‘Kaadinolagondu Jeeva,’ a book based on first-hand experiences of the famed Forest Ranger K.M. Chinnappa (now retired) will be released in city on July 2 by Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, President and driving force behind Adamya Chethana Trust, Bengaluru, and the wife of late H.N. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister.
The event will be held at Hotel Roost on Hunsur Road at 10.30 am and it is organised by Wildlife First and Bharathi Prakashana, Mysuru. The book is written by T.S. Gopal, retired Principal of Srimangala Junior College and has been published by Poornachandra Tejaswi Prakashana in the year 2000.
When the book was published it was an instant hit and was published in three volumes. Later in 2010, Navakarnataka Publication published a comprehensive collection of all the three volumes. The 400-page book has 14 pages of colourful photos and has many stories and experiences of Chinnappa.
About K.M. Chinnappa
Born in 1941 at Kumatoor village in South Kodagu to an Armed Forces family, Kotrangada M. Chinnappa is the quintessential wildlife protector. A true son of the soil, his father was a soldier who took to farming after retirement. Chinnappa joined the Karnataka Forest Department as a Forester in 1967 and has been a frontline warrior all his life.
For much of his career he served as a Ranger in Nagarahole where he was best known for his uncompromising ways and his almost fanatical adherence to law.
When Chinnappa joined as the Ranger at Nagarahole, the region was infested with numerous criminal activities such as timber smuggling, marijuana plantation, poaching, cattle grazing, setting up of unauthorised breweries at the sanctuary although the area was set up for protecting wildlife.
However, Chinnappa pledged to bring a dramatic change in the way the forest functioned. He ensured that the number of tigers and deer, which were dangerously low, increased, all the encroachers were chased from the forest and the wild animal natural habitats were restored. When he joined Nagarahole, the forest area was only 250 sqkm and now it has expanded to 653 sqkm.
During his struggle for wildlife conservation, Chinnappa became an enemy of many people. He was always on the threshold of getting killed. In the year 1970, he barely escaped from death when a gang armed with sticks attempted to attack him during his visit to a temple.
Chinnappa was made to surrender his licensed revolver because many people who did not support him addressed him as a criminal and threat. Chinnappa was falsely accused of a murder which forced him to spend 12 days in a prison before he was found guilt-free.
In 1992, an angry mob burned his newly constructed home few days after the work was completed in Kumatoor. He fought the long battle and faced many difficulties and unexpectedly resigned from his post in 1993. He won the CM’s Gold Medal in 1985. Now, Chinnappa is the President of Wildlife First, continuing his crusade against timber mafia and green destructors. He is also into agriculture, his passion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore /Home> News / June 20th, 2019
Coorg Public School & Pre-University College has secured 100% results in the II PU Board Examination the results of which were announced recently.
The college authorities said the hard work and perseverance of the students coupled with expertise of the teachers who were relentless in ensuring support round-the-clock helped the students to notch up impressive scores and 19 students secured centum in various subjects.
Out of 61 students, 43 have achieved distinction, 17 students secured first class and 1 student secured a second class, the release added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 22nd, 2022
In an attempt to popularise, protect and preserve the language, as well as to obtain ISO language code, the Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi and Sahitya Academy has completed the digitisation of 84 books.
Academy member Bharathesha Alasandemajalu said that books that were published from 1968 to the recent ones, including two PhD theses, have been digitised. The PhD thesis on Arebhashe in English by Prof Kodi Kushalappa Gowda, published in 1970 at the Annamalai University, has been digitised. Earlier, the language was known as Gowda Kannada. The other works include the digitisation of a souvenir that highlights the culture of the Gowda community, he said.
In total, digitisation of the 38 books published by the academy, ‘Hingara’ -the tri-monthly magazine of the academy, and 21 books published by different authors have been digitised, and available on arebashe.sanchaya.net.
The team has digitised 142 editions of ‘Kodava Sangathi’, a fortnightly, whose editor was Pattada Prabhakar, and an important book on the Amara Sullia uprising of 1837, by Deviprasad Sampaje.
The books are available under three categories, books published by the academy, Arebhashe Sahithya and editions of Kodagu Sangathi, and Hingara Bharathesha said.
The digitisation works will be inaugurated on June 25 in Madikeri, in the presence of chief minister’s advisor for e- governance Beluru Sudarshan and Kodagu Kannada Sahitya Academy president M P Keshav Kamath. Academy president Lakshminarayan Kajegadde will preside over the event.
“In case the language has to obtain international recognition, then an ISO language code is important. Digitisation is a step towards obtaining the code. It will also give the public easy access to the existing Arebhashe literature,” he said.
Vishwanath Badikana, assistant professor, Kannada, Aloysius College, and member of the academy, said that books that have been digitised are not available in the market. The works on Arebhashe dictionary, a blend of Lexicon and Kittel dictionary, encyclopedia and Arebhashe glossary-documenting Arebhashe culture, through the items used by people who speak this language, is near completion.
“This is probably first-of-its-kind work undertaken for a sub-dialect, through an academy that has a small base. According to an estimate, about 10 lakh people speak the language,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Mangaluru News / by Deepthi Sanjiv / June 22nd, 2022
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin handing over a cheque for ₹75 lakh to squash player Joshna Chinnappa in Chennai on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday handed over a cheque of ₹75 lakh to squash player Joshna Chinnappa, who won a gold medal in world doubles championships in Glasgow recently.
Minister for Sports Development Siva V. Meyyanathan and senior officials were present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by JDennis Solomon Jesudasan 10525 / Chennai – April 29th, 2022
In its 42 years, Coorg Wildlife Society has taken up conservation of the mahseer, ecology awareness, plantation and cleanliness drives.
Participants during a nature awareness trek organised by the Coorg Wildlife Society
Madikeri :
Triangular green and yellow stickers with the silhouette of a sambar deer are instantly recognisable on a majority of vehicles in Kodagu. The stickers of Coorg Wildlife Society — a pioneer NGO that has taken oath to protect the Western Ghats in the district — are a badge of pride which not only connect residents instantly, but also give out a strong message of environment conservation.
Established in 1980, Coorg Wildlife Society (CWS) is primarily engaged in wildlife programmes across Kodagu, and has a dedicated team that aims at increasing awareness about wildlife and protected habitats.
“CWS started with an aim to educate children and the local population about wildlife, flora and fauna. Gradually, the society got involved in conservation of environment,” explained KA Chengappa, president of CWS. Member Navin Bopaiah shared that CWS has a long history of campaigning for the environment, which has ensured that government policies and laws help safeguard wildlife and promote wildlife-friendly land management.
CWS’mahseer fish conservation progamme
Among the many projects undertaken by the organisation, the conservation of mahseer fish ranks first in its table of achievements. Nearly 35 years ago, CWS leased a 35-km stretch of river Cauvery near Siddapura to start a conservation programme for the endangered mahseer species. Today, the organisation has been successful in curbing mahseer poaching, and establishing a large-scale breeding programme to revive the fish variety.
“All commercial activities along the 35-km stretch of river have been stopped due to the efforts of CWS. We have made many blocks across the stretch and appointed guards to stop illegal fishing of mahseer. With successful breeding programmes, the fish variety has restocked in river Cauvery,” explained Chengappa. He added that CWS has now taken special interest in repopulating the Cauvery with the orange-finned mahseer variety.
“Orange-finned mahseer are native to the Cauvery and are critically endangered. Apart from illegal fishing, excessive preying of these fish by other fish varieties affected its population. We are starting conservation of the orange-finned variety in a holding tank, and have got immense support from the fisheries department,” he explained.
CWS is also in talks with the forest department to extend the conservation of mahseer in the Cauvery at Bheemeshwari, in Mandya district. “We have written several letters to the authorities to stop construction of the Mekedatu dam, that will seriously affect the species in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary,” Chengappa confirmed.
Apart from mahseer conservation, the society is actively involved in plantation drives, cleanliness projects, birding programmes and organising eco treks across Kodagu. CWS, with support from the forest department, will soon initiate a plantation drive of Napier Grass across Dubare and Mathigodu riverside areas, where elephant populations are found in herds. The organisation hosted a bamboo re-plantation drive to replenish the forests. It also hosts treks across reserve forests and hills of Kodagu with support from the forest department. “These are awareness treks, and participants learn the importance of forests and its inhabitants. Cleanliness drives are also hosted along the way,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a massive clean-up drive was hosted by the CWS team on Thithimathi forest fringes and saw participation from students from Bengaluru and Mysuru too. Two truckloads of trash were cleared during the Environment Day event. The annual birding initiative by the organisation attracts professional and amateur birders, who record the variety of bird species found in the district. During this year’s bird festival, the team spotted the critically endangered Indian Vulture soaring high up in the sky, across the Brahmagiri Range.
The team opines that awareness among the people towards environment protection is the need of the hour. “Alongside awareness, forests must be maintained scientifically. The population of tigers and elephants is increasing, but forest cover is shrinking. If this continues, we will have to face a grave future filled with human-wildlife conflict,” concluded Chengappa.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / June 12th, 2022
Five hockey players who trained at the Sports Authority of India Training Centre, Madikeri and represented the State in the 12 th Hockety Senior Women’s National Championship, were felicitated by the local authorities recently.
They represented Karnataka at the event held in Bhopal in May and scripted history by winning the silver medal after a gap of 33 years.
The players were S.P. Likitha, Leelavathi B. Koppad, H.G. Dhanushree, B.A. Shaya Kaveramma and K.A. Deepthi. The authorities said in addition, two ex-atheltes Pooja and Nisha from SAI Training Centre, Madikeri, were also in the team.
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner B.C.Satish praised the performance of the girls in the tournament and said that they were models for other athletes and sportspersons and a source of inspiration to perform better.
He said they should raise the bar higher and strive for greater achievements and promised all facilities and assistance to the SAI Training Centre to ensure high performance at both national and international levels.
Superintendent of Police M.A. Aiyappa said practice makes a person perfect and player should give their best to shore up their performance in future tournaments as well. He said one could achieve perfection and victory in any field provided one was committed and passionate about it. Kodagu ZP CEO Bhanvar Singh Meena said Kodagu was known to patronise hockey and advised the youth and the players to practice, participate in more tournaments and make themselves eligible to represent the country in international tournaments like the Olympics, Common Wealth Games etc.
Offficials of the training centre including Mini Unniraj, in-charge of the Centre, C.U. Rani, Assistant, Komala, hockey coach, were among those present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 10th, 2022
Having studied at AIISH Mysuru, Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda becomes the first Indian-American to occupy the top post.
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda is a Professor (Adjunct) at Texas Tech Health Sciences and Chief Audiology Officer at National Hearing and Balance centres in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With more than 30 years of experience, he is now the President-Elect of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and he will have a three-year term from October 1, 2022.
Hailing from Kodagu and coming from a humble background, he did his B.Sc. in Speech and Hearing from the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH – 1970 batch), then under the University of Mysore. By becoming the first person of colour to head AAA, Dr. Bopanna has become a role model for many.
Star of Mysore caught up with Dr. Bopanna, who was on a short visit to Mysuru and spoke to him about his role in AAA, Mysuru memories and his family. Excerpts:
Star of Mysore (SOM): You have a three-year term and how do you propose to take forward the programmes of American Academy of Audiology (AAA)?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: The American Academy of Audiology is the world’s largest professional organisation of, by and for audiologists. It is committed to advancing the science, practice and accessibility of hearing and balanced healthcare for our patients.
I am humbled and honoured to be elected by the members as the President-Elect and later the President of AAA. My role is to understand the issues and address them when I take charge. These opportunities and challenges vary from year to year. However, the Academy has set goals and agenda to further the profession and help audiologists achieve their highest potential.
SOM: You are the first Indian-American to occupy the top post of AAA. This is no mean feat and you studied at AIISH Mysuru. Do you have any fond memories of Mysuru?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I do have a lot of fond memories of Mysuru. Back then Mysuru was a quaint town with excellent opportunities for scholarly work, today too I hope it’s the same. I still cherish my time in Mysuru when I used to meet friends at the corner of crossroads (Somberi Katte) and talk for hours. I also fondly remember the joy I felt riding my bicycle to the Institute from home. So Mysuru and my time in Mysuru is very much in my thoughts.
SOM: Audiology is a relatively lesser-known profession or a field of expertise in India. Do you think there is a lack of awareness? If so, what should be done to popularise it?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: You are absolutely correct. Audiology is lesser known. However, the field of audiology has been in existence in India for a long time. Based on my research, I see an apathy for hearing loss and corrective measures to overcome communication problems. Hearing loss and its impact are not well-acknowledged and hearing loss and its impact on humans need to be made aware.
As we know that the two major inputs to the brain are vision and hearing. We are quick to correct vision problems but are reluctant or hesitant to correct or use hearing aids. Recent research has clearly shown that an untreated hearing loss has many impacts on communication, psychological well-being, and most of all deterioration in mental functions. Hearing loss does not only affect hearing but has broader consequences like memory loss etc. I don’t know the reasons why people cancel or postpone treatments. Being out of India, I have limited knowledge of the apathy or lack of motivation of the general public to deal with hearing problems.
SOM: AIISH is doing wonderful work in audiology and the institute has grown in leaps and bounds. Your comments on this.
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: AIISH is a great institute. I had the opportunity to visit the institute a few days back and I was stunned by the clinical facilities, research work, and innovative projects. I was humbled by the warm welcome extended by the Director, Dr. M. Pushpavathi. The Institute that I remember has changed a lot, and changed for the better. I am so proud to say that I graduated from this premier institution.
SOM: You are from Kodagu, a small district, how did you get to where you are now professionally?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: Like many Indians in the 80s, I stepped foot in the USA with a dream. I was born to late Pulianda Kamakshi and late Ballachanda Belliappa. My dream began when I graduated with a B.Sc. degree from AIISH and a love for Wild West through John Wayne movies. On the way to the Wild West, I did a two-year stint as a specialist of Speech and Hearing at the Al Sabah Hospital in Kuwait, finally ending up at the University of Texas, Dallas, where I earned a Ph.D in Auditory Neuroscience, the study of hearing and the brain which at that time had not been explored very much.
SOM: Tell us about your initial days in the US.
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I was recruited by Purdue University, Indiana, as an up-and-coming academician. While at Purdue I pioneered clinical procedures for practising audiologists, authored two books that are used as educational material in many audiology programmes and many professional/scientific articles that received acclaim in the hearing industry.
I returned to India after 10 years in the USA in 1990 and got married to Kambeyanda Naina Muthappa and then I moved to the University of New Mexico as an Associate Professor of Audiology.
SOM: Tell us how you got involved with American Academy of Audiology and the business side of audiology?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: During my tenure at the University of New Mexico, I became actively involved with the American Academy of Audiology. I was the first foreign-born audiologist in the USA, the first Indian to be elected to the Board of Directors of the AAA, and served as President of the New Mexico Speech-Hearing Association and on the Senate of the University of New Mexico.
After seven more years of teaching at the University of New Mexico, I gave up a guaranteed job to venture into yet another phase in my life — clinical practice. With the help of my wife, who is a Chartered Accountant and entrepreneur, I opened my first clinic in July of 2003 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The first year was a challenge, but after that, by God’s grace, I’ve never had to look back. Another seven years later I had the opportunity to purchase a group of clinics in Arizona and Texas. My wife says seven is my magic number. I had 16 clinics in New Mexico, Arizona and Texas. My wife and I owned and ran the clinics together.
SOM: Tell us about your family and do you feel you achieved your American dream?
Dr. Bopanna Ballachanda: I have a wonderful son and a daughter, Tanek Ballachanda and Jyothi Ballachanda. Tanek is a mechanical engineer working for a space programme in Seattle, Washington State while Jyothi is studying to become a pastry chef.
Have I achieved my American dream? Life is a journey of fascinating dreams that evolve, I don’t think I’m even halfway there. It’s been a lot of hard work, and it was never about the money, but about pushing myself beyond. In that sense, I think I have a sense of fulfilment.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> Top Stories / June 09th, 2022
The Palekanda brothers recently took part in the Pan India Master Games held in Bengaluru and won three gold medals and two silver medals
Palekanda P Bopaiah (94) and Palekanda Beliappa (85)
Madikeri :
Age is just a number. This has been proved right by two brothers of Kodagu who are making their district and state proud by actively participating in various sports championships held for senior citizens across the country. Palekanda P Bopaiah (94) and Palekanda Beliappa (85), residents of Kuttandi village in Kodagu district, have now set their eyes on participating in track and field championships to be held in in Sydney and Japan next year.
The Palekanda brothers recently took part in the Pan India Master Games held in Bengaluru and won three gold medals and two silver medals. By taking part in javelin throw, relay race, 1,500 metre running race, walkathon, 100 metre run, the two brothers call themselves all-rounders.
“Both of us stay together in our village. I have been passionate about sports from the time I was a kid and my schoolmates could never match my speed in athletic events when I was a young boy. My elder brother is a retired Army man. Both of us decided to resume our participation in sports field over three years ago and we haven’t looked back since,” said Beliappa.
The brothers have also set up a Master Games Association for senior citizens in Kodagu and are working out the modalities to enable senior citizens to become its members.“My first participation in sports championship as a senior citizen was at Vadodara. I won the third place in the National Masters Game. Ever since, I ensure that I take part in all championships that are held for senior citizens across the country. Both my brother and I are now looking forward to taking part in the athletic championships scheduled to be held in Sydney and Japan next year ,” he added. However, the duo needs at least Rs 2 to 3 lakh fund to take part in the international championship and are eagerly looking forward to sponsorship.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Express News Service / June 03rd, 2022
MLA Appachu Ranjan and KSIIDC MD M.R. Ravi during the inspection of land for building a heliport, near Kushalnagar on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Seaplane operations can be launched at Harangi, says official
The State Government has proposed to develop an airstrip and a heliport near Kushalnagar for the benefit of tourists visiting Kodagu, one of the major hill stations in South India.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had announced in his recent budget to develop heliports at three places, including one in Kodagu. In this connection, a team of officials led by Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) Managing Director M.R. Ravi, accompanied by Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan, inspected the land where the facility has been proposed near the Sainik School at Kudige village.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ravi said 49 acres of government land was available near Kushalnagar and it was identified for developing an airstrip. “Since no land was available for developing the heliport at Madikeri, which was the first choice, we thought of developing the airstrip as well as the heliport on the 49-acre plot near Kushalnagar. We need just 5 acres for the heliport and the rest can be developed as an airstrip which can be used for the landing and takeoff of the 20-seater planes,” Mr. Ravi said.
Seaplane operations
Mr. Ravi said plans are afoot for launching the operations of seaplanes in Kodagu in a bid to boost tourism since the infrastructure for their operations was available at Harangi. “If everything goes as planned, seaplanes can land on and take off from Harangi waters. This can help improve connectivity to tourists who can afford such a trip. This can benefit adventure tourism for which Kodagu is considered one of the key destinations.”
Mr. Ranjan said the officials from the Airport Authority of India had visited Kushalnagar in connection with the proposed launch of airstrip operations. However, it did not materialise though the land for the same was identified.
Kodagu needs air connectivity as over 25,000 tourists descend on the hill station during weekends, registering 100 percent occupancy of hotels, resorts and home stays. The air connectivity can further boost tourism and the heliport is one such plan proposed by the government for which all support will be extended, he added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – May 30th, 2022
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