Mangaluru: With the recent renaming of Ramanagara to Bengaluru South and growing calls to label Tumakuru as Bengaluru North, a similar initiative has taken shape in coastal Karnataka. The Dakshina Kannada district administration is now moving towards formally proposing a name change to Mangaluru district, according to Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan, as reported by The New Indian Express.
The proposal emerged during a recent District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting, where Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja urged officials to support the move. The suggestion received backing from MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta and other members, with officials confirming that the proposal would soon be sent to the state government.
Supporters of the renaming argue that “Dakshina Kannada” is a colonial-era label that lacks wider recognition outside Karnataka. In contrast, “Mangaluru” is a nationally and globally known brand — prominent in education, banking, healthcare, and port logistics.
Dayanand Kathalsar of the Mangaluru District Tulu Movement Committee emphasized the need to move past names imposed during Portuguese and British rule. He stated that labels like South Canara and Dakshina Kannada are relics that no longer reflect the region’s identity.
KPCC general secretary Rakshit Shivaram also voiced support, linking the idea to the “Brand Bengaluru” campaign from former CM S.M. Krishna’s tenure. He noted that all major infrastructure — the port, airport, highways, and railway stations — already bear the name Mangaluru. He argued it’s only logical the district shares the same identity.