By Elsy Mathew

Pope Francis on Ash Wednesday, reflected on how the coming forty days are a good time to make room for the Word of God in our lives. Lent is a time in which to turn off the television and open the Bible.The Pope reflected on the 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert as He prepared for His public ministry and said that, in a sense, it is a time for us to imitate Jesus and seek a place of silence, where we are free to hear the Lord’s word and experience His call. “In the desert one hears the Word of God,” “one finds intimacy with God and the love of the Lord,” noting that Jesus taught us how to seek the Father, who speaks to us in silence.

He remarked on the fact that, for many of us, it is not easy to be in silence as we live in an environment that is “polluted by too much verbal violence,” by so many “offensive and harmful words” which are amplified by the internet.

Lent is a time to disconnect from cell phones and connect to the Gospel, recalling that when he was a child there was no television, but his family would make a point of not listening to the radio. “It is the time to give up useless words, chatter, rumors, gossip, and talk and to speak directly to the Lord,” it is a time in which to dedicate ourselves to an ecology of the heart. In a world in which we often struggle to distinguish the voice of the Lord, Jesus calls us into the desert and invites us to listen to what matters. And he recalled that when the devil tempted Him, Jesus replied “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Thus the desert, represented by the journey of Lent is a place of life, a place in which to dialogue in silence with the Lord who gives us life.

The Pope also reflected on how an important part of our Lenten desert experience is the practice of fasting, which trains us to recognize, in simplicity of heart, how often our lives are spent in empty and superficial pursuits. Fasting is being capable of giving up the superfluous and going to the essential. Fasting is not only losing weight, it is seeking the beauty of a simpler life. The Pope also noted that the solitude of the desert increases our sensitivity to those who quietly cry out for help. Even today, close to us, there are many deserts, many lonely people: they are the lonely and the abandoned. How many poor and old people live near us in silence, marginalized and discarded. The desert of Lent leads us to them. It is a journey of charity towards those who are weak and in need.

Pope Francis concluded reiterating that the path through the Lenten desert is made up of “prayer, fasting, works of mercy”, so that it may lead us “from death to life”. If we enter the desert with Jesus, we will leave it at Easter when the power of God’s love renews life and just like those deserts that bloom in spring with buds and plants suddenly sprouting from the sand, if we follow Jesus, our deserts will also bloom.  

By NV Paulose

Society Builder, Spiritual Leader, Educationist, Businessman and Philanthropist Mr. KC Naik awarded Doctorate by Mangalore University. His name is shortlisted from about eighteen entries from various achievers in the society. A committee consisting of former and present Vice Chancellors had picked him for the prestigious doctorate this year. Doctorate will be conferred on him on 27^th February 2020 in the 38^th convocation ceremony of Mangalore University.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya, while briefing about the 38th convocation of Mangalore University on Wednesday, February 26 said, ” Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs ( Government of India) V Muraleedharan will be the chief guest and deliver the convocation address and Deputy Chief Minister and Higher Education Minister Dr Ashwath Narayana C N will preside over the convocation ceremony.”

Informing about the selection procedure for giving an honorary doctorate, Yadapadithaya said, “Among the total of 18 applications for honorary doctorate, six applications are shortlisted after scrutiny by the syndicate of Mangalore University. Among the six, three applications are selected and sent to the Governor of the state for approval. Governor has finalised the name of K C Naik for the honorary doctorate,” he informed.

Yadapadithaya also informed that during the convocation, Mangalore University will award two Doctor of Literature degree (Sociology), 105 Doctor of Philosophy degrees ( (Arts 23, Science 63, Commerce – 08 and Education -11). Out of 105 candidates, 49 are women candidates and 56 are men candidates. There will be 34 gold medals, 120 cash prizes. There are 168 rank members, out of which 66 students are 1st rank holders.

Registrar Prof A M Khan, evaluation registrar Prof V Ravindrachary, and syndicate member Ramesh K were present.

About Dr. KC Naik

The founder of the Mahabaleshwara Group of Concerns, Mr. K.C. Naik is hailed as one of the pioneering industrialists in the South Kanara region, a man who has successfully steered the Group through periods of high risk and market uncertainty. He is the quintessential self-made man who triumphed through the application of his natural business acumen and sheer determination.

K.C.Naik is known for his amazing networking skills, foresight and his incredible ability to think one step ahead of the competition. His pro-change stance has helped the company focus on a diverse cross-section of business interests ranging from real estate to retailing. With a name that is synonymous with quality and perfection, K.C.Naik has a great reputation in society.

In 1979, he was awarded the Udyog Patra by the then Vice-President of India Sri B.D. Jetti, a national award for the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year.

K.C.Naik’s divine dream of erecting a beautiful temple for Lord Gopalakrishna has became a reality on the 30th April 2007. The great vision and tremendous mission of Sri K.C. Naik has been mirrored in the five storied marvelous Temple built within a record time of just 15 months. Shakthinagar, situated at the outskirts of the coastal city of Mangalore had the choicest blessings of having a magnificent Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna built there.

He is married to Mrs. Saguna C. Naik and blessed with the apple of his eyes. His daughter Mrs. Ramya Naik is married and settled in U.S.A. for the past several years.  His son Sri. Sanjith Naik, who has taken over as the Executive Director of the firm Mahabaleshwara Promoters & Builders Pvt. Ltd. is a qualified architect from Manipal Institution of Technology and also an MBA – from Texas State University – San Marcos, USA.

A well traveled man and an enthusiastic golfer; served as the Captain of Mangalore Golf Club.

Sri K.C.Naik established Shakthi Education Trust(R) in the year 2015 and started Shree Gopalakrishna Pre Primary School at Shakthinagar to impart quality education to the infants. A group of well qualified and trained teachers teach the small children with all dedication and motherly love. The intake of children is 30 per division with 3 sections.

Shakthi Residential School and Shakthi P.U.College

Foundation was laid to Shakthi Residential School and Shakthi P.U.College in 2018. The campus is unique of its kind covered with greenery. The infrastructure is of Global standard highly conducive to teaching and learning. Smart Class facility is provided to all the classes. Well-equipped and separate laboratories for all subjects, a huge library housing thousands of books on all subjects, a vast playground with all facilities for training in all games and sports, the latest teaching aids and so on. The Residential School and College has been identified all over the globe for quality education with inculcating values in the students.

by Martin Pauline

Meticulously organised and Systematically Presented!

Congratulations to Sri. Manjunath Bhandary. So nicely organised Sahyadri 10 K Run add feather on to the crown of Mangaluru. The event went whole heatedly accepted by the people of Mangalore. Guests were from across the spectrum. Run for physically fit people and for Maja Run went seperate.

Entire city was charged with the spirit of fitness and cleanliness. The city woke up with the spirit to run a united society with passion and love. The spirit of joy was spread all over including in the face of the police force.

Sahyadri 10 k run was organised with the objective of making Swaccha – Parisara – Hasiru – Usiru at Mangaluru, DKAA and Bhandary Foundation, Mangaluru are organizing ‘Sahyadri 10K Run Mangaluru’.

From Sahyadri 10 k run Announcement:

We believe, by spreading ‘Green, Healthy- Mangaluru’ through the involvement and participation of different public hailing from various profession, we will be able to achieve our motto of the event. To make our Mangaluru greener, every participant will be given a sapling to be planted in their locality.

We are also conducting Run for the age group of 14-16 years, wherein the selected boys & girls will be trained under DKAA, to produce Future Champions of Mangaluru.

We are inviting the Public, Government Agencies, Institutions, Companies & Corporates, Social Organisations and also people from different professions, etc. By participating in this event, Health & Fitness consciousness can be spread across the Dakshina Kannada region.

Dakshina Kannada Athletic Association is 45 year old Association. It has conducted many National & International Athletic Meet and has also played an important role in producing many Olympians to the Nation. Bhandary Foundation is a Charitable Trust ® running an educational institution and promoting Sports, Games and Social awareness programs since more than a decade.