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The Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with Art Kanara Trust, hosted the launch of the book ‘Red Cherries on the Canara Coast: The Story of Cricket in Mangaluru and Udupi’ on Saturday (October 25) in Mangaluru. The event also marked the opening of a week-long exhibition of rare archival photographs chronicling over a century of cricketing heritage along the Canara coast at the Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture, Ballalbagh. Former Minister Krishna J. Palemar released the book in the presence of M. Prashanth Shet, jeweller and antiquities collector, Jayanth Kodkani, author of the book, V. U. George, artist and journalist, and Kasturi Balakrishna Pai, a veteran umpire who was felicitated for his invaluable contributions and for sharing his rich personal cricket archive which formed the core of the publication. Praising the initiative, Mr. Palemar said, “Few today remember Mangaluru’s cricketing past. This book revives that forgotten heritage and deserves a place in every household.” Mr. Pai recalled his lifelong dedication to the game. “From my early days as an umpire, I collected scorecards, photographs and documents. I shall continue to work towards preserving Nehru Maidan as a cricket ground,” he said. Reflecting on the importance of personal collections, Mr. Shet said, “As a collector myself, I see Mr. Pai’s efforts as a remarkable example of how personal passion can enrich community heritage.” Mr. Kodkani spoke about the book’s journey, tracing cricket’s roots in the region from the colonial era to the present. “Cricket here predates independence and has produced players of great talent — from Budhi Kunderan and B.C. Alva to K.L. Rahul. It is fitting that the book has been launched at Kodialguthu, the birthplace of B.C. Alva,” he said. INTACH Convener Subhas Chandra Basu recalled how the project grew from a 2022 exhibition and aligned with Mr. Pai’s campaign to preserve Nehru Maidan as a cricket venue. The exhibition remains open to the public till November 1, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kodialguthu Centre. Copies of the book are available at a special inaugural price of ₹700.
