WCAI Secretary Poornima Jairaj highlighted how farmers are expanding beyond cultivation into roasting, retail, and cafe ownership, bridging the gap from farm to cup.
People check a stall at the Coffee Santhe at Freedom Park.Photo | Express, Allen Egenuse J
Bengaluru :
From mocha pots to unique flavours like masala apple-flavoured coffee decoction, the seventh edition of ‘Coffee Santhe’ blended traditional coffee flavours with emerging coffee trends at Freedom Park over the weekend.
Organised by the Bengaluru-based Women’s Coffee Alliance – India (WCAI), the three-day event concluded on Sunday and featured stalls offering flavoured coffee powders, coffee beans from Coorg and Chikkamagaluru, floral-infused brews, and other specialty coffee products that have been gaining traction on social media.
The annual event is WCAI’s main fundraising initiative, aimed at supporting women working in coffee plantations. The funds raised go toward ongoing projects that focus on women and child healthcare, education for girls, nutrition support, skill development, and elder care. The funds help address both the physical and mental well-being of workers.
WCAI Secretary Poornima Jairaj highlighted how farmers are expanding beyond cultivation into roasting, retail, and cafe ownership, bridging the gap from farm to cup.
She also noted the growing trend of home brewing, with more consumers preferring freshly ground beans.
“To showcase this, multiple stalls at the event are dedicated to displaying coffee beans from various plantations, helping consumers understand the coffee brewing process,” she said.
The WCAI, on Sunday, also hosted finals of the Women Stars Brewer Championship featuring participants from coffee chains and home brewers across India, competing for the title of ‘Woman Coffee Brewing Star’ and the finals of the Robusta Brewing Skills Championship which aimed at showcasing the rich flavours of the Robusta bean.
Tricho Cards to protect crops without chemical pesticides
A stall by Krishi Sai Ekatha Private Limited displaying ‘Tricho Cards’ was the centre of attraction at the event. These eco-friendly cards, priced at Rs 200 each, are embedded with “Trichogramma” wasp eggs – a natural pest control solution. Trichogramma are tiny, beneficial insects that destroy the eggs of harmful crop pests like caterpillars and borers before they hatch
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Rishita Khanna / March 24th, 2025
This NGO is helping participants understand areas of mental health like communication, empathy, inter-personal relationships and more.
As part of the annual mental health awareness campaign, participants paint the walls of The Wheel Cafe in Madikeri
Bengaluru :
Every alternate Sunday morning, a group of individuals gather in the tranquil embrace of Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, for a unique mental health session called ‘Sundays for Mental Health’, organised by a Kodagu-based NGO Mind and Matter.
As the gentle breeze sets the stage, participants attend the event not just to meet, but to connect. Through a variety of carefully curated games, activities, paintings, etc, the NGO assist the participants to understand areas of different mental health such as communication, empathy, inter-personal relationships and more. In case someone comes up to them with a serious problem, the NGO refers it to mental health professionals.
Venkatesh, a chartered accountant who attended the event on Sunday, said, “There’s unmistakable warmth here. It helped me a lot. The session has given me a chance to look into my soul. It helped me understand myself much better.”
Another participant, Somnath, said, “This is my second campaign with Mind and Matters, and I understood how to look at the same situation from a different perspective.”
In a world where problems related to mental health often take a backseat, Mind and Matter stands as a beacon of hope, offering support to individuals in need. The NGO has stepped into the fray with free programmes which it organises in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Kodagu, and plans to expand to cities like Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai as well. It aims to break the stigma around mental health with a short yet moderate plan under expert guidance, a holistic approach and compassionate care.
Trustee and founder of Mind and Matter Deepika Appaiah said, “We work with schools, colleges, parents and teachers. Our initiative has impacted about 13,000 children and over 700 parents and teachers. Our organisation is run by volunteers, so we invite people to join us and provide them training from the Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Nimhans, in Bengaluru.
As of now, we have 150 volunteers.” From housewives to working professionals, the numbers joining the initiative are only growing. Registered in 2021, Mind and Matter has collaborated with Nimhans and is witnessing a spike in enrolment.
Mental health programme in schools in Mysuru
Dr Aravind Raj, Department of Psychiatric Social Work of Nimhans, and one of the pioneers of the initiative, said, “Mental health professionals are often confined to hospitals, where stigma deters people from seeking help. It is one of the reasons to take mental health initiatives outside hospitals.” He stressed the need for more awareness campaigns in society.
Mental health includes different methods of handling situations: understanding one’s potential, dealing with stress in a positive way, being productive and contributing to society. “Our motto is to promote all these among people, so their vulnerability to developing mental disorders comes down,” he said.
According to several reports, it has been identified that rural residents have inadequate mental health knowledge, tied to entrenched stigma and low literacy. In urban areas, people are grappling with work stress, especially Bengaluru’s techies. Dr Raj said Mind and Matter wants to penetrate that area and make them recognise the importance of mental well-being. “We also train Anganwadi workers and teachers and provide care in rural areas,” he added.
Mental illness affects 8% of population
According to the 2015–2016 National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), conducted by Nimhans and considered one of the best benchmarks, 8 per cent of Karnataka’s population, which is 1 out of 12 people, suffers from mental illnesses and requires care. Dr Raj and Appaiah say this is primarily because of a lack of awareness.
“The kind of transformation I have witnessed in people drives me to continue this work. Over time, I understood after attending the programmes we organise, that people feel it is okay to ask for help,” she noted. “If the initiative had never worked, people wouldn’t come back to us. More importantly, there is no monetary benefit involved, which means it has personally impacted me,” Appaiah said, a smile on her face. “I believe my family is my biggest support, and thank my entire team for their contribution.”
While the NGO is run for a noble cause, Appaiah says that sometimes, it is difficult to continue the initiative on such a large scale if there isn’t enough financial support. Appaiah, who also runs a café in Coorg, said it provides support. “We don’t go out to ask for donations. People who have worked with us donate money. The café is an extension of whatever we do here. However, now we are trying to collect funds from corporates or through CSR activities,” she said. Dr Raj also stressed that resource management is important.
A group of youngsters chit-chat after the Sundays for Mental Health programme in Cubbon Park, in Bengaluru / Photo | Express
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Saptarshi C / March 03rd, 2025
The month-long ‘Kodava Hockey Namme’, popularly known as Coorg’s hockey festival, is set to begin on March 28 in Madikeri and the household of the Muddandas – the host family for this year – is eager to make it grander than ever as it is the 25th edition of the tournament.
The Kodava Hockey Festival, a family-based tournament, is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. Credit: Special Arrangement
Bengaluru:
A sense of excitement is brewing in the coffee land of Kodagu as the hilly region prepares for its annual celebration of a sport close to the hearts of Kodavas.
The month-long ‘Kodava Hockey Namme’, popularly known as Coorg’s hockey festival, is set to begin on March 28 in Madikeri and the household of the Muddandas – the host family for this year – is eager to make it grander than ever as it is the 25th edition of the tournament.
And to mark this milestone, a 5-a-side all-women competition is being introduced in addition to the customary 11-a-side event.
“This year being the silver jubilee, we wanted to add more to the festival and came up with this idea,” Rashin Subbaiah, president of the tournament and member of the host family, told DH.
“We observed that many young girls were interested in taking part. Though there has never been age or gender restriction, many women/ girls were reluctant to get onto the field. So we thought about introducing an exclusive all-women event to put them under the spotlight,” explained Subbaiah.
Undoubtedly, the response so far has been overwhelming as the organisers have already received entries from 37 teams for the 5s event. Those numbers are expected to cross 50 before the entry date closes on April 10.
“The all-women’s 5s will begin in the last week of the festival with its final on April 26 when the main event has its semifinals scheduled. We planned this strategically because spectators come in big numbers to witness the final few days of the hockey extravaganza,” said Vikram Uthappa, another member of the organising committee.
The no age/ gender bar tournament which began in 1997 with 60 teams, swelled to 360 in 2024 and will feature 396 squads on three grounds – two at the Field Marshal KM Cariappa College and one at the Police Grounds – this summer. Last year, 92-year-old Chittiappa, who made news as the oldest participant, will be seen in action for his team – Annadiyanda family – in this edition as well.
Traditionally, the mixed-team tournament has had female participants playing with and against their male counterparts in the 11-a-side event. Former junior India women players – goalkeeper Shivachaliyanda Nilan, Mallamada N Ponnamma, Mallamada Leelavathi among others – from the region have been a part of the festival.
A female participant, this year, can play in the 11s team and also turn out for a 5s squad as well. However, picking a team to play for in the 5s competition could be a bit of a quandary for a few.
While the choice of family to represent will be a no-brainer for the unmarried girls, the married women, however, will have to decide between her ‘Thamane’ (father’s house) and ‘Bakemane’ (husband’s house).
Irrespective of one’s choice, there will be one more reason to celebrate both women and hockey in the Kodava land come April.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Hockey / by Hita Prakash / March 20th, 2025
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, observed worldwide on March 8, the Codava National Council (CNC), under the leadership of its President, N U Nachappa, submitted an appeal advocating for the empowerment of Kodava women. The appeal was presented in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, urging the authorities to take necessary actions.
At 10:30 AM on Saturday, the Kodava National Council submitted a memorandum through the district administration to the United Nations Secretary-General, the Director of the United Nations Global Women’s Empowerment Agency, the UNESCO Director-General, the President and Prime Minister of India, and the Union Home Minister.
Under the theme “For All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”, the CNC emphasised the necessity of ensuring true recognition and honour for Kodava women. An official communique from the CNC stated, “Kodava women have selflessly contributed to the Kodava clan’s structure, valour, humanistic approach, and strong familial bonds. The Government of India, the Government of Karnataka, and the people of this nation must recognise and adopt the values ingrained in Kodava women. If these values are embraced and implemented nationwide, there will be no oppression against women, and atrocities and subjugation can be eliminated. Kodava women are symbols of independence, intelligence, and generosity. However, due to their political subordination, they have been sidelined from India’s political establishment.”
The press release further stated, “After India gained political independence with its new Constitution, Kodava women lacked knowledge of their political and constitutional rights. Other communities should adopt the exemplary values of Kodava women, just as Kodava women should adopt political awareness from other communities. The government must now implement an effective strategy to empower both Kodava women and women across the country. Due to a lack of awareness regarding international conventions, fundamental rights, and human rights development, Kodava women have been unable to empower themselves through state welfare programs or effectively present their plight to relevant authorities. Hence, the United Nations and the Government of India must immediately grant them political and constitutional rights and power.”
This appeal underscores the urgency of government action in recognising and empowering Kodava women, ensuring their rightful place in India’s political, economic, and social landscape said Nachappa.
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by The Hans News Service / March 08th, 2025
The third day of the ‘Kodavame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march from Kutta to Madikeri advocating for the Constitutional rights and unique cultural identity of the Kodava community, began from Ponnampet Kodava Samaja this morning.
By joining the march, participants are setting new records for a foot march, as Kodavas and Kodava language speakers set aside social, organisational and political differences to march towards Madikeri.
The march, which commenced on Feb. 2 from Kutta, reached T. Shettigeri on the first day. On Feb. 3, it continued from T. Shettigeri to Ponnampet. Today, participants paid homage at Ponnampet, garlanding the statues of the town’s founder, Diwan Cheppudira Ponnappa, and Mahatma Gandhi before proceeding to Gonikoppa. After lunch at Gonikoppa, the marchers are scheduled to reach Bittangala by evening.
The massive foot march to protest the oppression of Kodavas will culminate on Feb. 7 at the district headquarters in Madikeri, where over 40,000 people are expected to attend. The overwhelming response from Kodavas and Kodava speakers indicates a massive gathering on the final day.
Throughout the march, Kodavas are showcasing their pride in their culture and identity. Despite the scorching heat, men, women and children — some in traditional attire and others in plain clothes — are marching silently, seeking to safeguard their cultural identity and community rights as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Traditional welcome
The march stands against political and administrative neglect, unchecked migration, cultural and geographical loss and the denial of Kodavas’ right to practice their customs and traditions in their homeland. The camaraderie within the community has been evident, with local elders, women, family Thakkas and village elders, and community heads wholeheartedly supporting the cause.
Hospitality, an inherent trait of the Kodavas, was on full display over the past two days, as participants were spontaneously offered food and shelter all along the route. They were traditionally welcomed at various points where heads of families and aged women blessed the walkers.
A key highlight of Day-2 was the red-carpet welcome at Thuppanani and Biloor Junction leading to Hudikeri, where lunch was served at Kodava Samaja. The marchers also received warm support from Theethira family.
At Mapillethod, Kodava Muslim Alira family extended a hearty welcome, with Muslim community members gathering in large numbers to express their support. They provided snacks, buttermilk, tea and coffee, to marchers in a show of solidarity.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 04th, 2025
Shangri-La Eros New Delhi welcomes guests to an exceptional Chef Pin pop-up featuring the authentic Kodava cuisine crafted by Home Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda from February 6 to 8, 2025.
The culinary showcase at the hotel’s international restaurant, Tamra presents cherished family recipes passed down through generations, offering diners a genuine taste of Coorg’s rich heritage. Home Chef Smitha, a classical dancer, published author, and storyteller, brings her multifaceted expertise to this unique dining experience that celebrates the traditional flavors of Kodava households.
Home Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda brings to Shangri-La Eros New Delhi the culmination of a remarkable 15-year culinary journey. From her initial venture ‘Limited Overs’ to the establishment of Baked Delights and now Global Theeni, she has consistently delivered flavors that reflect her Kodagu roots. Her impressive track record of curating food festivals at renowned hotels like Taj Fisherman’s Cove and Hyatt showcases her dedication to sharing personal, memory-laden interpretations of Coorg’s rich culinary heritage.
The Chef Pin pop-up captures the essence of Coorg’s culinary heritage with a carefully curated menu showcasing the region’s bold and earthy flavors. The experience begins with starters like Nugge Elayithkande, a flavorful drumstick and potato preparation, Kumm Barthad with crispy fried mushrooms, Balekai featuring golden fried raw plantains, and the richly spiced Erchi Barthad, a mutton fry.
The mains celebrate both vegetarian and non-vegetarian specialties, including Kumbala Curry with vibrant pumpkin, Baimbale Curry with bamboo shoots, and Kaad Maange Curry with wild mango. Meat lovers can savor Kaima Curry, Erchi Curry, and the iconic Pandi Curry with succulent pork.
Accompaniments like Kadambutt, Nooputtu, and Tarkari Pulav perfectly complement the meal, which ends on a sweet note with Kaskase Payasa and Madd Kool. Paired with Coorg’s celebrated coffee, this pop-up promises a memorable journey through Kodava cuisine.
The exclusive Chef Pin pop-up at Tamra promises an intimate dining experience where each dish shares a story from the heart of Kodagu. Guests can enjoy the Lunch Buffet at INR 3,200 plus taxes per person or the Dinner Buffet at INR 3,500 plus taxes per person, making it a truly memorable experience.
source: http://www.contentmediasolution.com / Content Media Solution / Home> Business / February 05th, 2025
The initiative aims to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks and train women from self-help groups to become successful coffee entrepreneurs.
Women harvesting coffee beans. Initially, 400 women will be trained to become master trainers at the coffee board’s head office in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
The Coffee Board of India, in partnership with the National Livelihood Mission in Karnataka, has initiated a project to empower 1,00,000 women members of National Livelihood Mission Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the State on coffee brewing techniques and rural cafe management.
To execute the programme, an MoU was signed between K.G. Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary, Coffee Board, and P.I. Sreevidya, Mission Director of National Livelihood Mission. This was mainly aimed to facilitate the establishment of rural and urban cafes dedicated to offering an authentic filter coffee experience, said the coffee board on Wednesday.
“The coffee board, in collaboration with subject matter experts and in-house specialists, will work along with the Atal Incubation Centre of Coffee Board, the implementing and monitoring partner, to ensure impactful outcomes,’‘ said Mr. Jagadeesha. Ms. Sreevidya added: “This coffee micro entrepreneurial project will provide a new window of opportunities to women empowerment.”
According to the coffee board, the project will be implemented in two phases. Initially, 400 women identified by NLM will be trained to become master trainers at the coffee board’s head office in Bengaluru, who in the second phase will subsequently upskill other women at taluk and hobli levels. The initiative aims to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks and train one lakh women from SHGs to become successful coffee entrepreneurs.
The State government allocated ₹25 crore in its 2024-25 State budget to train one lakh women from NLM SHGs as coffee entrepreneurs. ‘’By supporting potential and existing entrepreneurs, it promotes gender equality, reduces poverty, and fosters opportunities for marginalised women,” Mr. Jagadeesha said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 23rd, 2025
Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in city, won a silver medal in the Senior Master’s Women’s Category at the 2nd Nagraj Rao Jagdale Shooting Contest and Championship-2025.
The event was held from Jan. 12 to 26 at the Sports Authority of India Shooting Range in Bengaluru, which the Karnataka State Rifle Association organised to promote Sports Shooting in Karnataka State and to have a State Ranking. Preeth won the medal in (A-103) .177 Open Sight10 M Air Rifle Senior Master’s Women’s (NR) Category.
Preeth Appaiah is a Mysuru Sports Shooting Academy (MSSA) student. In 2023, she achieved a remarkable feat by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa. Preeth is the wife of advocate Jammada M. Aiyanna.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / January 18th, 2025
P.T. Bopanna’s book Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture looks at how the writer who passed away last year and her husband closely observed and recorded many aspects of the Kodava culture.
P.T. Bopanna | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Pattole Palame (Silken Lore), originally compiled by the folklorist Nadikerianda Chinnappa in 1924, is considered a treasure trove of Kodava oral traditions, including songs, rituals, and stories that have been passed down through generations. Originally written in Kodava, it was the late Nanjamma Chinnappa and her late husband Boverianda Chinnappa who translated the work to English in 2003, making this treasured piece of literature accessible for Kodavas as well as others interested in oral literature around the globe.
As the celebrated author passed away in March 2024, writer and journalist P.T. Boppanna is set to release a book honouring her, titled Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture. The book is a collage of works of Nanjamma that talks about her setting the image of a quintessential Kodavathi, her work on the architectural heritage of Kodagu, ancestral homes and Coorg cuisine. It is also a personal tribute looking at how the Chinnappa couple guided Bopanna’s journey as an author.
Speaking to The Hindu, Bopanna said that Nanjamma and her late husband worked as a team for various projects and were associated with some of his work too. “The Chinnappas were closely associated with my book and website projects for over 15 years,” he said.
Book on Nanjamma Chinnappa by P.T. Bopanna. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The couple’s journey
“Nanjamma, a statistician of international repute, and her husband Chinnappa, an engineer, left for Cambridge, England, in 1974 where Nanjamma was a visiting fellow of Cambridge University. In 1975, they went to Canada to continue their careers and returned to India in 1995. Their first project after returning from Canada was to translate into English Pattole Palame, a book on Kodava culture, folk songs and traditions, written by their common grandfather Nadikerianda Chinnappa,” he explained.
Boppanna said that it took Nanjamma and her husband nearly eight years to complete the translation of the book which runs into 700-plus pages and was published in 2003. “The couple will be remembered mainly for their monumental book Ainmanes of Kodagu, on the traditional dwelling places of the original inhabitants of Kodagu. The Chinnappas believed that Ainmanes (house of elders/ancestral home) and their surroundings were sacred heritage sites that need to be preserved for future generations,” he said.
The Chinnappas are said to have visited close to 700 traditional and functional Ainmanes belonging to all communities in Kodagu and clicked 1,500 photographs during their field-work which took them five years. The book was published in 2014. “The couple also put together a website www.ainmanes.com that contains detailed information and photographs of each Ainmane visited, including oral narratives related to the Okka (clan) to whom the Ainmane belongs,” explained Boppanna.
A personal connect
The couple took a lot of interest in Boppanna’s own work on Kodava heritage and guided him in many ways, he said. “The Chinnappas were associated with my book and website projects since around 2007. They had gone through the manuscript of all my nine books, including my last book Round and About with P.T. Bopanna, published in 2022. They checked my books for grammatical and factual errors and offered suggestions for improving the content. Initially, I used to visit their home in Bengaluru. After they shifted to Mysuru a few years ago we exchanged emails and messages. They wrote the foreword for my book Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus? They also wrote the afterword for my book My Coorg Chronicle,” he explained.
Boppanna said that one of the highlights of this book is the interview of Nanjamma by Dr. Nervanda Veena Poonacha, an eminent sociologist and women’s studies scholar. Veena had spoken to Nanjamma on the latter’s life journey. The foreword for the book has been penned by Dr. Sowmya Dechamma C.C., Professor, Centre for Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad.
In the foreword of the book, Dechamma says that those who are even slightly familiar with the Kodavas of Kodagu and their increased awareness of Kodava language, culture and identity politics in the last three decades or so, would have definitely come across Nanjamma Chinnappa, her work and her ideas.
Context of their work
“On 31st March 2024, Nanjamma left us, leaving a void in the Kodava world. If an earlier generation of Kodava writers and intellectuals like Pandyanda Belliappa, I.M. Muthanna, B.D. Ganapathy, set a foundation for a discourse about the different identities of the Kodava, it was around a time when limitations of literacy and media restricted access to their work and discussions around them. The times in which Nanjamma and her husband and collaborator in her work, Chinnappa, began researching, writing and translating on the Kodavas, their work began appearing during a period of immense growth in media, combined with changes in the larger socio-economic scenario that had bearings on identity politics of the 1990s and thereafter. The opening up of the economy and large-scale migration of the Kodavas into urban centres along with an awareness of a distinct Kodava identity was the context in which Nanjamma and Chinnappa’s works were received,” she says in the foreword.
What Dechamma finds of immense significance in this volume is the interview of Nanjamma by Veena Poonacha that charts Nanjamma’s life and work. “Her review of works by Nanjamma and Chinnappa are equally valuable. Bringing together in one place the reflections and works by Nanjamma and Chinnappa is one of the best tributes possible to the life and work they were part of. Their effort in spreading indigenous knowledge associated with Kodavas and Kodagu needs us to take their work further,” she says.
Priced at ₹195, the book Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture is published by Prism Books Pvt. Ltd,. and is available for purchase on online stores such as Amazon and Flipkart.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Yemen S / January 03rd, 2024
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