Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

‘Only Rightful Constitutional Recognition Can Save Kodavas’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

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

Madikeri: 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Coorg resort does prefab better than Elon Musk’s Texas home

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, World Opinion

Ayatana Resort in Coorg, a collaboration between architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower, uses prefabrication technology.

Set amidst 100 acres of lush landscape in Coorg is a cluster of cottages that are an experiment in eco-friendly  luxury hospitality. Ayatana Resort is the glorious result of an attempt to sustainably manifest a luxury development in the middle of lush, untouched rainforest.

Landscape architect Paul Blanchflower crafted the grounds of Ayatana Resort in Coorg 

The intrigue doesn’t end there; the cottages were constructed using prefabrication technology. The outer structure is made of prefabricated steel with 40-mm concrete used to craft the roof and the floor. If the word ‘prefab’ sounds familiar, it’s because Elon Musk recently made it one of the most Googled terms.

Elon Musk’s Prefab Texas home

Thanks to Musk, many of us heard of prefab technology for the first time recently. The billionaire is currently living in a prefabricated home (https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/elon-musk-lives-prefab-tiny-house-texas) in Texas, worth approximately USD 50,000.

Prefabrication is an alternative to the traditional in-situ construction method, and uses precast components to build spaces.

A prefab living space similar to the one Elon Musk lives in. Photo courtesy: Boxabl

The Tesla CEO reportedly lives in a transportable unit of about 400 square feet. It is set up like a studio apartment and features a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. The unit is on the SpaceX Texas site.

How Ayatana Used Prefabrication Methods

Ayatana’s indulgent spaces offer a lot more to its purveyors than the spartan space chosen by Musk. Ayatana effortlessly mixes prefabrication innovations, which are touted to be more energy- and cost-efficient than traditional construction methods, with the latest in luxury hospitality, and a generous dose of a tropical escape.

The resort is a cluster of stilted cottages that offer stunning views

Ayatana Resort is the brainchild of architect Vishal Vincent and landscape architect Paul Blanchflower. Blanchflower, who brought a lifetime of experience and wisdom as a horticulturist to the project, explains the decision to use prefab components: “While planning Ayatana, the decision to retain as much as possible of the existing landscape including the waterfall, led to the use of prefabricated steel construction for the structures. This minimized the on-site work and its subsequent impact on the natural landscape.” The structures were fabricated in a workshop in Bangalore and just assembled on-site—to keep the site activity at a minimum.

How to Build Without Disturbing Mother Nature?

“Taking inspiration from the trees on-site, the initial thought was to create treehouses, which eventually manifested into stilted cottages. These provided a similar experience to that of a treehouse without doing much harm to the existing trees and giving us the opportunity to create luxurious abodes,” says Vincent, who is the managing director and founder of the Coorg property.

Blanchflower and Vincent also guided the team in understanding what the landscape was communicating to them and in turn its importance. “Paul helped identify critical aspects of the untouched site that needed to be retained in the final design outcome. He has been responsible for the entire design being more environmentally sensitive since its initiation,” adds Vincent.

A Look Inside The Luxury Resort 

The open-plan lobby overlooks the cottages and has been minimally designed. Water is an important element that has been used in the design, with a reflecting pool and a still water edge detail providing a seamless visual connection to the surroundings. The lobby’s floating globes of cane lanterns make it easily identifiable from the rest of the site at night.

The resort has 36 standard cottages, 13 luxury suites and a presidential suite. The highlight of the cottages is the luxurious cantilevered balcony that almost brings the wilderness inside. The cottages are placed far away from each other, to allow a socially distanced vacation.

The interiors of Ayatana spell minimal luxury 
The cantilevered balcony is the USP of the cottages 

The Restaurant, Pool and Spa 

The in-house restaurant, The Glass House, offers an indoor area warmed with teak lights, panoramic views, and an outdoor bar and deck. The deck overlooks the infinity pool and doubles as a romantic candle-lit space for al-fresco dining in the evenings. 

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The view from the deck of The Glass House includes the swimming pool and the waterfalls beyond 

The infinity pool, with a view of the waterfall, stands out from its surroundings, thanks to its blue mosaic tiles, which appear in sharp contrast to the yellow Jaisalmer stone that has been used on the deck. This deck leads us to the lobby of the Wilderness Spa, nestled under the deck of the restaurant. Its treatment rooms are crafted in exposed brick, with framed vistas of the surroundings.

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The pool at Ayatana, Coorg 
Coorg resort Ayatana
A peek inside The Wilderness Spa 

source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest / Home> Architecture & Design / by Bindu Gopal Rao / Photography by Ayatana Coorg / August 20th, 2021

Academy takes up digitisation of Arebashe books

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Mangaluru :

Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi and Sahitya Academy have taken up the digitisation of books as part of its decennial celebration to be inaugurated this month. The digitisation process that began about four months ago, is an attempt to popularise and protect the language. So far, 42 books published by the academy have been digitised.

Lakshminarayan Kajegadde, academy president, said that this is an attempt to unite people who speak Arebhashe, across the world. We have also written letters to writers who had published books on their own, of which many have agreed to get their books digitised through the academy. Meanwhile , works on an Arebhashe dictionary and documentation of Arebashe culture, through the items that were used by people, is on.

The academy is also organising a four-day Arebhasha Samskruthi Shibira (camp), where resource persons are selected locally, to enlighten participants on the traditional practices and songs. The oral traditions of Arebhashe are one of the major traditions that show the finer aspects of the language. The camp will be held at Moornadu in Kodagu from Monday. A minimum of 30 people will participate in the camp. This year-long series will help in protecting the culture.

Bharathesha Alasandemajalu, the academy member, said Arebhashe has a history of approximately 500 years.

According to linguistic scientists, it is close to Kannada, but it is difficult to even for Kannadigas to understand the language. An estimated five lakh people, mostly belonging to the Gowda community, speak Arebhashe in Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts in Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala.


Prof K Chinappa Gowda, former vice-chancellor, Karnataka Folklore University, said that there is a need to protect Arebhashe or Gowda Bhashe, as it is spoken by several communities in Sullia and Kodagu.

“The language resembles Kannada but it is different. It is easy to neglect a language, but to bring it back to the mainstream is a challenge. Every language has unique words that speak about the qualities of the language. It should be noted that there is literature in Arebhashe, which possesses the quality of being taught in schools.

Several works in Arebhashe are being translated into other languages,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Education / by Deepthi Sanjiv, TNN / August 17th, 2021

Hillocks in Kodagu bleed purple as rare Kurinji flower blossoms after 12 years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF

Madikeri :

The two scenic hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu district are bleeding purple as the Neelakurinji flowers have taken over the spot like an army of soldiers. This rare sight has attracted many visitors including tourists as well as natives of Kodagu.

“I visited Kote Betta recently along with my cousins and it was a surreal experience. The major part of the hill was covered with these purple flowers and we later found out that they blossom once in 12 years,” said Dhanush Kaveriappa, a native of the district.

The Mandalpatti belt – which is mostly traversed in a jeep to get the off-road experience – has also become home to these flowers and visitors are enthralled by their beauty.

“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / August 17th, 2021

2A Category Reservation For Panchamasali, Gowda Lingayats: Community People To Start ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ Campaign From Aug. 26

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

Mysore/Mysuru:

Urging the Government to provide reservation to Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat communities under 2-A category, a ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign will be launched from Aug. 26 to 30 to remind the Government on its promise of reservation.

Announcing this at a press meet after holding a meeting of Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat community leaders at Hosamutt here on Monday, Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangama said that the community Seers and leaders had taken out a 750-km padayatra from Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district to the State Capital Bengaluru a couple of months ago seeking 2A category reservation for Panchamasali Lingayat and Gowda Lingayat communities. 

Pointing out that a massive convention was held at Palace Ground in Bengaluru following the culmination of the padayatra, he said that the convention had passed a unanimous resolution seeking reservation when the then B.S. Yediyurappa-headed Government had assured of seriously considering the demand. 

But now, in the changed political circumstances, Basavaraj Bommai, who had expressed support to the demand as a Minister then, has now become the Chief Minister. As such, the ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign is being held from Aug. 26 to 30, from M.M. Hills in Chamarajangar district to Bengaluru  to remind the Government of its promise on reservation, the Seer said.

Maintaining that the then CM Yediyurappa had assured of fulfilling their demand by Sept. 2021, the Swamiji warned of  staging a dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Oct. 1, marking the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J.H. Patel, if the Government fails to act on the demand by then.

Hosamutt Seer Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Lingayat Gowda Mahasabha State President Alanahalli  Puttaswamy, Panchamasali-Gowda Lingayat Co-ordination Committee Convenor and farmer leader A. Mallesh, Nataraj of Bengaluru, Shivakumar of Hassan, L.B. Patil of Mandya, Babitha Muthanna of Kodagu,  Community leaders Gangambika, Gowramma, Virupakshamma, Shambhu Patel and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 11th, 2021

Navy kicks off rally to Madikeri to mark Goa’s Liberation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
The Sea Riders, a group of motorcyclists, will cover close to 1,000km to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Goa’s Liberation

Panaji :

Folding away their crisp white uniforms and fatigues, the Indian Navy’s Sea Riders kicked off a six-day expedition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Goa’s Liberation and 75 years of India’s independence. Ten riders from Goa Naval Area are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri and will return to Goa by August 14.

The Sea Riders are a group of passionate motorcyclists from the Indian Navy, including women, who have undertaken  several expeditions across the country, including to the North Eastern estates, to create awareness. The six-day expedition will see the riders covering close to 1,000km.

“A motorcycle rally is being undertaken by Goa Naval Area to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the diamond jubilee of Goa’s Liberation. Ten riders are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil flagged off the rally from the War Memorial, INS Gomantak on August 9.

The War Memorial at INS Gomantak was erected in honour of the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during Goa Liberation.

At Madikeri, the riders will visit Field Marshal Cariappa Memorial, General Thimayya Museum and Sainik School, Kodagu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> News> City News> Goa News / TNN / August 10th, 2021

Kodava An Optional Language In Mangalore University

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Madikeri: 

Mangalore University will introduce Kodava as an optional language for undergraduate programmes. The University Academic Council has approved the introduction of Kodava as an optional language for degree classes in the colleges affiliated to the University. MA in Kodava language will also be introduced subsequently. 

“Regulations have been prepared. Once it is finalised, it will be placed before the Syndicate and Academic Council for approval,” Vice-Chancellor Dr. P.S. Yadapadithaya said. The Academic Council also approved the syllabus for the undergraduate programmes.

Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy President Parvathi Appaiah, who is also the Academic Council Member, said that an Expert Committee has already prepared the syllabus. The textbooks will be printed by Prasaranga of Mangalore University.

Kodava language or the ‘Kodava Thakk’ is a mixture of all Dravidian languages. It has adopted words from Tulu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. It has emerged into a separate linguistic identity now. 

Kodava language is largely restricted to Kodagu district, besides a few settlers in Mysuru and Bengaluru and other major cities in the country and abroad. Kodava language is predominantly written in the Kannada script.

According to the census data, for the Kodavas, the problem of declining language is compounded due to a reducing population. Several Kodavas, especially those who have moved out of Kodagu, are now speaking English or Kannada at home.

The initiative by the Mangalore University to introduce Kodava as an optional language for Undergraduate courses will provide the much-needed boost to the language.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 05th, 2021

‘Kakkada Padinett’ celebrated in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

The 18th day of the solar month ‘Ati’ was celebrated as ‘Kakkada Padinett’ in Kodagu on Tuesday.

Special dishes ‘Patrode’ of taro leaves and porridge of ‘Ati Soppu’ were prepared on the occasion.

It is believed that the leaves are rich in medicinal properties on the 18th day of the month of ‘Ati’.

Consumption of various dishes, with the juice of ‘Ati’ leaves, is believed to boost immunity. Side dishes prepared out of meat are also served on the occasion.

The greetings of the special day were exchanged, along with the special dishes.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Shanivarasanthe / August 04th, 2021

This estate house on a Coorg coffee plantation brings the outdoors inside

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

Rose Thampy of Edom Architects talks about balancing the contemporary with the vernacular to create a rustic forest home on a stunning coffee estate in Coorg, Karnataka

Kutta Estate House is an homage to its environment

Kochi-based architecture firm Edom Architects had the rare privilege of designing a weekend home in one of the most stunning landscapes of the country: a 2,000-acre Coorg coffee estate. A rustic, two-storey, 1,750-square-foot structure, Kutta Estate House is an homage to its environment, and is carefully crafted not just to be a warm, comfortable home in its own right, but an immersion into the luscious greenery of its surroundings.

The plantation, which is rich with a variety of wildlife in addition to the coffee plants, is almost like a forest of its own right. Lead architects Rose Thampy and Joseph T. Kallivayalil wanted to preserve the sensory experience of the environment, and kept the design earthy and rustic, as opposed to contemporary or overly ornamented. “We also decided to build a viewing deck,” Thampy says, “since one side of the site offers a stunning view of the Western Ghats.”

Cement-textured finishing on the exterior walls allows the building to blend into its environment. Large windows allow the home to remain open to the surrounding greenery, and also promote cross-ventilation throughout the interiors, while wooden louvres and jalis allow for the control of the airflow. “It was a very minimalistic concept, but I didn’t want to create a contemporary minimalistic feel,” says Thampy, adding, “The screen and wood added a little bit of vernacular style to the design.”

The style is vernacular in its approach
The home is surrounded by greenery

The interiors see a flourish of natural stones—from sandstone to slate and natural granite. The use of lime-yellow sandstone for the flooring enhances the sense of space and interconnectivity throughout the house. “We thought of sticking to one or two colours for the interiors, since the space is very small,” says Thampy, “but I wanted each space to have a slightly different feeling.”

Lounge and Dining Area

The entrance foyer breaks off into a combined lounge and dining area, which also includes a kitchenette. “We needed to create a subtle segregation between the living space and the dining and kitchenette,” says Thampy, “so we created a small deviation in the flooring pattern.” The staircase that leads to the top floor was crafted in metal, so as to reduce its sense of bulk, with a matte-black finishing that allowed it to blend into the grey-toned palette of the structure. An outdoor seating area leads from the dining space into the garden, offering a seamless transition between the interior and the environment outside. The home also has an outdoor kitchen, which is accessible from the dining room but also allows for food to be easily served outdoors. Much of the furniture and ornamental lighting is sourced from Mysore, Kochi and Bengaluru, while two large ceramic pots from Chettinad bring in a touch of the old world. Finally, two pig statuettes from Coorg make for a playful homage to the wildlife on the estate.

Viewing Deck

A significant portion of the first floor is dedicated to the viewing deck, which is underlined with slate flooring, so as not to distract from the true hero of the space: the view. A unique piece of furniture is the centre table, crafted from the stem of a coffee plant sourced from the estate itself.

The home is kept raw and rustic in appeal

Bedrooms

Two bedrooms—one each on the ground and first floors—see a continuation of the sandstone flooring, but are also warmed by rich wood tones of the furniture and window frames. Subtle textural details, like a patterned rug or vibrantly upholstered sofa, infuse the rooms with colour, but allow the space to feel open, warm and welcoming. In the first-floor bedroom, an abstract painting in blue sets the theme for the property: it is a pop of colour that accentuates the rustic nature of the space, while also serving as a visual complement to the climate.

Lighting

All architectural lighting has been sourced from Kochi, and has been designed to create a warm ambience throughout the home. Track lighting in the TV lounge highlights the cement texture of the walls, while decorative pendant lights from Bengaluru double as pieces of art. Clay pendant lights over the staircase reflect the rustic tones of the jali, and also allow the staircase area to seemingly merge with the outdoors. On the first floor, matt-black ceiling-mounted lights blend into the palette and allow the eye to focus instead on the views of the estate, and the Western Ghats beyond.

source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest / Home> Architecture & Decor / by Avantika Shankar / Photography by Turtle Arts / July 31st, 2021

Annual Get-Together Held

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Mysore/Mysuru:

The annual get-together of Field Marshal Kodava Kshemabhivrudhi Sangha was held at Jayamahal premises in Yelwal on July 21.

Sangha President Deyanda Jaya Chengappa presided.  

Former President of Mysuru Kodava Samaja Moovera Kuttappa and Bollamma Kuttappa were the chief guests. 

Managing Committee members – Hon. Secretary Mandaneravanda   Subramani, Treasurer  Kadira Nandakumar, Joint Secretary  Bollera Gagana; Assistant Committee members – Allappanda Kuttappa, Nayakanda Aiyappa, Nayakanda Harish, Mekerira Bharath, Marada Shashi Aiyanna, Koothanda Dinesh Poonacha, Mukkatira Sathish Cariappa, Chowrira Sharada Annaiah, Mandepanda Jhansi Thimmaiah and Mundumada Latha Bose jointly organised the programme.

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