Kozhikode, Apr 8 (PTI): Cricketer Robin Uthappa was on Thursday presented with the National Excellence award instituted by IIM-Kozhikode for his contribution in the field of cricket.
This is the 3rd edition of the award, presented annually to eminent personalities for their contribution to the world of sports, and to commemorate IIMK”s iconic Calicut Half Marathon which is now into its 12th year.
The event, which is going completely virtual for the first time is scheduled to be held from April 9-11, according to a IIM-K release.
Presenting the award, IIM-K Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee recounted Uthappa”s contribution to the game of cricket and how he ably carried his team forward by demonstrating resilience, focus and determination – a quality that resonates with the legend of Arjuna.
Traits like Focus, Flexibility and Freedom were the idea behind constituting this national award, he said and recalled the iconic moment when Uthappa tipped his cap and saluted the crowd after hitting the stumps in In India”s famous bowl-out win over arch-rivals Pakistan in 2007 T20 World Cup, as one of the most memorable events in the game of cricket, an IIM-K release said.
Paralympian and Arjuna Awardee Dr Deepa Malik and Babita Kumari Phogat, renowned wrestler are the previous winners of the award, instituted two years ago.
Uthappa expressed gratitude about his debut and relived the days when he shared the stage with cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag among other Indian cricket legends.
Sharing with the IIM-K community the importance of not giving up, especially when the chips are down, he said one should always have self-belief in taking challenges head-on one step at a time, in order to achieve their goals.
Calicut Half Marathon is the largest student-driven marathon organised every year for the past 11 years.
The marathon aims in contributing towards different social issues that can bring a phenomenal change when assimilated together.
It is this belief that the students of IIM Kozhikode wish to encourage and promote through the marathon.
IIM-Kozhikode Calicut Half Marathon in its 12th edition is bringing the theme ”Better Together United Despite Distances,” the release added.
source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> The News Scroll / PTI / April 08th, 2021
Marking the 115th birth anniversary of General K.S. Thimayya, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, had organised a simple function at its premises in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here this morning.
Office-bearers of the Samaja offered floral tributes to the portrait of Gen. Thimayya. Samaja President Kekada M. Belliappa, Vice-President Mechanda M. Ponnappa, Secretary Malachira M. Ponnappa, Treasurer Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Joint Secretary Padiyanda Vimala Poonacha and former Presidents of the Samaja were among those present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 31st, 2021
Former President of Coorg Wildlife Society writes to CM and suggests sustainable ways and means
Mysore/Mysuru:
In the wake of increasing man-animal conflict and tiger attacks in Kodagu where at least three human lives have been lost within a span of 15 to 20 days, former President of Coorg Wildlife Society Col. (Retd.) Cheppudira P. Muthanna has written to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa drawing his attention towards how the people are being victimised by mindless destruction of wild habitats in the name of big projects and how wild animals are entering human areas in search of food.
Keeping in mind the increasing human killing by wild animals including tigers and elephants, Muthanna has suggested the appointment of an Officer on Special Duty in the rank of Deputy Conservator of Forests exclusively for Kodagu. This officer must be based in Thithimathi with adequate staff and resources and he must be able to be a link between the Government and the people to solve pressing problems of the district, he stated.
Sharp-shooters
Secondly, tigers that kill human beings must be hunted down at the earliest to prevent further deaths and the existing regulations should be modified accordingly. “Kodagu has a number of excellent shooters and ten such shooters should be identified and provided with sophisticated telescopic rifles and ammunition. Whenever there is a dangerous situation arising due to tigers or leopards outside the forest habitat, they should be given permission to assist the Forest Department,” Muthanna said and added that local shooters will be more familiar with the terrain and conditions and would be able to defuse a dangerous situation without loss of time and it would save human lives.
According to Muthanna, a major reason for the tiger menace is due to vast areas of the forests covered by invasive species like Lantana Camara and Senna Spectabilis. “Deer and other prey congregate in small patches of forests that are free from weeds and are fit for grazing. This leads to a number of tigers also congregating in the same restricted area and causes the tigers to fight one another. In most such cases one of the tigers will be wounded and forced out of the forest. Therefore sufficient funds are required for eradication of invasive species,” he has suggested.
Some of the other measures suggested to the CM are, opening up of wildlife corridors from Nagarahole to Brahmagiri area in Kutta region of South Kodagu, establishing an Ecological Territorial Army Unit for Kodagu. “These units comprise mainly of able-bodied ex-servicemen who can join as volunteers and the unit can be utilised for forest land restoration, forest fire mitigation and eradication of invasive species,” he said.
Destruction and fragmentation of forest habitat is a primary cause of human-animal conflict and there is a need for a policy decision to prevent further destruction of forests due to so-called development projects such as dams, highways, railways, powerlines etc., he added.
Tourism has done tremendous damage to Kodagu. There should be no further investment in Kodagu for tourism. Tourism in Kodagu should be regulated and not promoted, he wrote. All the proposed project investments in Kodagu must be diverted to improve the economic condition of the people in the district through sustainable living and also to prevent human-animal conflict, he opined.
“There is a need to protect Kodagu as the principal catchment of River Cauvery and the proposals for multi-lane National Highways, railway lines and airport for Kodagu must be scrapped as none of these projects will benefit Kodagu or its people in any way and will only serve to further destroy the environment and landscape of Kodagu,” he urged the CM.
Tiger menace: Overnight protests continue
Overnight protests in parts of South Kodagu demanding the capture or shooting of elusive tiger still continues. The protests began five to six days back and residents of Bellur, Thavalageri, Shettigeri and Srimangala are participating in the dharna. They light campfires daily to keep themselves warm. Tents have been pitched by the side of the road for protection from rain. Protesters are upset as despite the Government shoot-at-sight orders and the intervention of MLAs K.G. Bopaiah and M.P. Appachu Ranjan and MLC Veena Achaiah, who came to Bellur recently, the Forest Department has failed to net the tiger.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 13th, 2021
The Karnataka High Court has directed Madikeri Tahsildar to conduct a survey of 19.86 acres of the area where Raja’s Tomb (Gaddige) is situated at Mahadevpet near Madikeri.
A Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, was hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by J.S. Virupakshaiah, a former State Information Commissioner. It might be mentioned here that Virupakshaiah had even filed a PIL regarding the pathetic state of Madikeri Fort and had drawn the attention of the High Court contending that the Fort and Palace premises are heritage sites, dating back to more than three centuries and have been grossly neglected.
In his PIL on Gaddige, Virupakshaiah alleged that there are several encroachments in the historical tomb area. Rajara Gaddige is one of the tourist attractions in Kodagu and tourists who visit Abbey falls will pass Rajara Gaddige en route to it. However, it is in deplorable condition owing to the negligence of the Government and encroachment of land by local residents and vested interests.
Encroachments galore
Initially, the Gaddige had 19.86 acres of land. However, the land has been encroached. Some have even built houses on the encroached land. Even a Government building has come up on the Gaddige land. The Gaddige area has become land for immoral activities in the evening.
Hearing the petitioner, the High Court directed the Tahsildar to visit the Gaddige with a view to ascertain the present condition of the tomb. The Bench said the Tahsildar has to ascertain in the report whether there are any encroachments. The Bench has also directed the Tahsildar to prepare a sketch of the entire land and point out encroachments, if any. The Tahsildar has been directed to submit the survey report within six weeks.
Also, the High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Centre to file affidavits stating whether the Raja’s tomb is an ancient monument and is of national importance. It asked the State Government to consider whether powers, under Section 19 of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961, should be exercised for the declaration of the protected area.
Deep-rooted history
The Rajara Gaddige situated in a hilly region at Mahadevpet has been built in such a way that it can be seen from all the four directions. They have been built in Mohammedan style with tombs at the centre and turrets at the corners. Nandi figures are carved on top of the corners.
The entrance of the tombs has carvings too. Lord Shiva is placed and worshipped inside the tomb since the king was Hindu. There are three tombs built for the royal dynasty. The central tomb which is the largest among the three is of Kodava king Doddaveerarajendra and his wife Mahadeviamma. The right tomb is built by Chikkaveerarajendra for his father Lingarajendra in 1820.
The left tomb belongs to Veerarajendra’s guru Rudrappa built in 1834. Closer to the tombs is the burial place of the two brave royal officials Biddanda Bopu — Bopu Dandanayaka — and his son Biddanda Somaiah who sacrificed their life fighting with Tipu Sultan. In fact, Doddaveerarajendra had erected a plaque in the memory his soldiers in 1779.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 29th, 2021
The Centre has identified six districts in Karnataka including Kodagu for Heliport project under Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (Regional Connectivity Scheme), claimed Minister for Tourism C.P. Yogeeshwar.
He was speaking at an event at a private resort in Madikeri yesterday that was organised by Kodagu District Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants Association, Home Stay Association, Tours and Travel Association. The Associations had invited the Minister to discuss about tourism prospects of Kodagu and this was Yogeeshwar’s first visit to Kodagu after assuming the charge of Tourism Department.
Yogeeshwar told the gathering that establishment of Heliports as part of the Heli Tourism Circuit would be a reality soon as districts including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Kodagu have been identified for the project and Kodagu will not be neglected at a time when grand plans are afoot to develop Karnataka Tourism in a big way.
He stressed that while promoting tourism, it will be kept in mind that even environment has to be taken care of. “Our intention is sustainable tourism. The Tourism Department is formulating plans to introduce caravans at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 lakh and the project will come to Kodagu too and local hotels and resort can make the best use of the same,” he said.
In all, 10 heliports would come up across Karnataka and more and more tourists would come to Kodagu after the 10-lane work of the Mysuru-Bengaluru Economic Corridor is completed. “We intend to build tourist rest houses on Hunsur-Sampaje route with all the amenities for tourists,” he assured. Hotel and Resort Association President Nagendra Prasad, Home Stay Association President B.G. Ananthashayana, Tours and Travel Association President Cheeyanda Sathya and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com/ Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 29th, 2021
Senior IPS Officer from Kodagu district, Maneyapanda A. Ganapathy, yesterday took charge as the Director General of National Security Guard (NSG), an elite counter-terrorism unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Picture shows Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha congratulating M.A. Ganapathy at the NSG Head Quarters in Palam, New Delhi, this morning. Also seen are MP’s wife Arpitha Simha and daughter Vipanchi Simha.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 19th, 2021
Princess Gouramma depicted in Indian dress and rich jewellery, leaning on an Indian table. She is holding a Bible, an allusion to her conversion to Christianity. (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)
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Snapshot
The short life of princess Gowramma of Coorg serves as a reminder of the potential detachment and loss of identity a fiercely Western education can ensure.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s recent interview with Oprah Winfrey has brought to fore the tumultuous relationship the British monarchy has with all things concerning race. Markle alleged that a member of the royal family had expressed concerns over how dark their baby Archie’s skin would be.
Notably, the Duchess of Sussex is not the first person of colour to be subjected to royal racism.
The institution’s colonial past is filled with instances of the ‘firm’ ( as Markle calls it) taking upon itself the duty of civilising the ‘coloured’ citizens of the colonies it conquered.
In this regard, the remarkable life of Princess Gowramma, the Princess of Coorg and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria, provides interesting insights into the treatment of people of colour by the imperial echelons of the nineteenth century British society.
Princess Gowramma was born in Banaras, to the deposed king of Coorg — Chikka Veerarajendra Wodeyar, who had been exiled by the British in 1834.
She was the Raja’s favourite daughter and was thus his natural choice when it came to accompanying him on his journey to England, where he intended to demand in court the return of his wealth from the East India Company.
Some sources claim that Veerarajendra conveyed his intent of converting Gowramma to Christianity to gain the good graces of the company, so as to receive permission to travel to England.
Governor General Lord Dalhousie and other directors of the company found the idea of voluntary conversion by an Indian royal quite appealing, especially since it would help improve their sagging image in Britain.
Thus, in 1852, after Gowramma had received an education in Christian mannerisms and scripture, she and her father set sail to become the first Indian royals to ever set foot in England.
Princess Gouramma depicted in Indian dress and rich jewellery, leaning on an Indian table. She is holding a Bible, an allusion to her conversion to Christianity. (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)
Upon reaching the island, the 11-year-old Gowramma was presented to Queen Victoria. The Queen, quite taken by the princess declared that she would become the godmother and even endowed Gowramma with her own name — ‘Victoria’.
The Princess of Coorg was then baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at a private chapel in the Buckingham Palace, in the presence of Queen Victoria, her family, senior officials of the government and directors of the company.
Post the baptism, the Queen gifted Victoria Gowramma a bound and autographed Bible with gold embellishments. She then entrusted the princess to the care of Major and Mrs Drummond, who were to groom her with Western thought and education.
Queen Victoria took great initiative in expanding Gowramma’s social circles. She would invite Gowramma to regularly interact with her children and also bestowed upon her a title that made her equivalent to European princesses.
However, Gowramma, who was made to abandon her traditional Indian clothing for Western wear was depressed. She was cut off from all connection with her father and was instead forced to talk, dress and behave like a British aristocrat.
Unable to cope with the pressures of high society, Gowramma tried running away multiple times. She often expressed her desire for privacy and even stated that she rather live like a servant with the handmaidens than suffer the compulsions of regal life. Her troubles were dismissed by the Queen and her consort Prince Albert as ‘innate oriental weakness’ that seeks to escape civilisation.
Meanwhile, back home in India, the British had defeated Maharaja Ranjit Singh to annex Punjab. They then took his minor son, Duleep Singh, under their care.
Exiled to Fatehpur and kept away from Lahore so as to avoid chances of revolt, Duleep Singh was subjected to a Western education that eventually culminated with his acceptance of Christianity out of his own ‘free’will. He then set sail to Britain in order to formalise his conversion under the Church of England.
The Queen, to whom Duleep Singh presented the Kohinoor Diamond, took an instant liking of the Maharaja and became his godmother. She and Prince Albert in cahoots with the company plotted an alliance between Singh and Gowramma.
The hope was to use the influence generated by the marriage between two Christian Indian royals as a tool for proselytising the Indian population. This idea also had the endorsement of Singh’s English guardians — the Logins. They were firm believers in the European responsibility of spreading the word of the Bible amongst the pagan worshippers of India.
However, upon introduction, Singh was lukewarm in his response to Gowramma. He made it known to the Logins that he considered the princess more an honorary sister than a potential wife.
Gowramma, who had earlier been forgiven by the Queen for her torrid affair with a stable boy and her attempted elopement with an under-butler decided instead to marry a close friend of Singh — Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell, who had served in Bellary and was 30 years her senior.
Meanwhile, Chikka Veerajendra, who had lost a seven-year-long legal battle with the company had died.
Gowramma gave birth to a daughter named Edith Campbell on 2 July 1861. By the time Edith was three years old, Gowramma had developed signs of tuberculosis.
She died from the disease on 30 March 1864 just a few months short of her 23rd birthday.
Lieutenant Campbell, who in their short marriage had either neglected his wife or had persistently pestered her for money, disappeared after her death along with the crown jewels of Coorg that had been in her possession.
It is believed that he had only married the princess for her 1,000 pound allowance, the Queen’s favour and of course the jewels of Coorg.
The tragic life of Victoria Gowramma, a princess who had been alienated from her own land and language, was perhaps the paradigm the Britain had for the citizens of her colonies to follow.
Had Duleep Singh and Gowramma not fell short of the royal scheme envisioned by Queen Victoria, they might have had a significant role in shifting India’s religious history.
After all, colonial rulers did find religious conversion a greater instrument for the control of the colonised than plain force.
Gowramma today serves as a reminder of the potential detachment and loss of identity a fiercely Western education can ensure.
Victoria Gowramma was buried in the Brompton Cemetery, her tombstone bears the epithet composed by Queen Victoria, it contains the poignant words — “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold” (John X,16).
source: http://www.swarajyamag.com / Swarajya / Home> Ideas / by Adithi Gurkar / March 17th, 2021
Bharat Ratna for Cariappa, Thimayya: Rashtrapati Bhavan sends letter to PMO
Congress MLC Veena Achaiah’s letter to the President Ram Nath Kovind seeking the country‘s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya has been forwarded to Prime Minister’s Office.
The Rashtrapathi Bhavan has acknowledged the receipt of Ms. Achaiah’s letter dated February 6, 2021, addressed to the President regarding conferment of Bharat Ratna posthumously to both Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya. On March 2, 2021, the Officer on Special Duty, President’s Secretariat, Jagannath Srinivasan wrote to Ms. Achaiah, seeking to bring to her notice that the letter she had sent to the President had been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for appropriate action.
The demand for Bharat Ratna to Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya, both of whom hail from Kodagu district, is pending for a long time before the Centre. Even former Army Chief Bipin Rawat hand endorsed the demand for Bharat Ratna to Field Marshal Cariappa. While Cariappa was the first Indian Commander in Chief of the Indian Army, General Thimayya served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961.
During Mr. Kovind’s visit to Madikeri last month to inaugurate the General Thimayya Memorial Museum, Ms. Achaiah submitted a memorandum recalling that General Thimayya was the only Indian to command an infantry brigade in the battle during the Second World War while Mr. Cariappa belonged to a family of farmers and is one of the only two Indian Army officers to hold the highest and five star rank of Field Marshal.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 13th, 2021
Kodagu does not have appropriate or adequate sports infrastructure though the tiny district has produced innumerable sporting icons over the years. Hence, the Union Government must establish a Sports University in Kodagu to give a platform for thousands of emerging sportspersons from Kodagu and also to encourage sportsmen from other districts of Karnataka.
This demand emerged at a meeting of Federation of Kodava Samajas at Balugodu Samaja premises near Virajpet recently. Explaining the need for a Sports University in Kodagu, the participants of the meeting said that Kodagu district had contributed thousands of sportspersons to the State and to the Nation.
Every village in Kodagu has sports talents in abundance but the budding sportspersons lack encouragement, state-of-the-art facilities and professional training. This way, several sports talents are being ignored, speakers at the meeting said.
Over 50 players from Kodagu have represented Indian hockey team till date. Not only hockey, the district has produced brilliant sportspersons in other disciplines like athletics, tennis and badminton too. Hockey is encouraged in Kodagu with many tournaments including Kodava Hockey Festival taking place around the year. But other sports lack facilities and encouragement.
Kodagu has sports hostels but the facilities available are not adequate. There is a potential for swimming, squash, kabaddi, badminton champions to emerge from the district if proper training and facilities are given, the speakers said.
If at all the Sports University is established in Kodagu, there will be many state-of-the-art stadiums, and training camps can be conducted by Karnataka State Olympics Association.
“The Central Government is enthusiastic about starting a Sports University in Mizoram. As Kodagu has given innumerable sports achievers to the nation, we must ask for a Sports University to our district,” they said.
Establishment of such a University will enable youngsters and emerging sports champions from Kodagu to experience high level competition where national players and international legends and coaches will come to Kodagu and interact with young talents here.
The meeting resolved to urge the Union Government to establish a Sports University in Kodagu. Former Minister Meriyanda C. Nanaiah, Federation President Kallichanda Vishnu Cariappa, Joint Secretary Mederira Naveen, former President Mallengada Dada Belliappa and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 13th, 2021
A two-day Kodava Cultural and Learning Festival, Koyime, began yesterday at Appachakavi Vidyalaya premises in Chikkamunduru village of Ponnampet taluk. The event is being organised by Connecting Kodavas Trust.
The festival has been organised to bring together talents of Kodava community who have achieved a name in culture, tradition and art forms, literature and sports. It is also a platform for budding talents from the community. Both elders and youngsters participated in the event.
Participants rekindled the cultural glory through attractive dance and other folk display. Kodavas give major importance to their tradition and cultures. This comprises of dress, language, customs, festivals, songs, dance etc. The culture followed by the community is unique and the two-day festival reflected that aspect.
Senior member of Ajjikuttira family Ajjikuttira Bheemaiah inaugurated the temporarily built ‘Padipu Kayyale’ at ‘Balyamane’. Vice-President of Bengaluru Kodava Samaja Mallengada Meera Jalajakumar also joined him by placing the lit lamp in ‘Nellakki’. Trust Convenor Chokanda Suraj Somaiah offered prayers to Gods to protect the Kodava community by symbolically sprinkling grains of rice.
Kodava men wearing traditional costumes including Kodava ‘Kupya’, ‘Chele’, ‘Mande Thuni’ and ‘Peechekathi’ and Kodava women wearing Kodava saree, and jewellery including ‘Jomale’, ‘Pattak’, ‘Kokkethaati’ and ‘Karthamani’ participated in the event at the ‘Balyamane’.
Fight for constitutional rights:
President of Codava National Council (CNC) Nandineravanda U. Nachappa addressed the gathering and demanded constitutional measures to safeguard Kodava language, culture and traditions. He regretted that there has been a systemic destruction of Kodava culture and folklore.
“It is regrettable that Kodava community members are forced to launch a constitutional struggle to protect their cultural and social identity and have to raise their voice against the very Government that is supposed to safeguard a unique culture from diminishing,” he said.
He called upon the crowd to not only highlight infrastructure issues like roads and drainages whenever a Minister or an MLA visits a particular area but also make a point to convey to them that Kodava culture has to be preserved from extinction. “They must be compelled to formulate policies and programmes to save such special communities by granting constitutionally-enshrined rights,” he added.
United Kodava Organisation (UKO) Convener Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa also spoke on the occasion and said that it is inevitable for Kodavas to unite and put up a united front and fight for their rights.
He called upon the community members in villages to continue the tradition of ‘Kodava Thakkame’. ‘Thakkame’ (the right to speak for) is the traditional, hereditary role of elders for a region or a shrine assigned to an okka (family). ‘Thakkas’ (headmen) were responsible for resolving disputes at different levels.
Jabbhumi Convenor Chottekmada Rajiv Bopaiah presided over the event. Journalists Ulliyada Dati Poovaiah, Balladichanda Nanjappa and others were present. Chendanda Shammi Madaiah of Connecting Kodavas Trust and other youngsters participated in the event.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 07th, 2021
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