MANGALORE: “The arrival of Basel Mission, exactly 175 years ago, marked the new era of modern Kannada,” writes eminent researcher Late Srinivas Havanoor in one of his critical reviews on literary contributions of the Christian missionaries to Kannada language.“In fact, if ‘Paaddanas’ (folk songs), proverbs and age-old manuscripts are available in public domain, it is due to the tireless efforts of the missionaries of Basel Mission,” informs Karnataka Theological Principal Fr Hannibal R Cabral.When Johan Christopher Lehner, Christian Lenhard Greiner and Samuel Hebich from Basel Evangelical Missionary Society came to Mangalore in 1834, learning local language in order to spread message of the gospel, topped their agenda.Much of the contributions to Kannada literature began when Basel Mission sent Herman Mogling to Mangalore. After the death of Mogling, other missionaries like Fr Y Muller, Fr Gusthav Reed religiously struck to the task of publishing books.The missionaries are also being credited for making books accessible to all by establishing the first printing press. In 1842, Fr Godfry Faigal received a printing machine as a gift and he set up a printing press in Mangalore. Fr Faigal was also instrumental in writing a book tracing the history of Kannada literature, when the common man had little knowledge about the history of Kannada literature.Prominent among the missionaries, Fr Keij finds special mention for focusing his works on women’s education. Among the missionaries, Rev Ferdinand Kittel who selflessly worked for Kannada literature, deserves a special mention.From 1838 up to 1928, missionaries continued their good work making significant contributions to Kannada literature. Almost all these works are still available at the library of Karnataka Theological College library.Herman Mogling (1811-1881), a German missionary from Basel Mission, was 200 years ahead of his times, former VC of Manipal University Dr B M Hegde had said once. True indeed, for Mogling is credited for being one of the visionaries of a ‘unified Karnataka’. Herman Mogling who landed at Mangalore in 1836 and left for Germany in 1860 is hailed as the first modern Kannada writer by linguists and litterateurs. In a short span of two decades, he churned out as many as 36 literary works, each being unique and revolutionary in Kannada literature.Karnataka Theological College (KTC) Principal Fr Hannibal R Cabral, tracing his early childhood, says though Herman Mogling born in Brackenheim (Germany) lost his mother Raik when he was just three-year old, she had sowed the seeds of joining the clergy and spreading the message of gospel. He studied theology in Eberhard Karls University of Tuebingen in Germany and found his calling in Basel Mission. On reaching Mangalore, he mastered Kannada language quick enough to author his first book in Kannada, ‘Kristha Kalakrama’. He turned into a prolific writer on his transfer to Kodagu district in 1842.Teaming with Fr Hebick, Herman authored a short literary work, ‘Hrudaya Darpana’ in 1842. One of his works with 20 poems composed, along with his cousin and a fellow at Basel Missionary Weigle, in modern Kannada poetical form fetched him laurels as a pioneer of modern Kannada poetry.Mogling compiled and published correspondences between himself and his first converted pupil Ananda Rao Kaundinya making it a literary phenomenon. He revealed his literary genius by having a Kannada book, ‘Raajendranaame’, printed in a simplified orthography.His Bibliotheca Carnatica (Collection of Kannada classics edited and published by him between 1848 and 1853) placed him on a pedestal. It was another non-Kannadiga, J Casamajor, a retired judge from Chennai who funded Herman’s venture to bring out eight titles as part of Bibliotheca Carnatica. The titles includes Ravana Digvijaya - (Yakshagana play on victory of Ravana), Basava Purana and Kanakadasa’s ‘Haribhaktasara’.University of Tuebingen (Mogling’s alma mater), on the recommendation of the influential Germany based Indologist R Roth, awarded an honorary doctorate to Herman in 1858. This is surely the first doctorate for Kannada work, awarded by a foreign university to a non-KannadigaOn July 1, 1843, he published a Kannada fortnightly, ‘Mangalore Samachara’ using stone slabs. Later, renamed as Karnataka Samachara, it was published from Bellary (May 1, 1844). In the 15th issue of Samachara, he revealed his desire to bridge the divide between north and south Karnataka. It was Herman, known fondly as ‘Red Kannadiga’, who conceptualised Kannada-English dictionary and even suggested the name of Kittel as the ideal person for the project. Mogling died in 1881 and his memorial is in Esslingen, Germany.
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