Mangalore : A B Ibrahim Deputy commissioner, in a letter to principal secretary, department of revenue has suggested that the name Dakshina Kannada district be retained as such. Noting that people have been submitting their opinions on re-naming Dakshina Kannada district as Mangalore, Tulunadu districts among many other options, DC said renaming the district is a sensitive and emotional issue and should be taken forward with caution.

Observing that people have an emotional and sentimental attachment to Dakshina Kannada, DC in the letter observed that there is no need to rename the district and the name should be continued as such. The district was earlier named south Kanara district under Madras Presidency of the British government and subsequently was named Dakshina Kannada district. There is historical, traditional connotations to the name ‘Kanara’, DC said.

Mangalore is the district headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district and is a distinct melting pot of various languages, religions and culture, Ibrahim said, adding Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Beary, Bhovi, Malayalam, Marathi are some of the languages spoken in the region. Mangalore is called Kudla in Tulu, Kodiyal in Konkani, Maikal in Beary, Mangalapuram in Sanskrit and Malayalam respectively, and Mangalore in English, Ibrahim said.

Keeping these facts in mind, Ibrahim said it makes sense to continue the name of the district as Dakshina Kannada, he noted. Incidentally, minister for revenue V Srinivas Prasad had noted that proposal in this regard had been mooted during the Suvarna Karnataka celebration a few years back. Under the proposal, districts including Dakshina Kannada were to be given new names and process of making changes with respect to 12 districts was on.