Hailing from a poor family in 2nd Monnangeri — which was destroyed in a landslide — Tashma had a flair for throwball since childhood.
Tashma Muthappa
Madikeri :
The recent floods in Kodagu have altered numerous lives. Like that of Tashma Muthappa’s. Tashma (23), an international-level throwball player from Kodagu, is now staying at a relief centre after her house was washed away in the floods. And she lost her medals and trophies too. But thanks to the power of social media, help has been pouring in for her. After her story was circulated on the social media platforms, there has been a ray of hope. “I received help from 2nd Monnangeri activist Dhanjay and People for Kodagu Organisation,” Tashma said.
On Wednesday, MLC Veena Achaiah and her son Vishwas Achaiah visited Tashma and offered her help. “Vishwas Achaiah and his friends have offered to pay one year’s rent for our house and have promised to look after other expenses,” she added.
Hailing from a poor family in 2nd Monnangeri — which was destroyed in a landslide — Tashma had a flair for throwball since childhood. She has taken part in many throwball events, including those in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. She was part of the Indian throwball team that won an international championship in Bengaluru recently. However, she gave up her sporting career owing to financial constraints. Tashma, who completed her PU from Alva’s College, Mangaluru, now works as a data operator at Kodagu Medical College. Her parents Muthappa and Girija work at a homestay.
Life suddenly turned upside down for her on August 17. “At around 10 am that day, we started fleeing our homes after we noticed numerous cracks in the earth. We climbed uphill as roads were blocked owing to landslides. Walking through forests, we reached a relief centre at Cherambane at 9 pm,” she said recalling the horror. The family was later moved to a relief camp in Madikeri, where her story was learnt by many well-wishers and was circulated on social media.
Tashma hopes that the government offers her a permanent job. Though her immediate goal is to get a job and support her family, Tashma is ready to enter the throwball field and prove her mettle again … if she gets more support.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / August 31st, 2018
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won 6-3, 6-4 to become the fifth men’s doubles pairing to win gold at the Asian Games.
Tennis – 2018 Asian Games – Men’s Doubles – Final – JSC Tennis Court – Palembang, Indonesia – August 24, 2018. Rohan Manchanda Bopanna and Divij Sharan of India shake hands with Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan after winning their match. REUTERS/Edgar Su
Top seeded men’s doubles pairing of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan won India’s second medal in tennis – after bronze for Ankita Raina in women’s singles – at Palembang in the Asian Games. The duo produced clinical display of attacking tennis to beat the Kazakhstan pairing of Aleksander Bublik and Denis Yevseyev 6-3, 6-4 in 52 minutes.
In under 20 minutes, Bopanna-Sharan had taken a 4-1 lead in the opening set with two breaks of serves under their command. Soon enough, Bopanna got the job done to wrap up the opening set thanks to his booming serves and Divij’s confident play at the net. Kazakhs did have their moments but were undone by erratic and inconsistent play – a brilliant cross-court backhand winner one moment was followed up by a powerless return buried in the net the very next minute.
Bopanna who played mostly from the back of the court was formidable in his returns. He pulled off some tough winners helped by his sheer force.
Second set was a more evenly contested affair with Bublik and Yevseyev connecting better but they couldn’t keep their unforced error count low to put pressure on the Indian pairing. At 3-3, Bopanna and Sharan clinched the all-important break to go up and despite being pushed a bit in the very next game, the top seeds held serve to grab a 5-3 lead. Kazakhs held their serve to put the onus on Bopanna to hold for the gold medal – which he did so by serving it out to love.
India have claimed the men’s doubles gold on four occasions at the Asian Games, the last pair being Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh in the 2010 Guangzhou edition. Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes remain the most successful Indian men’s doubles pair in the Asian Games history, having claimed back-to-back gold medals in the 2002 and 2006 Games.
Paes, however, had stunned the Indian team this time by pulling out on the eve of the Games after complaining of not getting a specialist partner of his choice.
In 2014, Saketh Myneni and Sanam had ended with a silver medal.
(With PTI inputs)
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Sports> Asian Games 2018 / by Sports Desk / August 24th, 2018
Old-timers and environmentalists blame tourism for the devastating floods in Kodagu
Shattered hopes: As many as 1,206 houses and 278 government buildings were damaged in the Kodagu floods | Bhanu Prakash Chandra
IF THE RAINS had not wreaked havoc in Kodagu, Karnataka’s coffee country would be preparing for ‘Kail Murta’, a festival in which the Kodavas worship their weapons. But, the district, which got battered by flash floods and landslides that took 12 lives and rendered more than 1,500 families homeless, is now left with just one weapon: resilience.
On the midnight of August 15, torrential rains started pounding Kodagu. The hills cracked up and tumbled down, and the rivers swallowed everything on their way—century-old houses, brand-new homestays, tiny tea shops, lush green paddy fields, vast stretches of coffee plantations, forests, livestock, bridges and vehicles. Incessant rains submerged low-lying areas in Kushalnagar, Somwarpet and Madikeri, pilgrimage centres like Talacauvery and Bhagamandala, and major bridges like Bethri, while landslides along the national highways turned those into death traps.
By the time the district administration launched rescue operations, the communication lines were cut off and most villages had become inaccessible. Heavy rains, tough terrain and scattered habitations made rescue operations a daunting task even for the armed forces and the National Disaster Response Force. Many people were hungry and exhausted when the rescue teams finally reached them.
Manu Madappa from Mukkodlu village said around 40 people took refuge in his homestay for three days. But with no help arriving, they decided to trek to Madikeri. “We covered a distance of 20km, walking in the rain on a muddied path, and made it to a relief camp in Madikeri,” he said.
As many as 51 relief centres have been opened across the district, sheltering 7,594 people as on August 22. NGOs have ensured an uninterrupted flow of relief material to these camps. The Kodava Samaj in Bengaluru and Mysuru are the nerve centres for organising relief material.
Local MP Pratap Simha, who was part of the rescue operations, said the devastation was unimaginable. “Incessant rains prevented airlifting of stranded people although three Army choppers were on standby. After I sent an SOS to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Army unit from Karwar was rushed in,” he said. “The relief centres are working well, and our next big challenge is rehabilitation. We will need huge cash donations to rebuild homes.” According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, 1,206 houses and 123 kilometres of roads have been damaged, 58 bridges and culverts have collapsed, 278 government buildings and 3,800 electric poles and transformers have been severely damaged.
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who conducted an aerial survey, said the infrastructure damage alone amounted to Rs 3,000 crore. “A team of engineers from the Border Roads Organisation and the Army engineering task force have been called in to clear roads and restore them,” said Kumaraswamy. “A team from the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, is conducting geotechnical studies to ascertain the causes of landslides. We have deputed two IAS probationers to fasten the process of identifying the lands for rebuilding 2,000 temporary homes.” he said.
The government has promised Rs 3,800 per family, along with essential groceries as immediate relief. The chief minister has promised the affected people work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and offered to issue provisional documents for those who have lost their Aadhaar and ration cards and title deeds. “Rs 5 lakh will be given to the family of the deceased. Special classes and books for children are also being planned,” said Kumaraswamy.
The rainfall was unprecedented, but old-timers and environmentalists said the alarming plight of Kodagu was the fallout of the booming tourism industry. G.S. Srinivas Reddy, director of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, said Kodagu received 103 per cent more rainfall than normal this year.
U.M. Poovaiah, editor of Brahmagiri, a Kodava weekly, said he had never seen or heard of such devastation in the history of Kodagu. “This is the fallout of unregulated tourism that has razed down the hills to make roads to homestays. The riverbed has been encroached upon. Unplanned construction has pushed the district to the edge. The authorities are to blame for the influx of tourists and atrocities against nature in this once-pristine district. We want unlicensed homestays and construction activity to be stopped,” said Poovaiah.
The Coorg Wildlife Society, too, blamed the severe stress on Kodagu because of the change in land use and unbridled tourism. In a letter sent last May to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CWS wrote, “Kodagu provides almost 50 per cent of the total inflow into Cauvery, which is the lifeline of South India, and provides water to over 80 million people and 600 major industries across the region. The food, water and economic security of southern India hinges largely on Cauvery River. It is therefore in national interest to preserve the Kodagu landscape and protect its ecosystems.”
Colonel (retd) C.P. Muthanna, president of CWS and co-ordinator of the Save Kodagu and Cauvery campaign, said more than 2,800 acres of paddy fields, coffee plantations and highlands were converted to residential layouts, sites, commercial complexes and resorts between 2005 and 2015. “Kodagu’s fast-paced urbanisation will turn it into a slum,” said Muthanna. Earlier this year, he had urged the Karnataka government to regulate tourism in the region and demanded an audit of water and waste and sewage management in the resorts. “While Kodagu has a population of 5.5 lakh, the number of tourists goes up to 13 lakh,” he said.
A report by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, said massive deforestation and monoculture plantations caused the landslides. “Trees hold the top soil and also absorb and regulate the flow of rainwater. But deforestation for construction of roads and power lines have resulted in soil erosion,” said T.V. Ramachandra of the centre. “If the government wants to avert disasters, it should not take up any mega projects.”
source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> The Week> Cover Story / by Prathima Nandakumar / September 02nd, 2018
After rains, coffee planters in Kodagu are gripped by the fear of black rot disease and berry droppings. Spices like black pepper and cardamom produced in the coffee estates have also perished, beside paddy fields being washed away.
The district, which is known for its coffee production worldwide, may have abysmally low coffee and agriculture output this year. The coffee growers, especially small planters, will be hit by the black rot disease, increase in berry droppings and fungal disease to the crop.
Naj Chengappa, a coffee planter, said, “The disease will affect both Arabica and Robusta coffee due to excess rainfall. The most striking symptoms are blackening and rotting of the leaves and tender berries.”
The growers are already worried about falling coffee prices in the past two years. The diseases following the flood will add to their sufferings. Black pepper crop, grown extensively in coffee plantations in the district, also suffers from droppings and fungal diseases. Cardamom is grown in parts of North Kodagu. The crop has suffered heavy damages due to landslides and flood. “Since there is no proper sunlight in Kodagu for almost a month now, this will cause fungal disease to coffee, black pepper and cardamom grown particularly in the North Kodagu areas like Madikeri, Napoklu, and Somwarpet,” said Naj.
According to Kaibulira Harish Appaiah, president of Kodagu Growers’ Association, the rain this year has caused 60% loss for coffee and pepper crops in the district. “Due to rain-related disease to coffee, 98.5% small growers will be affected. The crop requires at least two years to recover from rain-related diseases.” “The government has to waive the loans of farmers and come out with relief packages to compensate for the crop damages,” he said. According to sources in the Horticulture department, an estimated 47,000 hectares of arecanut plantations have been affected due to heavy rain. Arecanut is majorly grown in DK, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga. “The rain has caused fungal diseases in arecanut crop, which will affect the output this year,” said Y S Patil, horticulture department commissioner.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / by Darshan Devaiah B P, DH News Service / Bengaluru – August 22nd, 2018
Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan of India celebrate after winning the Asian Games doubles gold against Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev of Kazakhstan. l
Rohan Bopanna fought a wave of emotions as the Indian flag went up to the tune of the National anthem in the background. Even as he and Divij Sharan soaked in the maiden Asian Games gold triumph, his thoughts flew to home district Kodagu, which has been ravaged by floods. The 38-year-old dedicated his medal to the flood victims.
“I am really happy we could deliver a gold for India. I think more than me winning the gold medal it is sending a big, positive message from Palembang to Coorg. Everyday I have been talking to my parents, friends, seen so many people going through such hard times.
“I dedicate this medal to them, to all those who are constantly giving support. That’s why I was flooded with emotions when the national anthem was playing,” Bopanna told DH.
Bopanna was happy the way he and Divij stuck through the tough quarterfinal and semifinal matches before prevailing over Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik and Denis Yevseyev in the final.
“The way Divij has been playing this entire year, we were confident. He is a very positive person on the court. But having said that with the format of no ad scoring and super-tie breaks you never know. We played a couple of teams which you play regularly on Challengers and a few on ATP circuit. It can always get tricky. But I am really glad that we just focused on one match, and one particular opponent,” he said.
Divij, who won his second Asian Games medal, was equally thrilled. “It was very special to win, I have never experienced something like this. I have been putting in a lot of hard work and this year has been really good for me.”
Speaking on their chemistry, the 32-year-old Delhi boy said: “Rohan and I have known each other for a long time, we have both been employed at Indian Oil and have practised quite a lot together. We came through tough matches to the final which gave us the confidence and we settled into each other’s style. In the final we played the deuce points well.”
New doubles pair?
While none would comment on the last-minute pull out of Leander Paes, the two were eager to be paired up together for Davis Cup. “If we are asked to play together then nothing like it. We will surely play whenever we get the opportunity, we have combined well and done well together. So why not? I don’t see a reason why we would not play,” Bopanna admitted.
The next stop for them is the US Open as the two rushed to the airport shortly after the victory ceremony. Until then they can bask under the gleam of a hard-earned gold.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports> Asian Games 2018 / by Pragya Tiwari, DH News Service, New Delhi / August 24th, 2018
Sandalwood has come together to help the state of Coorg and its people.
Harshika Poonacha.
“It’s a very painful scenario at relief camps across the flood hit areas of Coorg with conditions at its worst ever,” explains actress Harshika Poonacha, who hails from the beautiful land of Kodagu, which is now facing the wrath of incessant rain after Kerala. The affected people of Kodagu have taken care of so many people in their lives, and fed so many people but today they are so dependent on others, she adds, of the land which has given its best to the nation, be it with the Army or other unique and versatile professions in various fields including sports, culture and tradition, and of course tourism, with a fine blend of their trademark coffee. Coorg is crying for help. And Sandalwood has taken it upon itself to help in the relief work. The film industry has been up and about, lending a helping hand, individually, and inspiring fans to aid in these difficult times. While several artistes, technicians, filmmakers and producers are donating towards flood relief activities, they are now propagating to rebuild Kodagu, and efforts are on to reconstruct an entire village which is badly affected by the floods. Bengaluru Chronicle reports.
“I am here (Kodagu) for the past four days now. The condition is bad. It is very painful to relate to the ground reality. I was serving food the other day, and people were in tears while they got food served,” Harshika shares her experience with a heavy heart, adding that these are people who would not have stayed in their relative’s place even for a day, but they are now staying in relief camps as they are helpless against the fury of nature.
One of the favourite locations for not just the Kannada film industry, but numerous other film industries as well, the Scotland of the south is definitely a favourite amongst filmmakers. While several leading men from Sandalwood have been donating money for relief work, most of them are helping in their personal capacities and facilitating the supply of basic needs like food and water to different areas.
Actress Sanjjanaa Galrani, who left for Coorg on Tuesday to volunteer and help the needy, says, “More and more youngsters should step out of their homes and head to Coorg, to physically help them, rather than just sit at home and pray,” she implores.
No doubt movies and movie stars are among the most effective when it comes to inspiring the public, especially younger minds to follow their footsteps, and they are being urged towards this good cause by many in the industry.
Abhinaya Chakravarthy Kiccha Sudeep, urges his fans, “I request all my fan associations to please look into what best could be done for the rain-affected areas in Karnataka. This is the best gift you all will be giving me. Please, please do your best. These are our people.” he said.
Meanwhile, Crazy Star V Ravichandran has proposed a long-term plan which the entire film industry has backed. He is pressing to turn this initiative into reality. During the mahurat of his new movie, Ravichandra, the Crazy Star declared that the whole industry should come forward and help rebuild Kodagu. “It is best to rebuild an entire village which is badly affected by the floods,” he said, and prominent personalities including Power Star Puneeth Rajkumar, Kiccha Sudeep, Yash, renowned producers have backed this plea.
Even several actress including those hailing from Coorg such as Rashmika Mandanna, Disha Poovaiah, and almost other leading ladies are doing their best. Let us all help and rebuild Kodagu, is Sandalwood’s call for help to pour in to support this wonderful land which is in dire need of relief.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Sandalwood / by ShashPrasad SM / August 22nd, 2018
The 17th Annual General Body Meeting of Sri Kavery Kodava Association, Mysuru East, was held at the Association premises in Vidyashankar Layout in Sathagalli recently.
The following were elected as office-bearers of the Association for the year 2018-20:
Boovadira M. Devaiah (President); Puliyanda S. Devaiah (Vice-President); Kademada M. Belliappa (Hon. Secretary); Pandiyanda B. Padma (Jt. Secretary) and Coluvanda M. Chengappa (Treasurer).
Committee Members: Kanjithanda Manu Aiyappa, Kallumadanda C. Vasu Somanna, Neravanda N. Sunil Muthappa, Pokachanda P. Narendra, Pattada A. Sachin Devaiah, Chokira M. Somaiah, Pattamada T. Charmana, Pudiyokkada M. Changappa, Nellamakkada M. Nanjappa, Mollera A. Kavitha, Ammunichanda Shobha Belliappa and Karthamada D. Sweety. Koppira D. Ponnappa – Internal Auditor.
Education Committee Chairperson: Chowrira K. Seethamma; Building Committee Chairperson: Puttichanda Jayakumar.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 21st, 2018
Pullangada Rohini Bopanna (Sowmya) from Kodagu has been appointed as a judge by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the 9th Women’s Asia Cup 2017 to be held at Kakamigahara, Japan from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5.
Earlier, Rohini had been appointed as the judge for the South Asian Games held at Guwahati in Assam in February 2016 and for the 4th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy held in Singapore from Oct. 29, 2016 till Nov. 5.
She is the wife of former international goal keeper Pullangada U. Bopanna and daughter of Nellamakkada Sabu Monnaiah and Devamaji.
Rohini has been actively participating in nationals as well as events held in local region. She was appointed as a technical judge for 7th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women’s National Championship held at Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu this year for B-Division and as an Assistant Tournament Director for A Division.
She was also appointed as a technical officer for the 7th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship held at Bhopal this year and she was a judge for the Bengaluru Hockey Association All India ‘A’ Division Super league 2017 (Men).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / October 18th, 2017
Brahmagiri Kodava Association, Vijayanagar (3rd & 4th Stages) held its Annual General Body Meeting and annual get-together function recently at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in Kodava Samaja, Mysuru.
President of the Association, Ponnachanda Bheemaiah, addressing the members, said the objective of Brahmagiri Kodava Association should not limit itself only to the welfare of members and their family members but also aim at serving the society. He suggested them to plant a few fruit bearing saplings wherever feasible close to their houses and maintain them for a few years.
Stating that a few members of the Association urged him to create a ‘data base’ with the details of voluntary blood donors among the members in the age group of 18 to 55 years, he suggested the name as ‘Brahmagiri Blood Bank.’ He said that the aim of maintaining blood donors’ details is to locate voluntary blood donors who could immediately donate the required blood to any needy member of the Association in emergency cases.
The President of Brahmagiri Association also lauded the efforts of recently launched “Tree Lovers Club” in Vijayanagar, headed by Association member Mandetira N. Subramani (President) and Secretary of the Association Appachattolanda Bojappa (Secretary of Tree Lovers Club) for impressing upon the Forest Department in availing over 2,000 flower and fruit bearing tree saplings that were planted in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage and 4th Stage in the past one and a half month.
Those interested in joining the Club as Honorary members or to give their suggestions may send email to: tree.lovers@yahoo.com
During the get-together, various indoor games were organised for members and their family. Meritorious children of members were felicitated with cash awards to motivate them.
Kullachanda Vinutha rendered the invocation and welcomed. Treasurer of the Association Mundotira Changappa proposed a vote of thanks.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 14th, 2018
Veteran rallyist Jagat Nanjappa and co-driver Chetan Changappa of Coorg’s team V5 Offroaders emerged as champions of ISUZU RFC India 2018. They have won the fifth season of international off-road motorsport competition with a total score of 2006 points out of 2600. With this win, Jagat and Chetan have become the second Indian, and the first offroader team from South India, to win the competition since its launch in the country in 2014. Jagat and Chetan will now represent the country at RFC 2018 Global Series Grand Finale.
The second position was held by Malaysian driver Mervyn Lim of Team GOA Fairmont. Defending RFC India Champion Gurmeet Virdi of Gerrari Offroaders Chandigarh clinched the third spot. After missing the title by just one rank last year, Jagat was elated upon completing the ‘unfinished task’ this year. He said, “We enjoyed every moment of this competition, especially the challenging ones. We were prepared for a tougher and more competitive event this time and we knew that we had to maintain the lead from the very start. The conditions of the competition were highly unpredictable and kept varying from contender to contender. In the end, I think these conditions worked in our favour and piloted us to the victory.”
A nine-time Indian National Rally Riders champion from 1986 to 1996 in the motorbike section, a Great Desert Rally champion in 1988, Coimbatore Rally champion of 1992, MASA Rally Mumbai champion of 1993 and 1994, Jagat has had an illustrious motorsport career spanning four decades.
Jagat, alongside other podium finishers, category winners and special award winners, were felicitated at the prize distribution ceremony in the presence of Luis J A Wee (founder and creator, The RFC, International), Ken Takashima (Dy MD, ISUZU Motors India), J Shankar Srinivas (VP – Service, Customer Relations, EA and PR, ISUZU Motors India) and Ashish Gupta (Founder and Director, Cougar Motorsport).
On this occasion, Luis J A Wee was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unparallel contribution to the off-roading community. Wee launched the Rainforest Challenge in Malaysia in 1997 and is counted among the top ten toughest motor races in the World and has 51 editions being held across 21 countries.
source: http://www.navhindtimes.in / The NavHind Times / Home> In Buzz / August 07th, 2018
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