The Karnataka High Court has directed Madikeri Tahsildar to conduct a survey of 19.86 acres of the area where Raja’s Tomb (Gaddige) is situated at Mahadevpet near Madikeri.
A Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, was hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by J.S. Virupakshaiah, a former State Information Commissioner. It might be mentioned here that Virupakshaiah had even filed a PIL regarding the pathetic state of Madikeri Fort and had drawn the attention of the High Court contending that the Fort and Palace premises are heritage sites, dating back to more than three centuries and have been grossly neglected.
In his PIL on Gaddige, Virupakshaiah alleged that there are several encroachments in the historical tomb area. Rajara Gaddige is one of the tourist attractions in Kodagu and tourists who visit Abbey falls will pass Rajara Gaddige en route to it. However, it is in deplorable condition owing to the negligence of the Government and encroachment of land by local residents and vested interests.
Encroachments galore
Initially, the Gaddige had 19.86 acres of land. However, the land has been encroached. Some have even built houses on the encroached land. Even a Government building has come up on the Gaddige land. The Gaddige area has become land for immoral activities in the evening.
Hearing the petitioner, the High Court directed the Tahsildar to visit the Gaddige with a view to ascertain the present condition of the tomb. The Bench said the Tahsildar has to ascertain in the report whether there are any encroachments. The Bench has also directed the Tahsildar to prepare a sketch of the entire land and point out encroachments, if any. The Tahsildar has been directed to submit the survey report within six weeks.
Also, the High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Centre to file affidavits stating whether the Raja’s tomb is an ancient monument and is of national importance. It asked the State Government to consider whether powers, under Section 19 of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1961, should be exercised for the declaration of the protected area.
Deep-rooted history
The Rajara Gaddige situated in a hilly region at Mahadevpet has been built in such a way that it can be seen from all the four directions. They have been built in Mohammedan style with tombs at the centre and turrets at the corners. Nandi figures are carved on top of the corners.
The entrance of the tombs has carvings too. Lord Shiva is placed and worshipped inside the tomb since the king was Hindu. There are three tombs built for the royal dynasty. The central tomb which is the largest among the three is of Kodava king Doddaveerarajendra and his wife Mahadeviamma. The right tomb is built by Chikkaveerarajendra for his father Lingarajendra in 1820.
The left tomb belongs to Veerarajendra’s guru Rudrappa built in 1834. Closer to the tombs is the burial place of the two brave royal officials Biddanda Bopu — Bopu Dandanayaka — and his son Biddanda Somaiah who sacrificed their life fighting with Tipu Sultan. In fact, Doddaveerarajendra had erected a plaque in the memory his soldiers in 1779.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 29th, 2021
The Centre has identified six districts in Karnataka including Kodagu for Heliport project under Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (Regional Connectivity Scheme), claimed Minister for Tourism C.P. Yogeeshwar.
He was speaking at an event at a private resort in Madikeri yesterday that was organised by Kodagu District Hotel, Resorts and Restaurants Association, Home Stay Association, Tours and Travel Association. The Associations had invited the Minister to discuss about tourism prospects of Kodagu and this was Yogeeshwar’s first visit to Kodagu after assuming the charge of Tourism Department.
Yogeeshwar told the gathering that establishment of Heliports as part of the Heli Tourism Circuit would be a reality soon as districts including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Kodagu have been identified for the project and Kodagu will not be neglected at a time when grand plans are afoot to develop Karnataka Tourism in a big way.
He stressed that while promoting tourism, it will be kept in mind that even environment has to be taken care of. “Our intention is sustainable tourism. The Tourism Department is formulating plans to introduce caravans at an estimated cost of Rs. 30 lakh and the project will come to Kodagu too and local hotels and resort can make the best use of the same,” he said.
In all, 10 heliports would come up across Karnataka and more and more tourists would come to Kodagu after the 10-lane work of the Mysuru-Bengaluru Economic Corridor is completed. “We intend to build tourist rest houses on Hunsur-Sampaje route with all the amenities for tourists,” he assured. Hotel and Resort Association President Nagendra Prasad, Home Stay Association President B.G. Ananthashayana, Tours and Travel Association President Cheeyanda Sathya and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com/ Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 29th, 2021
Robin Uthappa would be playing for CSK for the first time in his career in the upcoming season.
Robin Uthappa. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Veteran batsman Robin Uthappa will be seeking a fresh start in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when the upcoming season gets underway. The 14th edition of the tournament is scheduled to start on April 9 with a clash between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Uthappa will be playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2021.
The right-handed batsman will ply his trade for the Chennai-based outfit for the first time in his IPL career. In January, Rajasthan Royals had traded him to CSK in an all-cash deal. Uthappa only played the 2020 edition for the Royals, having been bought for INR 3 crore in December 2019. He played 12 games last season in the UAE but failed to cement a secured batting position.
Overall, he managed just 196 runs in IPL 2020. And ahead of the start of the season, Robin Uthappa has set some lofty goals for himself. In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, he spoke about the things he is looking forward to. The first question for Uthappa was to name the team he was looking forward to playing against in IPL 2021.
In reply, the T20 World Cup-winning player said that he is looking forward to playing against defending champions Mumbai Indians. Uthappa opined that beating the reigning IPL champions would make CSK’s intentions for the season clear.
“Mumbai Indians. I think Mumbai Indians is the team that I would be looking to play against and doing well. They are a formidable side. Playing them and beating them would send a message across the board that we mean business,” said Robin Uthappa.
What is Robin Uthappa’s personal goal?
In another question, Robin Uthappa was asked about his personal goal for IPL 2021. In reply, the former Kolkata Knight Riders star said that he wants to win as many games as possible for his team. CSK will be looking to bounce back this season after a poor campaign in the last edition where they failed to make it to the playoffs. “To contribute to as many victories as possible. Win at least a handful of games for my team,” said Uthappa.
Uthappa also revealed the record he would like to break in IPL 2021. He stated that he would like to become the first player to score 1,000 runs in a single IPL season. No player in the history of the competition has managed to score more than 973 runs in one season. The record for scoring most runs in a season is currently held by Virat Kohli.
Uthappa’s most prolific season came in 2014 when he amassed 660 runs. “To be the first guy to score 1000 runs in a season,” said Uthappa.
Stressing on the need for more reservation for women in education and in the job sector, Dr Parvathi said that girls should not be deprived of education
Participants at the International Women’s Day programme organised by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy and Aimanda Pommakkada Koota, in Maragodu village. Credit: DH Photo
Education becomes more meaningful if it instils cultural values among students, opined Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy chairperson Dr Parvathi Appaiah.
She was delivering the keynote address during the International Women’s Day programme observed by Kodava Sahitya Academy and Aimanda Pommakkada Koota, in Maragodu village recently.
Stressing on the need for more reservation for women in education and in the job sector, Dr Parvathi said that girls should not be deprived of education.
Madikeri Government First Grade College lecturer Bodukuttada Radhika Kuttappa said education alone can bring positive development among girls.
During the session, Taluk Panchayat former president Revathi Parameshwar spoke on ‘Kalakottaneke Pommakkada Badkal Badalavane’.
Aimanda Divya presented her views on ‘Kodagra Samskruthi, Samkraratha Bolachel Avvangada Pathra’.
Books and CDs brought out by Kodava Sahitya Academy were kept for exhibition and sale.
As part of the cultural programmes, students from Kaveri Degree College, Gonikoppa, members of Aimanda Pommakkada Koota and dance troupes from Virajpet performed dances on the occasion.
The best performances were awarded cash prizes, sponsored by Non-resident Indian Aimanda Jagadish.
Prior to the programme, office-bearers of Aimanda Pommakkada Koota and Kodava Sahitya Academy took out a cultural procession in the town.
Pommakkada Koota president Pushpavathi, Maragodu Gram Panchayat president Ayyandra Poornima Shrinivas, academy member Gowramma Madammaiah, academy former president Rani Machaiah, former principal Dr Pushpa Kuttana, academy members Babbira Saraswathi, Prabu Kumar and registrar Ajjikuttira Girish were present, among others.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> States> Karnataka Districts / by DHNS, Madikeri / March 14th, 2021
Supermodel and actress Shubra Aiyappa is excited as she is set to shoot for her second Tamil fim. She has signed an action revenge drama titled Aaganya , where she plays the titular role. Shubra is currently training and working on her physical fitness in preparation for the role. “This film is titled Aaganya, which means rising from the flames, and I play the titular role. I am particularly thrilled about this film as I have always wanted to do an action film. This is the closest that I’ve come to doing it,” she reveals, saying that she had to not just audition with dialogues but also prove to the action director that she is physically fit and capable to do the role.
“The film is akin to the likes of Lara Croft in some ways in terms of the action and I am going to be kicking some serious butt. This revenge drama will see me in two shades. People will get to see a mean action avatar and then there is another side to me. It gives me a lot of scope to prove my worth as an actor and I’m looking forward to giving my best,” says Shubra, who is preparing for the role with some action classes in Bengaluru, following which she will be partaking in more classes and workshops in Chennai.
“I was shooting for the Rishi starrer Ramana Avatara prior to the onset of the pandemic. I haven’t really shot for a film ever since and am glad I get to return to the sets. I did a Tamil film a few years ago, but haven’t done anything after, though I do a lot of Tamil ads, I’m glad that I get to be a part of this film,” says Shubra, who hints that the makers might release this film as a multilingual eventually. Shubra will be shooting for 35 days for this film, as per the schedule, she shares.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada / by Sunayana Suresh, TNN / March 16th, 2021
Senior IPS Officer from Kodagu district, Maneyapanda A. Ganapathy, yesterday took charge as the Director General of National Security Guard (NSG), an elite counter-terrorism unit under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Picture shows Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha congratulating M.A. Ganapathy at the NSG Head Quarters in Palam, New Delhi, this morning. Also seen are MP’s wife Arpitha Simha and daughter Vipanchi Simha.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 19th, 2021
The actor, who is busy prepping for her Tamil action film, says networking exists, but ultimately it comes down to auditions.
Shubra Aiyappa is busy honing her skills for her upcoming Tamil action film Aaganya.
The actor, who is learning martial arts from a Russian expert, says, “I’ve always been a fitness enthusiast, doing yoga and weight training, so thankfully the foundation is decent. We are going to start shooting soon in Chennai and I’m very excited.”
She shares that the film was offered to her two-and-a-half months ago when she was travelling. “The script sounded so fantastic on the phone that I flew down, auditioned and I was like hell, yes, I’m doing this.”
This is the actor’s first project since the lockdown.
She was shooting for Ramana Avatara when things came to a standstill. “The lockdown was an eye opener for me, professionally. I feel, as actors, we are very rigid that we can just be actors. Maybe it’s an egoistic thing (laughs). I realised that you can be so much more. I had a myopic way of looking at things, and that changed.
My mother is a wedding planner and when things opened up, I curated 10 weddings!” she says.
“Personally, I got to spend time with my family in a long time. I left home at 16 for modelling. I was in New York for a year and then in Mumbai. The lockdown turned out to be a blessing as I could be with my family in Bangalore,” adds the Vajrakaya (2015) actor.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Entertainment> Tamil Cinema / by Neha Sharma / March 23rd, 2021
Harshika Poonacha, who is gearing up to make her Bhojpuri film debut shortly, is set to make inroads in that industry.
The actress, we hear, has signed up for two more Bhojpuri films that she will start shooting for after the release of her debut. “My first Bhojpuri film is complete and is ready for release. I will start shooting for my two new projects thereafter,” says Harshika, adding that after a rather lackluster 2020, she is looking at this year with a lot of positivity.
“I am grateful that things are happening for me. I just had two very rough years, first with losing my dad and soon after with the pandemic and, now things are slowly back on track,” she says. Her Bhojpuri films apart, Harshika is also looking forward to her two Kannada projects , in which she says she has challenging roles.
“I have bagged two Kannada film projects and both are romantic thrillers.
Om Prema will see me as a boss lady who is the CEO of a company and gets the job done. She knows how to succeed in the corporate world and take care of her employees,” she says. The other yet-to-be-titled project has her playing a journalist who is extremely critical and curious by nature. Speaking about the character Harshika says, “I play a journalist who looks at every morsel of information with microscopic precision and has a very inquisitive nature. The script has been written well and I have already shot for a few days for the film,” she says. The actress will resume shooting for this film in April.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada>Movies / by Joyeeta Chakravorty, TNN / March 21st, 2021
Princess Gouramma depicted in Indian dress and rich jewellery, leaning on an Indian table. She is holding a Bible, an allusion to her conversion to Christianity. (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)
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Snapshot
The short life of princess Gowramma of Coorg serves as a reminder of the potential detachment and loss of identity a fiercely Western education can ensure.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s recent interview with Oprah Winfrey has brought to fore the tumultuous relationship the British monarchy has with all things concerning race. Markle alleged that a member of the royal family had expressed concerns over how dark their baby Archie’s skin would be.
Notably, the Duchess of Sussex is not the first person of colour to be subjected to royal racism.
The institution’s colonial past is filled with instances of the ‘firm’ ( as Markle calls it) taking upon itself the duty of civilising the ‘coloured’ citizens of the colonies it conquered.
In this regard, the remarkable life of Princess Gowramma, the Princess of Coorg and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria, provides interesting insights into the treatment of people of colour by the imperial echelons of the nineteenth century British society.
Princess Gowramma was born in Banaras, to the deposed king of Coorg — Chikka Veerarajendra Wodeyar, who had been exiled by the British in 1834.
She was the Raja’s favourite daughter and was thus his natural choice when it came to accompanying him on his journey to England, where he intended to demand in court the return of his wealth from the East India Company.
Some sources claim that Veerarajendra conveyed his intent of converting Gowramma to Christianity to gain the good graces of the company, so as to receive permission to travel to England.
Governor General Lord Dalhousie and other directors of the company found the idea of voluntary conversion by an Indian royal quite appealing, especially since it would help improve their sagging image in Britain.
Thus, in 1852, after Gowramma had received an education in Christian mannerisms and scripture, she and her father set sail to become the first Indian royals to ever set foot in England.
Princess Gouramma depicted in Indian dress and rich jewellery, leaning on an Indian table. She is holding a Bible, an allusion to her conversion to Christianity. (Franz Xaver Winterhalter)
Upon reaching the island, the 11-year-old Gowramma was presented to Queen Victoria. The Queen, quite taken by the princess declared that she would become the godmother and even endowed Gowramma with her own name — ‘Victoria’.
The Princess of Coorg was then baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at a private chapel in the Buckingham Palace, in the presence of Queen Victoria, her family, senior officials of the government and directors of the company.
Post the baptism, the Queen gifted Victoria Gowramma a bound and autographed Bible with gold embellishments. She then entrusted the princess to the care of Major and Mrs Drummond, who were to groom her with Western thought and education.
Queen Victoria took great initiative in expanding Gowramma’s social circles. She would invite Gowramma to regularly interact with her children and also bestowed upon her a title that made her equivalent to European princesses.
However, Gowramma, who was made to abandon her traditional Indian clothing for Western wear was depressed. She was cut off from all connection with her father and was instead forced to talk, dress and behave like a British aristocrat.
Unable to cope with the pressures of high society, Gowramma tried running away multiple times. She often expressed her desire for privacy and even stated that she rather live like a servant with the handmaidens than suffer the compulsions of regal life. Her troubles were dismissed by the Queen and her consort Prince Albert as ‘innate oriental weakness’ that seeks to escape civilisation.
Meanwhile, back home in India, the British had defeated Maharaja Ranjit Singh to annex Punjab. They then took his minor son, Duleep Singh, under their care.
Exiled to Fatehpur and kept away from Lahore so as to avoid chances of revolt, Duleep Singh was subjected to a Western education that eventually culminated with his acceptance of Christianity out of his own ‘free’will. He then set sail to Britain in order to formalise his conversion under the Church of England.
The Queen, to whom Duleep Singh presented the Kohinoor Diamond, took an instant liking of the Maharaja and became his godmother. She and Prince Albert in cahoots with the company plotted an alliance between Singh and Gowramma.
The hope was to use the influence generated by the marriage between two Christian Indian royals as a tool for proselytising the Indian population. This idea also had the endorsement of Singh’s English guardians — the Logins. They were firm believers in the European responsibility of spreading the word of the Bible amongst the pagan worshippers of India.
However, upon introduction, Singh was lukewarm in his response to Gowramma. He made it known to the Logins that he considered the princess more an honorary sister than a potential wife.
Gowramma, who had earlier been forgiven by the Queen for her torrid affair with a stable boy and her attempted elopement with an under-butler decided instead to marry a close friend of Singh — Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell, who had served in Bellary and was 30 years her senior.
Meanwhile, Chikka Veerajendra, who had lost a seven-year-long legal battle with the company had died.
Gowramma gave birth to a daughter named Edith Campbell on 2 July 1861. By the time Edith was three years old, Gowramma had developed signs of tuberculosis.
She died from the disease on 30 March 1864 just a few months short of her 23rd birthday.
Lieutenant Campbell, who in their short marriage had either neglected his wife or had persistently pestered her for money, disappeared after her death along with the crown jewels of Coorg that had been in her possession.
It is believed that he had only married the princess for her 1,000 pound allowance, the Queen’s favour and of course the jewels of Coorg.
The tragic life of Victoria Gowramma, a princess who had been alienated from her own land and language, was perhaps the paradigm the Britain had for the citizens of her colonies to follow.
Had Duleep Singh and Gowramma not fell short of the royal scheme envisioned by Queen Victoria, they might have had a significant role in shifting India’s religious history.
After all, colonial rulers did find religious conversion a greater instrument for the control of the colonised than plain force.
Gowramma today serves as a reminder of the potential detachment and loss of identity a fiercely Western education can ensure.
Victoria Gowramma was buried in the Brompton Cemetery, her tombstone bears the epithet composed by Queen Victoria, it contains the poignant words — “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold” (John X,16).
source: http://www.swarajyamag.com / Swarajya / Home> Ideas / by Adithi Gurkar / March 17th, 2021
Bharat Ratna for Cariappa, Thimayya: Rashtrapati Bhavan sends letter to PMO
Congress MLC Veena Achaiah’s letter to the President Ram Nath Kovind seeking the country‘s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna for Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya has been forwarded to Prime Minister’s Office.
The Rashtrapathi Bhavan has acknowledged the receipt of Ms. Achaiah’s letter dated February 6, 2021, addressed to the President regarding conferment of Bharat Ratna posthumously to both Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya. On March 2, 2021, the Officer on Special Duty, President’s Secretariat, Jagannath Srinivasan wrote to Ms. Achaiah, seeking to bring to her notice that the letter she had sent to the President had been forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office for appropriate action.
The demand for Bharat Ratna to Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya, both of whom hail from Kodagu district, is pending for a long time before the Centre. Even former Army Chief Bipin Rawat hand endorsed the demand for Bharat Ratna to Field Marshal Cariappa. While Cariappa was the first Indian Commander in Chief of the Indian Army, General Thimayya served as the Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961.
During Mr. Kovind’s visit to Madikeri last month to inaugurate the General Thimayya Memorial Museum, Ms. Achaiah submitted a memorandum recalling that General Thimayya was the only Indian to command an infantry brigade in the battle during the Second World War while Mr. Cariappa belonged to a family of farmers and is one of the only two Indian Army officers to hold the highest and five star rank of Field Marshal.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – March 13th, 2021
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