Dasara Committee convinces CM to release more funds.
The Rs 30 lakh grant released by the state government towards Madikeri Dasara was the reason of disappointment for the Dasara Committee this year. However, after pressuring the government, the committee has been successful in convincing the chief minister to release an additional grant of Rs 30 lakh.
On Wednesday, a team comprising District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam, MLA
M P Appacchu Ranjan, MLC Veena Acchaiah and Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy former president Biddatanda S Thammaiah met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and requested for more grants, to which the chief minister has agreed.
There was a demand to earmark a fund of Rs 1 crore towards Madikeri Dasara. The committee members expected the government to release at least Rs 60 lakh. But, the calculations went wrong when the grants were restricted to only Rs 30 lakh by the government. The assurance by the chief minister to release additional funds has been a relief for the committee members.
The Madikeri Dasara will be flagged-off with the Karagotsava on September 21. The last day of Dasara will be marked by the extravagant ‘Dasamantapa’ procession, the major attraction of Madikeri Dasara. This apart, there will be Dasara sports tournament, Youth Dasara, Children’s Dasara, cultural programmes, rural games, women’s Dasara and poets’ meet. Therefore, the committee members were expecting a grant of Rs 80 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
In 2015, a grant of Rs 50 lakh was released by the state government in the wake of drought situation in the state. In 2016, though Rs 75 lakh was assured, only Rs 60 lakh was released.
The previous Madikeri Dasara was a bundle of chaos as several artists did not receive payments and some even received bounced cheques. District In-charge Minister M R Seetharam had taken the committee members to task in this connection.
Preparations yet to begin
Even as there is only a week left for Dasara, no preparations have begun at Gandhi Maidan, except for the makeover of the Gandhi Mantapa. The deputy commissioner has not convened any preparatory meet. The patchwork of roads too has not been taken care of. However, people said the office-bearers of Madikeri Dasara Committee have been raising funds from the public.
The dates of Children’s Dasara, ‘Makkala Santhe’ and rural games have been finalised. But, the schedule of the cultural programmes is not out yet.
DH News Service
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Aditya K A, Madikeri / DH News Service / September 14th, 2017
An inside view of the Golden Temple. (Below) The author.
One Friday evening, I was all set with a cup of coffee to finish my leftover work when I got calls from my friends asking me to join them for a Coorg wedding. The decision wasn’t a tough one at all. So without a clear plan, we were ready for it.
We set out 6 am the next day to avoid the heavy traffic. We had breakfast on the way. This was going to be my first time in Coorg and I couldn’t wait to see the ‘Scotland of India’.
Soon the city slowly drifted away and greenery and tobacco farms started unveiling before us. Our first visit was to the Golden Temple, the beautiful Buddhist monastery in Bylakuppe. It was about fours hours since we started our journey.
We suddenly were amidst a sea of young Tibetan monks and tourists. The Namdroling Monastery is a world in itself, rich in history. The highly ornate temple tower is certainly worth a visit.
Our next stop was where the Coorg wedding was happening. The wedding is called ‘Mangala’ in Kodava language and the wedding is indeed a fun-filled cultural feast. The men wore the traditional black ‘Kupya’, secured with a red ‘Chele’ on their waists and a turban, while the women wore traditional Coorg saris. Unlike the usual Hindu wedding customs, a Coorg wedding is short, simple and filled with an evening of guests letting their hair down, dancing to tribal drums and relishing the customary dishes.
We spend that night in a hotel near Madikeri. Next morning, we woke up early and saw the hills sprawling across the stretch of settlement and streets. It was cloudy, so a hot breakfast at the nearby Shanthi Sagar restaurant was a great start to the day.
Dawn had just broken when we set out to visit MugiluPete (Mandalapatti) on a solitary road with lush greenery and winding vales, often on both sides. The climb to the top was rough and unsafe for cars, hence we had to book a jeep. The narrow roads that take you to the top are pretty scary.
The climb to the top brought us almost into the middle of the clouds. This fog-shrouded breathtaking mound of earth is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The Pushpagiri range made for a magnificent view. We also visited the place considered as the source of river Cauvery – the Talacauvery and the temple there. The legends were good to hear over ‘pakodas’, hot Maggi and a cup of ‘gullak’ tea served near the temple. Coorg was a great experience, perfect for travellers exploring new areas.
(Simon can be contacted at simn.stephns@gmail.com)
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Metrolife / by Simon Ghosh / September 15th, 2017
At the pinnacle of the co-operative movement, Delhi’s Indian Coffee House brims with a rich history of common tastes
Today, coffee shop chains are the order of the day. Long before these became a fad, home-grown coffee shops established themselves as ‘by the common man, for the common man’, although there was nothing common about it. Patronised by the who’s who of Delhi, be it politicians, journalists, economists, thinkers, activists (perhaps they considered themselves as common then!), the joint was run purely on a cooperative basis and soon established itself as a hub for excellent coffee and snacks.
That’s the legacy of the Indian Coffee House in Delhi — the country’s first home-grown chain of coffee houses that turns 60 this year.
The outlets served no lunch or breakfast routines, but served tiffin or snacks throughout the day. There was excellent South Indian coffee with a couple of variations, as well as idli, dosa, vada, sandwiches and toast. The word spread and it soon became a popular ‘adda’ for anyone and everyone. The hallmark of cooperative movement, there were no workers or managers — everyone worked shoulder to shoulder.
How it all began
The year was 1957. The place — 10, UB Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar. Following its success, a branch was opened at Janpath in 1964. Soon, it was allotted space by NDMC at the Central Portion, where Palika Bazaar stands today. Here it soared, given the ideal location.
In Delhi, the Indian Coffee Houses tasted success and started operating canteens in various Government offices. It also opened branches across North India, and currently has around 10 outlets in the North. The canteen was frequented by Raj Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia among others.
There are stories of how in the early 70s before Emergency, a van from Indira Gandhi’s residence would come to pick up idli, vada, sambar and coffee for visitors and functions regularly. Then for a rupee, one could get vadas, idlis and coffee to boot!
Turn of events
When the Connaught Place outlet was demolished without advance notice, it was forced to shift the entire operation to its current place, Mohan Singh Place, where it has been in operation since 1969. Most regulars swear that after this, it could never regain its erstwhile glory. A little sign on the outside of Mohan Singh Place proclaims, Indian Coffee House. Mohan Singh Place is known for its excellent economical denim jeans made within a few hours. The Indian Coffee House is located on the top floor of the building with a lift. The space is clean and quite nice, almost like a canteen.
Joining hands
So what started this cooperative chain of coffee houses? One can go back to the heady days of the cooperative movement, when this venture was thought of as a measure for retrenched workers to find employment.
As Narayanan Kutty, an old member of the Indian Coffee Workers Cooperative, says, “In the year 1957, the Coffee Board decided to close down its propaganda department and down the shutters on its Coffee Houses as well. The Communist leader AK Gopalan, leader of the Coffee Board Labour Union, Subhadra Joshi, MP, and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, then Prime Minister of India — advised the retrenched employees of the Coffee Board to form their own co-operative societies. The employees welcomed this idea and formed their own cooperative societies, known as Indian Coffee Workers Cooperative Society. The first was formed in Delhi.”
PD Pradeep, Manager, who has climbed up the ranks, says, “Anyone who joins the establishment as a worker has to go through the rank and file, starting from the lowest. This ensures no one is a boss, but everyone is a worker. So when there is a shortage of hands, it is not uncommon to see managers chip in, shoulder-to-shoulder.”
The liveried bearers remind one of railway dining halls. Pradeep says, “Everything is made fresh. We do not buy off-the-shelf masalas. We make everything from scratch.” The coffee powder is procured from the neighbouring India Coffee Board.
In other parts though, the chain procures beans from Wayanad. This is roasted and powdered in-house for use. Filter coffee decoction is brewed in a huge steel coffee filter. For sambar, the spices are roasted and ground and no sambar powder is used. Coconut chutney is made using fresh grated coconut with roasted chana dal, ginger and green chilli. As Pradeep speaks, there is a sense of pride in being a part of such a cooperative-spirited venture.
Recipe for success
Pradeep says an interesting formula has been worked out by the establishment. “One kilo of rice and 250 grams of urad dal without husk gives 35 dosas. Similarly, one kilogram of potato with half a kilogram of onion gives masala for 18 dosas. One kilogram of rice and half a kilogram of urad dal makes 50 idlis, and one kilogram of urad dal gives around 50 to 55 vadas.” Any variation and the cook is taken to task. The reason — if it is more, that means the quantity is wasted; if lower, then the customer is short-changed.” Amul butter is used for butter dosa and Amul cheese for the sandwich. The prices are still common man-like.
The Indian Coffee House reflects another era, where the unity of the people under the cooperative banner to build businesses and the country was paramount. They are still relevant in today’s world, where Amul gives the best of MNCs a run for their money. A little more effort, a little more care, more vision and the Indian Coffee House could be pioneering coffee chains not only in India but even abroad!
In this weekly column, we take a peek at some of the most iconic restaurants
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Chitra Balasubramaniam / September 14th, 2017
Sun TV Network founder-promoter Kalanithi Maran and his wife Kavery have taken home a combined remuneration of Rs 155.86 crore in FY17, making them one of the highest-paid corporate executives in the country.
The Marans were paid Rs 77.93 crore each as salary plus bonus in FY17, an increase of 9.04% from the earlier year. In FY16, each enjoyed a remuneration of Rs 71.47 crore.
While the salary remained the same, the increase in remuneration was mainly due to an increase in ex-gratia/bonus. The bonus component rose by over 11%.
Sun TV Network founder and executive chairman Kalanithi and his wife Kavery, who is an executive director, received Rs 13.14 crore each as salary, the same as in the year-ago period. However, the ex-gratia/bonus income rose to Rs 64.79 crore each from Rs 58.33 crore a year ago.
Maran received a dividend of Rs 295.56 crore in FY17 compared to Rs 458.12 crore in the prior year.
Meanwhile, Sun TV MD and CEO K Vijay Kumar drew a salary plus bonus of Rs 1.17 crore in FY17 compared to Rs 1.08 crore in the earlier year. Vijay Kumar’s salary grew to Rs 97 lakh from Rs 82 lakh in FY16.
Sun TV Network’s total income for the year ended 31 March 2017 was up 8.03% at Rs 2,703.80 crore, as against Rs 2, 502.75 crore a year ago. Profit before tax stood at Rs 1,490.35 crore against Rs 1,334.24 crore a year ago.
Profit after tax was Rs 979.41 crore as against Rs 869.69 crore in the previous year.
source: http://www.televisionpost.com / Television Post / Home> Television / by Television Post Team / September 04th, 2017
The awards ceremony of the sixth edition of South Indian International Movie Awards, which was held at Dubai, will go on air on Sunday on Udaya tv at 6pm.
Sandalwood actresses Shubra Aiyappa and Shraddha Srinath, have performed in the glittering ceremony.
Actors Shivarajkumar, Rakshit Shetty, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, Chandan Achar, Radhika Chetan. Vasishta Simha, Rashmika Mandanna and Samyukth Hornad have graced the occasion.
The awards are given in different categories like best actor, best director, best singer, best debutant actor, best supporting actor and in several other category.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> TV> News> Kannada / TNN / September 01st, 2017
Codava National Council members celebrate ‘Kail Pold’ festival, near Madikeri Junior College on Friday. dh photo
The annual Kail Pold festival was celebrated in different parts of Kodagu with traditional fervour and gaiety on Friday.
The Codava National Council (CNC) members observed Kail Pold in the city. The festival will also be celebrated in a few parts of the district on Saturday and Sunday.
As part of its 22nd year of celebrations, the CNC organised a vehicle rally, held prayers for agricultural implements and firearms and also shooting at coconut competitions.
Agricultural equipment like plough, yoke, ‘Tami Taave,’ ‘Bollangi,’ burnished firearms, ‘Odi Kathi,’ ‘Peeche Kathi,’ were worshipped at a mand near Junior College in Madikeri.
Speaking on the occasion, CNC president N U Nachappa said, “Kodavas should be accorded tribal status. The district is known for its rich legacy. By celebrating the folk games and festivals in Kodagu, we have to pass on the tradition to the future generation.”
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by DH News Service, Madikeri / September 01st, 2017
Tucked in the western ghats in Karnataka, Coorg is best known for its coffee and people. There is something for everyone in this picturesque locale
Last week a friend asked me for travel advice on Coorg — when to go, what to see and buy and so on. It triggered many memories of the place and of the many trips I had made to it over the years.
Coorg’s lesser-known name is Kodagu. A rural district in Karnataka. It has been a popular holiday destination for long and especially for people of the state and surrounding ones. There are many things that draw people to Coorg – coffee plantations, homestays, which offer a slice of local life, an exotic Tibetan settlement, the wild western ghats, scrumptious local delicacies and wildlife sighting too.
The picturesque coffee plantations of Coorg are great to drive around. They are a photographer’s delight and are nowadays featuring in many south Indian films too. It is not only their scenic beauty which fascinates; Many plantations offer guided tours so you can see the various stages of coffee-making from the seeds to the powder and you can see carpets of coffee seeds laid out to dry in the sun as also piles of soap nut before houses.
Among the best trekking options in south India are contained in the Western Ghats which are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage List for their rich biodiversity. Waterfalls add to the scenic beauty. Some treks require permission from the forest department. Given its location on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Coorg is a paradise for naturalists and even the lay nature lover will discern a vast range of flowers, birds and butterflies.
About 40 km south of Madikeri, is the Tibetan settlement at Bylakuppe built on land donated to Tibetan refugees by the Union Government. Here is the beautiful Namdroling monastery—once I entered, it felt like I was in Bhutan or Thailand’s monasteries; so authentically have the Tibetans recreated the Buddhist ethos. Stores here sell authentic handicrafts and hand-woven items though they are relatively expensive.
You can get up close and personal with elephants at the Dubare Elephant camp at the Cauvery river. Watching them bathe in the river and even helping in their scrubbing is a special delight for visiting urbanites and children particularly.
For sighting wildlife in more natural habitats, you can visit the Nagarhole National Park. A wide variety of safaris are on offer here. The tiger is a big draw—this park was part of Project Tiger. Bison, bear, leopards, reptiles, and hundreds of species of birds, etc are the other inhabitants.
Homestays have caught on in a great way in Coorg. I had never experienced a homestay in this area but had a close look at a few. Provided you find a really good one they are a great way to enjoy a slice of local life. From their food and architecture to their songs, marriage customs and attire including the way they drape their sarees. there is a fascinating Kodava culture to discover.
Coorg is a foodie’s delight too with its varied cuisine. Being a vegetarian, I have never tasted its most famous dish–Pandi Curry but have heard my carnivore friends rave about it. This is pork in a sour and spicy gravy made from Kachampuli, a black vinegar made from black kokum fruit. My favourites are the bamboo-shoot curry, Puttu or steamed rice dishes like Nooputtu which is a bit like Kerala’s idiyappam, Paaputtu and Akki roti with pumpkin curry or Kaad mango curry made from wild mangoes which give it a delightful tartness.
Rice and coconut are integral to the local cuisine and non-vegetarian dishes like mutton and chicken are popular. You will also find on the table local honey, chutneys of smoked or dried meat and fish, and pickles of mushroom, gooseberries and tender bamboo.
For my friend’s shopping list, I recommended the local wines (made from local fruits) knowing she and her husband were wine connoisseurs. The gooseberry wine generally tops that list of wines for such people. The honey is among the best in the country and coffee seeds and powder are favourite purchases of visitors. You can carry back spices and locally made jams and pickles. The artefacts at Bylakuppe and items from discarded wood from plantations are other options.
source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> Sunday Herald / September 02nd, 2017
Since ancient times, kings have dedicated hero stones, called Bira Kall in Kodava language, to the memory of martyrs. Many hero stones have been found in North Kodagu, especially around Somwarpet. These coarsely sculpted granite tablets, often issued by the rulers or commissioned by affluent families, are also known as Kolle Kallu, stones of the killed.
A number of hero stones have been lined around the Government Museum in the Madikeri Fort. Often, the hero stone comprises of 2 or 3 panels. Usually, on the top of the hero stone, a sun and a crescent moon are inscribed. At the bottom, figures of men and women holding weapons such as swords, shields and bows are carved.
Some sculptures in the classic style have been found elsewhere in Karnataka, such as Mysuru, Shivamogga and Belagavi. In such hero stones, the topmost compartment, underneath the sun and moon, would be a linga and a bull with worshippers around them. The second would show the hero ascending the heavens with apsaras on either side fanning him. The third would have the hero battling other warriors during his life on earth. Sometimes there is a fourth, the bottommost compartment, which might have a horse and an elephant etched.
A peep into history
Of these, the most well-known Bira Kall in Kodagu, made in 1768, has an image representing Kannanda Doddayya, a dalavayi or army general, wearing a traditional costume, called the kuppya chele, with a gun in one hand and a native war knife, an oide katti, in the other. It is said that when Hyder Ali unsuccessfully attacked Kodagu, Doddayya stood before King Muddu Raja II on the eve of the battle and declared: “Twice before have I returned after defeating Hyder and bowed to you. But this time, I shall not be back.” Indeed in 1767, Doddayya was fatally wounded near Kajur Bagilu even as the army returned victorious. Later, his house was destroyed and 24 members of his family were killed by Hyder’s son Tipu Sultan.
According to G Richter’s Manual of Coorg, which was published in 1870, Doddayya’s Bira Kall was first placed in a paddy field, upon a hill slope and opposite the Mercara Central School.
A kaimada, a small sanctuary built in remembrance of ancestors, was built a few decades ago and the Bira Kall was shifted into it. In front of this place, which is also called Birappa Sanctuary, and to the right is a shrine dedicated to Vishnu Murthy (Vishnu’s spirit). To the left of the sanctuary is a shelter, called the pavali, where a number of devotees can sit within. Behind the sanctuary and to the left is a trishul, planted upon a raised platform. There are two raised stone seats, one behind the other and facing the sanctuary.
The Kannanda family has 3 more memorial stones, featuring some more family members, placed inside another shrine. While one stone has a male ancestor with younger members, the second has a woman with children around her and the third shows two male ancestors holding weapons. Beside this second shrine is another pavali with stone benches inside. When I paid a visit to the Bira Kall site, I met some members of the Kannanda family — Suresh, Ashwini, and a clan elder, Pookunhi to know more about the hero stone. They narrated the legend of Doddayya. Accordingly, Doddayya’s Kodagu army had successfully defeated Hyder Ali’s army and was returning back victoriously. But unfortunately Doddayya was struck and wounded on the way.
The king, pleased upon seeing the return of the victorious army, was dismayed when he heard of the dying general. Doddayya was led up the walls of Madikeri Fort and all the lands that he looked upon were then granted to his family by the grateful King. Part of this was what is today called the Kannanda bane (land), the area beyond Mann’s compound and Ajjamada Devaiah circle in Madikeri. Doddayya passed away and a Bira Kall was made for him. Some more land grants were made to the Kannanda family by the king. Thus the family came to own lands in seven places: Bavali, Madikeri, Haleri, Poramale, Kajur, Noorokkal and Katakeri. It is said that at one point, the Kannanda family owned half of Madikeri. Family members sold away most of their lands over the years. Now only 3 of the original 7 places remain with them.
Folk culture
A week after the festival of Shivaratri, the Pade Bira (war hero) Kannanda Doddayya is remembered and a two-day festival is organised. Dance and enactment performances, called there, are arranged. On the first day, prasada is prepared and the Guru Karana, an ancestor who was the preceptor as well, is remembered. The bhandara, money offered at the temple, is moved that evening. Throughout the night, the Anji Koot Murthy (five spirit deities) is held. At dawn the next day, the Vishnu Murthy There is held.
The final function, Pade Bira There, has a performer imitate Kannanda Doddayya and the Nari Pooda (tiger spirit) There has another performer emulate a tiger. The Pade Bira There and the Nari Pooda There performers together dance frantically around the place. While the Pade Bira sits upon the seat near the temple, the Nari Pooda sits upon the seat away from the temple.
The Nari Pooda performer leaves early while the Pade Bira performer is the last one to remain.
Not only do the hero stones allow us to remember those who have sacrificed themselves, they also allow us to understand a time in history.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by Mookanda Kushalappa / April 26th, 2016
A few of the families in Kodagu maintain the tombs of their distinguished ancestors. A few families are also in the possession of paintings of their ancestors being felicitated by the kings. A few others maintain artefacts such as oide katti, also known as a billhook-shaped war knive, with king’s insignia upon them.
The Thathanda family is one such family that received three of these honours.
They have their ainmane, or ancestral house, in Kuklur village of Virajpet taluk. Their ancestral house was formerly a mundu mane, a house with an open, central courtyard, which is called a mund. The sepulchre of their renowned ancestor Karyagara (officer) Thathanda Subbayya lies some distance away from the ainmane. It has a Nandi figure upon it. Beside this tomb is an unmarked grave. Both these tombs are within an enclosure.
Nearby in the same graveyard are two large graves. The names of two of the four buried there were not known to us. Clansman Thathanda Nanaiah explains, “Subbayya ajja’s (forefather) elder brother had a son who addressed ajja as kunjappa (one of the names for a paternal uncle). After ajja’s death, this nephew inherited his possessions. It is this nephew’s grave which lies beside the tomb of ajja and within the boundary. The two buried outside the boundary were clan elders, each called a pattedar. ”
According to his book, Kodagina Itihasa (1974), historian D N Krishnaiah came to learn of Karyagara Subbayya from the Thathanda elders. In 1811, two British officers General Welsh and Captain Williamson visited the court of the then king of Kodagu, Linga Rajendra. They were pleased with the hospitality offered. When the king heard the news of a rogue tusker, he proposed a hunt and his guests agreed. Thathanda Subbayya was given the responsibility of organising the hunt.
Accompanied by elephants and attendants, the hunting party set out to the jungle. In the trees and around a forest clearing, boxed seats made of cane were prepared. Ladders were used to reach it. The king, the two Englishmen and others settled themselves in the cane boxes. Kodava pikemen, with their long spears, would comb the jungle and drive the prey into the clearing during a hunt. Several drum beaters would aid the hunters by scaring the animals with their noise. This way, the wild tusker was driven into the clearing and shot dead.
Pleased with Subbayya’s arrangements, the king honoured him with a gold medal and gifted him a gun. Subbayya was also awarded a oide katti with the king’s insignia on it. A painting of Subbayya and the king was also gifted to him. However, some people grew jealous of Subbayya and schemed against him. The opportunity came when the king received complaints about cattle-stealing tigers.
A hunt was organised by Subbayya in order to eliminate the tigers. On the night before the hunt, Subbayya ensured that the cane seats were securely placed in the area where the hunt was to take place. When he left, his enemies loosened the seats. The next day, when the king shot a tiger, the seat he was on fell apart and he fell. Furious, he demanded to have the head of the man who had set up these seats. Subbayya was blamed for what was thought to be a shoddy work. As he was deep in the forest with the other hunters, the executioners were sent out to behead Subbayya.
One servant ran before them and told Subbayya everything that had transpired. Subbayya was unhappy as there was no way for him to prove his innocence. Subbayya told the servant to convey to the king that he had been framed and sent him back. As Subbayya did not want to be punished for a crime he did not commit, he shot himself. When the king came to know what had taken place, he was displeased. Subbayya was buried on his family farm. Enquiries were held and the king discovered that Subbayya was indeed innocent. The king had a mausoleum built over Subbayya’s grave.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements / by Mookonda Kushalappa / August 15th, 2017
E-base, Kodagu, is addressing various local issues such as man-animal conflict prevalent in the area, protecting the Kaveri river, and water conservation.
Nestled in the lush Western Ghats, surrounded by coffee plantations, elephant corridors, and forests alike, Titimati is not far from the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve. A green and resilient building made of clay bricks, local stones, Mangalore tiles and bamboo stands there. It is the E-base at Kodagu — an embodiment of responsible and sustainable living.
Located in the popularly known Coorg district of Karnataka, it is the fifth E-base in the world that started in June 2016. An E-Base serves as a symbolic model for educational, environmental and energy issues throughout the world. The first one was established in Antarctica in 2008.
E-base, Antarctica
Sir Robert Swan, OBE, who established the first E-base in Antarctica, was the first man to have walked, unassisted, to both the North and the South Pole. He has served as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador.
After successfully removing 1,500 tonnes of waste from the shores of Antarctica, Sir Robert Swan stood at the Bellingshausen Russian Base and envisioned an education base that would allow him to share the beauty of this continent with students and leaders around the world.
Powered entirely by renewable energy, Robert and a small team lived in the E-Base and broadcasted clean technology and energy saving techniques to schools and universities around the world.
The purpose of an E-base is to inspire a global audience to tackle the issue of climate change by showing that if we can achieve the seemingly impossible in Antarctica, we can all take small, achievable steps in our own backyards.
Since Antarctica, E-bases have been established in Pench, Madhya Pradesh; Leh, Ladakh; and Blue Ridge Mountains, USA. All have the common objective to educate and learn about global climate issues, while addressing local sustainability challenge
Visit to Forestry College, Ponnampet.
Taking the E-base to India
Charulata Somal, IAS, CEO Zilla Panchayat of Kodagu, driven by the zeal to make the best things happen in the district, started the E-base in 2016.
It all started in the March of 2016, when Charulata went to Antarctica on an expedition led by Robert Swan for ‘A Leadership on the Edge Programme to the Last Wilderness on Earth,’ not just once but twice the same year. A passionate environmentalist, Charulata, after her return from Antarctica, decided to take forward the concept of E-base in her district to safeguard its flora and fauna through education.
E-base, Kodagu, was established at Titimati Ashram School, a residential government school for tribal children. The E-base runs a paid fellowship programme every year which brings bright, young, motivated individuals to work with the children and build a curriculum on sustainability while imparting life skills to the kids.
With a strength of 250 children and a potential to reach out to over 500 children in the neighbourhood, the E-base gives the fellow a broad canvas to teach and explore.
Children building solar cooker from waste and managing a vegtable garden at E-base.
“We have had one fellow till now and will be receiving our second fellow in June. Our previous fellow, Deepti Bhatt implemented 14 mini projects, core projects, field trips and workshops which included activities like creating and nurturing a vegetable garden at school and making eco-friendly toys. We hope that these efforts will be carried forward by our incoming fellow,” says Aarati Rao, an educator who worked for building a sustainability curriculum for a similar concept learning space, i.e. the E-base in Leh before meeting Charulata Somal on the International Antarctica Expedition 2016.
Practicality and hands-on learning are of prime importance at the E-base and fellows are chosen on the basis of their ability to integrate project-based learning and experiential learning into their teaching style. “The fellow’s role becomes important in utilising the infrastructure and the resources available to provide access and exposure to the children to the outside world while staying rooted in their traditions,” explains Aarati.
Environmental education hub
“E-base, Kodagu, serves as a space for kids to learn about environmental conservation and drive change through activism and ownership. Its objective is to address various local issues such as man-animal conflict prevalent in the area, protecting the Kaveri river, water conservation, and native tree preservation. It also aims to be a space that’ll serve as a window to the world since it is internet-enabled,” says Aarati, who, along with Charulata, realised the vision of starting an E-base in a biodiversity hotspot like Kodagu.
Children demonstrating their art made using leaves.
The E-base integrates rainwater harvesting technology, organic farming and clean energy for teaching children sustainable practices from a very young age.
The long-term vision is to make the students capable of countering environmental challenges and inspire them to be the problem solvers of the world. There are 11 ashram schools that are catering to the tribal kids at Kodagu, and the E-base team hopes to make use of the E-base as a learning centre.
Although there are merely five E-bases across the world, the team at Kodagu hopes that there would be an E-base in every country which would virtually connect kids and help them come up with solutions for the big challenges the world faces today.
“That is the big picture which we hope to achieve in the long run,” says a member of the E-base.
source: http://www.yourstory.com / YourStory / Home> Education / by Hema Vaishnavi / August 23rd, 2017
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