Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Prasad Bidapa Joins Advisory Board Of Pearl Academy

Pearl Academy welcomes Bengaluru based fashion connoisseur Prasad Bidapa on its academic advisory board.

India’s leading creative education institution, Pearl Academy, today announced that fashion and image expert Prasad Bidapa has joined the academic advisory board of its Bengaluru campus.

The advisory board, with eminent veterans from diverse creative fields, is responsible for bringing industry insights and global best practices that can be incorporated into the curriculum and pedagogy to ensure that the students receive the most relevant education.

On joining the Pearl Academy Bengaluru advisory board, Prasad Bidapa said, “I strongly believe that contributing to the education of the youth is one of the best ways to make your years of expertise and experience count and hence, I am delighted to collaborate with Pearl Academy.

The institute’s seriousness towards nurturing creative minds in a way that prepares them for professional lives while retaining their unique identity and passion for the chosen craft is exemplary.

I am looking forward to engaging with the young creators, innovators, dreamers and disrupters. My mission is to sensitize our young minds into appreciating & using the vast wealth of our indigenous textiles & techniques, and helping them achieve global recognition”.  

With 40 years of experience, Prasad is undoubtedly amongst the iconic fashion gurus of India.

He has been revolutionizing the fashion industry by curating various high-profile fashion events like India Men’s Fashion Week, Colombo Fashion Week and Rajasthan Heritage Week.

He is also committed to the cause of reviving the traditional textiles of India. 

source: http://www.bweducation.businessworld.in / BW Education / Home / by BW Online Bureau / September 02nd, 2021

Public Prosecutor Felicitated

Public Prosecutor Kaliyanda Muthamma Poonacha was felicitated at her office in city yesterday by Mysuru Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Superintendent of Police (SP) P. Arunamshugiri (extreme right) with a shawl, garland, Mysuru Peta and a certificate, for handling ACB cases extremely well.

ACB Dy.SPs Parashuramappa and Dharmendra are also seen.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / August 31st, 2021

Drive detox #28States28Plates drive goes to Coorg

Moving our way right across the country towards the west, we go to Coorg from Bengaluru.

Day 22 of the #28States28Plates drive saw us leaving the hustle and bustle of Bengaluru city as we headed to a beautiful hilly region in Karnataka — Coorg. Also known as the Scotland of India, Coorg is famous for its coffee plantations, chilly climate and the amazing views.


There are three ways to get to Coorg from Bengaluru and because of our tight schedule, (the real reason was we just couldn’t wait to get there), we took the shortest route which passes through cities like Ramanagara (silk city) and Channapatna (city of toys). This highway is christened NH275, but the locals know it simply as Mysore road.

All the three routes from Bengaluru join-in at Mysore. It is to be noted that if you are taking the route we took, be ready to face a lot of diversions as some parts of this highway are still under construction.

After crossing Mysore, the road turned into a two-lane winding stretch of smooth tarmac with trees on both sides! It definitely was a sight to behold.

Now, our destination for the day was a town called Yevakapadi, situated in the hills of Coorg.

We reached there by lunchtime, at Bungalow 1934, where a friend of evo India, Amrith, had kindly invited us for lunch at his super famous estate — Bungalow 1934.

A place so pretty, a certain Gordon Ramsay chose to shoot his show Uncharted here!

We were in awe of the beautiful views from Amrith’s estate and just as we thought it couldn’t get better, Amrith set up a traditional Coorgi cuisine buffet for us. Pandi curry (pork stew), bamboo shoot curry, colocasia curry — a few of the dishes we enjoyed, along with a view to die for. To wash it all down was prepared-on-the-farm coffee liqueur and some bird’s eye chilli wine.

After that wonderful lunch, we headed to our abode for the night. King’s Cottage, a place situated just 15km from Amrith’s estate, but by the time we reached and rested for a bit, it was time for dinner time. So, the kind folks at King’s Cottage setup a much needed bonfire for us to enjoy our dinner. We were treated to simple but oh-so-delicious veg food with a view of the clouds, touched by bright moonlight, settling right in front of us in the valley. After chilling our bones to the cool blowing winds, we went straight to bed in our cozy little cottage.

This place was certainly a good detox from the city life and we loved it so much that we decided to take day 23 off for some rest.

Is Coorg a haven in the hills? We’d certainly say so!

Day 24 will see us reach the west coast of the country, Mangalore — via Kasargod.

source: http://www.evoindia.com / EvoIndia.com / Home/ by Team Evo India / August 22nd, 2021

Trainer of women’s hockey team meets Kodagu DC

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal with Ankita Suresh, assistant coach of Indian women’s hockey team, in Madikeri on Tuesday.

Ankita Suresh, who was the assistant coach for the Indian women’s hockey team in Tokyo Olympics, met Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal at her office in Madikeri on Tuesday.

The DC congratulated Ms. Suresh, a native of Kambibane in Kodagu, on the team’s impressive performance at the Oolympics. The team narrowly missed a medal and finished fourth.

Ms. Suresh shared her experiences as the assistant coach and the team’s journey with the Deputy Commissioner.

Hockey enthusiasts in Kodagu, which has produced many outstanding hockey players, celebrated the Indian men’s hockey team winning a medal and the women’s team remarkable performance at the Olympics.

The women’s team created history by entering the semifinals for the first time.

It narrowly missed the medal after losing to Great Britain 3-4, in the bronze play-off.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – August 24th, 2021

Kodagu Zilla Mogera Samaja seeks site for hall

Kodagu Zilla Mogera Samaja submitted a memorandum to Minister for Fisheries, Port and Inland Water Transport S Angara to help in getting a site sanctioned from the government for the construction of a community hall of Mogera Samaja.

The Mogera Samaja members held a discussion with the minister, in the presence of MLA K G Bopaiah, Karnataka Western Ghats Task Force chairman Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa and others.

In their appeal, the office-bearers of the Samaja said that government help is essential for the upliftment of the Mogera community.

Earlier, the community members felicitated the minister on his arrival at General Thimayya Circle in Madikeri.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / August 27th, 2021

Respect language of every community, says MLA

Minister S Angara inaugurates the decennial celebrations of Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy in Madikeri on Friday.

Bopaiah said that Arebhashe and Kodava academies will get their own offices which are being constructed at Samskritika Bhavana in Madikeri.

Every language has its own history and cultural significance. Therefore, every language should be treated with respect, opined Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah.

He was speaking during the inauguration of the decennial celebrations of Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy, held at Kodagu Gowda Samaja, in Madikeri on Friday.

Arebhashe speaking people are concentrated in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts, he added.

Bopaiah said that Arebhashe and Kodava academies will get their own offices which are being constructed at Samskritika Bhavana in Madikeri.

Efforts to establish Arebhase Academy were first made by the BJP-led state government in 2008. Later, the academy officially came into being during the chief ministerial tenure of D V Sadananda Gowda in 2011, he said.

Fisheries, Port and Inland Water Transport Minister S Angara said that the emotion behind all the languages is the same. There is no use in criticizing each others’ languages.

Instead of getting identifying oneself with a particular caste, one should associate with the language and achievement. People should ignore petty political games, he added.

Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan felt there is a need to preserve the language and culture of smaller communities.

He also lauded the works done by the Arebhashe Academy.

Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy chairman Lakshminarayana Kajegadde said that efforts are on to obtain ISI code for Arebhase. The academy has been organising various programmes including workshops.

Indian Women’s Hockey team assistant coach Ankitha Suresh was felicitated on the occasion.

MLC Sunil Subramani M P, Arebhashe Academy former chairman Kolyada Girish, Kodagu Gowda Samaja federation president Surthale R Somanna, Academy members Baithadka Janaki Bellyappa, Smitha Amrith Raj, Dhananjay Agolikaje, Dr Koodakandi Dayanand and academy registrar Chinnaswamy were present.

A documentary directed by H R Anil was released on the occasion.

Musical instruments were provided to the beneficiaries.

The official website of Arebhashe was also launched on the occasion.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / August 27th, 2021

Film enthusiasts look forward to Kodava films

A scene from the movie ‘Nadapeda Asha’.

A scene from the movie ‘Nadapeda Asha’. Kodagu, the land of brave soldiers and known for its unique culture, is all set to make its own mark in showbiz.

‘Nadapeda Asha’, a full-fledged feature film produced in the Kodava language and with Kodava artistes, will hit the screens on September 6.

The film is based on a novel by writer Nagesh Kaluru. Incidentally, the work ‘Nadapeda Asha’ on which is the film is based, has been selected for the book award conferred by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.

Kottukattira Prakash, who had directed the film ‘Kodagra Sipayi’ has directed the film ‘Nadapeda Asha’. He has produced 12 films and directed four films. 

Actor Bollajira B Ayyappa is playing the male protagonist in the film while Nellachanda Rishi Poovamma is his counterpart. Addanda Anita Cariappa is playing the role of an anganwadi worker.

The challenges faced by women are effectively portrayed in the film, said the film crew.

Eramanda Harini Vijay, Vanchira Vittal Nanaiah, Tatanda Prabha Nanaiah, Cheruvalanda Sujala Nanaiah, Ajjikuttira Prithvi Subbaiah, Puttarira Arun Kalaiah, Eramanda Kesari Bojamma, Bollajira Yamuna Ayyappa, Battira Kaveri Joyappa and others are in the cast.

Major scenes in the movie have been shot in Kodagu. Kodava culture has been featured in the film.

Producer of the film Harini Vijay said that the film is about the family of a soldier and it speaks about a women’s perspective in society.

Another producer Kottukattira Yashoda Prakash said that the main objective of producing the film is to introduce Kodava culture to the rest of the world. The film is not made for profit.

Director Kottukattira Prakash said that various issues such as wild animal menace and gun license have been portrayed in the film.

As there is a shortage of theatres in the district, the film team has made arrangements to screen the movie in Kodava Samaja and Arebhashe Gowda Samaja buildings.

The film will be screened at the Kodava Samaja in Moornadu, Napoklu and Virajpet.

A theatre in Madikeri is closed and another theatre in Kushalnagar has not been reopened.

Bollajira B Ayyappa, the lead actor, said that the screening will be done with Covid-19 guidelines. New talents have been cast in the film.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A, DHNS / August 27th, 2021

‘Only Rightful Constitutional Recognition Can Save Kodavas’

Senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad speaks at CNC seminar

Madikeri: 

Kodavas have been agitating for over two decades seeking the grant of their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights and only these rights and privileges can guarantee the survival of this rare community, opined MLC and senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad.

He was addressing a seminar on Kodava rights, demands and aspirations. The event was organised by Codava National Council (CNC) at a private resort in Murnad recently. 

“Kodava community must get special recognition under Article 371 (k). The community deserves recognition in the Scheduled Tribe list as their lifestyle, custom, traditions, practices and festivals reflect the tribal spirit,” he noted. 

CNC’s demand and claim for geo-political Autonomy is most legitimate, logical, feasible and deserving in all sense among any other demands, he opined. The Kodava tribe which is facing the threat of extinction should be enlisted under Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Constitution. “The Government should take measures to protect the tradition of Kodavas. Provision of ST tag is necessary in this regard,” he added.

On this occasion, ‘Codava Rathna’ award was conferred on Hariprasad and eminent jurist A.S. Ponnanna. The main purpose of this award is to recognise and respect those who go out of their way even risking their well-established career for the cause of the Kodava community.

Hariprasad had raised the community’s aspirations in the Parliament and in the Legislative Council. Also, he moved a “Private Member Constitution Amendment Bill 2016” to include Kodava language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. He advocated the grant of ST tag to Kodavas and also argued that the gun licence exemption should be continued to Kodavas forever and should not be restricted to 10 years. 

According to CNC President N.U. Nachappa, certain resolutions were passed at the seminar to safeguard the genus of Kodava tribe and its civilisation. The community fulfils the definition of indigenous people promulgated by the United Nations through various declarations and steps must be taken in this regard to protect it.

“By trait, Kodavas are tribals and by our miniscule size of population, we are a minority in all senses. That is tribal, racial, ethnic, linguistic and national minority. We have every criteria and right to claim for empowerment defined for various indigenous tribes, minority groups and ethno linguistic nationals enshrined in the UN Charter,” he added.

“We are indigenous primitive tribe and it is our fundamental human right and freedom to exercise internal political self-determination right and to have geo-political autonomy in our own defined, indivisible traditional homeland,” he demanded. High Court advocate Lakkavalli Manjunath, Political Science lecturer Dr. P.E. Somaiah and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 22nd, 2021

Ponnappa-Reddy pair finish runners-up at Denmark Masters

The Indian pair lost in three games to the home duo of Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn of Denmark.

In a match lasting just under an hour, the top-seeded home duo came from behind to beat the Indian pair in three games.(File Photo)

The Indian women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N. Sikki Reddy finished runners-up at the Denmark Masters after going down narrowly against top seeds Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn of Denmark in the final.

The duo, seeded second, squandered an opening game advantage to lose 21-15, 19-21, 14-21 to the Danish combination in just under an hour’s contest.

Among other Indians, Lakshya Sen had lost in the semifinals to France’s Christo Popov, while his brother Chirag Sen and Subhankar Dey, seeded fourth, bowed out at the quarterfinal stage.

In women’s singles, Aakarshi Kashyap was the most impressive but lost the semifinal to fourth seed Dane Julie Dawall Jakobsen.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Badminton / by PTI / August 09th, 2021

Martial community whose lineage is intertwined with army regiment

Even though the number of the Coorgies in the regiments is coming down, the regiment still holds on to the traditions of the community and takes pride the representing the decedents of river Cauvery on the battlefield.

In 1946, it was converted to the 37 Coorg Anti-Tank Regiment Unit of the Royal Indian Artillery. It is now a part of the modern Indian regiment of artillery and wears the uniform of the artillery. (HT Photo)
In 1946, it was converted to the 37 Coorg Anti-Tank Regiment Unit of the Royal Indian Artillery. It is now a part of the modern Indian regiment of artillery and wears the uniform of the artillery. (HT Photo)

The young officers’ the course is mandatory for all new lieutenants joining the Indian Army, but for a group of handpicked officers belonging to the 37 Coorg Regiment of the army’s artillery arm, the four-week course traditionally gets extended by two more weeks with a visit to Madikeri, a hilly town in Karnataka.

These young officers spend time in the hills learning about the origins of their regiment and the tales of legends like Field Marshal KM Cariappa and General KS Thimayya, who emerged from these very hills.

Even though contested in the modern age, the Indian army’s regiments are formed and named after the communities of the soldiers recruited into these units.

The martial race was a designation that was created by army officials in British India after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, in which they classified castes into two categories, with the ‘martial race’ being typically brave and well-built for fighting. Even now, the Indian Army designates its regiments as Sikh Light Infantry, Gorkha Rifles, Madras Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, and so on.

Even though not familiar within Karnataka, the Kodavas or the Coorgies is considered a marital race and have a regiment named after them – the 37 Coorg Regiment. This is the only regiment for the Kodavas.

The unit traces its origins back to 1794 when it was raised by the British to counter Tipu Sultan’s attack against the Kodava kingdom. Initially raised as infantry, the unit went on to fight against Tipu in the fourth Mysore war, where he was eventually killed.

Until 1901, the regiment was designated as the 11th Madras Infantry and in 1902, the regiment was reorganised, and the basis of recruitment changed from Tamil and Telugu to only Coorg soldiers. The restructured regiment was then renamed the 71st Coorg Rifles in 1903.

The new regiment was given dark green uniforms with scarlet facings. Red fezzes, which were an unusual item of uniform in the Indian Army, are reported to have been worn by the sepoys. Subsequently, described as an ‘in-out-of-the-run’ unit, they were disbanded in 1904 because of insufficient recruits.

In 1942, Coorgs were again recruited into the newly raised 1st Coorg Battalion. Like the 71st Coorg Rifles, the new battalion had a badge incorporating crossed Coorg knives. In 1946, it was converted to the 37 Coorg Anti-Tank Regiment Unit of the Royal Indian Artillery. It is now a part of the modern Indian regiment of artillery and wears the uniform of the artillery.

The regiment’s attachment to the land it represents is such that their war cry is “Cauvery.

Mata ki Jai” (Hail mother Cauvery) since river Cauvery is an integral part of the Kodava culture.

Subedar Major (Retd) KC Kalappa, a retired gunner from the regiment said that it was a matter of pride for the Kodava community to have a regiment in their name, but over the years, the number of recruits from the community is reducing. “In the early 1970s, the regiment had people only from the Kodava community and the community took pride in it. But over the years, the number of recruits is coming down and now the unit consists of soldiers from all four south Indian states,” said Kalappa.

Even though the regiment has recruited from all south Indian states, the regiment maintains the tradition of the Kodava community. For example, on the regiment’s raising day, the officers, and non-commissioned officers, regardless of their ethnicity, wear the traditional ‘Kupya Chale’,which consists of a traditional jacket and headgear. The officers wear Pichangatti (a traditional knife), and instead of handing baton, when a new commanding officer takes over, a Pichangatti is handed over as a sign of change in command.

“I’m a Punjabi but I was the commanding officer of the Coorg regiment for three years and whenever I visit Kodagu, I feel like a Coorgi because of the traditions of the regiment. The house of the commanding the officer is called a Mercara house, named after the Mercara town in the Coorg,” said Major General Sanjay Sharma (retd).

According to Maj Gen Sharma, the unit is so closely affiliated with the Kodagu community that it is a tradition for the unit to take part in the annual hockey tournament in Kodagu. “For the Kodavas, the annual hockey tournament is very important it is part of their culture. In this tournament, various families of Kodagu compete against each other. So, for the past few years, the regiment gives an award for the first goal scored in the tournament and it is a matter of pride for the people because the regiment named after their community is taking an interest,” he said.

Over the years, however, the composition of the unit has changed. According to Maj Gen Sharma, currently, the number of Kodavas is only about 15-20% in the unit, and three other south Indian states fill other vacancies. “Over the years, the number of recruits has come down. But all men of the regiment, whichever state they are from, celebrates all Kodava festivals and call themselves Coorgs with pride,” he said.

Describing the 37 Coorg Medium Regiment as a matter of ‘pride for Karnataka’, ex-Sergeant of the Indian Air Force Mandetira Subramani and the president of VeKare Ex-Servicemen’s Trust (VKET), has emphasised the need to post a few more willing young officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and jawans from the community to the regiment and make it more meaningful. “We are trying to promote the heritage of the unit among the youngsters and trying to get more people to join the regiment and continue the legacy,” said Subramani.

Even though the number of the Coorgies in the regiments is coming down, the regiment still holds on to the traditions of the community and takes pride the representing the decedents of river Cauvery on the battlefield.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Explore> India News / by Arun Dev, Bengaluru / August 22nd, 2021