Udupi: The inauguration of Basel Missionaries memorial auditorium at Mission Compound was held on Tuesday, 18th October, 2016 which was organized by United Basel District Church Board and United Basel Mission Church Trust Association, D.K., Udupi and Coorg districts.

Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of Fisheries, sports and Youth Empowerment and also minister in charge of Udupi district inaugurated the Auditorium by cutting the ribbon at the entrance.

After the Auditorium inauguration, J. R. Lobo MLA from Mangalore South and also President of State Minorities and Backward Classes Development Committee was inaugurated at water pool.

Prior to the inauguration ceremony, the procession with tableau started from Judukatte near Big Bazar via Taluk Office, Diana Circle, return via Mission Hospital Road and to UBM Jubilee Church.

Rev Cyril Joseph held opening prayer prior to the cutting the ribbon by Pramod Madhwaraj. The programme started with an invocation. Welcome dance was held by UBM Jubilee Church Sunday School students. Rev Pramod Goni conducted the prayer in brief.
Pramod Madhwaraj was felicitated by J. R. Lobo and other dignitaries on the dais during the occasion. The programme was presided over by Pramod Madhwaraj. In his address, Pramod Madhwaraj appreciated the organizers that the Auditorium was built in remembrance of 160th year Anniversary celebrations of U. B. M. Church, Udupi. The Christian Missionaries contributed lot in the field of education, health, religious, technology and other fields.

Being in charge district Minister, he must be congratulated and feel privileged to have huge costs auditorium in Udupi which is large contribution by the Protestant Christians. It would be great that on behalf of Basel Missionary, the Auditorium has been built for their contribution of our ancestors. Pramod Madhwaraj congratulated Basel Mission for dedicating the Auditorium for the people of Udupi. He said that the Siddaramaiah government has initiated various developmental schemes to the minorities and has allotted Rupees one crore grant for any minority auditorium.

Earlier, Jayaprakash Simons President of UBMC, DCB and Trust Association welcomed the gatherings. Dr. Peter Wilson Prabhakar Principal of Vivekananda College, Puttur placed the history of Basel Mission activities in relate to business, trade, education, medicine, agriculture, printing and cottage industry and many more since two centuries in coastal Karnataka. He said that three missionaries of Basel Mission from Germany arrived at Calicut in Kerala and spread their activities all over in Karnataka, especially in coastal districts.

Jayaprakash Simon briefed the details of Auditorium. Church choir was held by all UBM Churches choir group.

During the occasion, generous donors were felicitated. They are Mrs. & Mr Rathnappa Maben, Mrs.& Mr. & Mrs. Yathish Shetty, Dubai, Jerry Vincent Dias, Mrs. & Mr, W. D. Salins, Mrs. & Mr. Sudhakar Gojer and Mrs. & Mr. S. R. Jacob, Udupi. Meanwhile Ramesh Kanchan Udupi CMC Councillor and Lm MJF Indrali Jayakar Shetty and Dr. Sushil Tathanna, Medical Director of L. M. Mission Hospsital, Udupi were felicitated.

J. R. Lobo released the souvenir on the occasion and said that even Chief Minister has reserved Rs. 125 crores in the budget for the development of Minorities; Protestants do not claim government benefits. compared to Catholics and other communities. He said history is important for understanding milestones and urged to keep unity in the community. It will not be necessary to go for the court of law. We can solve our problems among ourselves.

He added that Siddaramaiah government in the state is committed to the development of the minorities and so allotted Rs. 100 croresto the Christian Development Council. Last year the committee has distributed Rs. 140 crores.

In his address Kaup MLA and former Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said that since 1838, Basel Missionaries contributed large in coastal districts. It would be appreciated that the huge auditorium is built in memory of Basel Missionaries. Siddaramaiha government initiated several developmental programmes for the minorities.

Raghupathy Bhat former MLA, Maulana Rasjeed Ahmed Umri Imamm Jamia Masjid, Udupi, Rev Fr. Fredrick Mascarehnas, Parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, Rev Fr. Denis D’Sa, PRO of Udupi diocese, Indrali Jayakar Shetty General Manager of Badagubettu Credit Cooperative Society, Udupi, Meenakshi Madhava Bannanje, President of Udupi CMC., Narasimha Murthi Chairman, Udupi Urban Development Authority, Udupi, Mrs Amrutha Krishnamoorthi local councilor of Udupi CMC, Ramesh Kanchan councilor of Udupi CMC, Rathnappa Maben Founder Silar International School Udupi, Jayaprakash Simons, Sadananda Kanchan, Gladson Salins and other officials of the various committees were present.

Sadananda Kanchan proposed vote of thanks. Tanuja Maben and Prem Kumar compered the whole programme.