Mangaluru: The Karnataka Journalists Union’s Dakshina Kannada district committee has made an appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to name a road in Bengaluru after Dr. Hermann Mogling, the founding editor and patriarch of Kannada journalism associated with Mangalore Samachara. Additionally, they are requesting the installation of a statue in his honor. Reverend Kital, who worked closely with Dr. Hermann Mogling and authored the Kannada Shabdhakosha (dictionary), already has a road named after him and a statue in Bengaluru.
However, despite Dr. Hermann Mogling’s significant contributions to Kannada literature and journalism, there are no memorials or places dedicated to him in Karnataka. The committee earnestly urges authorities to show special consideration and undertake the process of naming a road as “Mangalore Samachara – Hermann Mogling” and erecting a statue in Bengaluru as a tribute to the remarkable figure.
Dr. Hermann Mogling’s influence and service extended beyond being a newspaper editor. He made invaluable contributions to Kannada literature and was associated with various works like the Mangalore Panchang (almanac), numerous proverbs, Chenna Basava Purana, Jaimini Bharata, Torave Ramayana, Kumara Vyasa Bharata, Kanakadasara Bhaktisara, and Dasa Padagalu. As an acknowledgment of his accomplishments, in 1858, the prestigious Tubingen University in Germany bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate. It is disheartening to note that Karnataka lacks memorials and places named in honor of such a great personality.
In light of this situation, we sincerely request that Dr. Hermann Mogling be given due recognition in Karnataka, the state capital, Bengaluru. Naming a road “Mangalore Samachara – Hermann Mogling” and installing a statue would serve as a lasting reminder of his significant contributions to Kannada literature and journalism. As journalists, we are eager to see Karnataka’s capital city, Bengaluru, pay tribute to Dr. Hermann Mogling in a manner that ensures his legacy is cherished forever.
