Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi Win Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship Doubles Title

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Congratulations to Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who claimed their fifth title as a team and their first since 2011 with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship doubles final.
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Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of tournament owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free, said, “We should also not overlook the fine performance of our doubles champions Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who overcame the number one seeds and far more experienced duo of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic who had won 25 titles together.”

The win was even sweeter for Bopanna and Qureshi as they lost to Nestor and Zimonjic in the final of the Sydney International in January.

Incredibly, Nestor was appearing in his 137th doubles final and Zimonjic his 82nd.

source: http://www.canindia.com / CanIndia / Home> grss> LifeStyle / March 11th, 2014

Gulshan Devaiah’s selfie time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

On Saturday morning, actor Gulshan Devaiah, restaurateur Carlton Braganza and actress Monica Dogra caught up at the arrival lounge of Kempegowda International Airport and managed a selfie.
gulshanSelfieKF18mar2014
“Every picture I take I try to make it a selfie or a photo bomb… they’re in fashion,” said Devaiah. Devaiah, who is in the city to meet his mother, was thrilled to be here on Women’s Day (a coincidence, he insists). His wife is joining him in the city today. The trio was on the same plane from Mumbai but in different seats, and caught up with each other only on landing in the city.

Devaiah was reminiscing about meeting Braganza at Opus six years ago, when he was a semi-finalist at a kroak night. “It’s always nice to bump into nice people. Both are real artistes and I like them,” he told the diarist.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / by Bangalore Mirror Bureau / March 10th, 2014

‘Field candidate from Kodagu district’

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

Representatives from district were elected only twice.

As the political parties are gearing up to field their candidates amidst the lobby from ticket aspirants across the State, people and various political party workers in Kodagu district that represents Mysore-Kodagu constituency, have placed the demand to field the candidate from the district, rather fielding an outsider.

This is mainly because of the strong feeling that the intensity of problems faced by Kodagu district can be understood by a candidate who hails from the district, than an outsider like the present MP who hails from Mysore. In the first parliamentary election post Independence, Kodagu enjoyed getting a MP’s position for the constituency. Then Kodagu was an union territory and it was later merged with Karnataka and gained the status of the ‘district’ during the unification of state in 1956.

As the population of Kodagu was limited, it was then merged with Mangalore constituency. In the 1957 election, Kodagu took shape of Mangalore-Kodagu constituency. Kodagu remained as a part of Mangalore constituency till the 14th Lok Sabha election in 2004.

In the next delimitation, Kodagu district was merged with Mysore constituency and it took the shape of Mysore-Kodagu constituency in 2009.

N Somanna from the Congress won the first parliamentary election in 1952, while C M Poonacha from the Congress won the fourth election of Mangalore Kodagu constituency in 1967. Thereafter, no Kodava or the candidate from Kodagu district got an opportunity to represent the district in the parliament.

Exception

Kodagu stands as an exception compared to other districts mainly because of certain unique practices and systems like land ownership (Jamma Bane, Jamma Malai, Paisari, Gomala etc), traditions of consuming liquor in ceremonies, licence to use guns, as a large portion of the district is covered with forest, coffee being the main crop etc. As decisions on all these aspects come under the purview of the Central government, Kodavas are largely dependent on the member of parliament from the constituency to get their demands fulfilled. Issues triggering the district like the implementation of Kasturirangan report, demand for autonomy status to the district, controlling wild elephant menace are to be resolved in the parliament. But, unfortunately, as Kodagu has sparse population, it has been represented by the MP from the neighbouring Mysore district, all these years.

Local people are of the opinion that the MPs from Mysore district who also represent Kodagu, are more bothered about the ‘vast’ Mysore district than the ‘small’ Kodagu district.

Local candidate demand

People, party workers and local political leaders have been pressurising the political parties to filed a candidate from Kodagu to represent Mysore-Kodagu constituency.

BJP leader and Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan has shown interest in contesting the Lok Sabha polls.

While, the JD(S) workers are demanding party leaders to give ticket to former minister B A Jeevijaya. However, there seems to be no aspirant from Kodagu to represent the Congress, perhaps because they do not want to get into a tug-of-war with the sitting MP.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Shrikanth Kallammanavar / DHNS / Madikeri – March 09th, 2014

Bopanna climbs to 12th in ATP rankings

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Rohan BopannaKF07mar2014
New Delhi:

India’s doubles tennis player Rohan Bopanna leaped four places to 12th in the latest ATP rankings released Monday.

The Indian achieved the feat after clinching the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title with Pakistani Aisam ul Haq Qureshi.

Meanwhile, Leander Paes still remains India’s highest ranked doubles player at No.10 while another veteran Mahesh Bhupathi slipped six places to No.47.

In the men’s singles category, Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri remained static at 78th and 146th, respectively, while Sania Mirza is No.11 in the women’s doubles list.

source: http://www.ianslive.in / IANS Live / Home> Sports / New Delhi – March 03rd, 2014

Deepika’s special number in Damaal Dumeel

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Looks like Kannada actresses are in demand in Kollywood, and the latest to join the bandwagon is Deepika Kamaiah.
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The actress, who was last seen in the Kannada movie Auto Raja, has done a special number in Damaal Dumeel. The film, directed by Shankar’s assistant Shree, has Vaibhav and Remya Nambeesan in the lead roles. Deepika will feature in a club number along with Vaibhav and Remya.

Ask Deepika how she bagged the role, and she says, “The team saw my pictures and contacted me for the song. Initially, I was hesitant to be seen in a special number. But since it is a good team of technicians, I agreed. It is a peppy number, which I am sure will become a hit.”

Deepika and the team shot for the song at a popular club in Bangalore recently. “I will be seen wearing a crop top paired with a short denim skirt. It is similar to Deepika Padukone’s club song in Cocktail,” says Deepika, who had fun shooting with the team.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Tamil> Movies / by Sharanya CR, TNN / February 16th, 2014

‘Malli’ Audio Comes

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

MalliKF06mar2014

In his second film director Vishnupriyan is throwing some ideology in the contents of his film. Doing help should not be hidden in the present society. In the society the help done and help received is not put before. For the present day context it is precise to disclose the support extended.

In this film ‘Malli’ heroine character Disha Poovaiah takes all the help and then ditch the hero. How he overcomes the setback for doing good help is the crux of this ‘Malli’ Kannada film says Vishnu Priyan.One of the songs with all names of Kannada actors from Dr Raj to Sriki are penned according to meter of the music CR Bobby by Hrudayashiva. Suni of SALOS has given one song, Dr V Nagendra Prasad is another writer for this film.
Agriculturists Narayana Gowda and Lakshmipathi never thought they could make a film. They are humble and simple producers.Bobby in her music for this film feels extremely happy for good lyrics and good renderings. One of the songs Rajesh Krishnan has delivered with alcoholic mood without consuming it of course.Disha Poovaiah looking very glamorous from her outfits quite happy for the first lead and that too in title role in this film ‘Malli’. Sujeeth is hero of this film. Sonia Sen is item dancer for a song in ‘Malli’.Lahari Recording Company Velu appreciating the good music done for the film wished tremendous success for the innocent producers.source: http://www.indiaglitz.com/ IndiaGlitz / Home / Tuesday – January 28th, 2014

Karnataka Fashion Week pays tribute to Coorg

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Tribute to Coorg at Karnataka Fashion Week — the three-day event put together by fashion guru Prasad Bidapa. Entrepreneur Ashok Kheny inaugurated the second day of the fashion week, where Prasad, who was dressed in a traditional Coorg Kupiya, paid a tribute to Coorg and the book, The Vanishing Kodavas.

Fashion was of course in focus at the event, and the second day saw collections from Roopam Silks, Nimirta Lalvani, Abrar Ali, Ritu Pandey, Tahera Peeran, Manish Saksena, Anjali Sharma and a finale by Jamila and Seema Malhotra.

Also present the occasion were Charu Sharma and Nooraine Fazal from B.PAC.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Events> Bangalore / TNNn/ January 25th, 2014

Ganesh and Daisy Bopanna are back

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

This Sunday, watch the famous Sandalwood film Gaalipatta starring Ganesh and Daisy Bopanna on Suvarna TV.

The film, which was released in 2008, was directed by Yogaraj Bhat and produced by Suryaprakash Rao and AM Rathnam. The plot is about three friends, Ganesh (Ganesh), Diganth (Diganth) and Kitty (Rajesh Krishnan) and their respective love stories.

The crux of the story is how Diganth and Kitty get a go ahead for their weddings, but how Ganesh’s love story takes a different twist.

Watch the film at 3 pm on Suvarna TV this Sunday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> TV / by TNN / March 02nd, 2014

‘Will Protect Plantations in Kodagu’

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

Revenue Minister V Srinivasa Prasad said he would visit Kodagu district to assess the misuse of sections 79(a) and (b) of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act.

The sale of plantation land to non-agriculturists to set up resorts and cottages would also be looked into, he said.

Replying to a calling attention motion from Janata Dal(S) floor leader M C Nanaiah in the Legislative Council on Thursday, the Minister said the government was committed to the protection of plantation land in Kodagu.

Nanaiah said plantations where coffee, cardamom and rubber are grown had been exempted from the purview of the Act.

“Revenue officials, deeming these plantations to be non-agricultural land, have been allowing its sale. According to the rules, such lands cannot be sold to non-agriculturists. The buyers plant saplings of coffee, banana and cardamom to show that they are using the land for agriculture and construct resorts,” Nanaiah said.

6,000 Acres Sold

The floor leader said the going price of an acre of plantation land was `40 lakh. Already, over 6,000 acres has been sold to non-agriculturists in Kodagu district and 3,000 applications to register properties were pending before the Revenue Department, Nanaiah alleged.

“The Kodavas are becoming aliens in their own homeland. Forest cover is being eroded due to mushrooming of resorts. There is danger in store if plantation land in catchment areas of the Cauvery is sold to non-agriculturists,” Nanaiah warned.Promise of ActionResponding to Nanaiah’s statements, the Minister declared that those revenue officials who were allegedly hand-in-glove with land sharks and fixing land deals would be dealt with an iron hand.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service – Bangalore / February 21st, 2014

FARMER’S NOTEBOOK : A package of practices for profitable coffee, black pepper cultivation

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu
EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Agriculture is no more a male dominated sector, as many women have shown that they are second to none in this field. “Women can be successful agriculturists, if they are supported with timely technological interventions by scientists and encouragement from family”, says Dr. M. Anandaraj, Director of the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode.
Mrs. Prema Ganesh from Maragodu village, Kodagu District, Karnataka is a role model for other women in this field.

Several problems

When she ventured to take over her coffee and black pepper plantation in 10 hectares a decade ago, several problems started surfacing, especially the low productivity of crops, making agriculture a non profitable enterprise.Keen to overcome them, she happened to attend one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation.“It was a turning point in my life,” recollects Ms Ganesh.

The scientists at CRC assured full technological support to her ventures. A team from CRC visited her plantation and identified some major production constraints such as high plant density per unit area, prevalence of diseases and pests, problems like spike shedding in black pepper etc.They provided a complete package of practices to be followed including thinning of excess plant growth to maintain optimum spacing among them, adoption of basin management techniques like application of organic manures, micronutrient application, earthing up and mulching for various crops.“In the case of black pepper, special recommendations like basin irrigation at the rate of 40-50 litres of water at 4-5 times per vine at an interval of 5-7 days during May-June in case of delayed monsoon, regulation of shade by pruning the support trees to provide minimum 50-60 per cent exposure to sunlight were suggested,” says Dr. S J Ankegowda, Head, CRC, AppangalaFor diseases and pests, spraying of two rounds of Bordeaux during June and August/September and one round of drenching with 0.2 per cent Copper Oxy Chloride (COC), and need based application of insecticides were also recommended.Trees like balangi, palawan and silver oak were planted at a spacing of 15×15 feet (random) to provide adequate shade to the crops.In addition she readied several rainwater harvesting pits of 10 feet length, 1.5 feet width and 1.5 feet depth between the coffee plants.These pits also serve as compost pits where all the farm wastes are dumped for two years to decompose after which they are removed and applied as organic manure to coffee and pepper, substantially reducing the cost on purchase of farm yard manure.

Composed husks

Ms. Ganesh makes use of composed coffee cherry husk, a by-product of coffee pulping, after mixing with cow dung as an additional source of organic manure.Annually she spends Rs. 35,000 per acre as operational cost and gets about Rs. 25 lakhs a year as net income from both black pepper and coffee. Reducing manual labour was an important initiative by her.“First thing they did was to lay motorable roads inside the plantation. This has reduced the strain in carrying the harvested produce in bags by labourers.Before the roads were laid, a labourer would take about 30 minutes to carry the bag to the main road for loading it on the lorries.“The physical strain was quite heavy. But now this has considerably reduced since the vehicles can come into the plantation,” says Dr. Ankegowda.

Underground irrigation

Another initiative was the underground pipe-lining for irrigation. Today the entire plantation has well connected irrigation line ready for irrigation all through the year.For more details readers can contact Mrs. Prema Ganesh, Prema Estate, Maragodu Village, Madikeri, Kodagu district- 571 201, Ph: 08272-241555, or Dr. S. J. Ankegowda, Head, IISR Cardamom Research Centre, Appangala, Madikeri-571201, Karnataka, mobile: 09663069241 and phone: 08272-245451.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> S & T> Science / Farmers Notebook> Karnataka / by M.J.Prabu / February 26th, 2014