shashi Pal Jain said he could not believe that his hard work of over 40 years has paid off. ''I just had one dream... to see my son become an officer. I am the happiest father now,'' he smiled.

Lalit wants to join the IAS and serve the country. ''I wish to change the image of Indian bureaucracy,'' he added.