Category Archives: Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Patriotic song singing contest in Madikeri

Zilla Sarvodaya Samithi will organise patriotic song singing competitions for students from class 8 to PUC and the public on account of the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2.

The competitions will be held at Gandhi Maidan in Madikeri. Those interested in participating can register their names with Ambekal Naveen – 9448005642 or M M Likayat Ali – 9448422505, on or before September 25.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 12th, 2021

Rotary Misty Hills to felicitate teachers

Rotary Misty Hills, Madikeri, will organise the Rotary Nation Building award function in Rotary Hall, Madikeri, at 7 pm on September 14.

Teachers will be felicitated during the programme.

Prafulla Devaraj, Sarojini and Rosy from Madikeri, Anitha Chokira from Kadagadalu and Doddanna Baramelu from Peraje will be honoured.

Kunti Bopaiah will confer the award.

Rotary deputy governor Anil H T, zonal secretary H S Vasanth Kumar, office bearer Jagadish Senani and Misty Hills secretary P R Rajesh will take part, said Misty Hills president Anitha Poovaiah.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 13th, 2021

Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devaiah remembered

Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan pays floral tributes to a portrait of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devaiah on the occasion of his 56th death anniversary, in Madikeri.

The 56th death anniversary of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devaiah was observed by Kodava Makkada Koota, on Tuesday.

MLA Appachu Ranjan M P, MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah and others paid floral tributes to a portrait of Ajjamada Devaiah at the old private bus stand.

Appachu Ranjan said that the youth from the district should join the army in large numbers and serve the nation.

MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah said that it is the duty of every Indian citizen to remember the brave soldiers.

More soldiers should come from Kodagu, she added.

Retired Major Nanjappa said that the younger generation should remember the history. 

Devaiah Memorial Trust president Ajjamada Katti Mandaiah said that Devaiah sacrificed his life in the Indo-Pak war. He was awarded the Mahavira Chakra. 

Kodava Makkada Koota president Bollajira B Ayyappa, CMC commissioner Ramdas, honourary secretary Puttarira Karun Kalaiah, Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum president Colonel Kandratanda Subbaiah, convener Major Nanjappa and and Ajjamada family president Ajjamada Lava Kushalappa were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 08th, 2021

Kodava Academy Awards Announced

Sculptor Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah, Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa among 12 achievers

Madikeri:

The annual awards and book awards conferred by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy have been announced and 12 achievers will receive the honours this year. 

Academy Chairperson Dr. Ammatanda Parvathi Appaiah said that the awards function will be held at Kodava Samaja in Makkandur on Sept. 12. The annual awards event could not be held last year due to the pandemic and the awards for both years will be presented on Sept. 12.

Madikeri MLA M.P. Appachu Ranjan will inaugurate the programme. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLC M.P. Sunil Subramani, MLC Veena Achaiah and others will take part in the event. 

The honorary awardees for the present year are: Monnanda Shobha Subbaiah and Badakadammanda Kasturi Govinda Mayya (literature), late Kameyanda C. Ayyanna and Bottolanda Kali Achaiah (art), Kambiranda Cauvery Ponnappa (research) and Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah (sculpture).

The annual book awards will be presented for ‘Pojang,’ a collection of poems by Bacharaniyanda P. Appanna and Ranu Appanna, ‘Mahavira Achunayaka’, a novel by Kadyamada Reeta Bopaiah, ‘Badk Pinja Dechavva,’ a play by Addanda C. Cariappa, ‘Nadapeda Asha,’ a novel by Nagesh Kaluru, ‘Nanga Daar Kodava’ by Maletira Seethamma Vivek and ‘Nataka Ranga’ by Uluvangada Cauvery Uday.

The honorary awards will comprise a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each while the book awards comprise Rs. 25,000 each. Kodava thesaurus ‘Pala Pajel Kodava Takk’ will also be released on the occasion. There are 5,000 words and descriptions that have been given in Kannada, Hindi and English. 

Multi-dimensional sculpting

Appaneravanda Kiran Subbaiah, known for his multi-dimensional sculpting — a specialised genre which seems to be a single statue but actually has several more angles to it — said that finally the Kodava Sahitya Academy has given him an award. “I thought I would not receive the Academy Award in my lifetime. I am glad that they have recognised my work at last,” he told Star of Mysore. 

The sculptor regretted that many genuine achievers in the Kodava community have not got their due recognition though there are awards for other communities despite their achievements being minor. 

Kiran’s sculpture is unique where each side is carved in such a way that the subject on one side does not interfere with the subjects on the other, yet the correlation is aesthetically brought out. 

His house on New Sayyaji Rao Road near Bamboo Bazaar in Mysuru is a one-of-its-kind Sculpture Museum aptly named ‘Shilpaniketana.’ 

[Note: Star of Mysore had featured Kiran Subbaiah in its Weekend Star Supplement titled ‘Sculptures’ on Dec. 20, 2008]

Prescribed as textbook

Speaking to Star of Mysore on being chosen for the book award, Addanda C. Cariappa, who is the present Rangayana Mysuru Director, said he was happy that his literary work has been recognised by the Academy. “The play ‘Badk’ has seen more than 70 shows. Also the book ‘Badk Pinja Dechavva’ has been prescribed as a text book by the Kodava Sahitya Academy. The actual play and the book are different in the performance and literary aspects. While the play is purely performance-oriented, the book is a hardcore literary work,” he said and added that  ‘Dechavva’ is another play in the book. 

 Six plays

Uluvangada Cauvery Uday said that her book ‘Nataka Ranga’ is a collection of six plays that is a combination of historic and social themes that give a message to the society. There are humorous plays too. “I used to perform in many plays at Sambhrama Ladies Club in T. Shettigeri, South Kodagu. These plays were written for many cultural events and now I have compiled the same into a book that has got the award,” she said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 09th, 2021

Waterfalls in Suntikoppa are in full splendour

Haleri Falls near Suntikoppa.

Several waterfalls in Suntikoppa hobli have been attracting people and tourists with their natural splendour.

Some of these waterfalls in Suntikoppa are located inside plantations.

As the region has witnessed intermittent rainfall from the past week, many waterfalls have regained their natural beauty.

The sound of the water flowing down the hills has been beckoning the tourists.

Haleri Falls is situated at a distance of 2 km from Boyikeri. The sound of the flowing water can be heard till 2 km.

‘D’ Block Falls in Kedakal Gram Panchayat limits near Suntikoppa, is one of the most attractive falls. The waterfalls cascade amidst the greens, providing a feast for the eyes.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Suntikoppa / August 24th, 2021

Prasad Bidapa Joins Advisory Board Of Pearl Academy

Pearl Academy welcomes Bengaluru based fashion connoisseur Prasad Bidapa on its academic advisory board.

India’s leading creative education institution, Pearl Academy, today announced that fashion and image expert Prasad Bidapa has joined the academic advisory board of its Bengaluru campus.

The advisory board, with eminent veterans from diverse creative fields, is responsible for bringing industry insights and global best practices that can be incorporated into the curriculum and pedagogy to ensure that the students receive the most relevant education.

On joining the Pearl Academy Bengaluru advisory board, Prasad Bidapa said, “I strongly believe that contributing to the education of the youth is one of the best ways to make your years of expertise and experience count and hence, I am delighted to collaborate with Pearl Academy.

The institute’s seriousness towards nurturing creative minds in a way that prepares them for professional lives while retaining their unique identity and passion for the chosen craft is exemplary.

I am looking forward to engaging with the young creators, innovators, dreamers and disrupters. My mission is to sensitize our young minds into appreciating & using the vast wealth of our indigenous textiles & techniques, and helping them achieve global recognition”.  

With 40 years of experience, Prasad is undoubtedly amongst the iconic fashion gurus of India.

He has been revolutionizing the fashion industry by curating various high-profile fashion events like India Men’s Fashion Week, Colombo Fashion Week and Rajasthan Heritage Week.

He is also committed to the cause of reviving the traditional textiles of India. 

source: http://www.bweducation.businessworld.in / BW Education / Home / by BW Online Bureau / September 02nd, 2021

Public Prosecutor Felicitated

Public Prosecutor Kaliyanda Muthamma Poonacha was felicitated at her office in city yesterday by Mysuru Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Arunamshugiri (extreme right) with a shawl, garland, Mysuru Peta and a certificate, for handling ACB cases extremely well.

ACB Dy.SPs Parashuramappa and Dharmendra are also seen.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / August 31st, 2021

Women in Karnataka’s Virajpet form self-help groups, buy field and cultivate paddy

Question of livelihoods: Women self-help groups purchased an unused paddy field and have now become full-time farmers

Madikeri :

Following the Covid crisis, several women have taken to cultivating paddy in the district, giving a new lease of life to uncultivated land.


Women — mainly from Virajpet taluk — under the banner Sanjeevini Okkuta, are growing paddy on land that had remained uncultivated for years. Fifteen women self-help groups joined the Okkuta, which purchased an unused paddy field.

Okkuta president Indira and assistant secretary Nisha have helped members with initial capital for the work.

Villagers say owners of the field had stopped cultivating the crop as paddy cultivation requires a huge workforce to plough, sow and transplant plants. This demands high wages.

National Rural Livelihood Mission district programme manager, who indentified himself only as Kumar, was pleased with the latest move by women of Sanjeevini Okkuta.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mysuru News / by TNN / August 06th, 2021

Neelakurinji blooms beckon tourists, chopper rides on offer

The mass blooming of the Neelakurinji flower (Strobilanthes kunthiana) in Kodagu district is giving the much-needed boost to the state’s tourism sector.

Neelakurunji flowers bloom at a hillock in Kodagu district | forest department

Bengaluru:

The mass blooming of Neelakurngi in Coorg has made it a rallying point for wildlife enthusiasts, botanists, photographers and tourists.

The blooming at the hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu, tourism has also taken up the north. Since the blooming has happened for the first time in a such a massive scale and is after 12 years, more so after tourism activities have opened up after the pandemic, every one are heading to India’s Scotland to see them. 

The new entrant in the list to draw tourists is heli- tourism. As the state government and the tourism department are trying the revive the long pending heli- tourism, a firm in Bengaluru has undertaken a heli- ride to Kodagu and surrounding areas, giving an areal view of the blooming Neelakurunji flowers on the hillocks. 

Govind Nair, Director, Thumby Aviation Private Limited said already one trip from Yelahanka air base to Coorg was done earlier this week. Now it is being offered as a part of the Nowhere trip to Coorg, a package tour, where a detour to Mandalapatti will be done. 

Tourism packages and inineraries are being revamped on the go, depending upon the blooming and withering of the flowers. But since it is a once in 12 years sighting, many resorts are offering a visit to the region as a part of the package, to draw more crowds. 

Trekking and flying has now taken the front seat to draw tourists. Even as the recent guidelines of the ministry of aviation states that drones are prohibited over national  parks, wildlife sanctuaries and other eco- sensitive places, conservationists and foresters object to helicopters flyover over the region. They point not just is the area a fragile Western Ghats region, little is know the species in Kodagu and so all precaution should be exercised to safeguard them. 

Botanists point that utmost care should be taken in the area as the flowering in this part of Western Ghats has not been recorded and documented. Karnataka as around 45 species of Kurunjis and in different altitudes different species have been recorded. Each species blooms at different intervals like once in six years, nine years, 11 or 12 years. So administration must ensure that tourism and footfall is limited to the region, so that they are well protected. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Bosky Khanna, Express News Service / August 27th, 2021

Kodagu Zilla Mogera Samaja seeks site for hall

Kodagu Zilla Mogera Samaja submitted a memorandum to Minister for Fisheries, Port and Inland Water Transport S Angara to help in getting a site sanctioned from the government for the construction of a community hall of Mogera Samaja.

The Mogera Samaja members held a discussion with the minister, in the presence of MLA K G Bopaiah, Karnataka Western Ghats Task Force chairman Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa and others.

In their appeal, the office-bearers of the Samaja said that government help is essential for the upliftment of the Mogera community.

Earlier, the community members felicitated the minister on his arrival at General Thimayya Circle in Madikeri.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / August 27th, 2021