Category Archives: Uncategorized

Bangalore for Women: Ashwini Ponnappa

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, Uncategorized

Bangalore :
Grace on and off the court; clear thought and a dedicated approach; a level head on capable shoulders. With qualities like these, it’s no surprise that Karnataka shuttler Ashwini Ponnappa has become one of the game’s leading lights and Indian badminton’s success story of the past few years.

The Kodava beauty, stunning looks and sharp mind to match, is best known as Hyderabadi Jwala Gutta’s partner. The duo that came together in 2009 with not many expectations to deliver, hit the big time shortly after their Commonwealth Games gold medal in New Delhi in 2010, when they bagged a priceless bronze in the 2011 Badminton World Federation World Championships in London.

The medal ended a 28-year-wait for the nation and the world No. 20 pair’s performance silenced critics. They also reached the quarterfinals of the China Open and Korea Open in 2011.

Soft-spoken and articulate, Ashwini is the yin to the effervescent Jwala’s yang. On the court too, she has become a balancing force with great adaptability. A former student of Bangalore’s St Francis Xavier’s Girl’s High School, the 22-year-old is a natural athlete with sport in her genes. Her father, MA Ponnappa, was a state hockey midfielder who took part in eight Nationals between 1974 and 1986 before turning out for Roman club Eur in a fruitful stint in Italian league hockey.

The banker, together with his wife Kaveri, instilled in their daughter’s mind the basics of success. Whether it was the long hours they devoted to the young Ashwini, helping with studies and homework, or picking her up after school and practice, efforts paid off. Never ones to pressure Ashwini to study harder, the Ponnappas gave their daughter a valuable gift early on – the choice to pursue her dreams. While veterinary sciences appealed to her, badminton was her passion. And the young woman hasn’t looked back since.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports> Badminton / by Shrivatsha Sridhar, TNN / March 27th, 2013

‘Need to check dwindling of tribal population’

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

TribalKF29mar2013Litterateur Devanoor Mahadeva said that with the dwindling of tribals population, tribals should not go for family planning.

Speaking at Kaadina Makkala Radio habba’ programme organised in Madikeri on Wednesday, he said the tribal population is on decline owing to health complications and attack of wild animals. There is a need to check dwindling of population among the tribals.

He called upon the tribals not to consume alcohol and become prey to the tactics of middlemen and also educate their children.

“The urban dwellers are engaged in harming nature. However, tribals live in harmony with the nature. Hence, they are the conservers of nature. The urban population should not consider tribals as uncivilised. They are also civilised individuals. Instead of branding them as ‘forest dwellers,’ it would be better to call them as tribals,” he said.

Madikeri AIR Deputy Director Indira Gajaraj said that tribals play a vital role in conserving nature.

Kodagu Jilla Budakattu Krishikara Sangha President Dobi said that tribals have not learnt their culture and tradition by attending schools and colleges.

They have learnt lessons while living amidst plants and animals.
Kodava Sahitya Academy former president Bacharaniyanada Appanna said that Kodagu is known for its culture and tradition.

Akashavani announcer Abdul Rasheed also spoke.

Members of Jenukuruba, Panjari Erava, Pani Erava, Deva Soliga, Poomalekudiya, Malekudiya, Kembatti, Meda, Kapala presented cultural programmes on the occasion. Antiques were exhibited at Gandhi Maidan on the occasion.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / March 27th, 2013

Army recruitment rally

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

An army open recruitment rally will be organised at Centenary Stadium, Jyothi Nagar, Chikmagalur under the aegis of Deputy Director General of Headquarters Recruiting Zone (Bangalore) and Army Recruiting office (Mangalore) from April 16 to 23.

The rally will benefit candidates of eleven districts of Karnataka such as Uttar Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Udupi, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Davangere, Shimoga, Bijapur and Dharwad.

Candidates will be tested for enrollment into the Indian Army in categories of soldier general duty, soldier clerks/store keeper, soldier technical, soldier nursing assistant and soldier tradesman.

As the army enrollment is conducted on all India basis, all documents are required to be English. Candidates should bring all their civil education certificates in original along with two xerox copies duly attested.

For details contact ARO Mangalore on 0824 – 2458376, according to a press release.

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

Madikeri records maximum rainfall in Karnataka

Uncategorized

Mangalore :

Madikeri in Madikeri taluk of Kodagu district recorded maximum rainfall of 3.5mm in Karnataka in the last 24-hours up to 8.30am on Monday. Puttur hobli in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district recorded highest maximum temperature of 39.2°C on February 24 at 2.30pm. Kunigal hobli in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district recorded lowest minimum temperature of 10.9°C on February 25 at 7am, KSNDMC, Bangalore stated.
Belur hobli of Belur taluk in Hassan district recorded maximum relative humidity of 99.9% on February 24 at 8.45am. Holenarsipura hobli in Holenarsipura taluk of Hassan recorded minimum relative humidity of 4.6% on February 24 at 6.30pm. Rainfall was isolated in one district and negligible in remaining 29 districts. Light rain was recorded in one district, very light rain in four districts and no rain in 25 districts in the above 24-hours.

Karnataka for the period February 19 to February 25 recorded deficit rainfall of 82%. Against normal weighted average rainfall of 1.1mm in south-interior, north-interior, malnad and coastal parts, state recorded rainfall of 0.2mm. For 24-hours period ending 8.30am on February 25, four geographical regions received 0mm actual weighted average rainfall against normal weighted average rainfall of 0.2mm, 100% deficit from normal.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / February 25th, 2013

Metal detector to check tourists in Raja Seat

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

Detector has been installed in the wake of Hyderabad bomb blasts

In the backdrop of bomb explosion in Hyderabad three days ago, the police have tightened security in Madikeri city which is one of the major tourism hubs in the State.

rajaseatKF02mar2013As a part of the improvised security measures, metal detector has been installed in Raja Seat garden that draws thousands of visitors from across the nation every day.

The police personnel have been posted in some of the key areas in the city including bus stands and tourism places. However, tight security is provided to Raja Seat on priority basis as large number of tourists throng to this garden, especially on week ends. The metal detector installed at the entry gate of the garden will function on three days in a week including Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Bomb Detection Squad which functions under Kodagu District Police Department has installed this metal detector. A team of nine personnel are operating in this squad and the personnel have undergone special training at a training centre in Bangalore.

In case a bomb is traced, a special Bomb Diffusing Squad will arrive from Bangalore to diffuse the bomb. According to the police sources, in the wake of bomb blasts in the nation, the number of police personnel guarding the Madikeri bus stand too has been increased. The general public who are accustomed to undergo examination from metal detector in bigger cities like Bangalore and Mysore, are co-operating in Madikeri too.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Kodagu Superintendent of Police M N Anucheth said that metal detector has been installed at Raja Seat as a preventive measure in the wake of Hyderabad twin bomb blasts. “As the terrorists mostly target more populated areas, metal detectors are installed in such places. Raja Seat and bus stand are under special scrutiny in Madikeri,” he said.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / February 24th, 2013

Team Coorg to defend crown

Sports, Uncategorized

TeamCoorgKF28feb2013
Defending champions Team Coorg in this file photo is with their strong supporters in Oman. Photo – Supplied photo
Muscat:
Defending champions Team Coorg Oman is all set to participate in the Gulf Cup Hockey Championship 2013, organised by the United Thalassery Sports Club (UTSC), due to be held in Dubai next month.

Team Coorg won the crown during the second edition last year and was also a finalist in the inaugural edition in 2011.

Team Coorg has been working hard to improve its players’ fitness and skills in the face of the vastly improved opposition, who have had a lot of exposure to Club-level tournaments in Dubai over the last few seasons. Team Coorg, however, will enter the tournament without much match practice, but they are confident of taking on the might of the other expatriate teams.

Scheduled for March 1 at the Dubai Sports City Turf, Team Coorg Oman will field a team of players of mixed ages since a few of its original members have left Muscat, while a few others are nursing injuries; some of the newly married guys have succumbed to the temptation of good food, and the ongoing exams keep the schoolboys indoors, further limiting the team’s options.

A few newcomers will strengthen the aging team, and a lot will be expected of the few players who have improved their skills over the last year.

Team Coorg’s popularity can be gauged by the increasing support it receives from all quarters.

Hugely popular
Many supporters will travel with the team from Oman, and many more in Dubai are eagerly looking forward to joining them at the venue.

Team Coorg has picked up the thread from back home and has endeavoured, over the years, to keep alive the esprit de corps of sports, its customs, and its traditions.

A total of 10 teams, including one Pakistani team, are participating in this edition of the championship. The chief guest of the tournament is Mustafa Zafeer, the patron of UTSC.

source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Home / by Times News Service / Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

Nagesh Kukunoor at the wheel

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Uncategorized

The filmmaker will be on the lookout for locations for a road movie while driving through south India in March

Image Credit: IANS / Nagesh Kukunoor will be part of ‘My Endeavour alterrain’ road trip through south India

Nagesh Kukunoor is ready to undertake a picturesque road journey to Coorg and Munnar and, while at it, he hopes to find the foundation of his new project — a road movie he has been wanting to make for a long time.

The acclaimed filmmaker and screenwriter, known for critically acclaimed movies such as Hyderabad Blues, Rockford and Iqbal, will undertake the journey as part of an adventure driving series, My Endeavour alterrain, by Ford India and National Geographic Channel.

“I want to use this journey as a foundation of a road movie that has been on my mind for a long time. I always wanted to do a road movie and I keep travelling a fair bit because of my work … you never know how stories get triggered,” Kukunoor said.

Is he going with a set story in mind?
“I have a specific thing, but I won’t tell you,” he said, flashing his dimpled smile.

“Well, I do have a loose story in mind and I want to see places that can work for that story. I want to see if I get something interesting … the thing with movies is that you plan something, and then something you absolutely didn’t plan takes shape. So you never know,” he added, hinting at a sense of uncertainty.

But excited he definitely is. Starting from Coorg to Coonoor to Palakkad to his final destination Munnar, Kukunoor is totally kicked about driving through scenic green terrains of the Western Ghats, replete with tea and coffee plantations, and waterfalls.

His companion? A camera crew!
“The camera is going to be my buddy.”
Uncomfortable will he be, then?
“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable because all these years, I have worked with the camera and fortunately or unfortunately, I have worked in front of the camera as well. So it doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all,” said Kukunoor, who has acted in some of his own directorials such as Rockford and Hyderabad Blues.
He is more excited about the trip, to start sometime in March, as when he first undertook it in 1995, he couldn’t complete it.

“I had once undertaken an extensive trip to south India, and Munnar and Coorg were on my map, but I gave up halfway to Coorg. That endeavour remains unfinished for me and this time I want to complete the journey,” he said.
Kukunoor, 45, remembers driving long stretches when he was a student in the United States.

“It has been a very long time that I personally drove long stretches. I have undertaken car journeys, but then you end up driving for a small section and hand over the wheels to someone else after a while. This is not going to be that — I am going to drive the entire stretch,” he said.

source: http://www.gulfnews.com / Tabloid / by IANS / February 25th, 2013

Operate only on permitted routes, Kodagu RTO tells KSRTC

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

Private bus owners accuse KSRTC of running buses without permits

Mohammad Habibulla Khan, Kodagu Regional Transport Officer, on Monday asked the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials in Madikeri not to ply the KSRTC buses in the district without valid permits.

He was presiding over the ‘Sarige Adalat’ (Transport Adalat) meeting. His appeal came in the wake of complaints lodged by the private bus owners in Kodagu that many KSRTC buses plied without valid permits. The private bus owners had alleged that KSRTC buses were running without permits for a long time, Mr. Khan said.

Lachme Gowda, depot manager, KSRTC, said the KSRTC buses were being run in certain locations in the district following demands by the commuters. At no point, the KSRTC was out to compete with the private bus owners. The issue would be brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and sorted out, he said. Mr. Khan said KSRTC buses could not be operated without licence and the authorities ought to follow the court orders.

Mr. Khan said he had slapped 40 cases on KSRTC buses that were plying without licence in the last three years in Kodagu. It meant that the corporation should follow the transport rules. The motto of both KSRTC and private buses should be to provide service to commuters rather than competing with one another.

Hosur Ramesh Joyappa, president of the Kodagu Private Bus Owners’ Association, said the association had been complaining about KSRTC buses being operated in the district without permits in the last three years. Let the RTO take up a survey of the routes in the district, he demanded. Sarvajanika Hitarakshana Samiti president Katti Mandaiah said the KSRTC must stop trying to dominate the private routes.

Buses cannot be operated without licence: RTO

‘40 cases slapped for plying buses without licence in the last three years’.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, February 05th, 2013

Tribal families to get Anthyodaya card

Agriculture, Records, All, Uncategorized

Deputy commissioner Dr N Prasad has directed the officials to make arrangement for the distribution of Anthyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card, in the district.

Chairing a meeting here recently he said tribals are residing in a large number at Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks. The tribals are still leading a deplorable condition.

Anthyodaya

Food and civil supplies deputy director Naveed Ahammed said about 5,047 ration cards have been already distributed under Anthyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). At least 6,000 more AAY ration cards will be distributed shortly.

Social Welfare officer Lakshman J Ganti said that 301 houses which were sanctioned during 2008-09 are under progress. During 2010-11, as many as 350 houses were sanctioned. About 320 beneficiaries have been identified and the proposal has been sent to the ITDP director for approval.

Power

Additional DC Dr N Shivashankar said that electricity connection should be provided to the anganwadi centres. The revenue officials should look into the issue.

Women and child welfare deputy director J P Lingaraju said: “We have already deposited fund to the Chescom to provide electricity connections to the anganwadi centres.”

Assistant commissioner G Prabhu, agriculture department joint director Shivamallu, mines and geology department deputy director Haris and tahsildars were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District> Madikeri / DHNS, January 28th, 2013

3 Indian Cuisines We Really Need To See More Of

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized


\Image: Sunith Shyam
1. Kodava
For a district that’s barely 4,000 sq km in size, Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka produces a surprisingly varied range of cuisine. Few mainland cuisines in India embrace pork as whole-heartedly as the Kodavas do, so it’s only fitting that the pandi curry—a rich, slow-cooked pork dish that takes its signature dark colour from a vinegar called kachumpuli—should be considered an icon, but it ends up overshadowing tangy, light fish curries, delicate vegetable stir-fries and endless variations of staples created with rice. Tickling all the taste buds, this is a cuisine that has made a firm imprint on Bangalore—in the past six years, the number of Kodava restaurants has grown from one to three—and is now ready to take on palates in the further reaches of the country.

2. Saoji
Chances are if you’ve heard of the Saoji style of cooking, you’re from Maharashtra. Born of the working classes, it’s only in recent years that the cuisine has stepped outside roadside shacks—Nagpur and Sholapur are dotted with no-frills Saoji bhojanalayas—and into more upmarket restaurants. Ear-buzzing, sweat-inducing fieriness is the primary distinguisher of this cuisine, along with liberal use of oil. There is little record of the evolution of Saoji cuisine but the spice levels possibly had something to do with the region’s dry heat and the perceived low quality of the offal that was often all the weaving communities were able to afford. Though Saoji mutton and chicken (dry and rassa are the two standard varieties) are the most popular dishes, vegetarian dishes are not unknown. Oh, and did I mention that critics and fans aver with one voice that the food is extremely tasty? Marketed intelligently, Saoji could well replace Andhra food as the go-to meal of choice for hot-heads.

3. Ahomiya

While narrowing down this list, one of the criteria was that the cuisine should be something of a will-o’-the-wisp, that is, familiar enough to be welcome and at enough of a remove to be enticing. For a Bengali, that cuisine is undoubtedly Ahomiya, with its river fish, wild greens, mustard oil balanced by a plethora of fermented and dried foods, exotic tribal ingredients like the pupa of the eri silkworm and red ant eggs, as also the kolkhar—traditionally the water filtered through the ashes of dried and charred banana skins that is now frequently replaced with baking soda—used in cooking the first dish of the Ahomiya thali, the khar. There are almost as many kinds of Ahomiya cooking as there are households, and it’d be a rare eatery that would be able to present all the micro-cuisines from the length and breadth of Assam. But this is a restaurant-ready repertoire, waiting to unfurl its wings beyond Assam House in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri.

Image: Neil McAllister / Alamy

http://www.forbesindia.com / Forbes India / Home> Life/Special / By Sumana Mukherjee / January 03rd, 2013