Category Archives: Leaders

The tragic story of a warrior

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
Pattedar's graves
Pattedar’s graves

A few of the families in Kodagu maintain the tombs of their distinguished ancestors. A few families are also in the possession of paintings of their ancestors being felicitated by the kings. A few others maintain artefacts such as oide katti, also known as a billhook-shaped war knive, with king’s insignia upon them.

The Thathanda family is one such family that received three of these honours.

They have their ainmane, or ancestral house, in Kuklur village of Virajpet taluk. Their ancestral house was formerly a mundu mane, a house with an open, central courtyard, which is called a mund. The sepulchre of their renowned ancestor Karyagara (officer) Thathanda Subbayya lies some distance away from the ainmane. It has a Nandi figure upon it. Beside this tomb is an unmarked grave. Both these tombs are within an enclosure.

Nearby in the same graveyard are two large graves. The names of two of the four buried there were not known to us. Clansman Thathanda Nanaiah explains, “Subbayya ajja’s (forefather) elder brother had a son who addressed ajja as kunjappa (one of the names for a paternal uncle). After ajja’s death, this nephew inherited his possessions. It is this nephew’s grave which lies beside the tomb of ajja and within the boundary. The two buried outside the boundary were clan elders, each called a pattedar. ”

According to his book, Kodagina Itihasa (1974), historian D N Krishnaiah came to learn of Karyagara Subbayya from the Thathanda elders. In 1811, two British officers General Welsh and Captain Williamson visited the court of the then king of Kodagu, Linga Rajendra. They were pleased with the hospitality offered. When the king heard the news of a rogue tusker, he proposed a hunt and his guests agreed. Thathanda Subbayya was given the responsibility of organising the hunt.

Accompanied by elephants and attendants, the hunting party set out to the jungle. In the trees and around a forest clearing, boxed seats made of cane were prepared. Ladders were used to reach it. The king, the two Englishmen and others settled themselves in the cane boxes. Kodava pikemen, with their long spears, would comb the jungle and drive the prey into the clearing during a hunt. Several drum beaters would aid the hunters by scaring the animals with their noise. This way, the wild tusker was driven into the clearing and shot dead.

Pleased with Subbayya’s arrangements, the king honoured him with a gold medal and gifted him a gun. Subbayya was also awarded a oide katti with the king’s insignia on it. A painting of Subbayya and the king was also gifted to him. However, some people grew jealous of Subbayya and schemed against him. The opportunity came when the king received complaints about cattle-stealing tigers.

A hunt was organised by Subbayya in order to eliminate the tigers. On the night before the hunt, Subbayya ensured that the cane seats were securely placed in the area where the hunt was to take place. When he left, his enemies loosened the seats. The next day, when the king shot a tiger, the seat he was on fell apart and he fell. Furious, he demanded to have the head of the man who had set up these seats. Subbayya was blamed for what was thought to be a shoddy work. As he was deep in the forest with the other hunters, the executioners were sent out to behead Subbayya.

One servant ran before them and told Subbayya everything that had transpired. Subbayya was unhappy as there was no way for him to prove his innocence. Subbayya told the servant to convey to the king that he had been framed and sent him back. As Subbayya did not want to be punished for a crime he did not commit, he shot himself. When the king came to know what had taken place, he was displeased. Subbayya was buried on his family farm. Enquiries were held and the king discovered that Subbayya was indeed innocent. The king had a mausoleum built over Subbayya’s grave.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements / by Mookonda Kushalappa / August 15th, 2017

Celebrating academic excellence

Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

MonappaScholarshipKF26aug2017

‘India and Cambridge university have had an enduring relationship’

The Pemanda Monappa Scholarship was presented to Rupsa Banerjee, a student of English literature, by the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Indira Banerjee at a function on Wednesday. Ms. Banerjee will study at the University of Cambridge, U.K.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Justice said studying in an institution like Cambridge broadened the outlook of students.

Congratulating the student, Chief Justice Banerjee hoped she would imbibe the qualities of Pemanda Monappa.

She recalled that in 1948, the officer was hand-picked by Sardar Vallabhai Patel to be the Inspector of Police of Hyderabad State despite the fact that they had never met.

P.M. Belliappa, former IAS officer and managing trustee of the Pemanda Monappa Trust, said the event was a celebration of the values that his late father followed till the very end.

Helen Pennant, director, Cambridge Trust, said it has been in existence for 30 years. It supports 500 scholars annually, she said. “One in three students at the university comes from outside the U.K.,” she said.

N. Ravi, Director, Kasturi and Sons Ltd., said the relationship between India and Cambridge had been an enduring one and several Indians, including mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujam, statistician P.C. Mahalanobis, Nobel Prize winner Venky Ramakrishnan and three former Prime Ministers were alumni of Cambridge.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – August 03rd, 2017

M.C. Nanaiah re-emerges from political hibernation

Leaders

His entry into the Legislative Council is considered a shot in the arm for Kodagu

Nanaiah is entering the Council for the fifth time

He was a Minister in the J.H. Patel Cabinet

M.C. Nanaiah
M.C. Nanaiah

Madikeri:

It might not be a familiar story for Meriyanda Chengappa Nanaiah, popularly called as MCN, to re-enter the Legislative Council, as is for the people of Kodagu. Even a bete noire of Mr. Nanaiah would agree that he is a political asset to the district. Mr. Nanaiah’s presence in the Upper House is sure to lend an aura of dignity, thanks to his political astuteness and sagacity, many feel.

Mr. Nanaiah is entering the Council for the fifth time. His maiden entry was in the year 1985 when he represented the Kranti Ranga. It stood for just one year before he re-entered as a full fledged member in 1986 as member of the Janata Party. His stint in the Council from 1989 to 1994 saw a glib-tongued Nanaiah emerge as a powerful politician. He became a Minister by virtue of being the MLC from 1994 to 1999 in the J.H. Patel Government. The new assignment as Janata Dal (Secular) candidate has just begun. “My best moment in life was getting elected as the Leader of Opposition in the Council in 1989,” Mr. Nanaiah said. He continued in that post till 1994.

Mr. Nanaiah recalled that his worst moment was tendering resignation as Law Minister. He was pained at the developments that took place after the late Chief Minister J.H. Patel parted ways and aligned with the National Democratic Alliance Government, he stated. Mr. Nanaiah has his roots in the cooperative field, which had catapulted him to politics. He was elected president of the Cardamom Cooperative Society here in 1962, which was then a powerful body in Kodagu.

His first taste of election came in the year 1967 when he contested and lost as an independent against the former Minister the late A.P. Appanna, who was the Congress candidate from Madikeri constituency. “Though I had a leaning towards the Left parties, I did not associate with them,” Mr. Nanaiah said. He said that he was a great fan of the late Devaraj Urs. He contested as Congress candidate from Madikeri in 1978, defeating A.K.Subbaiah, another firebrand politician. Subsequently, he became a Minister, albeit for a short period.

Before that Mr. Nanaiah had served as president of the Madikeri City Municipal Council (then a town municipal council) from 1970 to 1974.

His stint as an advocate, both handling civil and criminal cases, continued undisturbed in between. He was chairman of the Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation in 1980. Mr. Nanaiah went on to win national award for his contributions to the cooperative field.

Mr. Nanaiah’s tenure as the Kodagu district in-charge from 1994-99, saw a spurt in development activities in the district. His political clout and proximity to the late J.H. Patel stood him in good stead in the party. Now, political hibernation for Mr. Nanaiah is over and he is back in politics. “Nanaiah will act as voice of Kodagu district”, said Matanda C. Monnappa, president of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, Virajpet.

“We needed a seasoned campaigner such as Nanaiah to speak on behalf of Kodagu,” said Muneer Ahmad, councillor of the Madikeri CMC. Indeed, Mr. Nanaiah has come out of nearly eight years of ‘political wilderness.”

Mr. Nanaiah told The Hindu that the Janata Dal (Secular) base has been eroded due to the ego clash of party leaders. It had lost because it could not gear up its machineries to face elections. He exudes confidence, saying there is sufficient political space for the party to grow in the State.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Jeevan Chinnappa / June 27th, 2008

Field Marshal Cariappa remembered

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

Retired Army officers and schoolchildren participating in a programme to mark the 106 birth anniversary of Field Marshal late K.M. Cariappa at his estate, `Roshanara', in Madikeri on Friday . KPN
Retired Army officers and schoolchildren participating in a programme to mark the 106 birth anniversary of Field Marshal late K.M. Cariappa at his estate, `Roshanara’, in Madikeri on Friday . KPN

Madikeri :

The 106th birth anniversary of late Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of India, was observed at `Roshanara’, the home of the Cariappas, here on Friday.

Nalini Cariappa, daughter of the late Field Marshal; Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa (retd.), son of the Field Marshal; his wife Meena Cariappa; the Deputy Commissioner, Srikant Valagad; the Madikeri tahsildar, R.G. Palkar; Col. N.K. Appaiah (retd.); and the secretary of the Kodagu Vidyalaya-Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, M.B. Belliappa, paid tributes to the late Field Marshal at his burial site on the occasion.

Prizes presented

The students of Kodagu Vidyalaya-Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School rendered patriotic songs and bhajans under the leadership of Jayashri Ramesh. Ms. Nalini Cariappa presented prizes to the winners of competitions organised in memory of the late Cariappa. Nischal Kumari, Pramoda and Prapti, won the first, second and third prizes, respectively. Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa said Pooja Foundation, Bangalore, had announced annual scholarships of Rs. 5,000 each to six students in memory of the late Field Marshal.

The scholarships will be given from April next. He stressed the need for learning good English, and said this helps students at competitive examinations.

Students shared their views on the late Field Marshal.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Karnataka / by Our Staff Correspondent / Saturday – January 29th, 2005

Withdraw resolution: Editors Guild

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All

It is violation of freedom of speech and freedom of press, says the Guild

Disapproving the Karnataka Assembly’s decision to imprison and fine two journalists, the Editors Guild of India has said it would violate the freedom of speech and freedom of the Press.

The Guild has urged the Karnataka Assembly to immediately withdraw its resolution.

In a release signed by its President Raj Chengappa and other office-bearers, the Guild has said journalists must have the freedom to write critical articles against elected representatives and hold them accountable for their actions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – June 26th, 2017

Kodagu tops in implementation of podi file clearance, says minister

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Records, All
District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam receives guard of honour at the 71st Independence Day celebrations at Old Fort premises in Madikeri on Tuesday. Dh photo
District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam receives guard of honour at the 71st Independence Day celebrations at Old Fort premises in Madikeri on Tuesday. Dh photo

District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam said that Kodagu district tops in the implementation of podi file clearance programme. Under the scheme, the officials have identified the exact boundary lines of land belonging to farmers and recorded them in relevant documents by awarding a new pahani in 115 villages of the district, for free of cost, he said.

Delivering the Independence Day address at the Old Fort premises in Madikeri on Tuesday, he said that 5,338 persons have benefited from the podi file-clearance programme of the government. This will be extended to all the villages in the district.

The minister said the concept of social justice and farsightedness is the guiding force behind the functioning of the State government. “We have to walk on the path laid down by our forefathers. By understanding the concept of freedom, we have to strive for the development of the country by shunning the differences,” he said.

Stating that the state government has taken up development works in the district in the last four-and-a-half years, Seetharam said that displaced Diddalli tribals have been rehabilitated near Kushalnagar. The title deeds will be distributed to them shortly. The department of Science and Technology will builtsub-regional science centre at the district headquarters at a cost of Rs 4 crore. It has been proposed to set up a mini planetarium, at a cost of Rs 5.75 crore in the district, he said.

Further, he said that Rs 50 crore has been released for repair of rural roads in the district. Under Kodagu package, 122 works will be taken up. A sum of Rs 38 crore has been released for the development of state highway and district roads.

He said the work on zilla panchayat administrative building is in progress and is likely to be completed by next June. In the backdrop of drought, the state government has waived Rs 151 crore loans borrowed by 34,000 farmers in the district.

SPC, Seva Dal, NCC, Scouts, Guides, students of General Thimmaiah School, Kodagu Vidyalaya, Rajeshwari Government PU College, GMP School, St Michael Convent, St Joseph Convent students took part in the march past. The students of St Joseph School, St Michael School, Rajeshwari School and Kendriya Vidyalaya presented cultural programmes.

P M Shailaja, Mohammed Rafeeq and M B Muneer, who have been selected for Jeevarakshaka Award were felicitated on the occasion.

Students collapse

Unable to bear the heat, two students collapsed during the march past. The students were given first-aid.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service, Madikeri / August 16th, 2017

Preserving a home full of memories

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Madikeri :

The government has not done anything to keep permanent the memory of the first commander in chief of the Army Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa. But the house he lived in, in Madikeri, has some remarkable things intact that remind people of his disciplined way of life as a soldier.

Cariappa had purchased a house in Madikeri in 1944 and had named it Roshanara. The house is now maintained by his son, retired Air Marshal Cariappa and his wife Meena, a native of Punjab. Inside Roshanara, a ‘sulking’ room of the Field Marshal is still maintained without change. “It was my father’s favourite room,” says Air Marshal Nanda Cariappa. He invariably spent an hour or so every afternoon, catching up on newspapers, reading mail or catnapping for 10 to 15 minutes. The room was so named because it was a particularly bright and cheerful place that had been added after he had retired.

The drawing room in the house is also maintained unchanged. “In one corner of the drawing room, my father’s chair has been left unmoved,” says Nanda Cariappa. The top wall portion of the chair is visible with four swords. These were presented to him by Hindu, Muslim and Sikh organizations. Another Katana of Japan was also gifted to him. In the drawing room, the depiction of a Kodava warrior, circa, 1850 used on a medallion, was awarded by the British. The table lamp was brought by an English lady Shone, during 1949.

Cariappa was cremated at Roshanara’s outer grounds during 1993, where the samadhi was built and is maintained by his daughter, a spinster, Nalini Cariappa, who lives in a separate house near Roshanara. Nanda Cariappa has four daughters and a son who are all settled outside. His son, Vikram, is interested in adventurous tours and once a year, Nanda Cariappa, also joins Vikram’s team in climbing the 18,000 feet high Himalayas.

Speaking to TOI, Nanda Cariappa called upon Kodagu youths to join the Army. He indicated the scope for minimum service of seven years in the Army for youths. Even girls can join administrative, accounts, electronic, electrical and other sections, he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mysore / by G Rajendra / TNN / December 12th, 2011

Two Cong CMC members join JD(S)

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

Two Congress councillors defected into Janata Dal (Secular) on Thursday here.

K M Ganesh and Leela Sheshamma, members of Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC) joined the regional party at a convention organised in the city. They were followed by several other leaders from both the Congress and the BJP parties.

Former Mysuru-Kodagu MP A H Vishwanath, who recently joined JD(S) after severing ties with Congress, said the state is in need of the government dedicated for the cause of Kannadigas. There is no need for a dispensation holding its reins in Delhi, he added.

Substantiating his demand for supporting a regional party, Vishwanath said, “JD(S) state unit president H D Kumaraswamy should be given a full term as chief minister, as the people have witnessed the rule of both the BJP and the Congress governments respectively.” If one has to find solutions to demands over land, water, language and also agrarian issues, JD(S) should be brought to power, he said.

“Politics is not stagnant water, where a person looking for new possibilities always looks for a change. It was the only reason I chose to tread a new path after severing ties with Congress party with which I was associated for 40 years. We were the victims of Delhi tyranny, where it was even difficult to run the show let alone taking any decisions. Adding to this, the behaviour of state-level leaders was also not acceptable.”

Without taking the name of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Vishwanath said, “A person whom I brought into the fold (of Congress party) has been creating havoc in administration, compelling to change course towards Kumara (Kumaraswamy).”

Speaking about the contribution of the regional parties in the country, he said it is also essential to support JD (S) in the state. The land is replete with natural resources like sand and iron ore that has been changing hands beyound boundary of the state, he added.

When the threat to natural resources reached its peak during the rule of BJP government between 2008 and 2013, the then opposition leader Siddaramaiah took out a Padayatra from Bengaluru to Ballari demanding people’s support to form a government to ensure corruption-free government. However, though now in power, the chief minister has reneged on his promise and is neck deep in corruption, Vishwanath charged.

Venting his ire against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vishwanath said that the prime minister has not taken any measures to bring back black money stashed abroad and deposit it in the bank accounts of poor. Due to confusing economic policy, four lakh people have lost jobs in metropolitan cities, he claimed.

He said Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) is headed by a corrupt, yet another example of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah failing to keep his promise of corruption-free governance. Vishwanath announced that he will tour Bagalkot, Chitradurga, Vijayapura and Davangere to create awareness among the people about Congress misrule in the state.

MLA G T Devegowda from Mysuru said the government is out to break Lingayat community in the name of separate religion. It was unexpected from Siddaramaiah, he said.

Former minister B A Jeevijaya lauded Vishwanath as a model politician who still believes in principles. He was in the company of D Devaraj Urs, a prominent chief minister ever seen in the state.

Many other leaders from Maragodu, Shirangala, Kadagadalu, Chettalli, Suntikoppa, Besur, Janardhanahalli and Kodlipet joined JD(S) along with the councillors.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by DH News Service, Madikeri / July 28th, 2017

JD (Secular) convention in Madikeri on July 27

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

Janata Dal (Secular) will organise a convention at Kaveri Kalakshetra in Madikeri on July 27.

Briefing media persons here on Saturday, JD(S) district in-charge Vijay said that former MP A H Vishwanath, MLA G T Devegowda, former MLA Shivakumar and former minister Jeevijaya will take part in the convention.

K M Ganesh, who has tendered resignation to Congress, will join the JD(S) on the occasion. Along with him, around 30 leaders are likely to join the JD(S), he added.

The party’s candidates will win forthcoming Legislative Assembly election in Madikeri and Virajpet constituencies, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service, Madikeri / July 22nd, 2017

Samiti too lays claim on Light House Hill Road

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Mangaluru :

The controversy surrounding naming of Light House Hill Road took a historical turn with Sullia Amara Kranti Utsava Samiti too laying their claim to name the road. Turning back pages of history to shed light on role played by Vokkaliga community prior to India’s first War of Independence, the Samiti demanded that the road be named Bavuta Gudde Road and the hillock which also has St Aloysius College continue to be referred to as Bavuta Gudde.

Gopal Peraje, convener of the Samiti said the 1837 revolt against the British, a good two-decades before the first War of Independence of 1857 was the offshoot of dethroning of the Kodava ruler in 1834 by imperial rulers. The revolt engulfed Kodagu, Sampaje, Sullia, Bellare, Puttur, Kumble, Manjeshwar and even Mangaluru which saw thousands of people rally round the leadership of Ramayya Gowda of Kedambadi. Ramayya was ably assisted by many leaders, he said.

The dethroning of the Kodava ruler and change in taxation system from material to monetary terms were the main reasons for sparking the revolt, he said. The rebels that marched from Kedambadi took control of government treasuries in Sullia, Bellare, Puttur and Kumble and also went on to wrest control of Mangaluru from the British, he said. The rebels lowered the British flag that was erected on Bavuta Gudde and hoisted the flag of Haleri dynasty of Kodagu there.

Noting that the rebels wilted under the East India Company’s counter-offensive and many rebels were captured and prominent leaders hanged in public at Bikarnakatte and another leader publicly hanged in Madikeri Fort, Gopal said the rebels ruled Mangaluru for 13-days from April 5, 1837. The Mangaluru City Corporation and state government must take this historic fact in to account and name the road as Bavuta Gudde Road to commemorate this freedom struggle, he noted.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Mangalore News / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / July 25th, 2017