Locals gather to witness the heli-tourism initiative taking off, at Kakkabe in Kodagu. The chopper of a private operator that landed with three tourists can be seen in the backdrop.
A private operator flies in tourists from Bengaluru to a village resort close to Tadiandamol
Even as successive governments continue to dilly-dally over launching heli-tourism for high-end tourists despite umpteen promises, Kodagu has taken the first step towards giving a start to the initiative post-pandemic with local stakeholders taking the lead and kick starting the much-talked-about initiative.
A group of tourists from Bengaluru landed in a chopper at a village to explore Coorg’s splendour, staying in a resort located close to one of the highest points in Kodagu – Tadiandamol. These tourists, instead of taking the 6-hour drive to Madikeri from the IT Hub, chose to fly by a chopper owned and run by a private operator to reach the hill station.
In fact, Kodagu was also identified along with Mysuru for developing heli-ports by the Tourism Department which did not take off. However, an entrepreneur in the hospitality sector in Kodagu, Apparanda Sagar Ganapathy, who runs a resort at Kakkabe, coordinated with the chopper operator to ferry guests to his property where a helicopter landing facility was established recently at the resort to facilitate heli-tourism.
Mr. Ganapathy, who is also the president of Association for Rural Tourism (ART), says the potential of rural tourism remains unexplored as corporates and well-heeled tourists are keen to explore the life and lifestyles in villages. Heli-tourism can bring tourists who can afford chopper rides to the remotest corners of Kodagu to experience the coffee land’s unmatched beauty and the Coorg villages.
Villagers turned up in large numbers to witness the heli-tourism initiative. Kakkabe Panchayat president Kaliyanda Sampan and other locals were present to greet tourists.
Corporate executives can have their meetings amidst nature instead of in multi-storied structures. They can fly in by chopper, have a meeting, spend some valuable time and head back to their destinations. Infrastructure can help promote such kinds of tourism, the stakeholders believe.
The stakeholders in the hotel and hospitality sector in Kodagu, including ART and Kodagu Tourism Association, are also in the process of identifying infrastructure where choppers could land, bringing tourists, and promoting heli-tourism in a big way. Another resort is also in the process establishing the chopper landing space, foreseeing its potential, he said.
Kodagu has many luxury resorts, which, according to the stakeholders, are getting back their clients with the opening of tourism post-pandemic. But the mid-range resorts are lacking clientele with corporates, particularly those from the IT industry, are yet to return to their offices and continue to work from their homes.
“Before COVID-19, we used to get groups of 25-30 coming and staying in resorts during weekends or holidays. Such trips have stopped for one and half years due to the pandemic. Until the offices start working like before and schools and colleges function normally, tourism recovery may prolong,” Mr. Sagar said.
Unlike other places, Kodagu is predominantly covered by undulating hills with thick forest cover. There is a need to establish a safe environment for the landing and taking off of the choppers. “If we provide infrastructure like heli ports or helipads, more operators can show interest in bringing tourists by choppers, thus driving the tourist economy and helping revive the sector,” the travel operators said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Shankar Bennur / Mysuru – September 29th, 2021
Short films ‘Kodi Mova’ and ‘Nambike’, which won the first and second prizes in the short film competition, organised by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, were screened at Patrika Bhavan in Madikeri recently.
The programme was held under the aegis of the Kodagu Press Club.
The short film ‘Kodi Mova’ is directed and produced by Gopal Somaiah and ‘Nambike’ is directed and produced by Bollajira B Ayyappa.
Actor Roopesh Nanaiah said that even though the short films are made with less budget and are of less duration, their message can be equally strong as those of the mainstream films.
“Generally, people watch movies for entertainment. However, most of the movies that we watch are eventually forgotten. The movies that we remember forever have a good social message in them,” he said and stressed that the short films too, should propagate social messages.
He appreciated both the award-winning short films and said more focus should be given to the technical aspects.
Actor Neravanda Umesh felt that all the entries to the short film festival should have been screened.
The competition should be held every year so that the talents get opportunities, he said.
Kodagu Press Club president Ajjamada Ramesh Kuttappa was present.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 29th, 2021
Lt. Gen. (retd.) Pattacheruvanda C. Thimmaiah visited Kodagu Model School at Vidyashankar Layout in Sathagalli here yesterday.
Lt. Gen. (retd.) Thimmaiah, now a resident of Mysuru, is also a member of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East, which runs the School.
The former Army Officer was very much impressed by the progress of the school over the years. Expressing happiness about the infrastructural set up, he lauded the School’s achievements in a short period.
During his visit, Lt. Gen. (retd.) Thimmaiah discussed with the School authorities on what more was needed to be done for taking the Institution to greater heights and such other issues.
He suggested making Feeder Schools across the country as Sainik Schools, setting up of NCC units and increasing sporting activities in Schools. He also assured to come up with more useful suggestions whenever required on further development of Kodagu Model School.
The School Management members, staff and others accompanied him during his visit.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 28th, 2021
Lt Col Navdeep Singh Bedi flags off the Fit India Freedom Run in Madikeri.
The 19th Karnataka Battalion NCC Wing of Field Marshal K M Cariappa College, Madikeri CMC and the Green City Forum organised Fit India Freedom Run and cleanliness campaign on Saturday.
A cleanliness drive was carried out in front of the statue of Field Marshal K M Cariappa at Sudarshan Circle, General Thimayya Circle, Ajjamada Devaiah Circle, Chowki and State Bank Circle.
Lt Col Navdeep Singh Bedi said that there is a need to improve immunity to fight against Covid-19.
“Everyone should engage in exercise daily to maintain their health,” he added.
Field Marshal K M Cariappa College NCC officer Major Dr B Raghava also spoke on the occasion.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 25th, 2021
As per the exemption, continuing from the British-era rule, the people from the hill district of Kodagu can posses pistols, revolvers and double-barrelled shotguns without a licence.
The Kodavas are a small martial community in Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka. Image Courtesy: @KodaguConnect/Twitter
The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday upheld the Arms Act exemption granted to every person of Coorg by race, and Jumma tenure landholders in Coorg (Kodagu district).
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum heard the matter which was first filed on 30 June by 41-year-old Captain Chethan YK (retired), also a resident of Kodagu, who sought to know why only one race was given this exemption.
The judges in the case said: “The Kodava community which is a marshal community is enjoying the benefit of exemption since pre-independence and Jumma tenure holders are enjoying the exemption since pre-independence period. They have rightly been granted exemption for a period of ten years, it is not the case they have been granted exemption indefinitely. Exemption granted is subject to certain terms and conditions. Therefore, the Constitutional validity of the notification is upheld in the petition.”
Take a look at who are the Kodavas and the story behind their right to bear arms without a licence.
Kodava people
They are a unique race of people who live in Kodagu (Coorg, as the British called it), the smallest district in Karnataka.
The history of Coorg and the Kodava people is one that is shrouded in a lot of mystery. There are a variety of theories as to the origin of the Kodava, including theories of them being either the indigenous inhabitants of their region, or of foreign origins prior to two thousand years ago.
As per the indigenous theory, the Kodava people were an ancient warlike tribe, who were indigenous inhabitants of Kodagu. This tribe learned and practiced agriculture in the area and over the centuries they got civilised and gained prosperity.
The foreign origin theory, which is more popular with the community itself, says they are descendants of the broad-headed (Brachycephalic) stock who entered into the Indus Valley during the Mohenjodaro period and later migrated down to Coorg.
However, the most popular theory among the Kodavas is that they are descendants of the Indo-Greek soldiers, who came into India with Alexander the Great.
Weapons in the Kodava culture
The Kodava community has a long history with guns, and historians say that their culture is intrinsically linked with firearms. There are festivals in which gunshots are fired in the air, and a gun salute is performed when a child is born or a person dies.
During the Kailpodh festival, celebrated each year on 3 September, all the weapons along with agricultural implements and vehicles are cleaned and decorated with flowers and worshipped.
The traditional sword and dagger also are a part of the Kodava attire, showcasing how intrinsically the arms are woven into their culture.
Exemptions from getting a gun licence
The British in recognition of their martial traditions granted the community a special privilege to own firearms without a licence in 1861.
One cultural reason for giving the exemption was that Kodava homes were far away from each other, in some cases could be as far as a kilometre.
“In older times when communication links were poor, a Kodava used to inform his neighbour by firing a single shot in the air about a newborn and two shots in case of any death in the family,” a prominent Kodava, who lives in Delhi, was quoted as saying to The Economic Times.
The exemption was then issued by the Union government in 1963 under the provisions of the Indian Arms Act, 1959.
The Centre had issued a notification exempting “every person of (the) Coorg race and every Jamma land tenure holder in Coorg” from the Indian Arms Act. There was no curb on the privilege even after Coorg, which was a separate state earlier, merged with Karnataka.
There are conditions, however, to the exemption. In a notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs, said, “The arms or ammunition carried or possessed by any person being from Kodagu by race and every Jamma tenure holder in Kodagu and herein exempted while residing or travelling outside the district of Kodagu shall not exceed one rifle with 100 rounds of ammunition for the same and one smooth bore breech or muzzle-loading gun with 500 cartridges or the equivalent in leaden shot and gunpowder.”
A home ministry official added that the exemption, valid till 2029, was given to the Kodavas as firearms were never misused in crimes or anti-national or anti-state activities.
According to reports, a proposal to do away with the privilege under the Arms Act was made in 1964 by the Centre. But the move was dropped, apparently, at the behest of Field Marshal K M Cariappa — the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army — and the then Union Minister C M Poonacha, who was also the former chief minister of Coorg state, before its merger with Karnataka.
‘Discriminatory’ exemption
In 2018, Captain Chethan (retired) filed a Writ Petition questioning the exemption granted by the Government of India to a certain class of people in the district in obtaining licence to possess firearms under Section 3 and 4 of the Indian Arms Act, 1959.
In his petition, Chethan, a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru, claimed that the continuation of the exemption, granted to some class of persons by the British Government in pre-Independent India in furtherance of their divide-and-rule policy, was unconstitutional, as it was based on irrational, fictitious and discriminatory grounds, such as race and ancestral land tenure.
The petitioner had claimed that the MHA did away with the scrutiny of persons before granting licence in respect of the people belonging to the ‘Coorg race’, adding that this itself is not only derogatory to the citizens of the entire nation other than the ‘Coorg race’, but also possess a threat to the life and liberty as the people exempted are permitted to hold arms and ammunition without any scrutiny of their antecedents or criminal records.
However, the petitioner’s concern was shot down by Additional Solicitor General M B Nargund appearing for the Union of India who said, “A kirpan is allowed to be used by the members of Sikh community and similarly, Gorkha community is permitted to use kukri.”
Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya appearing for Respondents Kodagu Samaja Bangalore and Kodava Muslim Association also opposed the petition saying, “It is not like that if there are 100 people in a house they can have 200 firearms in the house, the quantity of arms and ammunition and the types of arms are all specified.”
Codava National Council president, Nandineravanda U Nachappa hailed the high court’s decision and speaking to Indianexpress.com said, “It is a historical judgment by the high court. Few people without any knowledge about the community had gone to court challenging exemption given to the Kodava community. We have received these rights under the customary law since Kodavas’ life revolves around the gun.”
source: http://www.firstpost.com / First Post / Home> India News / FP Staff / September 25th, 2021
The team of a film on Field Marshal K M Cariappa, at Patrika Bhavan in Madikeri. Actor Prem, director Raghavendra and producer Arun Pradeep look on, among others.
Film director Raghavendra said that the family of Field Marshal K M Cariappa has given permission to Neo Cinema Samsthe to make a film on Cariappa.
Addressing reporters in Madikeri on Monday, he said that it will be his pride to direct the film. Actor Prem has been selected to play the lead role.
“Information has been obtained from Cariappa’s son Air Marshal Nanda Cariappa in Madikeri. The objective of the film is to narrate Field Marshal Cariappa’s valour to the entire world. The film is being made in Kannada, English and Hindi and is a big-budget movie,” he said.
Raghavendra further said that preparation will be done for eight months for screenplay and selection of places for shooting.
After the shooting, the film will hit screens in two years, he added.
Actor Prem said that Kodagu is a land of patriotism and culture.
If two children take birth in a Kodava family, one is sent to the army and another is chosen for agriculture. The life of Field Marshal K M Cariappa makes everyone proud, he said.
Madikeri CMC former member Veenakshi, film producer Arun Pradeep and distributor Anand were present, among others.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 27th, 2021
Charulata Somal during her 2017 trip to Antarctica.
Charulata Somal is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu district. In 2017, Charulata shot to fame when she made two expeditions to Antarctica, the first IAS officer to do so.
During her stint in Shivamogga as the Commissioner of City Corporation in 2019, she was appreciated for her handling of the floods in the city.
Charulata speaks with DH’s Prajwal Suvarna about her decision to join the civil services and her experience so far.
What prompted you to join the civil services? How did you prepare for the exams?
I was born and raised in Mumbai, and graduated in Economics Hons from St Stephens College, in Delhi. I was inspired or rather, coaxed by my parents to write the UPSC exams post college. Discussions with my parents over a few months helped me arrive at the decision.
I started preparing a few months after graduation. My subjects were economics and public administration.
I had enrolled in a few coaching institutes that were not so great. Then, I bought my own reference books and notes and focussed on self-study, taking tips from people who were previously successful in the exams. Many teachers and other fellow aspirants also helped me at each stage.
Any tips for cracking the interview?
In the interview, I think it is important to be authentic. Very often, we are tutored to give responses, which are not necessarily our natural responses. Ultimately, every person has their own style of interacting and responding.
One of the most important things, in hindsight, is that when you do not know the answer to something, it is okay to say that you do not know.
There is no point trying to bluff the board or guessing unnecessarily.
How has the experience in the service been so far?
I started off as the Assistant Commissioner in Kundapura. This was not just my first assignment in the services, but also my first job. I had not worked previously. There is so much learning from that first posting — learning a new language, adapting to a new work set up and culture.
And this also was the first time that I was staying away from a big city. In the cities, I don’t think we realise what the country has to offer. The small towns and cities are charming in their own way.
After that, I was the Zilla Panchayat CEO in Kodagu. That is when I got introduced to the Forest Department and was surrounded by some wonderful forest officers. This stint piqued my interest in nature. That was also the time that I had the opportunity to do my two expeditions to Antarctica.
One of the key lessons in working with local bodies, whether it is rural or urban, is that we learn people management. Working with an elected body involves a lot of teamwork. It is never in isolation.
Even within our office, I work with my subordinates who work to get the results. We are working towards a common goal.
My first posting in Bengaluru was working in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. Bengaluru gives you a very different perspective, because there you are able to observe how senior officers and the system work much more closely. So learning doesn’t always have to be direct, you can always learn from the experience of your peers.
What was your experience in Shivamogga like?
While working with urban local bodies, like my stint as City Corporation Commissioner and Smart City MD in Shivamogga, I realised that the public scrutiny is all the more intensified.
One such intense experience was during the rains of 2019. It was not something that was expected or anticipated. But we worked for three-four days without any sleep, rescuing thousands of people within the city and opening up rehabilitation centres and hosting 7,000 people there for two days. We did not have any deaths. Everybody rose to the occasion.
What are the challenges of working as a Deputy Commissioner?
As a DC, one is working across fields and your days are divided between office and field visits, attending to public grievances, office files, court matters and meetings.
In the recent past, Covid management has been a big challenge along with other routine work related to revenue, tribal development, regulatory functions.
The responsibilities are always quite high. And you also have to be aware of how we interact with people and how we conduct ourselves.
Personally, one thing that I believe in is treating people with grace and dignity.
It is very easy to get carried away when you are in a position of authority. But irrespective of who is walking into your office, and irrespective of the entitlement the person may have, you should treat everybody with equal amount of courtesy.
It is not that we don’t make mistakes. But just being a patient listener and being respectful towards people is very important. Treating people well goes a long way. And even if we agree to disagree, let it be with dignity.
As a young officer, how do you handle situations of conflict or friction? Is there some compromise?
There is no question about compromise. As long as our priorities are clear and boundaries are set, there is nothing that prevents officers from doing what is right.
That is the only clarity we require. And as I said, we can always agree to disagree politely, it does not have to be acrimonious.
Sometimes, another party may come to us with a request. And if we listen to them, we may realise that what they are asking for is not unreasonable.
As long as we keep an open mind, there is nothing that prevents us from doing the right thing as per the law or the mandate of our job.
Does disaster management take up a lot of your time in Kodagu?
The landslide season is from May to August. So from April onwards, we went into preparation mode. There were alerts issued by the government from time to time, we are always in a wait and watch mode. If there were any red flags, we can start evacuating immediately.
The motto for us this year was that there should not be any casualty.
Fortunately, this year the rains have been quite kind. And on the disaster front, the district did hold up, compared to the previous years.
How does one cope under high pressure / stressful situations?
Apart from pursuing one’s personal faith, whether religion or spiritual practices, having an interest outside of the services does help keep one happy.
Some are very good at tackling stressful situations, some not, one learns with time and experience. Self-care, through emotional, mental and physical health also would probably hold one in good stead over the years.
Which city would you choose between Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru?
Each city has its own charm. But I love Bengaluru. It is a beautiful, young city, with so many avenues for recreation. It has amazing running clubs, yoga clubs, cycling clubs and trekking places. It is a nice melting pot of various cultures.
I think Bengaluru is also a very small city — everybody knows everybody — but you still have your anonymity.
I think as of today, I would choose Bengaluru over Mumbai and Delhi.
Any other advice for young civil service aspirants and working professionals starting out?
The first question one must ask is why does one want to do it — be authentic.
Do it if it is your choice, and be committed 100%. There can’t be a Plan B. The harder one works, the luckier one gets. Of course, this holds true for every profession and the civil services are just one of the many great career options available today.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements / DH Education / by Prajwal Suvarna / September 28th, 2021
Mysuru Kodava Samaja celebrated the 153rd birth anniversary of Haradasa Appaneravanda Appacha Kavi on Sept.21 at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar here as ‘Kodava Sahitya Day.’
Picture shows the members of the Samaja Management Committee and special invitees offering floral tributes to the portrait of Appacha Kavi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / September 24th, 2021
‘Mouna Kaniveya Santa’, a work by Dr J Somanna, was released in Madikeri on Wednesday. DH Photo
Building a healthy society is the responsibility of every citizen, said writer Dr Kalegowda Nagawara.
He was speaking after releasing the works ‘Mouna Kaniveya Santa’, ‘Ashwathara Katha Sahitya’, ‘Giriseemeya Hadu-Padu’ and ‘Kannada Sahityakke Kodagine Koduge’, by Dr J Somanna, principal of Vijayalakshmi PU College, Balele, during a programme organised by Zilla Lekhakara Mattu Kalavidara Balaga at Press Club on Wednesday.
Dr Kalegowda said, “Society would have both positive and negative aspects. It is not good to highlight only the negative aspects. One should lead secular lives in the real sense to be peaceful.”
Kodagu has contributed immensely to literature. In Kodagu, men and women are respected equally, he said and recalled the incident where writer Kodagina Gowramma gave away her gold jewellery to Gandhiji when the latter visited the district, towards the freedom fight.
“Gandhiji’s eyes filled with tears when he narrated the incident at Gandhi Maidan in Madikeri. The Father of the Nation had also narrated the same incident of Gowramma’s generosity and patriotism in his speeches in Puttur and Sullia,” said Dr Kalegowda Nagawara.
He further said that a discussion will be held with the district administration towards utilising grants for the preservation of folklore literature.
The writer also felt there is a need to preserve the environment of Kodagu.
Railway connectivity will have a negative impact on nature, he added.
Social activist V P Shashidhar said that writer Dr J Somanna has captured the essence of the primitives of the district, in his works.
Zilla Lekhakara Mattu Kalavidara Balaga president Keshava Kamath said that the association has been organising a literary event each month.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the programmes were held online, he added.
District Kannada Sahitya Parishat former president T P Ramesh, SNDP Kodagu Union president V K Lokesh and others were present.
A programme of light songs was held on the occasion.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / September 22nd, 2021
The United Kodava Organisation has appealed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to set up a Kodava Development Corporation exclusively for the welfare of Kodava community.
In a press statement, the Organisation’s Convenor Manju Chinnappa said that the previous Government headed by B.S. Yediyurappa, responding to pleas and representations, had formed Veerashaiva-Lingayat, Vokkaliga and Maratha Development Corporations.
Pointing out that the Organisation’s representation to the Chief Minister has stressed on the need for forming Kodava Development Corporation on the lines of other communities, he said that Kodavas have played a crucial role in taking the State forward and reaching newer heights.
Noting that Kodavas, who are from Kodagu district of South Karnataka, have a unique tradition, customs, heritage and culture, he reiterated that Kodavas have made enormous contribution for the growth of the State and the country after Kodagu was merged with the then Mysore State in 1956.
Highlighting the sacrifices made by Kodavas in defending the country’s borders, Manju Chinnappa said that the community has played a very vital role in the country’s defence sector and sports field, earning national and international accolades.
Recalling the achievements of Kodavas in different fields such as administration, medical, police, politics, judiciary, agriculture, commerce, education etc., he argued that the State Government must table a Bill under the 162nd schedule of the Constitution for the formation of Kodava Development Corporation, for a comprehensive growth of Kodava community, with a starting fund of Rs. 1,000 crore, for chalking out various developmental programmes.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 16th, 2021
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