Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Rohan Bopanna on the road to Wimbledon

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinion
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 05: Rohan Bopanna of India plays a forehand against Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France during the Mens Doubles semi final match on day six of the BNP Paribas Masters at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on November 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 05: Rohan Bopanna of India plays a forehand against Pierre-Hughes Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France during the Mens Doubles semi final match on day six of the BNP Paribas Masters at Palais Omnisports de Bercy on November 5, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

FRESH from ending a 14-year wait for his maiden Grand Slam title, Rohan Bopanna is eyeing up more major success at Wimbledon next week.

The Indian ace fulfilled a lifetime ambition when he won the mixed doubles title with Gabriela Dabrwoski at the French Open this month and hopes the momentum will continue into SW19.

“Never give up on your dreams. That is something which stands out (from this win),” the 37-year-old said on the eve of the event.

“Age is only a number. You can’t set a timeline (for achievements). As long as you believe in yourself and keep working hard, nothing can stop you.

“I worked towards my goal every single day. I am grateful that my team also put in the effort. Although tennis is an individual sport, everyone has contributed.

“Huge congratulations to Gabriela for becoming the first Canadian woman to win a Grand Slam. It helps to share a sense of camaraderie with your partner. I will partner her at Wimbledon also.”

With that triumph in Paris, Bopanna became only the fourth Indian in history – after Leander Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza – to win a slam.

The 16-time ATP tour winner’s previous best finish at Wimbledon has been two semi-final finishes in the men’s doubles (2013 and 2015). In the mixed event, Bopanna has only reached the last eight once, and that was four years ago.

Bopanna, for so long a national stalwart on the Davis Cup stage, reckons a change in self-belief is one of the main reason for him pl-aying “the best tennis of his career”.

He explained: “At the start of the year, Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and I won the Chennai Open. Th-en, Marcin (Matkowski) and I reached the Dubai Open final. In April, Pablo Cuevas and I took the Monte Carlo Masters title. So I’ve played with three different players this year.

“I’ve had to adapt to their styles and figure out a way to use our combined strengths to get good results. This is the main reason why I feel that I’m now playing the best tennis of my career. Every time I step on to the court, I feel like I can win.

“This level of confidence is something new. I have never given up on anything – this is my strength. I constantly keep doing the right things, irrespective of the result. When I was a junior, I lost a lot of tournaments in the early rounds. I wasn’t discouraged, I just continued to work hard.

Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay hold their winners trophies after their victory in the doubles final of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April 2017. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rohan Bopanna and Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay hold their winners trophies after their victory in the doubles final of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters in April 2017. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

“I carried this same attitude into my professional career. I don’t have any regrets about not winning a Grand Slam title for the first 14 years of my career. The things I’ve learnt has made me a better player.

“I played Queens with Ivan Dodig, as Pablo was not available. Pablo and I will team up for Eastbourne and Wimbledon. Our goal is to try and qualify for the year-end London Masters.”

Bopanna and Croatian team mate Dodig reached the last four of the Aegon Championships last weekend, losing to French duo Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasseli 4-6, 5-7.

As well as focusing on his own goals, Bopanna is also doing his bit to help the next generation of talent come through an often maligned tennis system in India.

“To get singles champions, we need to have a system in place at the grassroots level. We have very limited support from the Federation (AITA) or corporates. We need that system to compete with European standards. We still have a long way to go,” he said.

“I am also bringing a couple of coaches (Britain’s Aubrey Barrett and Serbia’s Dragan Bukumirovic) to my academy in Bangalore from outside. They will be here for a year and help these kids. I tell the players if they go, go for a year not for a month or so.

“In a month it does not really help improve much. That’s why I am bringing these coaches; let’s hope the kids make good use of this opportunity”.

source: http://www.easterneye.com / Eastern Eye / Home> Sports News> Wimbledon / June 30th, 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

Kodavas face threat of DWINDLING NUMBERS

About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Issue To Be Taken Up During Samaj’s Centenary Bash

Bangalore:

Kodavas, a distinctive race in Karnataka, have often been dubbed ‘tigers’ largely because of the courage, honour and loyalty shown by two popular generals of independent India, Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General K S Thimayya.

However, like real tigers, they too are now facing the threat of extinction. According to a recent census by the Karnataka unit of the Bureau of Economics and Statistics, the population of

Kodavas has alarmingly dwindled from 1.5 lakh in 2001 to 1.25 lakh in 2011. This at a time when the human population is growing at an alarmingly fast rate.

If this situation continues, community leaders fear that Kodavas, who are largely concentrated in Kodagu (70,000), Bangalore (30,000) and Mysore (15,000) will be wiped out by 2030, considering the slow population growth rate in recent times. Aware of the looming danger, Kodava Samaj, Bangalore (KSB) is gearing up to create awareness among its community members of the dangers involved as part

of its centenary celebrations beginning Friday in Bangalore. “The whole idea is not only to create awareness on the challenges among our community but also to draw the attention of the state government to help the community sustain its rich culture and tradition,” said Cheppudira Tilak Subbaiah, president, KSB.

The Kodavas are an anthropological puzzle. No one really knows the origin of the Kodavas but everyone knows and acknowledges that they are different — be it their skin colour, big eyes, long nose, aggressive face and wide chest.

Some say they are the descendants of soldiers from Alexander’s army. Others say they are descendants of a band of Kurds from the Yemen, Oman, Kurdistan and Iraq region, who fled to India to escape forceful conversions by the sword to Islam. Still others say they are Rajputs or Scythian soldiers who fled the North-West frontier during the Mughal Invasions.

So why is the community facing extinction? KSB’s vice-president Monnada Seetha Aiyanna said one reason is adopting strict family planning practices, as a majority of the community has migrated to cities to live the hard life. This is largely due to increasing fragmentation of inherited estates, which have turned out to be unproductive for joint families.

Another general trend is late marriage in the community because of limited choice of brides and bridegrooms. This has naturally impacted the fertility potential of men and women. “All these factors have also given way to the practice of marrying outside the community,” Seetha pointed out.

It’s a complex situation for the Kodava Samaj to push its agenda. “Neither can we ask the community to have more than two children nor we can restrict inter-caste marriages to check the waning population,” rued Kukkera B Chinnappa and Kaibulira K Ponnacha of KSB, who have taken the initiative to organize a special seminar to discuss the emerging problems of Kodavas during the centenary celebrations.

Weekend Celebrations

Kodava Samaj, Bangalore, will celebrate 100 years of existence this weekend. Governor H R Bhardwaj and CM D V Sadananda Gowda will participate in the three-day centenary celebrations starting Friday. The event will showcase Kodava culture and the progress of the people. KSB, an association of about 40,000 Kodavas in Bangalore, was established in 1911 with just eight Kodava families of Bangalore, consisting of 30 people. After Kodagu district — which was a ‘C’ category state administrated by the Centre — was merged with Karnataka in 1956, more Kodavas who migrated to urban areas joined the association.

In 1960, Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, former Maharaja of Mysore, gifted an acre of land at Vasanthnagar to Field Marshal Gen K M Cariappa in recognition of his distinguished military service to the nation. Cariappa donated this land to the Coorg Association and enabled the formation of the ‘Coorg Association’ which was renamed KSB in 1962. In 1981, KSB extended its service by establishing the Cauvery School in Indiranagar on land donated to the KSB by late CM R Gundu Rao, and also set up a few colleges.

ARMED FORCES: Field Marshal K M Cariappa (in pic), General K S Thimayya, Lt General Apparanda Aiyappa

SPORTS: Rohan Bopanna (in pic), M P Ganesh, M M Somaiah, Ashwini Nachappa, Joshna Chinnappa

FASHION: Prasad Bidapa (in pic)

CINEMA: Prema, Nidhi Subbaiah (in pic), Daisy Bopanna, A T Raghu, Harshika Poonacha

LITERATURE:

Appanervanda Haridasa Appachcha Kavi, veteran Kodava poet

CIVIL SERVICE AND LAW:

C B Muthamma, first woman IFS officer; IGP P K Monnappa, first police chief of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, C Somaiah, former comptroller and auditor general of India; Palekanda Medappa, chief justice of Mysore, Palekanda Muthanna, attorney general.

POLITICS: C M Poonacha, chief minister of Coorg state (1952-56) and Union railway minister; Meriyanda C Nanaiah, former minister and MLC; Prema Cariappa, former mayor of Bangalore, MP (in pic). manu.aiyappa@timesgroup.com

source: http://www.e.paper.timesofindia.com / The Times of India / Home> Section – Times City, Page 4 / by Manu Aiyappa / November 09th, 2011

Chandigarh Gerrari Offroaders qualify for RFC Global Series

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports
Gurmeet Virdi (left) with his co-driver Kirpal in Goa. Tribune Photo
Gurmeet Virdi (left) with his co-driver Kirpal in Goa. Tribune Photo

Chandigarh :

Chandigarh’s Gurmeet Virdi and co-driver Kirpal Singh Tung won the Force Gurkha RFC India, which concluded today at Dona Paula (Goa). With this win team Chandigarh Gerrari Offroaders get an automatic entry to RFC Global Series finale, to be held in Malaysia later this year.

The team also won $8,000 prize money. After a week-long nail-biting competition, Virdi and Tung claimed the trophy with a total score of 2019 points out of 2600. Virdi defended his title and is the only Indian driver to have won the country’s toughest off-road motorsport competition since its launch in 2014.

The overall second position went to Jagat Nanjappa and co-driver Chetan Changappa of Team V5 Offroaders from Coorg with 1906 points. In an interesting turn of events, Gerrari Offroaders’ Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal and co-driver Gurpartap Singh overtook Siddartha Santosh in the final moments to clinch the final spot on the podium with 1685 points.

Virdi was elated on winning the country’s most coveted off-road motorsport trophy for the second time in a row. “I am overjoyed that we’ve successfully managed to defend our title. It was a pretty tough competition, the positions kept on changing, but we are happy that we came out victorious,” said Virdi.

As the top Indian driver of the competition, he will get monetary benefits of up to $8,000, along with a paid-for entry in the RFC Grand Final in Malaysia and the travel expenses. Moreover, Cougar Motorsport will contribute up to $3,000 towards the cost of arranging the vehicle to participate in the event in Malaysia. “There was no pressure throughout the event but the last stage of the competition gave me some serious chills as the competition was really close. It’s the first time that our club Gerrari Offroaders has clinched two positions on the podium in RFC India. Overall, I couldn’t have been happier,” added Virdi.

This is the second consecutive year when veteran Indian rallyist Jagat Nanjappa competed in RFC India. He is satisfied about the fact that he has risen up from last year’s eighth position to the second position this year. “This year it turned out to be a brilliant competition amongst the top three throughout the event. Virdi has defended his title with full force and I congratulate him on his superb performance,” said Nanjappa.

Nanjappa took the first position in his category (1611-3010cc diesel). From being eliminated in the first special stage of RFC India last year to making it on the podium this year, it has been a fairytale journey for Sanbir Singh Dhaliwal. “It was really close till the last moment. The first few days I was concentrating on preserving my vehicle. I was observing how the course behaved. Things started to improve with each passing day. In the last 10 stages, I became more aggressive and the event finally concluded exactly the way I wanted it to,” said Dhaliwal.

The Team Spirit Award was given to R Sumanth Shenoy from Chikmaglur, while the Jungleman Award went to Dr. Chaitanya Challa of Hyderabad Jeepers Adventure Association. The Most Unique 4X4 Award went to the Hornet driven by Yamunanagar-based Sushant Saini.

The Environment Award went to William Dwaine Jungen from Arizona (USA), while the Best Service Team Award went to Gerrari Offroaders.

The Team Award went to BODA. The Rookie of the Event was awarded to Goan driver Dattaraj Raut Dessai and his co-driver Pratik Prabhu Dessai for their exemplary performance.

source: http://www.tribuneindia.com / The Tribune / Home> Chandigarh / Tribune News Service / July 31st, 2017

Two books to be launched tomorrow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Author Lakshmi Palecanda with her two new books in Mysuru.
Author Lakshmi Palecanda with her two new books in Mysuru.

The city will witness the launch of two works by scientist-turned-author Lakshmi Palecanda on Sunday – one of which is a romantic novel titled The Fifth Wedding.

The other work ‘Indian American – Then Indian Again’ is a collection of her writings over the years in an Indian-American magazine India Currents.

Lakshmi Palecanda, who is a molecular biologist and has worked in the U.S. for many years, returned to India and has settled in Mysuru since 2009. She writes both romantic fiction and creative non-fiction. The Fifth Wedding is a romance based in South India and any south-Indian reading it will recognise the characters, places and scenes used, said the author.

The book Indian-American…Then Indian Again is laced with humour and encapsulates laugher, tears, loneliness and feelings of accomplishment that come with moving to a new country and then returning to find that “home” has changed , Ms. Palecanda explains. “I was smitten by the written word and decided to turn into a full-fledged writer a few years ago while taking a small class,” she said.

The launch is by Book Clubs 2015 at Hotel Roopa Elite (above Saravana Bhavan) behind Vontikoppal Post Office, 6th Main, Vontikoppal, at 5 p.m.

The books will be released by Javeed Nayeem and Lalitha Rao. Ms. Palecanda will be in conversation with Sujatha Rajpal, another author from Mysuru, sharing her experience about the books.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – July 29th, 2017

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

Harshika Poonacha can’t wait for Chitte’s release

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg
Still from the film
Still from the film

Harshika Poonacha has completed the talkie portions of Chitte, and the actress says she is excited with the way the film has taken shape.

Sharing a few pictures from the film with City Express, she tell us, “I’m only left with two more songs. From whatever few scenes of mine I have watched on screen board during spot editing, I can say that every scene is beautiful. I can’t wait to share my excitement with the audiences when it releases,” she says.

The film, directed by ML Prakash, is a thriller, and explores the life of a newly married couple. She is paired opposite Yashas in the film. Chitte is special because it’s all about me,” says Harshika.

Meanwhile, the actress will be off to UK soon, where she will be shooting songs for her first Tamil film. “I’m just waiting for my passport to get my UK visa stamped,” says the actress, adding, “I want to complete these two projects before I sign my next.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by Express News Service / July 24th, 2017

Tennis champ Rohan Bopanna is back in Bengaluru and already started training the next-gen

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinion
Rohan Bopanna along with Serbian coach Dragan Bukumirovic at his tennis academy in Bengaluru. (Image: Instagram/rohanbopanna0403)
Rohan Bopanna along with Serbian coach Dragan Bukumirovic at his tennis academy in Bengaluru. (Image: Instagram/rohanbopanna0403)

The French Open mixed-doubles champ Rohan Bopanna, who made it to the Wimbledon quarter-final, is back in Bengaluru. Taking no time off after his long month of play, the tennis star was back in action, not for his game, but to train children at his tennis academy.

Bopanna shared this picture on social media of him with his students. “Always a great feeling to be back in Bangalore at the tennis academy.” And looks like the kids are getting tips not just from one pro but Serbian coach Dragan Bukumirovic too.

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> Magazines> Panache / by Maleeva Rebello , ET Bureau / June 25th, 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