Honoris Causa for Dr Kambara, Subbaiah, Kadri Gopalnath

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports

Dr T Ramasami will deliver the convocation address
Former national coach of Indian men’s hockey team and social worker A B Subbaiah, Saxophone player Kadri Gopalnath and litterateur Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara will be conferred honorary doctorate degrees at the 31st annual convocation of Mangalore University, on February 23.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy said that Secretary to Government of India, Department of Science and Technology Dr T Ramasami will deliver the convocation address. Minister for Higher Education C T Ravi will grace the occasion. Chancellor H R Bharadwaj will preside over the programme.

The VC said that Anjaparavanda Bopaiah Subbaiah is a hockey player who had represented Indian team for 11 years and is presently serving as Secretary of Hockey Karnataka and has been mentoring youth to perform at higher level at the international arena. He has been into hockey for the last 30 years. He had represented Indian team in Barcelona Olympic Games, Atlanta Olympic Games, 8th World Cup at Sydney, 11th Asian Games, Beijing, 12th Asian Games, South Asian Federation Games and so on.

Subbaiah was the national coach of the Indian Men’s Hockey team for two years in 2003-04.

Kadri Gopalnath is an Indian Saxophonist and one of the pioneers of Carnatic music on saxophone. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2004. He has the distinction of being the first Carnatic Musician to be invited to perform in the BBC promenade concert in 1994 at London. He has participated in the Jazz festival in Prague, Berlin. He has won ‘Saxophone Chakravarthy,’ ‘Saxophone Samrat,’ ‘Ganakala Shree,’ ‘Nadopasana Brahma’ ‘Kalaimamani’ and other awards.

Dr Chandrashekhara Kambara is one of the leading dramatists of the country and is a poet, folklorist, novelist and a researcher. After a brief stint in teaching in the University of Chicago, he has taught in Bangalore University for over two decades and was a Fulbright Scholar.

He was the founder Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi. He has won prestigious Jnanpith award in 2011. Some of his work are ‘Anna tangi,’ ‘Karimaayi,’ Singarevva mattu aramane,’ ‘Shikhara Soorya,’ and others.

Degrees

The VC said that Mangalore University will award 84 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, which includes Arts—15, Science—59, Commerce—8, Education—2, seven Master of Philosophy degrees (science—6 and commerce—1).

There will be 36 gold medals and 55 cash prizes. About 60 ranks (PG—44, UG—16: Arts—12, science and technology—30, commerce—10, law—1, education—4 and PG diploma—3) will be given to the students.

A total of 1,406 students will receive the degree in person. The Syndicate of the University has decided to use university’s own funds to present gold medals to toppers in the university because the money deposited by donors of various gold medals is insufficient as the gold prices have skyrocketed in the past few years.

A sum of Rs 2,36,880 will be required for 36 gold medals. There was shortage of Rs 43,607, which will be borne by the university itself.

Years ago, donors instituted gold medals to encourage bright students. The interest from the fixed deposits was used to give the medals. Now, gold prices have shot up and the amount is not enough to finance the medals, said the VC.

The gold medal has 25 gram silver with 1.200 gram gold plated on it.

Degree for MCMS

The Mangalore University will award degree to students of 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 batch students of Master of Communication and Media Studies (MCMS) of St Aloysius College. Accordingly, 36 students will get the degree from the university.
Registrar Prof P S Yadapadithaya, Registrar (evaluation) Prof B Narayana was present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Mangalore, DHNS / February 21st, 2013

Nalknadu Aramane – Coorg’s Forgotten Palace

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

In the midst of blossoming coffee bushes in interior Coorg lies a forgotten temple, the erstwhile capital of the Haleri kings.

Lakshmi Sharath –
The Nalknadu Aramane, the palace of the erstwhile Haleri dynasty of Coorg, now wears a forlorn look.

If stone walls do not a prison make, they do not make a palace either. However, in Coorg, you can find one such monument. Shrouded by dense coffee plantations, it hides behind its walls the secrets of the Haleri Dynasty that ruled the coffee country for more than 200 years from the 17th to the 19th centuries. I am on my way to discover this lost piece of history. Our journey takes us through mists and mountains as we drive through interior Coorg, looking for this historic monument that traces the origins and the end of this dynasty.

The mist plays with the mountains. The hills come alive. As we drive up the Western Ghats, the slopes are carpeted by coffee and cardamom plantations. It had rained just then and the coffee plantations are brimming with snowy-white blossoms sparkling like gems – a blend of diamonds and emeralds in a jeweled setting.

We drive through Virajpet and enter the Nalknadu region at Kakkabe. After paying our respects to the powerful deity Iguthuppa, we walk around the plantations and learn that Coorg’s tryst with coffee started right here in Nalknadu more than a couple of centuries ago. It is believed that the coffee seeds were planted right here by the Mopla community from Kerala who traded with the Arabs. The local people cultivated “wild coffee” here as small holdings came up on the fertile slopes of the Western Ghats that were too steep to grow rice.

We are not in Nalknadu for coffee. We are in search of a small palace hidden somewhere in the hills that had been witness to some events in the lives of the Haleri kings. The origin of the Haleri dynasty is traced to Veeraraja, a nephew of Sadashiva Nayaka of the Ikkeri dynasty who overthrew the local Nayaks, including the chieftains of Bhagamandala and Talacauvery, and went on to become the king of Kodagu with Haleri as its capital. His grandson, Mudduraja, later changed the capital to Madikeri. But our interest is in king Doddaveerarajendra who ruled in the 18th century and was constantly engaged in wars with Tipu Sultan. And that is where our search leads us.

We enter a small hamlet called Yavakapadi in Kakkabe, where the Nalknad Aramane built by Dodda Veerarajendra in the 18th century awaits us. There are coffee plantations all around. A small mud road appears out of nowhere. A beautiful two-storey structure painted in red with a tiled roof, old wall paintings and pillars, gazes at us as we open the portals of the palace. A small mandapa in white is located close by. A drizzle starts as we hear a sound behind us. A caretaker silently opens the main door for us. We are the only visitors. As we soak in the moment, we are given a capsule of history.

Hyder Ali captured Coorg when Lingaraja I died in 1780 and took the young princes, Dodda Veerarajendra and Linga Rajendra, captive. They were sent to a fort in Gorur and a minister ruled over Coorg. While Hyder Ali fought the British, the locals rebelled and overthrew the minister. Tipu Sultan recaptured Coorg, but Dodda Veerrajendra escaped. He fought relentlessly against Tipu Sultan and during one of the wars he retreated into a dense forest in Nalknad. He built a palace here and made it into his operation base and also got married to Mahadevammaji.

The caretaker shows us around. We climb a small ladder and shows us to a hidden chamber in the roof. We are also taken to the torture room, the royal bedrooms, and the main durbar.
The palace, which had seen happier times, was also witness to the end of the dynasty. It was the final refuge of the last king, Chikkaveerarajendra, who spent his last few days hiding from the British who eventually deposed him. In many ways it is the only living symbol of the beginning and the end of the Haleri dynasty.

We head downstairs and sit by the pillars. A government school has now been built adjoining the palace. A bunch of schoolchildren are playing about. I wonder if they realize that their childhood playground was once a battlefield. As I sit there pondering, the rain tumbles down, refreshing the mood and the atmosphere.

source: http://www.in.lifestyle.yahoo.com / Home> Travels / by Lakshmi Sarath / Monday, February 18th, 2013

Govt is committed to provide sites for siteless, says district-in-charge minister

Agriculture, Business & Economy

District in-charge minister M P Appachu Ranjan said the state government is committed to provide sites for the siteless, who have been residing on paisari land for generations.

Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, he said an amendment has been brought to the Land Revenue Rules and has been sent for approval in view of providing facilities for those who have been residing on paisari land. “Once the process is complete, all those who have been residing on paisari land in Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts will get sites.

Action

Stringent action will be initiated against those who had regularised paisari land.
However, all those who have encroached upon government lands recently will be evicted,” he said.

Cheque

The minister presented a cheque for Rs 15 lakh, released under CM’s special fund to Madapura Kodava Samaja.

Zilla panchayat member B B Bharathish, BCM department officer Puttaraju, Madapura Kodava Samaja member M A Ponnappa, M C Bopaiah and others were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / DHNS, Madikeri / February 20th, 2013

The right blend of coffee and tourism

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Fascinating trails

Coffee lovers and those with wanderlust have something to rejoice over. Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Karnataka Tourism and Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, recently launched the Kaapi Trail, a tourism product which allows one to experience coffee in its homeland with a single click.

The trails will cover coffee regions like Coorg, Chikmagalur, BR Hills and Araku Valley and offer three types of tourism packages – heritage trail, wild trail and leisure trail.
Depending on the package chosen, travellers will visit coffee plantations, stay in carefully handpicked homestays, go for jeep safaris in the wild and on cycling tours and more importantly, experience the local culture, traditions and cuisine.

Interestingly, this project had its beginnings place last year itself, when the City airport was full of little kiosks selling different varieties of coffee for domestic and foreigners to get a taste of the South.

“Last year, the promotion began as a way of introducing people to the pleasures of coffee drinking and to strengthen the diversity of tourism attractions of the state. Trails like this have been successful world over. The Scotch trails, for example, combine scotch whiskey with the wonderful landscape of Scotland. This is our version of it with the common thread of coffee,” says Hari Marar, President, operations, BIAL.

For Jawaid Akhtar, chairman, Coffee Board, this move will make Bangalore the gateway to South India.

He points out the benefits of this trail – “This will not only increase the coffee grower’s income and the occupancy of the homestays in the coffee regions. But the microclimate in which Indian coffee is grown will be exposed to tourists,” he shares.

“We need to take this product to tour operators around the world and get it incorporated into brochures. This will ensure that tourists see it as a part of the Indian offering,” informs Madhavan Menon, managing director, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. He adds, “We’re not trying to create a new genre of products but a new destination.”

In fact, this is the first time that tourism and coffee are coming together, and the convenience aspect of having a readymade travel plan is truly a big step forward.

“It’s great that this concept has germinated into a product. This is chance for Karnataka to show that coffee’s a way of life in this part of the world; it’s integrated in our culture. We live coffee, drink coffee and dream coffee,” wraps up Arvind Jadhav, additional chief secretary, Karnataka State Tourism.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / DHNS / January 15th, 2013

Is promoting Indian coffee online

Business & Economy, Coffee News

Want to savour a cup of home-brewed coffee, admired across the world, that has been delivered to your doorstep? Kunal Ross’s Theindianbean.com, a portal for selling coffee online, offers just that. Ross believes that India has a treasure trove of coffee plantations, yet people hardly get to enjoy the produce.

“Most of the good quality beans are exported — currently the figure stands at 60-80 per cent. The lack of 100 per cent pure Arabica coffee makes it harder to find the coffee we all crave,” he says. Which is why Ross travelled to the coffee estates of Kodaikanal and Coorg and tied up with farmers to supply him with single plantation beans. In August last year, he began spreading the word across social media. In November, he sent out his first shipment of coffee.

“We now have [coffee chains like] Starbucks and a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf [in India]. But it is not financially feasible to go there everyday. The import prices of the beans make their coffee expensive,” adds Ross. “There is a huge gap in supply for Indians who wanted good quality Indian coffee. That’s where we come in.”

Single estate coffee is much like single malt whiskey — made in one estate to ensure quality, aroma and taste. The Indian Bean currently sells two varieties — Frowner’s coffee from Kodaikanal and Appa’s from Coorg. Frowner’s is a non-certified, organic coffee grown in the Pulney region on a single estate interspersed with fruit trees — avocado, jackfruit, orange, banana and berries. Appa’s, known as the “baap of all coffees”, is a certified non-organic variety. Soon, the website will also sell Watapi, a non-certified, organic coffee from Mysore. Each variety, says Ross, is distinct from the coffee beans grown in South Africa or southeast Asia.

A 250 gm pack of Appa’s costs Rs 270 while Frowner’s sells for Rs 350. Both are available in 500 gm packs too. The Indian Bean is one of the few ‘e-sellers’ of coffee; Delhi-based www.bluetokaicoffee.com was launched last year. The Indian Bean distributes coffee in Mumbai for free and accepts cash on delivery; Ross plans to deliver pan-India by the end of the month and accept netbanking, credit card and debit card payments as well.

Once acquired, the beans undergo quality control by Ross and his team and then a chemical analysis at the labs of the Coffee Board of India, where they are periodically sent for testing. On receiving an order, Ross ensures that the coffee is roasted according to the customer’s choice. This depends on how the coffee will be used — in an espresso machine, in a French press or in a percolator. The packs are delivered in two to three days. Since roasting is done only after the order is received, the fixed costs are minimum. Even then, the company needs daily orders of at least 20 kg on an average to break even by the end of this year. Currently, the order size is usually around Rs 300-Rs 400 from the eight or nine buyers who shop from the site daily.

With an investment of Rs 3-Rs 4 lakh, Ross has tie-ups with five farmers. He hopes to add at least 10 more this year, stick to his revenue target of Rs 36 lakh this year and around Rs 1 crore in the next. “With steep rents in Mumbai, fixed costs go up. But luckily, the farmers and I have a good rapport. They save the good stock for me,” he adds. The website encourages socially-conscious farming; Ross has been updating social media pages to promote home-brewing methods.

Currently, most of the website’s visitors are 30-40 years of age. Using social media and digital marketing, Ross is targeting a younger crowd. He also plans to make his presence felt in farmer’s markets, coffee expos and food festivals. Currently, Appa’s and Frowner’s are available only in Mumbai’s Leaping Windows (a comic-book library and cafe). It remains to be seen whether The Indian Bean can make a space for itself in a sector already teeming with options for a cuppa.

source: http://www.Business-Standard.com / Home> Beyond Business> People> People / by Sohini Sen, Mumbai / January 19th, 2013

Roopashree begins work on her next film

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Actress Roopashree seems to be having a great run lately. The Kannada starlet, who manages to have multi-projects in her kitty all the time, has recently begun work on a new project titled Janma Nakshatra, where she is going to be paired opposite young actor Nagakiran. The film also stars Disha Poovaiah.

Roopashree recently finished work on her other Kannada film Jatayu, which has been directed by PC Sekhar, who last made the Ganesh-Bhavana starrer Romeo. This film is supposed to be a total entertainer, with a lot of comic elements to keep the masses happy.

Roopshree meanwhile has also been busy working on her newest Tamil film, Onbadhula Guru, which is also nearing its release. The actress was in Chennai recently to dub for her portions. This film is a comedy multi-starrer and has Bangalore boy Vinay Rai, Premgi Amaren and Lakshmi Rai among others as her co-stars in the film.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Regional> Entertainment> Kannada / by Sunayana Suresh, TNN / January 22nd, 2013

They sing among us

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Nri's / Pio's


Musician Biddu

CHAT Musician Biddu speaks of how his iconic hit Aao Na, Pyaar Karen features in Luke Kenny’s Rise of the Zombie

They just seem to be everywhere—the undead that is. In graphic novels, books and now with Luke Kenny’s Rise of the Zombie, they have stepped into Bollywood as well. Slated for release in February, musician Kenny’s apocalyptic vision is the result of a collaboration with partner Devaki Singh. Apart from bloodthirsty grisly ghouls, ROTZ also features the hit ‘Aao Na, Pyaar Karen’ composed by Biddu and with Nazia Hassan’s vocals. “Last year Luke got in touch with me saying he wanted to use the song,” Biddu says. “I like dealing with young people.”

The composer of the famous ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ says: “Unlike ‘Disco Deewane’ in Student of the Year, this will be a reworked version of ‘Aao Na.’ I haven’t heard the final version. Luke sent me two adaptations — one is trancy techno and the other has David Guetta groove to it. I don’t know which one they will finally use. If I remember right the song is being used during a rave party. Good luck to them.”

Biddu who mostly stays abroad, spends December to February in India. “Mainly in Goa, but I come to Bangalore to meet family,” says Biddu who says he is not doing any music now. “I am finishing a book which is funny and sad. It is about the sexual awakening of a boy in Mumbai.”

Biddu has written his autobiography and the simultaeneously gripping and mystical whodunit, The Curse of the Godman says his next book will be set abroad. “There is only so much you can do in India,” he says signing off with a laugh.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Mini Anthikad – Chibber / Bangalore, January 31st, 2013

Robin Uthappa scores a big ton in Karnataka victory over Goa

Sports

Porvorim (GOA):

Opener Robin Uthappa scored a scintillating 169 and shared a huge 214-run stand with Ganesh Satish (61) to script Karnataka’s thumping six-wicket win over Goa in a high-scoring Vijay Hazare Trophy South Zone match on Thursday.

Riding on skipper Sagun Kamat’s brilliant knock of 110, Goa had scored a huge 318 for eight .

However, Karnataka did not get intimidated by the daunting total on the board and came out all guns blazing as they overhauled the total with 3.3 overs to spare.

They lost opener Lokesh Rahul (4) early but Uthappa and Satish combined well and batted for about 30 overs together to take the side close to win.

Uthappa’s 169 came off 118 balls and contained 16 fours and seven sixes.

There were still some runs to score after dismissals of Uthapa and Satish but Karun Nair and skipper Stuart Binny ensured the team does not lose way after a flourishing start.

Nair (32) and Binny (31) shared an unbeaten 52-run stand for the fifth wicket to steer the side to finish line.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports / by PTI /
February 14th, 2013

Honey park in Kodagu ?

Business & Economy

Kodagu, which was once famous for honey, now produces just a few tonnes from about 40 tonnes it used to produce annually nearly two decades ago. This drastic decline in the production of honey is due to sacbrood disease affecting the honeybees. Besides, the use of pesticides in plantations for coffee and pepper also sometimes renders it not export worthy.

To revive honey production in Kodagu, there is a proposal to set up a honey park, sources said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Reporter / Bangalore, February 15th, 2013

Reservations declared for town panchayat polls

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Patterns of 2007 for centres continued

The State Election Commission has decided to continue the reservation pattern of 2007 for Virajpet, Somwarpet and Kushalnagar Town Panchayats for the forthcoming elections.

Ward-wise quota:
Virajpet town panchayat: 1. Church Road – General, 2. Devanga Beedi- SC (woman), 3.Arasu Nagara- backward class (A), 4.Telugara Beedi- general, 5.Mogaragalli- general (woman), 6.Harikere- general, 7.Nehru Nagar 1- backward class (A), 8.Nehru Nagar 2- backward class (woman) (A), 9.Subhash Nagar- backward class (A), 10.Panjarapet- general, 11.Meenupet 1- ST (woman), 12.Meenupet 2- general (woman), 13.Gowrikere- general (woman), 14.Gandhinagar- backward class(B) (woman), 15.Chikpet- general, 16.Shivkeri- SC.

Somwarpet town panchayat:
1.Basavewshwar block-backward class (A), 2.Powerhouse block- backward class (A), 3.Venkateshwar block- SC (woman), 4.Tyagaraj block- ST (woman), 5.Visveswaraya block- general, 6.C K Subbaiah block- general (woman), 7.Janatha Colony- ST (A) (woman), 8.Ranger block 1st level- backward class- backward class (B) (woman), 9.Ranger block 2nd level- general, 10.Siddalingeshwara block- general, 11.Mahadeswara block- general.

Kushalnagar town panchayat:

1.R Gundurao extension, Baichanahalli (North)- backward class (B)(woman), 2.Dr B R Ambedkar ext, Nijamuddin ext- SC(woman), 3.Cauvery ext, Indira ext, Ayyappa Swami temple road(right side)- general, 4.Dandinapet main road, Ayyappa temple road (left side)- backward class(A), 5.Dandinapet, Avabhi ext, Shantimarga- backward class(A) (woman), 6.Bapooji ext- Town colony, Car street- general, 7.Aadhi Shankaracharya ext, Vivekananda ext, Russell ext- general, 8.Kalamma colony, Aadarsha, Dravida colony- SC, 9.Nethaji ext, Shailaja ext, Shringaramma ext- general(woman),10.Avadhani ext, Basappa ext- general, 11.Dr S Radhakrishna ext, Someshwar ext (East), Industrial ext- backward class(a), 12.Dr Shivrama Karantha ext, KHB Colony, Gowda Samaja Road- general, 13.Nehru ext, Siddaiah Puranik ext, H R P ext- ST(woman).

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / by DH News Service / Madikeri, February 11th, 2013