Mangaluru: Acclaimed writer, Beary researcher Prof. BM Ichlangodu passes away
Mangaluru: Acclaimed writer, Journalist, and Beary researcher Prof. BM Ichlangodu passed away on late Sunday night at a private hospital here in Mangaluru. He was 84.
Prof. Ichlangodu is survived by his wife, four sons and a daughter.
He was known for his in-depth study and research about Beary community which he had culminated through his research from a very young age.
He has also mentored several young research scholars. He also was providing legal aid to the masses from his office near his house. He was also actively involved in literature.
An alumnus of St Aloysius College and MGM college, he did his MA at Mysuru University and pursued law education at Sharada Vilasalaw college of Udupi.
In recognition of his study in the field of Beary language, literature, and culture, he was made the honorary president of the third Beary Literary Conference that occurred in 2001 at Udupi. He served as a member of the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy during its first term. He served as the editor-in-chief of the Beary, Kannada, English dictionary, which was released by the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy.
Born on March 2nd of 1937 at Ichlangodu in Kasaragod to the couple Haji and Kunjalima, B. Muhammed (BM Ichalngodu) served as a History Professor for a long period in Moodabidri of D.K. District. After his retirement, he moved to reside in Nandigudde at Mangaluru.
After completing his 10th grade at Ichlangodu, he finished his 2nd PUC at St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, BA from Udupi’s Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, MA from Manasa Gangotri in Mysore, BL from Udupi's Sharada Vilas Law College, Fellow of General Education (FAGE) from Manipal, Horticulture training from Mangaluru University and also obtained a degree in Reiki healing from Shimoga. Thus, he secured degree after degree and became known as a genius in his town.
Despite being a professor, he researched and studied Tulunadu’s Beary culture, language and wrote many works. After conducting in-depth research on the Beary language, he later came to be known as a researcher. He had garnered attention for various cultural studies, primarily for researching the cultures of Moodabidri, Karkala, and Bantwal and also conducting a special study, which he undertook researching the Muslims of Mangaluru.
From among his work, around 150 stories, more than 200 poems, 25 Comedy literature, 800 intellectually charged literature were published in various newspapers and publications. He had written the introduction to Beary and Tulu languages for the National Language Survey. Many of his thought-provoking speeches were broadcasted on the Mangaluru Radio Network. He also gave a speech on Religious Coordination at Dharmasthala’s Pan-Religion Conference. He has been conferred with more than 200 awards, titles and honours, and recognitions all around the country.
Awards-Recognitions-Honour
The National Prize for translation of Divine Revelation (Holy Qur'an) in 1975, Literary Service felicitation conferred by the Rotary Club of Moodabidri, Recognition from Bearys Welfare Forum for his Research into Beary Culture, Won Beary Literary Awards at the first Beary Literary Conference, Chaired the 3rd Beary Literary Conference in Udupi, Beary Honorary Award from Central Beary Parishad, made member of Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, Honorary Award from Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, Senior Literary Award of the Year by the Muslim Authors Association, Sahitya Saurabh awarded by DK District Writers Association, Media felicitation from the Federation of Indian Small and Medium Newspapers, Felicitation for Customer Service from DK District Customer Service Consortium, Felicitation for Customer service by Moodabidri Journalists Association, DK District Kannada Rajyotsava Award, Beary Literary Awards from the All India Beary Council, Alvas Education Researcher, Literary Social Worker, Frontier Voice State Award for Karnataka Frontier Kannada Conference, Short Stories Literary Prize by DK District’s 6th Short Story’s Literary Conference, Talent Milad Award from Talent Research Foundation, Bisu Tulunaduda Porlu Prize from Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Nammuru Nammavara Nelyadi, Poetry and Media Award from the Coastal Cultural Academy of Kasaragod, Karnataka Utsav felicitated at Kerala State’s 5th Kannada Conference, Literary felicitation at the Coastal Karnataka Cultural Conference in Derlakatte, Kuvempu State Award from Survey Cultural Academy, DK District Senior Civil Service Award from the Department of Senior Citizens Empowerment, Beary Literary Award at Alvas Nudisari, Certificate of Excellence in 2015 from Ramlan Trust in Mangaluru, Sheikh Ahmed Sir Hindi Award by UNIVEF Karnataka, Literary-Poet-Organizer-Researcher-Social Worker Honarary Award by DK District’s Kasapa, Karnataka Folklore Academy Award, Sir M. Visvesvaraya National Award, Samajaratna Award from Jnan Mandara Academy in Bengaluru, and several other awards, prizes and honours were conferred upon him.
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Deep societal faultlines persist despite 75 years of independence: Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
Judge cites denial of home to Muslim girl, opposition to Dalit women cooking mid-day meals
Hyderabad, February 23, 2026: Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that despite repeated affirmations of constitutional morality by courts, deep societal faultlines rooted in caste and religious discrimination continue to shape everyday realities in India.
Speaking at a seminar on “Constitutional Morality and the Role of District Judiciary” organised by the Telangana Judges Association and the Telangana State Judicial Academy in Hyderabad, Justice Bhuyan reflected on the gap between constitutional ideals and social practices.
He cited a recent instance involving his daughter’s friend, a PhD scholar at a private university in Noida, who was denied accommodation in South Delhi after her surname revealed her Muslim identity. According to Justice Bhuyan, the landlady bluntly informed her that no accommodation was available once her religious background became known.
In another example from Odisha, he referred to resistance by some parents to the government’s mid-day meal programme because the food was prepared by Dalit women employed as cooks. He noted that some parents had objected aggressively and refused to allow their children to consume meals cooked by members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Describing these incidents as “the tip of the iceberg,” Justice Bhuyan said they reveal how far society remains from the benchmark of constitutional morality even 75 years into the Republic. He observed that while the Constitution lays down standards of equality and dignity, the morality practised within homes and communities often diverges sharply from those values.
He emphasised that constitutional morality requires governance through the rule of law rather than the rule of popular opinion. Referring to the evolution of the doctrine through judicial decisions, he cited Naz Foundation v Union of India, in which the Delhi High Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, holding that popular morality cannot restrict fundamental rights under Article 21. Though the judgment was later overturned in Suresh Kumar Koushal v Naz Foundation, the Supreme Court ultimately restored and expanded the principle in Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India, affirming that constitutional morality must prevail over majoritarian views.
“In our constitutional scheme, it is the constitutionality of the issue before the court that is relevant, not the dominant or popular view,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also addressed the functioning of the district judiciary, underlining that trial courts are the first point of contact for most litigants and form the foundation of the justice delivery system. He stressed that due importance must be given to the recording of evidence and adjudication of bail matters.
Highlighting the role of High Courts, he said their supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution is intended as a shield to correct grave jurisdictional errors, not as a mechanism to substitute the discretion or factual appreciation of trial judges.
He recalled that several distinguished judges, including Justice H R Khanna, Justice A M Ahmadi, and Justice Fathima Beevi, began their careers in the district judiciary.
On representation within the judicial system, Justice Bhuyan noted that Telangana has made significant strides in gender inclusion. Out of a sanctioned strength of 655 judicial officers in the Telangana Judicial Service, 478 are currently serving, of whom 283 are women, exceeding 50 per cent representation. He added that members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, minority communities, and persons with disabilities are also represented in the state’s judiciary.
He observed that greater representation of women, marginalised communities, persons with disabilities, and sexual minorities would help make the judiciary more inclusive and reflective of India’s diversity. “The judiciary must represent all the colours of the rainbow and become a rainbow institution,” he said.
Justice Bhuyan also referred to the recent restoration by the Supreme Court of the requirement of a minimum three years of practice at the Bar for entry-level judicial posts. While acknowledging that the requirement ensures practical exposure, he cautioned that its impact on women aspirants, especially those from rural or small-town backgrounds facing social and financial constraints, would need to be carefully observed over time.
Concluding his address, he reiterated that the justice system must strive to bridge the gap between constitutional ideals and lived realities, ensuring that the rule of law remains paramount.
