Category Archives: Leaders

Brainchild of hockey festival no more

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Pandanda Kuttappa was conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2015
Pandanda Kuttappa was conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2015

Pandanda Kuttappa, the brainchild of the popular Kodava Hockey Festival, passed away at his residence here on Thursday. He was 85 and is survived by two daughters and a son.

Kuttappa, a former first-division hockey referee, conducted the inaugural tournament in 1997 with the help of his brother Pandanda Kashi Ponnappa. Through the tournament, Kuttappa aimed to bring all the Kodavas together under one roof and preserve the rich hockey culture of the district.

Held annually during April-May, the festival has grown to become the most popular event of the Kodavas. Since the first edition, which saw 60 teams competing, the meet has got only bigger. In 2017, with 323 teams participating, the festival entered entered the Limca Book of Records.

After its initial editions, the meet became a platform to unearth young talent as well. To groom the gifted players recognised in the Festival, Kuttappa, a retired State Bank of India manager, established the Kodava Hockey Academy.

“It’s sad day for hockey lovers,” said AB Subbaiah, the former India hockey goalkeeper, on Kuttappa’s demise “He has done a lot to the Festival. When he started this, he didn’t think it would become as famous as it is today. Full credit to his hard work,” said the former Olympian and coach, who is now the secretary general of Hockey Karnataka.

Subbaiah said with Kuttappa’s passing, the tournament will not be the same. “Kuttappa had only hockey in mind. Now with others to deal with, organising the event will not be free of challenges,” he said.

The Festival was a starting point of careers of India internationals Pradhan Somanna, Nikkin Thimmaiah and SK Uthappa. “We in Kodagu are fascinated by hockey. When I represented the country I thanked him (Kuttappa) for helping me achieve my dream,” said Nikkin.

“In all my interactions with him, he always told me that he wanted young players from Kodagu to go on and play for India. I owe my career to the Festival,” he added.

Last year, the tournament was cancelled due to the floods that ravaged Kodagu. The coronavirus outbreak forced the organisers to call off the meet this year. The Kulletira Cup was the last meet held under Kuttappa’s supervision in 2018.

Fondly known as ‘Kuttani’, he was conferred with the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2015.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Vivek MV / DHNS, Bengaluru / May 07th, 2020

This Kuttappa was the Baahubali of Coorg hockey

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Pandanda Kuttappa, legendary co-founder of Kodava Hockey Festival, is mourned by hockey lovers everywhere.

Pandanda Kuttappa
Pandanda Kuttappa

Coorg:

The world of hockey on Friday mourned an amazing man who promoted the game in Coorg by tapping into ethnic pride and kept it alive in the face of inroads made by packaged cricket.

Pandanda Kuttappa, a legendary figure in Coorg and co-founder of the famous Kodava Hockey Festival, died of old age-related problems on Thursday. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son, and remembered by countless thousands who love hockey. He was 85.

Along with his brother Pandanda Kashi Ponnappa, Kuttappa designed the Kodava Hockey Festival as a family hockey tournament exclusively for Kodava families. When it started in 1997—with finances arranged by the brothers themselves–few thought it would be anything more than a vanity event for a few years before everybody packed up and went home. They were wrong. The tournament tapped into the Kodava identity and gave it an intensity money-funded tournaments cannot match – be it the derby frenzies of football in England or the Oxford v Cambridge boat race. The Kodava Hockey Festival not only struck a chord in the coffee plantations of Coorg, it made the region a nursery for the game, producing an entire sequence of star players who graced the Indian national team.

Paying rich tributes to Kuttappa, Hockey India on Friday recalled his contribution to the sport and his crucial role in popularising the game in the south and making Coorg the breeding ground for hockey in the country.

“We are truly saddened by the demise of Pandananda Kuttappa. We share his family’s grief and pray for his soul. Kuttappa’s contribution to hockey especially in the Kodava region will be remembered for generations,” HI president Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad said in a statement.

The Family Hockey Tournament not only sees intense competition but also draws thousands to the hockey pitch. Interestingly, it has no gender bar for the participating teams. Women could play in the same team as men.

On an average, 250 families send teams to the tournament which is usually played during April-May every year.

Despite there being no age or gender bar for participating in the matches, the tournament is highly competitive, involving high-caliber hockey. Some strict rules apply: such as that all members of a team must belong to the same clan and participate in full hockey attire. It is for a woman to decide whether she wants to represent her father’s family or husband’s.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports, In Other News / by D C Web Desk / May 08th, 2020

Appointed As High Court Registrar

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Mysore/Mysuru:

Judge K.S. Bharath Kumar, who was serving as the Third Additional District Judge at Mysuru, has been appointed as the Statistical Registrar of Karnataka High Court in Bengaluru.

Bharath Kumar, who was selected as a District Judge in 2015, had been serving in Mysuru for the past one year.

A native of Virajpet in Kodagu district, he is the son of former Kodagu ZP member K.B. Shanthappa and Rathnamma couple. Shanthappa is also the Working President of Karnataka State Kurubara Sangha.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 06th, 2020

Lt Gen PC Thimayya proceeds on superannuation after serving Army for four decades

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Shimla, (PTI) :

Lieutenant General Pattacheruvanda Chengappa Thimayya proceeded on superannuation after serving the Indian Army for nearly four decades, a defence spokesperson said.

He retired as the 21st General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command here, a charge that he took from Lt Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane on November 1, 2018.

The General Officer”s illustrious career included numerous Command and Staff appointments both in India and abroad. “A true gentleman and an officer,” he always upheld the motto of “service before self” till his last day in the office. He refused to have any ceremonial farewell, customary to an officer of his rank and stature, while proceeding on retirement due to the nationwide lockdown, said the defence spokesperson.

He paid his farewell courtesy to Himachal Pradesh governor Bandaru Dattatraya and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur over telephone and proceeded to his hometown to start his next innings.

Born on April 4, 1960 at Coorg in Karnataka, the General Officer is an alumni of Sainik School, Bhubaneswar and National Defence Academy.

He was awarded the Sword of Honour at Indian Military Academy and was Commissioned to 5th Bn, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment (14 KUMAON) on June 13, 1981.

PTI DJI RAX RAX
source: http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Home> The News Scroll / by PTI / April 29th, 2020

DCF of Madikeri division passes away

Agriculture, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, World Opinion
T P Shivaiah
T P Shivaiah

T P Shivaiah, who was serving as Deputy Conservator of Forests of Madikeri Wildlife Division, passed away on Friday. He was 59.

He had suffered a heart attack on April 19 and was admitted to a hospital in Mysuru. However, he did not respond to the treatment and breathed his last on Friday morning.

The final rites were performed with state honours at his native place in Bidalli village in Somvarpet taluk on Friday evening.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, CCF Hirelal, DCF Prabhakaran, Nagarahole DCF Mahesh Kumar, Virajpet DCF Shivashankar and other paid their respects to the departed soul.

Shivaiah is survived by wife, a son and a daughter. Both of his children could not take part in the last rites as son is based in USA and daughter in Australia.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Somwarpet / April 24th, 2020

Sacrifices made by medical staff invaluable: MLA Appachu Ranjan

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The doctors of the district government hospital were felicitated on the occassion of World Health Day, in Madikeri on Tuesday. MLA M P Appachu Ranjan, MLC Sunil Subramani and DHO Dr Mohan were present. DH Photo
The doctors of the district government hospital were felicitated on the occassion of World Health Day, in Madikeri on Tuesday. MLA M P Appachu Ranjan, MLC Sunil Subramani and DHO Dr Mohan were present. DH Photo

Medical personnel have been working day and night to protect the health of people, by putting their own health at risk. The sacrifices made by them are invaluable, said MLA Appachu Ranjan.

He was speaking after felicitating doctors on the occasion of World Health Day observed at district government hospital in Madikeri on Tuesday.

“It is important to recognise the achievements of doctors, nurses and other medical staff. Due to the precautionary measures taken by the district administration and the efforts of health department personnel, we have been able to control the spread of COVID-19,” he added.

MLC Sunil Subramani said that the district administration, police department, medical personnel, civic workers and elected representatives in the district have been working in coordination to combat Covid-19.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr K Mohan, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Dean Dr Cariappa, Superintendent Dr Lokesh, Dr Aziz and Dr Manjunath were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by DHNS, Madikeri / April 07th, 2020

Women are leading the fight

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Three top women officers are leading from the front the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Kodagu.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, Superintendent of Police Suman D. Pennekar and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K. Lakshmi Priya, who were in the vanguard when Kodagu was devastated by floods and landslides last year, are once again in the frontline of the campaign titled #KodaguFightsCorona.

In fact, Ms. Pennekar was serving the district when Kodagu witnessed unprecedented floods and landslides in 2018. Srividya P.I. was the Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu during the 2018 floods.

The top officers worked as a team and used to visit the affected areas together to realise the situation and provide relief accordingly.

In the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, the district administration, the district police and the zilla panchayat are again in “battle mode”.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – April 09th, 2020

Bopaiah asks people to maintain precaution

Leaders
MLA K G Bopaiah conducts a meeting in Madikeri on Thursday.
MLA K G Bopaiah conducts a meeting in Madikeri on Thursday.

There are no COVID-19 infected people in Kodagu now. But, nobody should neglect the disease and people must take precautionary measures, said MLA K G Bopaiah.

He was speaking at a meeting held in Madikeri Taluk Panchayat on Thursday.

The MLA felt there is a need for officials to focus on the humanitarian aspect, while striving to follow rules and regulations. He lauded the work by the nodal officers.

Madikeri Taluk Health Officer Dr Gopinath said that necessary arrangements have been made at the Community Health Centre in Madikeri. Masks and sanitisers have been distributed to Asha workers, anganwadi workers and health department staff.

Most of the people who were quarantined have now finished their quarantine period. Funds have been released for the purchase of medicine, as per the government orders, he added.

MLA Bopaiah asked the officials to allow the vendors who bring vegetables from outer districts to operate, only if they possess a letter from the APMC.

“People other than vendors and farmers should not be allowed to sell vegetables,” he added.

Food and Civil Supplies Department Deputy Director Gaurav Kumar Shetty said that there are fewer crowds in Napoklu now. The ration items are being supplied as per demand and there is no shortage of essential commodities.

DySP Barike Dinesh said that merchants will be allowed to carry out business only if they avail permission from the Gram Panchayat PDOs.

Bopaiah meanwhile suggested making sure that fertilizers are purchased at the locations identified by the district administration.

There was a complaint regarding Janata Bazar, which is not opening at the right time, resulting in crowding. The MLA assured of looking into the same.

Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Lakshmi stated that the poultry farms are not getting feed in enough quantities.

Bopaiah observed that people from neighboring districts have been crossing Rivery Cauvery to come to Kodagu.

Some people are also coming through interior roads. The attention of the district in-charge minister will be drawn towards the same, for appropriate action. People are coming through Kushalnagar and Guddehosur after the borders were sealed, he added.

Agriculture department Deputy Director Raju said that the transportation of fertilisers should not be prevented.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / April 09th, 2020

Karnataka’s Kodava district becomes only place in India to have three Lieutenant General serving in Army

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Kodava 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.

File photos of Lt Gen CP Cariappa, Lt Gen CB Ponnappa (R) and Lt Gen PC Thimmaya (L). (Photo | KodaguConnect Twitter handle)
File photos of Lt Gen CP Cariappa, Lt Gen CB Ponnappa (R) and Lt Gen PC Thimmaya (L). (Photo | KodaguConnect Twitter handle)

New Delhi :

It was a proud moment for the people of Kodava 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.

Kodava 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 CP Cariappa is the junior-most among the three generals and was commissioned on 09 June 1984 into the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. He served in UN Peace Keeping Force 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.’

_________________________

Kodagu Connect
@KodaguConnect
Kodava population: 1.25 lakh

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

File photos of Lt Gen CP Cariappa, Lt Gen CB Ponnappa (R) and Lt Gen PC Thimmaya (L). (Photo | KodaguConnect Twitter handle)
File photos of Lt Gen CP Cariappa, Lt Gen CB Ponnappa (R) and Lt Gen PC Thimmaya (L). (Photo | KodaguConnect Twitter handle)

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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> Nation / by Mayank Singh / Express News Service / April 06th, 2020

Mysuru-Based Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith Appointed As Deputy Lieutenant Of West Yorkshire County In UK

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, World Opinion

DrNimaPoovayya01KF04apr2020

Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith, who hails from Mysuru, was conferred the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for her contribution in the field of Arts and Museums.

Recently, Nima was bestowed with another unique honour. She has been appointed as one of the Deputy Lieutenants (DL) of West Yorkshire County in the United Kingdom (UK).

Deputy Lieutenants assist the Lord-Lieutenant in carrying out his role as the Queen’s representative. Historically, the duty of the Lord-Lieutenant used to be in organising the county’s militia! In 1871, the Lieutenant’s responsibility over the local militia was removed.

Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith with the insignia of Office of Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith with the insignia of Office of Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

The current Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire is Sir Ed Anderson. The responsibilities of the Lieutenancy includes making arrangements for Royal visits to the county and for hosting those visits; representing the Monarch at a wide range of events across West Yorkshire; presenting British Empire Medals and other awards; advising on submissions for honours nominations; submitting nominations for Royal Garden Parties; and maintaining close links with regional armed forces. He is assisted by the Vice-Lord-Lieutenant, the Clerk to the Lieutenancy and a team of Deputy Lieutenants.

Nima’s father Ammanichanda Poovaya and mother Biddanda Muthie Poovaya (my mother’s sister) were in Belgaum for many years and that’s where she and her siblings had their early education. The family settled in Mysuru and Nima earned her Ph.D in English literature from the University of Mysore under the mentorship of well-known academician Prof. C.D. Narasimhaiah (late). She was also a student of Prof U.R. Ananthamurthy (late).

In 1981 Nima went to the University of Leeds, UK, on a scholarship for post-doctoral studies. Nima is married to Paul Smith, who besides being a Sociologist specialising in the Sociology of Knowledge, is an authority on the Theosophical Society founded by Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky.

Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith with her nephew Dr. Kodimanianda Ajit Belliappa in front of Yinka Shonibare’s acclaimed piece The Wanderer that she was instrumental in purchasing for Bradford Museums and Galleries in 2007.
Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith with her nephew Dr. Kodimanianda Ajit Belliappa in front of Yinka Shonibare’s acclaimed piece The Wanderer that she was instrumental in purchasing for Bradford Museums and Galleries in 2007.

Nima has been actively involved in collecting art and in curating museums. One of her assignments was collecting rare textiles for Cartwright Hall Museum, Bradford. Various noteworthy collections are currently being celebrated at the ‘2 Temple Place’ Gallery in London (till 19th April 2020). Seven top women collectors of textiles for public collections are being showcased and Nima’s contemporary South Asian collection is one of them.

For more details visit website: https://twotempleplace.org/exhibitions/unbound/

Nima is the Founder-Director of Alchemy Anew, an organisation involved in confluence of cultures. Currently, she is the Senior Visiting Research Fellow, School of Fine Arts, History of Arts and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by C.P. Belliappa / April 04th, 2020