Talacauvery temple panel to enforce dress code

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Irked by tourists who wear skimpy dress while visiting the Bhagandeshwara temple in Talacauvery, the management committee of the shrine has decided to impose a dress code for visitors.

“We have not finalised the dress but any dress that covers women and men adequately would suffice. This is not an ordinary tourist centre but is a shrine of Cauvery river which feeds lakhs of people in Mysore and Bangalore and in Tamil Nadu and also irrigates several thousand hectares of agricultural land in South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. So we should show some respect to the shrine by being presentable at the shrine,” said the committee president AK Manu Muthappa.

The committee is also wary of the litterbugs. “They throw all sorts of trash including empty food packets, water bottles, polythene bags in the temple premises. The committee has taken a serious view of this and has decided to start a campaign against littering” Muthappa said.

The committee member TS Narayanachar said: “The dress code will come into force immediately and those who wish to visit the temple should be prepared to wear the prescribed dress.”

The festivities (Sankramana Jathre) at the shrine will begin on October 17 when lakhs of pilgrims are expected to visit the temple.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> Bangalore> Report / by DNA Correspondent, Place: Madikeri, Agency: DNA / Tuesday, September 04th, 2012

Jwala takes a sabbatical, Ashwini looks for a partner

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

New Delhi:
India’s famed badminton doubles exponent Jwala Gutta has decided to go on a sabbatical, telling her partner Ashwini Ponnappa to look out for a partner.

Photo: AFP

There is uncertainty over how long Jwala will be out from competitive badminton.

Jwala told IANS that it is indefinite, though she hopes to be back on court as early as in six months’ time.

What has heightened the curiosity is that Jwala has asked Ashwini to quickly find a new partner and carry on playing the doubles till her return

What might put speculation at rest is that Jwala at 29 feels she is good for one more Olympics, but she doesn’t want Ashwini to be hamstrung waiting for her.

“I will be back but don’t know when. I have taken time off as I want to come back fresh and fitter. I needed a break after playing continuously for 6-7 years. I have had a chat with Ashwini about it and she understands my position,” Jwala told IANS.

Ashwini, for the time being, will concentrate on mixed doubles with Tarun Kona and look out for a women’s doubles partner.

Jwala-Ashwini, the bronze medallists at the last World championships, are easily India’s most successful doubles team on the circuit, and would not like to give it up. Both hope to be back together.

Jwala thinks it is crucial for Ashwini to carry on in her absence even though it is going to be a tough task considering India’s bench strength.

“Having said that, she has just started playing and I would tell her to find another partner to continue playing in my absence. It will be tough for her as the second string is way below our level. It is time she started mentoring a junior player who is interested in playing doubles, like the way I did with her,” she said.

Ashwini is receptive to Jwala’s idea and says she would take a call after her mixed doubles commitments in China and Japan next month.

The options available to Ashwini are reigning national champions Pradnya Gadre and Prajakta Sawant.

“I can play with either of them but I have not given a serious thought to it. I will take the call once I am back from China and Japan,” 23-year-old Ashwini told IANS.

Talking about reunion with Jwala, Ashwini hopes the two will pair up again, though she is not looking too far ahead, not even till the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I can’t really say anything about how long we are going to be together. We would take a call after Jwala’s return. As of now, my focus is on mixed doubles with Tarun,” Ashwini told IANS .

The Jwala-Ashwini pair, ranked 23rd in the world, was unlucky at the London Olympics where they failed to make the quarters despite faring better than those who made the cut.

“Who knows we might be there together at the next Olympics, but we are not really thinking about it. Personally, my next targets are to do well in the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2014.”

Asked whether age will be a factor in deciding their future, Ashwini said: “Jwala is a gutsy character and she could play for as long as she is passionate about the game. I will be close to 27 and Jwala 33 by Rio. But as I said, Rio is a long way off. No one knows what is going to happen before that.”

What is going on in Jwala’s mind?

“I am not really a planner. I would want to play with Ashwini at Rio, but four years is a long time. I am not growing any younger. Probably, I would have wanted to quit after getting an Olympic medal in London but to try for it all over again, I need to come back highly motivated.”

source: http://www.sports.in.msn.com / MSN Sports / by IANS / Friday, August 31st, 2012

Pandi curry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The pandi curry at Coorg is one of the top dishes of Bangalore

The pandi curry at this quaint home-turned-restaurant (on weekends) is the highlight of the buffet; invariably, it has patrons lining up for seconds, and even thirds. Coorg’s owner, KC Aiyappa, pointed out that “it’s a compulsory fixture at all Kodava feasts and functions too”. A meal in which this slow-cooked pork preparation is the star dish certainly does take on a celebratory tone, if only to applaud the time, precision and care that goes into achieving this wondrous amalgamation of fatty meat and many, many spices.

Aiyappa leaves the cooking in the able hands of his wife, Priya, who first treats the pork with rock salt, pepper, turmeric and a hint of chilli, then bastes it with masala before setting it on the flame. The meat cooks in its own oil and fat for nearly an hour before she adds another mix of spices, this time fragrant plantation produce from Coorg, such as cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and cloves. Much later, only when the dish has simmered and thickened, does it get flavoured with kochampuli, an ingredient that’s also brought from the coffee-growing regions of the state, which lends the curry its dark colour and sour, woody taste. The Aiyappas insist that for the pulp to be made correctly, it must “be left on firewood and most importantly, watched over.”

Not differing from tradition, the folks at the restaurant don’t refrigerate the rich curry. Instead, it is heated over and over till it is lapped up by customers, most commonly with several akki ottis, or soft, porous rotis made from cooked rice.

Coorg 477, Krishna Temple Road, 1st Stage, Indira Nagar (+91 98454 93688). Fri 8.00pm-11.00pm, Sat, Sun 12.00pm-3.30pm, 8.00pm-11.00pm. No cards. R180.

source: http://www.timeoutbengaluru.net / Home> Restaurants & Cafes> Features / by Ria Basu / Photos by Selvaprakash L / August 31st, 2012

Fishing for compliments

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

At the Coorg table, you can immerse your tastebuds into a dark, tangy fish curry, with spice tones reminiscent of the famous pandi curry, but thinner and sharper. No coconut here — just ground onions, garlic and a few grains of raw rice as a thickener, a faint, pleasing bitterness from fenugreek seeds, dark roasted spices. Sharp, clear flavours emerge from the earthenware cooking pots. For a land locked, hill people, we eat a lot of fish in Coorg. The streams and rivers offered a generous supply of fresh water crabs and fish, like the sweet-fleshed bare meen.

Fishing trips had a touch of the theatrical — fire-lit or lamp-lit men, balancing along the mud embankments of the fields, or river-banks, to spear or trap fish. Bamboo traps were laid in cold, swift flowing streams. In season, the flooded paddy fields were full of crab and the prized, tiny koile meen.Fresh catch from the sea was just a day -trip away and, centuries of trade with the Malabar coast established a tradition of fresh and dried fish finding their way into Coorg homes, in sawdust-lined tin boxes, carried by Mapilah traders, to be haggled over in backyards. Salted fish was set aside for the monsoon months, or pickled in a thick layer of spices, immersed in baranis (earthenware jars).

To the fish and crustaceans of the sea and their own highland streams, the Coorgs brought their typical spice mixtures that added beguiling flavours. Whole mackerel, sardines, or slices of sweet-tasting river fish were lightly marinated in red chilli powder, turmeric and the indispensible kachampuli (Coorg vinegar), dipped in rice powder, and fried crisp on cast iron tawas. The contrast of the crunch of crisped exteriors, the lingering levels of spice in the firm flesh and a squeeze of lime was always perfect. There were plump morsels of pickled fish, and curries and pickles of prawns. Some days, an estate worker would come by with a catch of slender, flashing fish, a couple inches long, from the paddy fields. Fiddly to clean of the grit and mud, we spent ages rubbing slippery mounds with ash or salt for curry, or my favourite — clusters of koile meen, mixed with spices, for ‘cutlets.’

Fresh crab, caught in streams or fields were quick fried, or curried with finely ground coconut into a sour-spicy curry. Served with hot akki ottis and melted ghee. As we sat around a small, dining table, crunching crab claws and sucking out tender meat, my mother-in-law would explain which phases of the moon brought the crabs heavy with meat and, the knack of catching live crabs without receiving a painful pinch. I would nod enthusiastically, but left that particular task to the experts.

RECIPE
Coorg Fish Curry
Ingredients
* 1kg fish (seer works very well) cut into ½ inch thick steaks
Grind together to a fine paste
* 4 large onions
* 1 inch ginger
* 8 pods of garlic, peeled
* 1 ½ tsp jeera
Dry spices
* Red chilli powder to taste
* 2 tsp coriander powder
* 1 level tsp turmeric

For seasoning
* 1 tsp mustard seeds
* 2 green chillies
* 2 onions, sliced thin
* 8-10 curry leaves

For the roasted masala
* 1 tsp whole cumin (jeera)
* 1 tsp mustard seeds (rye)
* ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
* ¼ tsp raw rice
* ½ tsp black peppercorns kachampuli, or malt vinegar

Slow roast the above spices separately on a hot tawa until they release their aromas and change colour. Allow them to cool, and crush to a powder, separately, and then mix.
* Salt to taste
* ½ cup oil
* 2 cups hot water

Method
Wash and dry the fish fillets or steaks.
Mix the kachampuli (or malt vinegar), the turmeric, chilli powder, salt into the fish, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a deep pan, or kadai, add the mustard seeds. When they begin to splutter, add the curry leaves, the sliced onions and the green chillies, and fry gently until softened.
Add the coriander powder, chilli powder, and ground paste of onions. Cook slowly, until the raw smell disappears.
Add 2 cups hot water, or more according to gravy required, and when simmering add the fish, and cook uncovered, until almost done.
Add the dry roasted, powdered spices, and simmer until done.
Optional — you can thicken the curry with a small amount of tamarind paste too.

– The writer is an anthropologist and independent author based in the city, who delves in to food, wine, travel and heritage. She is also behind A Gourmet’s Table In Coorg (http://coorg.com), a blog exploring the fascinating traditions of Coorg cuisine, food lore and special meals.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> LifeStyle> Dine o Mite / by Kaveri Ponnapa, DC / September 06th, 2012

‘Kail Pold’ festival celebrated in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

“Kail Pold”, one of the main festivals of Kodagu, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across Kodagu on Monday.

The festival symbolises “Ayudha Puja” for the people of Kodagu, mainly Kodavas. It also marks the culmination of paddy transplantation throughout the district and waning of monsoon. Firearms, weapons of all sorts, including “odikathi’ (curved dagger), are burnished, plough used to till paddy field, yoke and old Kodava artefacts are placed at the “Nellakki” (place where Kodavas offer prayers in their houses) and worshipped. Kodavas of Nalknad area celebrated the festival on August 28.

The eldest person in a family dressed in traditional attire would offer puja to the items placed at the “Nellakki”. Bacharaniyanda P. Appanna, former president of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, arranged artefacts of the yore to worship, symbolising the festival at his residence in Kushalnagar on Monday. The objects included “ambkathi”, “pillkathi”, “koykathi”, “balkathi”, “maradudi”, “tarikutt”, “vannali”, “mora”, “morkuthi”, plough, and yoke used in households in Kodagu in the past.

Pall of gloom

However, a pall of gloom descended on the district when two persons, who were returing home after celebrating the festival in the district, died on Monday.

Avin Ponnanna (30), who was crossing the old bridge across the Cauvery at Balamuri near Murnad on his motorcycle, was washed away. He was returning home after taking part in the Kail Pold sports events organised at Hoddur village, reports received here said. Kodagu in-charge Minister M.P. Appachu Ranjan and Capt. Ganesh Karnik, MLC, visited the spot.

H.B. Gopal, who took part in the festivities at Mutharmudi near Murnad, fell into a stream and drowned at Tobattumane area while returning home.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, September 05th, 2012

Serving the Kodava cause

About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders


File photos of (left) CNC members led by N.U. Nachappa presenting a memorandum to the Kodagu district administration representative and (right) Kodavas staging a protest to highlight their demands.— / Photos: Nanda kumar, Sampath Kumar G.P./ The Hindu

Will the two-decade-old struggle of the Codava National Council (CNC), demanding an autonomous Kodava homeland, succeed? This is a debatable point. The CNC led by its president, Nandineravanda U. Nachappa, initially was demanding a separate Statehood, but later scaled it down to seek an autonomous homeland. Mr. Nachappa has been able to keep the organisation alive and make its presence felt, both at the State and the national level, by organising protests, demonstrations and other conspicuous events.

The main demand of the CNC is a full-fledged Kodava Autonomous Region, encompassing the 45 ancient traditional ‘naads’ (‘nad’ is a group of villages), on a par with the Darjeeling Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Mr. Nachappa says that the Central Government must accord ethno-linguistic tribal minority status to the Kodavas under the Constitution and extend reservation facilities in the fields of education, economic and employment. It should also ensure Constitutional special guarantee for the land tenures and customary personal laws of the Kodavas without any interference, on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast States of India under Articles 370 and 371 of the Constitution.

The Government must facilitate the CNC to establish a Central University to propagate “Kodavalogy” on the lines of North-Eastern Hill University, Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University, Mr. Nachappa demands. Kodava language must be included in the VIII Schedule to the Constitution and implemented as one of the three administrative languages in Kodagu.

The exemption under the Indian Arms Act to hold firearms to the ‘Kodava by race’ people should continue without any hindrance, Mr. Nachappa argues. In the same manner, the land rights being enjoyed by the Kodava people, thanks to privileges such as ‘Jamma’, must stay, he demands.

The CNC opposes the Dilip Singh Bhuria report submitted to the Centre that wanted Virajpet taluk to be declared as a Scheduled Area for the benefit of tribal people who live in that taluk. Mr. Nachappa argues that it would adversely affect the Kodava people, whose roots could be traced to Virajpet taluk and parts of Madikeri taluk.

Submitting memoranda

Memoranda are being submitted to the State and the Central Governments time and again by the CNC to further its cause. The Central and the State Government authorities too have been acknowledging them. But, there are many who look at its struggle sceptically. The movement lacked political support and the backing of the entire populace of Kodagu, they say. They also term it as an unpopular movement which does not cover populace other than a group of Kodava people in the district. But Mr. Nachappa maintains a hard stand, stating that cause of the struggle was important and it was achievable irrespective of numbers or backing by the majority.

He says that the struggle was totally peaceful and well within the bounds of the Constitutional framework. The CNC had also forged alliances with 13 other like-minded organisations across the country to achieve its goals in the past, including the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The CNC claims credit for a series of development works that were initiated in Kodagu in the last one-and-a-half decades, including roads and bridges, plus release of special grants. It also says that the credit for the proposed move of the State Government to write to the Centre recommending establishment of a Central University in Kodagu, should go to the organisation.

Guests

Mr. Nachappa’s effort to rope in the support of political leaders and heads of other organisations is worth a mention here. During the previous Annual Day celebrations of the CNC in Madikeri, the AICC general secretary, Oscar Fernandes, Additional Advocate-General of Haryana and Supreme Court advocate, Brijesh Kalappa, and Karnataka High Court advocate, M.T. Nanaiah, were the guests. Gorkha leader Dawa Pakhrin, JMM leader Shibu Soren, and intellectuals Balveer Arora and T.K. Oommen, among others, have been guests in the past.

Mr. Nachappa has reiterated the demand of the CNC to establish the proposed Central University at the ‘Kodava Kund’ (Kodava Hill), a location identified by the CNC near Kakkabe.

The CNC delegations have submitted memoranda to the State Governors and met the Chief Ministers of Karnataka several times in the past.

Census

The CNC has been appealing to the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner to direct the caste census enumerators to enlist the Kodava people separately under the columns of the ‘Kodava’ caste, and not as ‘Kodagaru’ or ‘Kodaga’ or ‘Coorgi’ in the census sheets. This move would enable the minority Kodava people to assert their identity and uphold the dignity of the community whose people had been serving the nation admirably well in various fields, it felt. Some success was achieved in this regard in Kodagu.

To bolster its base, the CNC has been organising ‘Ain Mane’ (ancestral home) programmes in select Kodava families since a few years. It has been coming up with ‘human chain’ programmes in the entire district, mainly targeting the areas dominated by the Kodava populace.

Other causes

The CNC, apart from taking up the causes of the Kodava people, has also been observing World Indigenous Peoples Day, World Minorities Day, and ‘Black Day’ on November 1, coinciding with Kannada Rajyotsava.

Mr. Nachappa argues that ‘Kannada Nadu’ could not be complete without the creation of an autonomous homeland within the State of Karnataka.

Mr. Nachappa, who has not groomed a deputy so far in his nearly two-decade existence, has preferred to change the nomenclatures of his organisation several times. What appeared to be a broad-based organisation encompassing a few other communities as well in the beginning has come to patronise only Kodavas in the recent times. The ‘Kodagu Praja Vedike’ which took birth only to counter the CNC has now fizzled out.

Mr. Nachappa hopes that the Kodava Autonomous Region would become a reality along with Telangana.

Jeevan Chinnappa

A full-fledged Kodava Autonomous Region, a Central University to propagate ‘Kodavalogy’, special land rights… the CNC has a whole list of demands

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> District Plus / by Jeevan Chinnappa / September 08th, 2012

First batch of dasara jumbos reach Mysore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature

Mysore:

The first batch of six elephants including howdah elephant Balarama on Friday ambled from the woods marking the beginning of the Dasara-2012.

The elephants will be in Mysore for nearly two months and will participate in the Vijayadashami procession on the last day of Dasara festival celebrations, which is scheduled to commence from October 16.

A traditional pooja was performed before they moved out of woods at Nagarpura, a territorial forest area in Hunsur. Earlier, ‘Gajapayana’ (the ritual of brining elephants from forest for the celebrations) was being conducted at Veeranahosahalli, a tiger reserve in Nagarahole National Park but this time authorities changed the venue for ‘Gajapayana’ following supreme court direction to ban activities in tiger reserve area.

On the occasion, the students of a tribal school and Tibetans presented a cultural performance at the venue, some 60 kms away from Mysore.

Wildlife division DCF S N Devaraja told TOI that four elephants from Nagapura – Balarama, Abhimanyu, Arujuna and Vijaya and two from K Gudi – Srirama and Gajendra have reached Mysore safely. They were transported in separate trucks from forest areas. They will traditionally welcomed inside Mysore Palace where they will stay put till Dasara concludes on September 10.

The second batch of six elephants will arrived three weeks before the celebrations.

Siddeshwara Swamiji to inaugurate Dasara

District minister S A Ramdas who inaugurated the traditional ceremony at Nagapura announced that this year Sri Siddeshwara Swamiji of Jnanayogashrama Mutt, Bijapur, will inaugurate the Dasara celebrations atop the Chamundi Hills on October 16. The minister said earlier they had selected litterateur S L Byrappa to open the celebrations but as Byrappa will be busy attending a literary meet in Japan during the time he will be not available for the inauguration.

On the occasion, district minister presented title deeds to five families who were relocated from reserved forest areas under central government rehabilitation scheme. Each family received ownership documents of five acre land outside the protected forest area and soon the district administration will offer possession certificate to other members of tribal community.

Meet the jumbos

Balarama: He was trapped in Kattepura village forest in Kodagu district in 1987. Balarama, aged 54 years, has been participating in Dasara since 16 years and carrying golden howdah since 12 years. He hails from Thithimathi elephant camp and weighs 4950 kilos.

Abhimanyu:He was caught at Hebballa forest in Kodagu district in 1977. Abhimanyu, 46 years, is being used in operations to tame other wild elephants and he has been participating in Dasara since 13 years. He weighs nearly 4320 kilos.

Arjuna:The 52-year-old tusker was caught in Kheda operation at Kakanakote forest in 1968. He has carried golden howdah once. He comes from Balle elephant camp and weighs 4820 kilos.

Gajendra (57):This elephant was caught during an operation at Kattepura in Kodagu in 1987. Gajendra, the ‘Pattada ane’ has been participating in Dasara procession since 15 years. He is around 4560 kilos

Srirama :He was caught from Thithimathi forest in Kodagu in 1969. He is strong and courageous. Srirama, 55 years, is used in pooja at Mysore Palace. This is his 16 thparticipation in dasara. He weighs nearly 4450 kilos

Vijaya:She was caught in Dubare forest in 1963. The 54-year-old is mild in nature and she is taking part in Dasara since 7 years. She weighs nearly 3250 kilos.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / by Lawrence Milton, TNN / September 07th, 2012

Jacky loves to romance with Angelina Jolie

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


Mumbai:
After grabbing a great response from ‘ FALTU’, Jacky Bhagnani is thrilled about his upcoming flick ‘ Ajab Gazabb Love’. The actor admires his co-star Nidhi Subbaiah for her tremendous performance in the movie. The actor who had done three films with every fresh faces stated that he would love to romance Angelina Jolie.

Jacky stated that, “I would want to romance Angelina Jolie also, but I have just done three films till now and I am happy romacing Nidhi in this film.”

He also added that he is also a fresh face of the B-town and doesn’t mind romancing any actress.

The actor said, “Off-screen rapport is very important with an actress to make the movie look realistic. People want to see real friendship even if it’s a filmy film.”

source: http://www.aajkiakhbar.com / Home> Entertainment . by Abhayank Tiwari / Thursday, August 31st, 2012

Trenches, solar fences to check jumbo menace

Agriculture, Business & Economy

Madikeri:
The forest department has decided to install solar fences and dig trenches to check the elephant menace in Kodagu district.

Elaborating on the measures, Kodagu conservator of forests Brijeshkumar Dixith said the department has planned to install solar fences across 71km in Nagarahole-Thithimathi range and for 41km in Dubare range.

The fences will be powered with 5KV to 7KV electricity. Small sheds will be erected at a distance of 3km each along the fence to check and maintain the power lines. The sheds will have the control switches to regulate power.

The department has decided to rope in estate owners for manning the sheds.

Estate owners will be asked to spare a labourer, who will visit the shed every morning and evening to check the switches and regulate power supply.

The department will pay the worker Rs 1,000 per month. This arrangement will spare the department from engaging additional staff for manning the sheds.

In places where the department cannot install solar fences, 3m-wide trenches will be dug. But before taking up these works, Dixith said the department will drive the elephants towards the forest area, away from the village and town boundaries, and a special forest squad has been formed for the purpose.

In North Kodagu especially the Sakaleshpur-Kodagu border, the department has sought permission for tranquilizing and capturing wild elephants.

When questioned about teak cultivation in forest area depleting food for animals, Dixith said it was a wrong notion. “Elephants eat the bark of teak. Also, a variety of bamboo is grown everywhere in Kodagu, which is consumed by elephants,” he said.

On the scarcity of water inside the forest, he said a project will be proposed to repair and rejuvenate all the mud-covered and neglected streams and ponds inside the forest area.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Mysore / TNN / August 30th, 2012

State Govt. to honour eight veteran journalists

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

TSR Memorial & Mohare Hanumantharaya awards to be presented

Caption: Shivasharanappa Vali, Ranganatha Rao, M.B. Desai, Nagaraja, Narayana Karantha, K.V. Paramesh, Ramesh Kuttappa, Ravindra Bhat

Bangalore, Aug. 25
The State Government will be honouring journalists by presenting the TSR Memorial and Mohare Hanumantharaya, Development and Environmental Journalism awards for the years 2010 and 2011 at Ravindra Kalakshetra here on Aug. 27 at 11 am.

G.N. Ranganath Rao and Garudanagiri Nagaraj will be honoured with TSR Memorial Award for 2010 and 2011 respectively. Shivasharanappa Vali (2010) and M.B. Desai (2011) will be given the Mohare Hanumantharaya Journalism Award while K.V. Paramesh (2010) and Ravindra Bhat Ainakai (2011) will receive Development Journalism Awards. Narayana Karanth Peraje (2010) and Ajjamada Ramesh Kuttappa (2011) will be given Environmental awards by the government.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar will present TSR and Mohare Hanumantharaya awards while Dy.CMs K.S. Eshwarappa and R .Ashok will present Development Journalism and Environmental Journalism awards respectively.

MP Ananthkumar and Justice G.P. Shivaprakash, retired High Court Judge & President of Journalism Award Selection Committee will be the chief guests.

Chikpet MLA Dr.D. Hemachandra Sagar will preside.

Late T.S. Ramachandra Rao (TSR), as the Editor of Prajavani, was famous for his column Choobaana. The government is presenting an award in his name since 1993 which includes Rs. 1 lakh cash prize. Till now, 18 journalists have received this award.

TSR award recipients: G.N. Ranganatha Rao entered journalism field by joining Tayinadu as a Sub-Editor. He also served in Samyukta Karnataka. He worked in Prajavani for 34 years and has authored 30 books.

Garudanagiri Nagaraja joined the movement for a responsible government against Mysore State when he was a student and was imprisoned. He received progressive farmer award also. He first served in Janavani, Praja-matha and later in Kannada Prabha. He has also served as the President of Karnataka Newspaper Academy.

Late Mohare Hanumantharaya was a freedom fighter from Bijapur district. After working as the Sub-Editor and Editor of Karnataka Vaibhava weekly in Bijapur, he joined Samyukta Karnataka as Editor and later became its Managing Editor. He started Kannada’s first digest Kasturi in 1956.

Mohare Hanumantharaya award recipients: Shivasharanappa Vali of Bidar district was involved in freedom movement, journalism, social work, educational, religious and political activities. He worked in Delhi’s Hindustan Samachar for 10 years and later in ‘Uttara Karnataka’ daily.

Mohan Basavaraja Desai: He started a Kannada weekly Darshana and later converted it into a daily Loka Darshana in border district of Belgaum. He has served as an Editor for 50 years in Kannada journalism.

Development journalism: K.V. Paramesh – Entering journalism field through Kodagu’s Shakti daily newspaper, he also served as Mysore Centre Head of E-TV Kannada, Bangalore Senior Reporter & Head of Political Division of Suvarna 24×7 and also in Samyukta Karnataka. His contributions include reports on Nagarahole forest fire, H.D. Kote taluk forest conditions, smuggling and sale of minor girls of Girijana tribes in Mysore district etc.

Ravindra Bhat Ainakai joined Samyukta Karnataka in 1990 and later served in Kannadamma of Belgaum, Aragini, Abhimani and Ee Sanje papers, for three years in Udayavani and later as Mysore Branch Chief of Prajavani. His columns have been published in book form titled Baduku Marada Mele, apart from other books Hejjenu, ‘Moorane Kivi’ etc.

Environmental journalism: Narayana Karantha Peraje – He has been serving in Dakshina Kannada’s monthly Adike since 22 years. He is well-known for his columns in Sudha, Taranga, Udayavani, Hosadigantha, Kannada Prabha etc. He is the author of more than 10 books including ‘Tala Tapasvi.’

Ajjamada Ramesh Kuttappa – Entering journalism through Kodagu’s Veeranadu paper, he later worked in DK’s Kannada Janantaranga and as Senior Reporter in Vijaya Karnataka for 11 years. At present, he is the Kodagu Reporter of Vijayavani. He has penned many articles on Kodagu’s environment, developmental works in forest, Nagarahole forest’s condition etc.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / August 25th, 2012