Category Archives: Leaders

Karnataka’s Kodagu district becomes only place in India to have three Lieutenant Generals serving in Army

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Kodagu is a small and beautiful mountain district of Karnataka and is well known in the world for coffee and its ‘brave warriors’, men and women, serving in all services.

New Delhi :

It was a proud moment for the people of Kodagu district when Lt Gen CP Cariappa took command of India’s elite 1 Strike Corps at Mathura on Friday. Lt Gen Cariappa became the Corp Commander and the District boasts of rare distinction of three Lieutenant Generals serving the army simultaneously.

Kodagu is a small and beautiful mountain district of Karnataka and is well known in the world for coffee and its “brave warriors”, men and women, serving in all services. Talking only of Indian Army there are 90 posts at the rank of Lieutenant General.

Lt Gen PC Thimmaya and Lt Gen CB Ponnappa are the other two generals. Lt Gen Thimmaya is the Army Commander at the Army Training Command and Lt Gen Ponnappa is the Chief of Staff at the Northern Army Command.  All three officers are a product of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and joined the army at different times. Lt Gen Ponappa is the junior-most who joined the Army in June 1985.

Lt Gen CP Cariappa was commissioned in June 1984 into the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. He served in UN Peacekeeping Forces at Mozambique (Africa) and Iraq- Kuwait. Prior to taking over command of elite 1 Corps, he was the Military Secretary to the President of India at New Delhi. The officer on taking charge emphasized that his priority is ’fight against COVID-19 threat.’      

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Twitter

Kodagu Connect / @KodaguConnect

Kodava population: 1.25 lakh

Number of Kodava Lieutenant Generals in Indian Army at present: 3

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At present Lt, Gen PC Thimmaya is the seniormost coorgi officer, who became Army Commander on 1 November 2018. He was the best cadet in pre-commission training at Indian Military Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour. He got commissioned into 5th Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry in June 1981.

He commanded Army’s 10 Corps and was the Commandant, Army War College at Mhow before becoming Army Commander. Like the other two officers he also had UN Stint, was a Military Observer in UN Mission, Angola. He also was Defence Attache in the High Commission of India in Bangladesh. He assumed the command of Army Training Command in Nov 2018.

Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa is Chief of Staff of the prestigious Northern Command since Feb 2020. He was commissioned into 2 MAHAR Regiment in Jun 1985 and later commanded the same unit. The officer had two UN Tenures. He was in Somalia under UNOSOM-II and North Kivu Brigade of UN Peace Keeping Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
 
These officers follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors like Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General Kodendera Subayya Thimayya. Field Marshal Cariappa was first Indian Commissioned Officer, first Indian General and then first Commander-in-Chief of India.

A total of eleven officers from Kodagu have occupied top posts in the Army so far. This apart, Kodagu also boasts of having 20 Major Generals and four Air Marshals, which undoubtedly makes Kodagu, the Land of Generals.

Although, with time the numbers of people joining forces from the district have fallen, steps are being taken to regain it. The district has its own War Memorial with names of all martyred soldiers of Kodagu. A museum in the name of former Army Chief General Thimmaiah is also being constructed. The Kodava Legacy in the Army will continue.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Mayank Singh, Express News Service / April 05th, 2020

Bopanna-Ramkumar win Adelaide doubles title

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Perfect combo: Bopanna’s experience and Ramkumar’s powerful serves were instrumental in the Indians’ success.   | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Surprise top seeds Dodig and Melo in the final

The unseeded pair of Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan beat the top seeds, Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 7-6(6), 6-1 in the doubles final of the $521,000 ATP tennis tournament here on Sunday.

It was the first professional tournament together as a pair for Bopanna and Ramkumar, who had partnered each other in the last Davis Cup tie against Finland.

In five matches, the Indian pair dropped one set and did not drop even one service game, to collect the winner’s share of 250 ATP points and $18,700.

While it was the maiden Tour title for Ramkumar, it was the 21st Tour doubles title for the former World No. 3 Bopanna, ranked 41 now. It was only the fourth doubles title with an Indian partner for Bopanna after the ones with Mahesh Bhupathi and Divij Sharan.

“Amazing feeling to win my first ATP title with Bopsy! A great week ended on a high note. Always lived for these moments and thankful to Almighty for all the blessings,” said Ramkumar.

Chance pairing

Interestingly, it was a chance pairing as Bopanna was scheduled to play with Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who subsequently got into the ATP Cup in Sydney. Since both were in the same flight from Dubai, Bopanna asked Ramkumar to travel to Adelaide for the doubles, as the latter was only scheduled to train in advance for the Australian Open qualifying event.

“I think it worked well for both of us. He got into the singles here as well. He got five doubles matches. Couldn’t have asked for a better week for both of us,” said Bopanna.

Bopanna has watched Ramkumar grow in the professional circuit and has guided him at every opportunity.

“I have seen Ram grow as a player. He has got tremendous potential. His serve is his biggest weapon. Every time I play with somebody serving that big, makes it easy for me at the net. I really felt Ram’s serve today in my ear. So I know how hard it comes through,” said Bopanna.

New-found confidence

Ramkumar has grown in stature as the current India No. 1, and has the new-found confidence as part of his arsenal. “I think what has changed is the belief in himself. That has really changed from last year. Ram was playing some good tennis by the end of the season. He is serving well, volleying well. Now, he is starting to believe he can do well at tournaments. It is just a matter of time for him to string a few matches together and break back into the top-150, 100,” observed Bopanna.

“I would love to play more with Bops, whenever we can,” said Ramkumar, who would focus on the Australian Open singles qualifying event from Monday in Melbourne .

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Tennis / by Sports Bureau / Adelaide – January 09th, 2022

Meeting held on rejuvenation of Lakshmanteertha river

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The Karnataka State Western Ghats Chairman Ravi Kushalappa visited Hunsur on Thursday and apprised himself of the pollution in Lakshmanteertha river that flows through the town.

The tributary of the Cauvery is highly polluted, carrying untreated sewage from various towns along its course, and efforts to clean the river has not yielded the desired results so far.

Mr. Ravi Kushalappa met the local MLA H.P.Manjunath, Deputy Commissioner Bagadi Goutham, ZP CEO Yogesh, Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahesh Kumar and other officials and held extensive interaction on reviving the quality of the river.

Citizens of Hunsur including NGOs and environmentalists who met Mr. Kushalappa also gave their feedback and the latter promised to incorporate the suggestions while drafting an action plan to clean up the river.

The activists suggested that release of untreated effluents including sewage into the river should be stopped and measures should be initiated to treat the effluents and sewage and diverted for secondary use in agriculture.

There are small rivulets that join the river to augment the volume of water but some of them have been encroached and the flow has been blocked, said the activists. Hence efforts should be made to clear the encroachment to facilitate inflow of water.

S. Sreekanth, founder of Development through Education (DEED), an NGO working for tribal rehabilitation and empowerment, said it was imperative to take up massive afforestation along both the banks of the river and declare them as an eco-sensitive zone to improve the local environment.

There was also a suggestion to divert Konganahole rivulet to Lakshmanteertha to augment the river flow. Activists also called for a crackdown on sand mining along the course of the river and said that the action plan to rejuvenate the river should be implemented in a time-bound manner.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / January 06th, 2022

Precious Stones Plundered From Pattighat In Kodagu

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Forest Dept. complicit, says MLA; seeks high-level investigation

Madikeri: 

Rampant illegal mining of precious stones has been reported from Pattighat Reserve Forests (Nishane Motte) near Bhagamandala of the Western Ghats under the very nose of the Forest Department and those who are duty-bound to protect it have now been accused of openly allowing plunderers to loot the forest wealth.

These smugglers are unearthing gemstones from the forests with the help of locals and selling them at a premium to luxury hotels, jewellery shops, spas and massage parlours. These virgin forests are an integral part of Kodagu and the Western Ghats and except for wild animals and Forest Department staff, no one — not even cattle — is allowed inside.

In such a forest, covered with fully grown trees, deep pits are dug and mud is lifted out and loads and loads of mud are sieved for precious stones, especially red ones, resembling rubies. Ironically, the Forest Department camp and the tents where they stay guarding the jungles are located metres away from the places that have been dug up and still, this has not come to the notice of the Department.

The Pattighat Reserve Forests begin at the very end of Thannimaani village that can be reached from the entrance gate of Bhagamandala via Karike Road. One has to trek around a six-kilometre area that is full of ravines and steep gorges to reach there. The Reserve Forest is spread across 2,200-hectare land and joins the Subramanya-  Kadamakal Forests.

While Subramanya Range Forest comes under Dakshina Kannada, Koojimalai, Suttathmalai Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Pattighat (Nishane Motte) comes under the jurisdiction of Kodagu district. Public entry has been banned here and unfortunately, this ban is a blessing in disguise for smugglers to carry out the illegal stone mining.

The 30-ft pit dug up to extract precious stones.

Well-concealed operation

When the first report of this rampant precious stone mining was reported by some local villagers of Bhagamandala a week back, teams from the Forest Department were sent to inspect the area. But strangely, the inspecting teams did not find any pits dug up deep inside the forest. They only found mounds of mud from where the pits were dug and the same was reported by the teams to their higher officers.

Even as the Department justified that there are no pits, local villagers said that a little bit of effort would have unearthed the entire racket as the pits were cleverly covered with hay stack, small wooden blocks and mud.

The pits were finally spotted on Jan. 6 by the Forest Squad personnel who were accompanied by Assistant Conservator of Forests Mohiseen and Chairman of Karnataka State Western Ghats Task Force, Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa.

The Forest Department base camp at Pattighat.

Mining network spread out

According to people in the know of things, this mining activity has been going on in many reserve forests around Kodagu especially in the Bhagamandala region for the last 20 years. Before the Pattighat was declared as a Reserve Forest, the illegal mining was concentrated on one or two locations from where the stones were extracted. However, after the Reserve Forest restrictions came into place, mining spread out to many locations.

For instance, one deep pit that was used to excavate soil was closed in 2020 with cement. Recently, another 4-ft wide and 30-ft deep pit has been dug nearby and from there, another ‘L’ shaped pit has been dug up connecting this deep pit, shocking the Forest Squad.

The tent set up by forest watchers 10 metres from the pit.

Organised gangs camp in woods

So organised the gangs are that many earth-digging implements, pulleys and ropes to pull out mud, sieves, cooking vessels, fireplaces and iron rods and pipes have been recovered indicating that the smugglers camp inside the area, set up fireplaces and even prepare food. How can this be possible without the Forest Department knowing, ask local villagers. The stones earlier used to fetch a price of Rs. 500 to Rs. 700 per kg, now costs over Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 per kg, making it a lucrative deal for smugglers. The illegal trade was first reported in the 1990s at Subramanya Forest Range and Pushpagiri Ranges. Gradually, the trade spread to Madikeri and Bhagamandala ranges.

Once the stones are extracted, they are polished and marketed to massage parlours, five-star hotels and spas. Once polished, the texture and appearance of the stones change and they look similar to precious gemstones.

Jewellery shops too purchase these precious stones and they are sold with actual precious stones. The stones, in different colours, are used in ‘hot stone massage’, ‘aromatherapy’ and the quality is decided on the stones texture after polishing.

Excavation materials camouflaged to prevent detection.

Regular affair since 2007

Illegal mining at Pattighat Reserve has been rampant since 2007 and the name of an influential person from Madikeri circling around the racket. All the investigation that has been conducted so far is just an eye-wash and only lower-rung Forest Department staff has been the targets. All the senior officers who have been in-charge of Pattighat Reserve Forests since 2007 must be investigated for the truth to come out. It is clear that the Forest Department is complicit. I will press for a detailed investigation and impress upon the Government to conduct a high-level probe. — K.G. Bopaiah, MLA Virajpet

1 guard, 2 watchers missing

Our inspection clearly establishes the involvement of Forest Department staff and without their knowledge, no one can enter the core area of the Reserve Forests. This is a classic case of the fence eating the crop. Villagers here say that some unscrupulous Forest Department officers take bribes up to Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh to allow mining once inside the forests. One forest guard and two watchers are missing from duty and they must be arrested. 

— Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa, Chairman of Karnataka State Western Ghats Task Force

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / January 08th, 2022

Olympian M.P. Ganesh, Padma Shri Awardee, Is ‘Coorg Person Of The Year-2021’

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Mysore/Mysuru:

Olympian M.P. Ganesh, who captained the Indian hockey team and was honoured with the Padma Shri by President Ram Nath Kovind, is Coorg Person of the Year-2021.

Mollera Poovaiah Ganesh, hailing from Suntikoppa in Kodagu district, was selected ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in a poll conducted by www.coorgtourisminfo.com, Kodagu’s first news portal, promoted by journalist and author P.T. Bopanna.

There may not be many such extraordinary instances of a person running away from home to join the Army ending up at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the coveted Padma Shri. Ganesh was also conferred the Arjuna award in 1973.

Ganesh, born on July 8, 1946, was an achiever both on and off the field. Though he ran away from home without informing his parents to join the Army after writing his matriculation examination, Ganesh managed to complete his MA in English, diploma in sports coaching from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and Ph.D in Physical Education.

Although Ganesh joined the Army to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a football player, he failed to make it to the football team. Then he went for the hockey selection where he was successful. This goes to prove the adage that “hockey is in the blood of the Kodavas.”

Ganesh represented the Services (Defence Services) in the National Hockey Championships from 1966 to 1973.

After he found a place in the Indian hockey team in 1970, Ganesh played for India at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, finishing third. He was one of the coaches of the Indian team that won a gold medal at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

Ganesh, a right winger, twice represented the country in the Asian Games, first in 1970 in Bangkok and then in 1974 in Tehran. He was in the Indian team that won Bronze at the first World Cup in Barcelona in 1971 and captained the team that won Silver at the next World Cup in Amsterdam in 1973.  He also played for World XI in 1972.  Ganesh last played for India in 1974, as his career was cut short following a knee injury.

His most disappointing moment probably was during the finals of the World Cup in Amsterdam when India lost to Netherlands in the finals, after missing a penalty stroke.

Ganesh had a long reign as a sports administrator. He served as Director of Sports Authority of India (South) and in 2017 took charge as the High Performance Director and CEO of the National Hockey Academy in Delhi.

He is married to Keethiyanda Prema and their only son Ayyappa passed away when he was 20 years old due to a rare medical condition.

P. Shrividya Somanna, who helped Ganesh to put together his autobiography ‘Living The Dream: My Autobiography’ told this reporter that Ganesh’s wife Prema was instrumental in motivating him to pursue his higher education.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 01st, 2022

Don’t Wear Kodava Traditional Dresses For Political Events

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Akhila Kodava Samaja appeals not to trivialise tradition to appease politicians

Madikeri:

The Akhila Kodava Samaja has unanimously decided not to use the Kodava traditional dresses to appease any political party and not wear it to any event that is political or have any connection to politics.

Samaja President Mathanda Monnappa had recently issued a press note appealing to the community members to desist from trivialising the ‘Kuppiya Chele’ and other outfits by wearing them to all and sundry events. Now the Akhila Kodava Samaja has formally taken the decision in this regard at its AGM held in Virajpet on Dec. 28.

All the traditional dresses like the ‘Kuppiya Chele’, ‘Mandethuni’, ‘Peeche Kathi’ worn by the male members of the community and the traditional ‘Vasthra’, and traditional ornaments worn by women of the community should be worn only to the events and functions of the community where the dress has more value.

These dresses cannot be worn at political rallies or whenever a political leader comes calling. “It has been observed that Kodava community members wear the traditional dresses whenever a political leader comes to Kodagu. This is insulting to the community as the elders have attached special significance to the dress and there is a decorum to be followed,” the Samaja decided.

Also, the Kodava traditional dresses like ‘Bolakaat’, ‘Kolaat’, ‘Ummathaat’ that have a religious significance and performed only at temples and village sacred places must be restricted to the places where they are meant to instead of performing such dances on every dais and also at any political rally or event. These dances and dresses must not be a thing to exhibit. Rather they must serve the community purpose they are meant to.

Dress code at holy places

The Akhila Kodava Samaja also called for strict implementation of dress code at all the holy places of Kodavas in the district including Talacauvery and Bhagamandala that have now become a place of tourist attraction. The management committees of the respective temples must impose restrictions and effectively implement the same, the Samaja has decided.

Appealing to the community members not to indulge in wasteful expenditure during events like wedding and child naming ceremonies where usually there is unlimited supply of liquor, the Akhila Kodava Samaja has said that the community members must exercise restraint and must not indulge in wasteful expenditure.

Community welfare

Also, the community must serve its own interest in joining hands with Kodava Samajas that initiate plans and programmes for the welfare of the community. Everyone must voluntarily cooperate with each other for the larger interests of  the community.

Pointing out that unity is a crucial aspect in keeping the community strong, the Akhila Kodava Samaja has appealed to the community to resolve the issues between families and within families in an amicable way. Family unity, unity with other families and unity of villages will go a long way in protecting the interests of the community, it stated.

Mentioning about the way Kodavas indulge in criticism about each other and each other’s political views on social media platforms, the meeting advised the community members not to discredit a fellow Kodava just to serve political interests. Efforts must be made to strengthen the community instead of criticising each other, the Samaja  has stated.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 30th, 2021

Sprinter Machettira Raju Poovamma marries boyfriend in Mangaluru

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Poovamma has represented India twice in Olympics and four times in the World Championship.

pix: mangaloretoday.com

After a brief courtship, sprinter Machettira Raju Poovamma married her boyfriend, Malayali athlete Jithin Paul, at a wedding ceremony organised at Adyar Garden in the city’s outskirts on Wednesday.

The reception is being planned in Chalakudy in Kerala on January 1. Povamma, a native of Mangaluru, specialises in 400m running and is presently serving in ONGC Mangaluru.

In the Asian Championship, Povamma had won two medals in 2013, two medals in 2015, one medal in 2017 and three medals in 2019. In the Asian Games she won two medals in 2014 and two medals in 2018.

She has represented India twice in Olympics and four times in the World Championship. Jitin Paul, a champion in the 400m hurdles, had represented India in the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. He had won silver in the 400m hurdles on the SAF Games. He’s at the moment working in the Revenue Tax Division in Pune.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by Harsha , DHNS, Mangaluru / December 29th, 2021

Unrestricted Use Of Kodava ‘Kuppiya Chele’ Flayed

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Mysore/Mysuru:

The Akhila Kodava Samaja has objected to the community members wearing the traditional Kodava outfits like ‘Kuppiya Chele’ to all and sundry events, political gatherings and other nondescript functions.

In a press release, Samaja President Mathanda Monnappa has said that the Kodava traditional dress has special significance, cultural identity and distinctiveness. The dress has been handed over to the community by forefathers and there are events where this dress has to be mandatorily worn.

“Of late, it has been observed that the Kodava traditional dress is worn by the community members at various events, making a mockery of traditions and the attire itself. This unrestricted use of the traditional dresses has to be curbed by the community members who have to exercise restraint,” he has stated.

The traditional ‘Kuppiya Chele’ worn by Kodavas symbolises warrior culture but unfortunately, the dress is being worn now in all and sundry events, denigrating its significance. “Our forefathers have attached a great significance to the dress and have restricted it to particular community events and celebrations. But now the dress is being worn for political events and those functions that the community has no role to play. This is nothing but servitude,” Monnappa stated.

Even the ‘Dudi Kottu’ (a traditional Kodava band) is being played in non-community events and this practice should stop. Monnappa called upon all Kodava Samajas, associations and the community members to join hands to protect the dignity of the Kodava dress.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 25th, 2021

War Heroes Museum To Come Up In Kodagu

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They are not to be forgotten…

Cauvery College Gonikoppal to hand over required land.

Madikeri:

After the resounding success of Sunny Side, General Kodandera S. Thimayya Museum and War Memorial in Madikeri that once housed the residence of the celebrated General that is now attracting a steady stream of visitors, thanks to its brilliant collection of war relics and armaments in all the three battlefields — land, water and air — a new War Heroes Museum will come up at Gonikoppal in South Kodagu.

 This Museum will be dedicated to all war heroes of Kodagu as it is the land of warriors where the district has contributed largely to the Indian Army. There is at least one person serving in the Army from every family in Kodagu and the tradition continues, though not many youngsters enter the Defence Services now. The proposed Museum will trace the military history of this tiny district and an attempt will be made to showcase the glorious past, inspiring the present and future generations. The Museum will come up at Cauvery College Gonikoppal where two bronze statues of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya have already been installed and inaugurated in November 2018 by the then Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat who rose to be Chief of Defence Staff (now late). The management of Cauvery College has already agreed to hand over the required land.

A new trust in the name of War Heroes Memorial Trust has been established and Major (Retd.) Biddanda Nanda Nanjappa is its President and Convenor. He is also the Convenor of Field Marshal K.M Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum that played a critical role in establishing the Sunny Side Museum and War Memorial in Madikeri. Other patrons of the Trust are Maj.Gen (Retd.) Kuppanda P. Nanjappa, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Pattacheruvanda C. Thimmaiah and Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum President Col. (Retd.) Kandrathanda C. Subbaiah.

There are over 20 known war heroes from Kodagu who have dedicated themselves for the cause of the nation and there are many more unknown faces and only their names exist in records. Efforts will be made to have each and every war hero from Kodagu featured in this museum and initially, there will be 20 rooms, one each dedicated to every war hero.  Each room will be dedicated to a particular regiment from which the war hero hails and the regiments would take the responsibility of filling up the room with defence paraphernalia that symbolise the distinctive character of the regiment where the war hero hailed from. The regiment will also supply photos, weapons and equipment used in the wars.

“Efforts will be made to secure details and memorials of each war hero irrespective of the rank and communities. The only criteria would be that the war hero must be from Kodagu. There are many war heroes who have been awarded Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Paramvir Chakra and the Museum intends to disseminate information on such heroes hailing from various regiments,” Forum Convener Major (Retd.) Biddanda Nanda Nanjappa told SOM.

“We are planning to construct the museum in the shape of a ‘Mundhu Mane’ (large ancestral house of Kodagu) and rooms will be dedicated to the war heroes,” he added.

The Trust aims to complete the museum by 2024 and will be constructed with the help of donors and also the Defence Services. In the past too, the Indian Army has contributed funds to set up the Sunny Side Museum and has pooled in money for the bronze statues installed at Cauvery College.

In fact, CDS late Bipin Rawat had wholeheartedly welcomed the War Hero Museum at Gonikoppal and had assured all help. He had opined that a vibrant museum with a wide range  of military equipment and war machines would definitely inspire more and more youths to join the Defence Services.

20 IDENTIFIED WAR Heroes

  • Brigadier Keethyanda Ganapathy             (Military Cross)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Kodanda Devaiah      (Military Cross)
  • Gen. Kodandera S. Thimayya       (Distinguished Service Order)
  • Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa     (Order of the British Empire)
  • Air Marshal Cheppudira D. Subbaiah        (Vir Chakra)
  • Subedar Nadikeriyanda N. Bheemaiah    (Vir Chakra)
  • Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devaiah    (Mahavir Chakra)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Anjaparavanda T. Ganapathy               (Vir Chakra)
  • Major General Kuppanda P. Nanjappa    (Vir Chakra)
  • Colonel Mandetira M. Ravi           (Vir Chakra)
  • Flight Lieutenant Mandepanda A. Ganapathy      (Vir Chakra)
  • Squadron Leader Ballachanda C. Karumbaiah       (Vir Chakra)
  • Company Havildar Major Paradanda J. Thimmaiah             (Shaurya Chakra)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Puttichanda S. Ganapathy     (Mahavir Chakra)
  • Captain Chambanda M. Thimmaiah          (Shaurya Chakra)
  • Major C.M. Ganesh         (Shaurya Chakra)
  • Baleyada M. Cariappa     (Vir Chakra)
  • Mangerira C. Muthanna (Shaurya Chakra)
  • Major B. Ranjan Chengappa        (Shaurya Chakra)
  • Mahesh               (Shaurya Chakra)

[NOTE: Names in the photos have not been mentioned as some of them have not been confirmed yet. But all the photos are of Kodagu war heroes]

Notes:

Reader:

Devayya Shyam says: December 28, 2021 at 10:14 am
Lt. Col. C. N. Madiah
CO 6th Kumaun
’62 Indo china war vet
Only officer to attack the Chinese in that war
POW
You missed him out

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / December 26th, 2021

Geetha Jayanti observed in Madikeri

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021)
VHP Dharma Prasarana Pramukh Krishna Upadhyaya inaugurates Shaurya Sanchalana Yatre in Madikeri.

Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Mathrmandali and Durgavahini observed Shaurya Sanchalana as a part of Geetha Jayanti.

The activists who had arrived from different parts of the district had congregated at Chowdeshwari Temple. Later, they took out a procession at Chowki Circle, Ajjamada Devaiah Circle, General Thimayya Circle and a stage programme was held at Omkareshwara Temple hall.

Delivering the address, VHP Dharma Prasarana Pramukh Krishna Upadhyaya said that Hindus are still a majority in India due to the efforts of Hindu organisations. There are no restrictions in Hinduism. 

Several people have made sacrifices for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said.

“India will be saved only with Hindutva. There is a need to save the culture and tradition of the land,” he added. 

He called upon people to love the country. 

VHP district president Krishnamurthy also spoke on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / December 19th, 2021