Industries that placed Mangalore in the international trade map

           Tulunadu has left a legacy behind what is called Mangalore today. The beautiful landscape is the result of the culmination of many phases of Tulunadu. The religious spirit, cultural pride, business and manufacturing skill have together discovered Mangalore as a business and industrial place of Karnataka. The uniqueness of coastal Karnataka stands out in the history of the region for its laborious spirit and creative approach to life. The various industries that were developed by the people over the years made Mangalore an important place. Therefore the aim of our study is to highlight some of the major industries of Mangalore in perspective of its prosperity and change over the decades.

      Cashew nut: The west cost of India is known for its cashew nut crops. Though the Portuguese showed the way to cashew industry yet the local people were not ready to risk cashew cultivation. It was Messrs Peirce Leslie Ltd who had ventured cashew industry in 1925. Since it was flourishing the post World War I most people were convinced to start factories. Jeppoo and Kulshekar were the two places known for their cashew production. Now the sizable number of cashew industries in Mangalore is able to export to foreign countries in large quantities. The cashew nut oil which is used for industrial purpose especially in plastic industry is bought by countries like U.K. and Jepan.

         Areca nut: Areca nut cultivation in South Kanara is an age old concept. It has created a good opportunities for people in terms of occupation. Since it is tropical crop of Karnataka it is cultivated by majority of people especially in Coondapoor, Karkal and of course in Mangalore. The state itself has allotted around 2.15 lakh hectares only for betel nut cultivation. Therefore it is a major source of income for the people of Tulunadu. In South Kanara, the Putur taluka takes the place of growing in a large scale.

         Tile: Tile industry is well known in Mangalore because the business thrived in its native place itself. After the arrival of Portuguese they introduced tiles in this region. A better trade and demand took the industry to a height where it supplied even to the farthest places.  Besel Missionaries undertook the industry in order to create employment for the local people. In1867, some Catholics by name Alex Pai and Peter Lobo started tile factories which also invited other business men to explore.  As a result a number of industries like ‘The Mangalore Tile Company’, ‘Highland Factory’, ‘The Western India Tile manufacturers’ Association’, ‘Mangalore Roofing Tiles’, etc. emerged later. Tile industry has its past which has left a mark in the history of Mangalore.

           Stone Cutting: Mangalore is known for its seven hills because it stands on them.  People quarried stones including granite stones which are used by the people of Mangalore for building houses. Besides that the religious worship places like churches, temple and mosques were built by the native stones. By the emergence of stone-quarrying it gave infinite opportunities for builders like Cyprian D’Souza and Paul F. Alvares who were the big contractors of the times.

         The Coffee: The coffee cultivation and coffee curing was supported by the British. It is said that in seventeenth century someone called Baba Budan who believed to have brought seed from Mecca at his arrival and planted in garden near Chikmagalur. In the year 1837, Basel mission took up the industry but did not succeed. On the other people especially who were working for Europeans on their business learnt the art of coffee plantation. As a result some Catholics started coffee estates with the help of Europeans.  Estates such as Balahole, Kattalkhan and other estates were started in Chikmagalur in 1870. On the other hand in coffee cultivation, heavy rain fall does not allow coffee to sustain. Therefore both the Europeans as well the local people in Mysore did not succeed in coffee cultivation whereas the industry encouraged capitalists and investors to flourish in the land of Tulunadu.

         Tea, handloom, paper and wood mills, etc. were few other industries that were successfully growing in the region. Therefore South Kanara always thrived on businesses and industries. The people of South Kanara made fortunes out of most of the business. The impact of industries on Mangalore is tremendous because it is able to transform Mangalore as a great educational hub and fill with number of hospitals and media centers as well. 

Courtesy: The Christian Impact of South Kanara by Kranti Farias