Shankerpura: 18 students and 2 coordinators from Lancaster University, UK, here as a part of their Summer School Program, which is organized by the Centre for Intercultural Studies and Dialogue (CISD), Manipal Centre for European Studies (MCES), MAHE visited the Jasmine Home Stay at Subasnagar Shankerpura and were introduced to the joys and mechanics of Jasmine Cultivation.
Alphonse Mendonsa a well-known photojournalist and Jasmine grower from Shankerpura / Pangla briefed the students to the origin of Jasmine cultivation – how the Jasmines landed in Pangla / Shankerpura in 1930. He told the students that Jasmines were introduced to Pangla by the then Parish Priest of Pangla, Fr. Basil Peris who went on to became Bishop of Mangalore diocese (1956-58). He also detailed to them, the cultivation methodology.
Empathizing with the pathetic condition of the poor farmers of Pangla, Fr. Basil introduced them to Jasmine flower cultivation, which he got from Bhatkal which is about 100 km’s from Shankerpura. With the growing export and sale of Jasmines from the tiny village of Shankerpura to Mangaluru and eventually to Mumbai the economy of Shankerpura improved. It was due to the Jasmines’ unique fragrance, that it became very popular and extensively used for marriages, in temples and for other festivities he explained. The students also were taken around and been introduced to many local fruits varieties of Mangoes, cococum, Coconut, Aracanut, Beatle leaves, Figs, Black pepper, etc. The students were seen avidly absorbing everything they were told and saw.
This summer school program has been organized since 2014 and this year’s theme is Discerning India: Religion, Culture, and Society. The program is for 12 days (25 Aug to 5 Sept) in Manipal. As a part of their program, they will be having workshops and sessions on yoga, traditional Indian school practices, the idea of Dvaita philosophy in India, folklore of the region, folk dance, Bollywood dance, political systems in India and Uk – comparison, yakshagana, an introduction to Jain philosophy, henna design, coastal cuisine, and clay art. They will also be going around places of interest and culture in and around Udupi/Mangalore.
The tour was coordinated by Dr Praveen Shetty coordinator of the CISD, Dr Arjuna S R, Ms Tejasvini Ahuja, Mr Jestan Fernandes, coordinators for the Summer School Program for Lancaster University 2019. The study tour began at 4 pm and ended at 5:30 pm.
