South Kanara Dravida Brahmin AssociationChennai

South Kanara Dravida Brahmin Association

The year was 1912 – a century ago that a few veterans who emigrated from South Kanara district of the Madras Presidency to city of Madras to study professional courses like Medicine, Law and Engineering decided to form a small group to help the brothers and sisters of the community who had the same desire to study and settle in the city. South Kanara then had no Law or Engineering colleges or Medical Institute. Being children of poor Purohits or Archakas of temple or small time landowners or cooks, they had very limited resources but were full of ambitions and dreams of a bright future. Some travelled to Bombay but many came to Madras – travelling by train from Calicut and later from Cannanore as then Mangalore Mail terminates at these stations. They walked or sought bullock carts to convey them from Udupi, Mangalore and other small towns in the district to catch the train from Mangalore.

To recall a few names of such enterprising spirits, Dr. U. Rama Rao, P.K. Krishna Rao, Dr. U. Venkat Rao, Sir. P.R. Rao, Bantwal Seetharama Rao, Three Hebbar Brothers, Tumbe Krishna Rao, Dr. Pangal Srinivasa Rao, Dr. Kalmadi Srinivasa Rao & Dr. U.L. Narayana Rao. Members of this enthusiastic group formed an informal group in 1912 and met probably in their houses or offices and called this group as South Kanara Dravida Brahmin Association. The name “Dravida” came into differentiate this community from other Brahmin communities such as Sawaswaths. They started providing these new immigrants with food and shelters as well as money to further their interest in studies. But turn of the century, theses illustrious predecessor had prospered and made a name for themselves in field of medicine, law and engineering and also in Government service.

Later in 1920’s and 1930’s came an Exodus. List of such successful entrepreneurs in the field of hospitality (Catering) and business is exhaustive. To name only a few – K. Krishna Rao of Woodlands Hotel, K. Gopala Achar of Mysore Café, K. Seetharama Rao of Modern Café (Late Dasaprakash Hotel), Kalinga Rao and his son Dr. P. Rama Rao, Dr. P. Venkat Giri, Dr. B. Venkat Rao, Dr. H.K. Narayana Rao.

Sri. K.Y. Adiga, a legal luminary and author of several legal books formally brought this Association into a legal entity by forming a ‘Memorandum of Association’ and ‘Rules of Association’. It was registered as “The South Kanara Dravida Brahmins Association” on 19th October 1953.

On perusing the printed Annual report of our association which are available for 1961 – 1962, it is seen that the Golden Jubilee celebrations were conducted in 1969 under the presidentship of Sri. U. Anand Rao, Chief Engineer of Madras. From this we can surmise that SKDB Association got a formal shape and name in the year 1919 but in deference to the stoic effort of the founder we will retain the year 1912 on the year of commencement of the Association and its activities.

In the year 1996, under the presidentship of Dr. U. Sridhar Rao, Dermatologist, our associate celebrates its Platinum Jubilee. On this occasion the service of our senior members were recognized in a fitting manner and a few other were honored.

The main purpose of the Association then and even today is to help deserving poor students seeking higher studies by granting scholarships. Generous souls like L. Krishna Rao, K. Gopala Achar and K. Seetharaman Rao provided roof and food in the hotel for such students, Dr. Pangal Srinivasa Rao and others collects funds by going with Hundis door to door of their colleague during Deepavali festivals donations were also collected each year.

Such tales of brotherhood and selfless toil fostered closeness in this society encouraging them to meet once a year in Annual General Meeting, exchanging notes while sipping a cup of coffee and eating a few snacks. Sri. K. Krishna Rao felt that a dinner meeting will be more appropriate to attract families of members and started the tradition of General Body Meet being followed by sumptuous dinner. Other hosts such as K. Seetharama Rao, P. Ramakrishna Aithal followed suit. We are happy to record here that this tradition is being adhered to even till date by members of Krishna Rao’s family. Our thanks are due to Sri. K. Lakshmi Narayana Rao, K. Murali Rao, K. Rajesh Rao and K. Achyuta Rao. May their tribe increase.

Today SKDB Associates disburse over 16 lakhs of rupees as free scholarships. Generosity of our members has no bounds. Association receives donations to Education Scholarship Fund, Happy Occasion Funds, Building Funds and Office Maintenance Funds.

Owing a building of our own was conceived as early as 1969. Mr. U. Anand Rao, then president made an earnest plea for contributions. Building became reality in 2003. Even now it is a small beginning – a small 600sq feet apartment in the heart of the city. Yes, we will grow and grow and one day we will have an independent building.

An office with computer services to provide e-mail and website (https://www.skdbassociation.com) is now a reality. A global organization is our VISION. Our community members settled all over the world have access to learn about our activities and events. Photos and write -ups are ported in the website. Interaction can truly be global. Ours is a small but successful community – to be in touch with one another is not difficult.

We started publishing our house magazine – Karavali Alegalu – Costal Waves featuring promising youngsters of our community with photos and write ups of our events as also interesting articles by our members is published periodically. The response has been overwhelming. We hope to publish the future issues also in our website, so that members of our community, members and non members alike can get a glimpse of what is happening in our community. Services of Sri. P. Narayana Bhat in this regard needs a special mention.

We started recognizing prominent members of our association who have made significant contribution to our community by recognizing them as ‘Doyens of our Community’ and specially honoring them with citations during the General Body Meeting.

History will not be completed if we do not acknowledge our donors and patrons, in particular – Sri. J.P. Acharya of Konica Labs without whose munificent contribution, our office premises and activities would still have been a dream. Other prominent donors have been Tara Harihara Rao, Narayandas, H.S. Nagaraj, H.S. Srinivasa Rao.

We acknowledge list of illustrious leaders in our Association to whom we own a sense of gratitude.