Mangaluru, Nov 09: A heritage building that had stood for a century has now been reduced to a pile of rubble. The ‘Souter Hostel’ building, located on the premises of Gokarnanatheshwara College in Mannagudda—in the heart of the city—has been razed to the ground.
What could have been preserved as a heritage site has now been left as mere debris. Dating back to the British era, this hostel had ceased operations in the 1970s; however, the grand structure remained a silent witness to the glory of a bygone era.
The Souter Hostel was established in 1926 to provide shelter and holistic support to hundreds of young men from the Billava community who traveled to Mangaluru for their education from distant places, ranging from Kundapura to Kasaragod or Belthangady.
Descendants of Saukar Dhumappa Contractor—the founding president of the Sri Venkateshwara Shiva Bhakti Yoga Sangha—have expressed their deep regret over the demolition of this heritage structure.
It has been suggested that a more fitting tribute would have been for the current management committee of the organization to restore the old building and utilize it for public benefit in the name of its founders and founding patriarchs. In a press statement, Narendra Kumar and Vani Bhavishi—grandchildren of Dhumappa Contractor—have urged the governing body to reconstruct a facility for public use, in honor of the ten trustees who envisioned the establishment of the Sooter Hostel a century ago.
The land for the Sooter Hostel was sanctioned by the then-Collector, C. S. Sooter, and was registered in the name of Dhumappa Contractor’s wife, Kamala Bai. Although the official records still bear her name, the family has not laid any claim to the property.
The governing body of Sri Gokarnanatheshwara College—which operates under the association—has justified the demolition, stating that the building was in a dilapidated condition and at risk of collapse at any moment.
“We have decided to demolish the building and the adjacent structure to construct something that serves the public. The contributions of the association’s founding fathers will be duly commemorated,” said Dr. B. G. Suvarna, Vice-President of the Venkateshwara Shivabhakti Yoga Sangha.