The old private bus stand at Madikeri in Kodagu is in the news of late, thanks to Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy (KBG), who mooted construction of a Public Square at the spot, which is situated in the heart of the hilly town and converted the place into a tourist attraction.
The old private bus stand was constructed in 1936 by the British. The landslides and floods that occurred in August 2018 resulted in a portion of the bus stand collapsing and the entire building was demolished later to avert further accidents.
A view of the private bus stand spot in Madikeri
Following this, KBG, who hails from the district, in his column ‘Choomantra,’ published in Mysooru Mithra, a sister concern of Star of Mysore, on Nov.1, 2018, had suggested construction of a Public Square instead of building a commercial complex on the lines of Trafalgar Square at the centre of London City, in honour of India’s first and one and the only Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, who too hailed from Kodagu.
Taking note of the suggestions, Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh, who is also the District in-charge Minister of Kodagu, proposed similar ideas. Though meetings were held in this regard a consensus is yet to be arrived at by the stakeholders concerned and the Madikeri City Municipal Council.
The Bull Fight Arena in Spain which is a major tourist attraction
Meanwhile, an ardent SOM reader R. Chandra Prakash, who was on a 22-day tour of 12 countries across Western Europe, has emailed two photos from Madrid, Spain, Bull Fight Arena and suggested a similar Arena in Madikeri Square depicting the history, heritage and valour of Kodavas on the wall of the old bus stand which will add great value for tourism.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 27th, 2019
Field Marshal KM Cariappa (Photo Credits: indianarmy.nic.in)
Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa breathe his last 26 years ago on May 15, 1993. He was the first Indian Commander in Chief of the Indian Army. Cariappa took command of the Army from its British Commander in Chief, General Sir Roy Bucher. He was also nicknamed “Kipper”. Cariappa was born on January 28, 1899, in Madikeri, Kodagu which is today part of Karnataka.
Field Marshal Criappa had his formal education in Madikeri and pursued his college education from the prestigious Presidency College in Chennai. Cariappa joined the British Indian Army in 1919 and was commissioned in the 88th Carnatic Infantry at Bombay (now Mumbai) as Temporary Second Lieutenant. He was granted permanent commission on September 9, 1922. In 1927, he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
During the World War–II, Field Marshal Cariappa actively served in Iraq, Iran and Syria in 1941–1942 and then in Burma in 1943–1944. Back in India in March 1942, he was posted as second-in-command of the newly raised 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion at Fatehgarh. Cariappa was posted as AQMG of the 26th Indian Division stationed at Buthidaung in Burma. The division played an important role in pushing the Japanese back from Arakan. For his services in the operation, Cariappa was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 1945.
In the same year, Cariappa was made the commander of the Bannu Frontier Brigade in Waziristan. During this period, Colonel Ayub Khan – later Field Marshal and President of Pakistan from 1962–1969 – served under him. In 1947, Cariappa was the first of two Indians selected to undergo training at the Imperial Defence College, at Camberly, in the UK, to attend the higher command courses.
After Independence, He was promoted to the rank of Major General and was appointed as deputy chief of the general staff. In November 1947, Cariappa was appointed as the Eastern Army commander after being promoted to a rank of Lieutenant General. As the situation worsened in Kashmir in 1947, Cariappa was moved as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command. He directed operations for the recapture of territories seized by Afghan tribals backed by the Pakistani Army.
On January 15, 1949, Cariappa, took over the reins of the Indian Army. The day is now celebrated in India as the Army Day. He served in the Indian Army for over 30 years. After his retirement in 1953, he served as the Indian high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand until 1956. On April 28, 1986, the Government of India conferred the rank of field marshal on Cariappa. He was the second Field Marshal of the Indian Army after Sam Manekshaw. Cariappa’s health began to deteriorate in 1991. He suffered from arthritis and heart problems. He died in his sleep on May 15, 1993, at the Bangalore Command Hospital.
Cariappa was married in March 1937, in Secunderabad, to Muthu Machia. The couple had a son and a daughter. Their son, K.C. Cariappa also known as “Nanda”, joined the Indian Air Force and rose to the rank of air marshal. During the 1965 war, Nanda was shot down over Pakistan. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war (POW). After realising the identity of the captured IAF officer, General Ayub Khan, the then president of Pakistan himself contacted Cariappa to inform about his son. When Ayyub offered to release Nanda, Carriapa asked him to give his son no better treatment than any other POW. Field Marshal Carriappa was a recipient of Indian Independence medal, Burma Star and General Service Medal.
source: http://www.latestly.com / LatestLY / Home> Lifestyle> Festivals Events / by Team LatestLY / May 15th, 2019
A model of the mobile shop for ‘Yashaswi’ products.
The ‘Yashaswi’ enterprise initiated under ‘Project Coorg’ programme of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has been quite successful, and from Sunday, the Yashaswi brand spices will be marketed on wheels.
The scheme was started to provide support to women victims from Kaluru village in Kodagu, who were affected by flash-floods and landslides.
Project Coorg Head Balaji Kashyap said that a well-equipped van has been sponsored by the Kodava Koota based in North America, exclusively for the sale of spices. The mobile spices shop will move across Kodagu district.
The spices prepared and packed by the victims are being marketed at the stalls in Raja Seat premises and the Child Welfare Committee in Madikeri, as well. Apart from spices, there are coffee and honey under the same brand name.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service / Madikeri – May 12th, 2019
Kits were given to the victims of natural calamity by IRCS Kodagu, in Madikeri, on Wednesday
International Red Cross Society (IRCS) has played a vital role in spreading humanitarian values, opined Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Dr Vishal Kumar.
He speaking after inaugurating the World Red Cross Day programme, organised by Indian Red Cross Society and Youth Red Cross of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences here, on Wednesday.
Kumar said the organisation was known for peace and community service and has been inspiring youth for voluntary service.
He meanwhile opined that every responsible citizen should register with the Red Cross Society.
IRCS Kodagu branch Head B K Ravindra Rai said that the Kodagu unit of Red Cross has planned various programmes in future. The unit has already provided assistance to many villagers during the natural calamity last year.
Youth Red Cross units have been initiated in many colleges in Kodagu. The IRCS is also organising blood donation and health check-up camps.
Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Chief Executive Officer Mary Nanaiah said that the Youth Red Cross units in the colleges will create awareness among youth on social service.
Institute’s Community Medicine department Assistant Professor Dr B M Shivaraj, Indian Red Cross Society – Kodagu Honourary secretary H R Muralidhar, Vice President Anil H T and IRCS District Director K D Dayanand were present during the programme.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / May 08th, 2019
‘Sunny Side’, General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya’s house in Madikeri that is being converted into a museum and a war memorial, had a special moment last week when the celebrated General’s grandson Kongetira Belliappa visited the museum.
‘Sunny Side’ is located on G.T. Road in Madikeri and it is being renovated at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 crore. Belliappa is the son of Thimayya’s daughter Mireille, who married Maj. Gen. Kongetira M. Chengappa.
Visiting the museum that earlier functioned as RTO Office for the first time, Belliappa went around the museum and saw his grandfather’s photos, memorabilia and other artefacts. Stopping in front of some of the photographs, he turned emotional, recollecting the service of General Thimayya who was known as the “Soldier’s General.”
Some of the photographs portrayed the legendary General’s brilliant strategies and daring that have set the standard for professional soldiering and leadership. Belliappa appreciated the collection of photographs, artefacts and other items related to the Indian Army at the museum.
Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa-General K.S. Thimayya Forum Convenor Major Biddanda A. Nanjappa, who is instrumental in setting up the museum and the war memorial, explained the museum and its various sections.
Providing a detailed account of how General Thimayya inspired his soldiers to carry parts of Army Tanks up to a height of 12,000 feet snow-clad mountains of Zojila Pass — one of the highest Passes in the world — when Pakistan planned to annex Kashmir by force during their offensive of 1947-48, Nanjappa told Belliappa that it was a daring move and the Pakistan army ran away after seeing the Tanks staring at them. The parts of Tanks were carried up the mountains overnight and were assembled by early morning of Nov. 1, 1948.
The very appearance of the Tanks utterly dampened the morale of the bewildered Pakistanis who either fled or were vanquished. Once Zojila was taken, the road to Kargil was reopened and Ladakh was safe. Ultimately, on Nov. 24 Kargil was re-taken. Thus the unofficial 1st Indo-Pak War (and perhaps the longest and toughest of them all) ended in success owing to the bold, shrewd and relentless pursuit led by Gen. Thimayya, explained Nanjappa.
Nanjappa then requested Belliappa to hand over certain items that belonged to General Thimayya that is in possession of the family to be kept in the museum.
Art works featuring the valour of Indian soldiers on the battlefield will occupy the centre stage at ‘Sunny Side.’ Other main attractions of the museum will be the articles used by Gen. Thimayya, military uniforms, books and information on Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Apart from an Army Tank, weapons that were used by the soldiers of Indian Army in the past during many operations have been donated to the museum.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 20th, 2019
Women Kaluru, who had been affected by the natural calamity in Kodagu, have turned entrepreneurs by releasing ‘Yashaswi’ spices, initiated by ‘Project Coorg’.
The second outlet of ‘Kaluru Stores’, exhibiting and selling articles made by the women affected by the natural calamity in the district, will be inaugurated in town on Sunday, April 14.
The store has been conceptualised by ‘Project Coorg’.
Post-floods, ‘Project Coorg’ identified women from Kaluru, who had been affected by the natural calamity, and trained them to prepare spices at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kodagu centre. The spices graded and packaged were sold in the market under the brand name ‘Yashaswi’.
The first outlet of ‘Kaluru Stores’ was opened near Raja Seat with assistance of Kodagu district administration.
The second outlet is ready to be opened in front of Shishu Kalyana organisation near the government bus shelter in Madikeri.
‘Project Coorg’ head Balaji Kashyap said that the opening of the second outlet of Kaluru products had boosted the confidence of the women entrepreneurs. The women underwent training for 180 days in preparation of the spices, he added.
The second outlet will be inaugurated by the Dakshina Kannada Kannadigara Sangha president Ramachandra Upadhyaya at 11 am on April 14.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavana Kodagu Kendra president K S Devaiah, legislators K G Bopaiah and Appacchu Ranjan, MLCs Sunil Subramani, and Veena Acchaiah, Kodagu Shishukalyana Samsthe president K Mohan Monnappa and writer Nagesh Kaluru will take part in the inauguration of the outlet, sources said.
A War Memorial and Wall of Heroes was inaugurated at the Sainik School premises in Kudige village near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district last Thursday. The memorial was built to invoke patriotism among students and to show gratitude to the soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the nation.
The memorial comprises graphic panels, stone murals and an inverted bayonet with a helmet structure. The ‘Wall of Heroes’ depicts details of all the 21 Param Veer Chakra awardees and quotes of brave martyrs are engraved on the memorial.
The memorial also pays homage to the martyrs of the 1962 Indo-China War, martyrs of 1947, 1965 and 1971 Indo- Pak Wars and Kargil War.
Inaugurating the war memorial, Air Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, called upon students of Sainik School to work with dedication, honesty and unity. Appreciating the efforts of the management of the School for installing the memorial, he asked them to focus on intellectual and physical stability apart from impacting quality education. War memorial must inspire the students to join Indian Army, he added.
Speaking as the guest of honour Air Marshal K.C. Nanda Cariappa, PVSM VM (retd), lauded the school for its significant growth in a short period.
Sainik School Principal Group Captain R.R. Lall, Vice-Principal Lt . Col. Seema, 19 Kar NCC Battalion(Coorg Battalion) Commanding Officer Col. V.M. Naik, Teaching Staff and Cadets were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 08th, 2019
In a noble gesture, Kodava Samaja Bangalore had organised an event yesterday where relief cheques were disbursed to victims of floods and landslides whose lives were torn apart in the natural disaster that ravaged some parts of Kodagu last year. In all, cheques worth Rs. 2.65 crore were distributed to 355 flood victims.
Speaking to Star of Mysore over the phone, President of Bangalore Kodava Samaja Mukkatira T. Nanaiah said that the Kodava Samaja had constituted Kodava Samaja Flood Relief Fund and they had identified the victims through a committee and screened them for relief fund assistance.
“We had also invited applications from the victims and we had constituted an independent survey team to visit each victim’s house to assess the damage. The list of beneficiaries was prepared after a thorough assessment and survey and all the communities – Kodavas and non-Kodavas were included in the list,” he said.
Relief cheques were distributed to victims and the money was decided depending on the extent of damage. “We have distributed cheques from Rs. 30,000 and in excess of Rs. 2 lakh depending on the damage they have sustained,” Nanaiah said.
Kodava Samaja sources said that more than 500 people including non applicants had attended the event. “We have collected all applications and will look into the possibility of distributing compensation to them,” sources said.
The cheque disbursement ceremony was led by Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kodandera Arjun Muthanna, President of Kodava Samaja Flood Relief Fund and was presided over by Kodava Samaja President Mukkatira T. Nanaiah. Kodira Kavya Pratap Somanna rendered a prayer, Kodava Samaja Secretary Chiriyapanda Suresh Nanjappa welcomed and Samaja Vice President Mallengada Meera Jalajakumar proposed a vote of thanks.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 2019
President Ram Nath Kovind presents Ati Vishisht Seva Medal to Major General Codanada Poovaiah Cariappa during Defence Investiture Ceremony – II at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, on March 19, 2019.
