Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

In a lighter vein… How towns in Kodagu got their names

February 18, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, AllBook - Tale of a Tigers Tail & Other Yarns, Boolk - Tale of a Tiger's Tail & Other Yarns from Coorg, C P Belliappa, Coorg, CP Belliappa, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Madikeri, Virajpetadmin

It’s well-known that the British morphed Kodagu into Coorg and Madikeri into Mercara. The origin of the original name Kodagu is not very clear. It is said that Kodagu is a derivative of the ancient name Krodadesha. It could well be that the name Kodagu came from the word ‘Kodi’ denoting its high perch on the Western Ghats.

Madikeri, which was founded by Mudduraja in 1681, was named after the founder as Muddurajakeri. We are also told that Madikeri might have derived from the word ‘madi’, meaning clean. The place was once known for being neat and tidy. Recently Madikeri was ranked fifth in the country for having the best air quality.

There was a time in Coorg’s history when Ammathi was known as Colepet. This was sometime in the 1860s. The present-day Ammathi was part of Ammathinad, and this area was slowly developing from a ‘vonti-angadi’ (one shop) to a ‘multi-angadi.’

The name Colepet was given in honour of one of the popular British Superintendents of Coorg — Captain Robert A. Cole, known for his book ‘An Elementary Grammar of the Coorg Language’. Somewhere along the line, Colepet got named Ammathi.

At the time of the British takeover of Coorg, there was a busy hamlet in the southern part of Coorg known as Balelesanthe. Banana leaf was an important commodity then and Balelesanthe was the centre of this trade.

In 1866, Chepudira Madayya used his influence and renamed Balelesanthe as Ponnampet in honour of his illustrious father, Dewan Chepudira Ponnappa (my great-great-great grandfather). Ponnampet is now a busy hub of commerce and higher education. Recently, this erstwhile hamlet got elevated as a Taluk.

Santhe or the weekly market day, was very important during those bygone days. Quite a few places in Coorg got their name after the weekly ‘shandy day.’ So, we have Shanivarasanthe and Somwarpet. There existed a Sukravarasanthe, which was the present-day marketplace in Madikeri. The name Sukravarasanthe is no longer in vogue, but Madikeri continues to have its shandy day on Fridays.

The ruling family of the Lingayat Rajas named a few of the places. Virajpet, as we know, is the town founded by Dodda Veerarajendra in 1792. He also named Mahadevapet in Mercara after one of his favourite queens Mahadevamma.

Nanjarayapatna is another place named after a member of the ruling family. The Triveni Sangama at Bhagamandala got its name after the deity Bhagandeswara. The southernmost town, Kutta, is named after the forest goddess Kuttadamma. The closest settlement to Siddeshwara betta got the name Siddapur, a bustling town now.

Present-day Kushalnagar was apparently named by Hyder Ali. It was while he camped here that he received news of his son Tipu’s first military victory in another battle zone. However, Kushalnagar was renamed Frazerpet in honour of Lt. Col. J.A. Frazer who successfully secured Coorg for the British East India Company in 1834.

Stewart (Stuart) Hill near Raja’s Seat in Madikeri is named after Col. Stewart, one of the leading British officers who took part in the annexation of Coorg.

Murnad got its name from being the meeting place of three ‘naads’ and Nalknad is a conglomeration of four ‘naads’. Likewise, Nalkeri is the centre of four villages. Murkal has a landmark of three boulders. And Arvathokkalu is a hamlet of sixty ‘okkas’ or families. Likewise, there is Nalvathokkalu and Napoklu.

Sometime during the 1870s, the British administration opened a new housing colony named Ranipet near the rapidly growing town of Mercara. The name Ranipet was in honour of Queen Victoria.

Quite a few places in Coorg derived their name after the commodities they were famous for. We thus have Sunti-coppal (Ginger village), Goni-coppal (Goni is woven hessian used for making sacks), Balele (Banana leaf), Chettalli (village famous for beans) and Meenpet (fish market near Virajpet). Incidentally, Chettalli used to be popularly known as ‘Tenth Mile’ during British days since it was 10 miles from Madikeri.

We have a place named Bavali, which probably had a large rookery of bats. The place Kadanga is named after the famous defensive ‘kadangas’ (trenches) dug by the nayakas who ruled Kodagu before the Haleri dynasty.

However, I am not quite sure if the place Kurchi is known for making chairs. And then, if one had an axe to grind, I guess they went to Kodlipet!

During Tipu Sultan’s occupation of Madikeri, he rebuilt the Fort and renamed the area Jaffarabad. Dodda Veerarajendra recaptured the town in 1790, and mercifully, the fair name of Madikeri was restored.

‘Coorg’ has become an attractive and highly recognisable brand name. So, we have schools, colleges, homestays and resorts that retain the name Coorg. There are several local products such as coffee, spices, honey and wine prefixing the name Coorg.

I wish the town closest to where I live — Gonikoppal — had a better name. Several years ago, a young nephew of mine who was visiting us for the first time thought the name was ‘Gopigopal’. Now, ‘Gopigopal’ would be a much better-sounding name for a swaggering town that has the exaggerated moniker — Texas of Coorg.

[This anecdote is an updated version of the one in my book “Tale of A Tiger’s Tail & Other Yarns from Coorg”]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> Top Stories / by C.P. Belliappa / February 17th, 2025

Temple entry row: It is Kodavas vs Arebhashe Gowdas in Kodagu

February 16, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022))Akhila Kodava Samaja, Appachu Ranjan, Arebhashe Gowdas, Codava National Council, Coorg, Field Marshal K M Cariappa, Ganesh Aiyanna, General K S Thimayya, Harsha Kodagana, J Ganesh Aiyanna, K G Bopaiah, Kattemadu Village, Kodagu, Kodagu Deputy Commissioner - Venkat Raja, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Kodava Community, Kodavaame Baalo, Kodavas, Madikeri, Sri Mrutyunjaya (Shiva) Temple, Talacauvery, Teerthodbhava, Venkat Rajaadmin

Kodavas and the Arebhashe Gowdas are two prominent communities in Kodagu, Karnataka.

On February 2, thousands of Kodava men and women in traditional attire took out ‘Kodavaame Baalo’, an 82km, six-day peace march led by the Akhila Kodava Samaja (AKS) in Kodagu, Karnataka. They did so to reassert their distinct identity and to draw attention to the social, religious and political challenges their community faces.

The trigger for the march was a temple entry row that has pitted two prominent communities in Kodagu―the Kodavas and the Arebhashe Gowdas―against each other.

The newly built Sri Mrutyunjaya (Shiva) temple, in Kattemadu village near Madikeri town, is the epicentre of the dispute. On December 27, when some Kodavas turned up for the annual festival in their traditional attire, some Arebhashe Gowdas stopped them from entering the temple. The “common dress code” as per the bylaw did not allow Kodava attire.

The situation escalated with both sides sticking to their guns. They filed separate complaints and announced massive jaathras (marches) in protest, forcing the district administration to intervene and impose prohibitory orders around the temple. The Arebhashe Gowdas held a massive rally in Madikeri, which the Kodavas followed up with their march from Kutta to Madikeri. The run-up to the two marches was marked by a social media war with both sides uploading provocative videos and posts.

“The Kodava community will not take part in any peace process initiated by the district administration till the police identify and arrest those who attacked Kodavas and attempted to restrict their cultural attire at the temple,” said the memorandum submitted by the AKS to Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja.

Said AKS member J. Ganesh Aiyanna: “A few years before the Mrutyunjaya temple incident, we were prevented from entering Talacauvery during ‘Teerthodbhava’ (annual sacred event at the place where the Cauvery is believed to originate) for wearing our traditional attire. We will not tolerate the assault on our tradition and cultural identity.”

Harsha Kodagana, member of the Arebhashe Samaja, said they were just following the rules. “The temple was built at a cost of around 06 crore, which was collected from devotees belonging to all communities. The 43-member temple committee (which includes nine Kodava members) passed a bylaw with 13 points, including the common dress code. This is meant to build a sense of equality among all communities. Some committee members stopped those wearing the Kodava attire as it violated the bylaw. The temple priest was attacked. We want the police to take suo motu action against people posting derogatory posts on social media and making casteist slurs.”

The Kodavas, however, claim that this is not an isolated case. “Some people from a particular community have belittled our icons Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya, who are India’s war heroes,” said Aiyanna. “The Kodava community has a long tradition of serving the Indian armed forces. People have also petitioned the courts to curb our gun rights but the court has restored it till 2029. The gun is revered in a Kodava family as it is an integral part of all our customs. We announce the birth of a baby boy with gunshots, and baby girl by beating brass plates. We have never used these weapons for violent purposes. We are nature and ancestor worshippers and are not involved in any politics. But the assault on our culture is growing.”

The memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner said that the government must ensure a safe atmosphere for Kodavas to practise their traditions on their own land. It also urged the government to take steps to facilitate Kodava community participation in the Talacauvery rituals, extend constitutional protection for Kodava land, culture, traditions, religious practices and social security, and to curb “political oppression” by dominant communities.

The district administration has sought a report from the temple committee, but notably, the elected representatives―Congress MLAs A.S. Ponnanna (Virajpet) and Mantar Gowda (Madikeri), and BJP MP from Mysore-Kodagu Yaduveer Wadiyar―have kept a safe distance from the controversy.

Interestingly, when it comes to elections, the two communities have supported candidates without caste considerations. Previously, BJP leader Appachu Ranjan, a Kodava, had won the Gowda-dominated Madikeri assembly seat three times, while fellow party member K.G. Bopaiah, a Gowda, had won the Kodava-dominated Virajpet assembly seat thrice.

The temple entry episode is the latest incident that could galvanise the Kodavas, who for long have feared losing their identity. The 1.5 lakh-strong population has been dwindling; there has been fragmentation of families because of migration for education and employment, and inter-caste marriages. The community, under the banner of the Codava National Council, has been resisting the change in demography, loss of land and the alienation of the younger Kodavas from their language and culture. The long list of the council’s demands includes geo-political autonomy, inclusion in the scheduled tribe list, exemption from the Arms Act, inclusion of Kodava language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, recognition of river Cauvery as a living entity, UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage tag, inner line permit system to prevent demographic changes, and greater representation of Kodavas in Parliament.

The influx of people from outside, commercial exploitation of forests for tourism and massive infrastructure projects have resulted in water scarcity, landslides and floods, say locals. The people of Kodagu include Kodava, Arebhashe Gowda and 21 other Kodava-speaking communities who have lived in harmony despite the many challenges.

“After the backlash by Kodavas over Tipu Jayanti celebrations, the Congress government was forced to stop it,” said a local leader who did not want to be named. “But now, some vested interest groups are playing mischief to divide the Hindu community.”

source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> The Week / by Prathima Nandakumar / February 16th, 2025

Commending Culinary Excellence: Shangri-La Eros New Delhi Brings Coorg’s Rich Flavours to Life

February 5, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)Baimbale curry, Baked Delights by Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda, Balekai, Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda, Coorg, Coorg's Culinary Heritage, Cuisine of Kodava Households, Erchi Barthad, Erchi Curry, Global Theeni, Global Theeni by Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda, Home Chef Smitha Bopanna, Kaad Maange Curru, Kadambutt, Kaima Curry, Kaskase Payasa, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Kodava Author, Kodava Classical Dancer, Kodava Cuisine, Kodavathi, Kumbala Curry, Kumm Bartha, Madd Kool, Nooputtu, Nugge Elayithkande, Shangri La Eros New Delhi - Coorg Cuisine, Smitha Kuttaya - Author, Smitha Kuttayya, Smitha Kuttayya - Classical Dancer, Tarkari Palavadmin

New Delhi :

Shangri-La Eros New Delhi welcomes guests to an exceptional Chef Pin pop-up featuring the authentic Kodava cuisine crafted by Home Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda from February 6 to 8, 2025.

The culinary showcase at the hotel’s international restaurant, Tamra presents cherished family recipes passed down through generations, offering diners a genuine taste of Coorg’s rich heritage. Home Chef Smitha, a classical dancer, published author, and storyteller, brings her multifaceted expertise to this unique dining experience that celebrates the traditional flavors of Kodava households.

Home Chef Smitha Kuttayya Boppanda brings to Shangri-La Eros New Delhi the culmination of a remarkable 15-year culinary journey. From her initial venture ‘Limited Overs’ to the establishment of Baked Delights and now Global Theeni, she has consistently delivered flavors that reflect her Kodagu roots. Her impressive track record of curating food festivals at renowned hotels like Taj Fisherman’s Cove and Hyatt showcases her dedication to sharing personal, memory-laden interpretations of Coorg’s rich culinary heritage.

The Chef Pin pop-up captures the essence of Coorg’s culinary heritage with a carefully curated menu showcasing the region’s bold and earthy flavors. The experience begins with starters like Nugge Elayithkande, a flavorful drumstick and potato preparation, Kumm Barthad with crispy fried mushrooms, Balekai featuring golden fried raw plantains, and the richly spiced Erchi Barthad, a mutton fry.

The mains celebrate both vegetarian and non-vegetarian specialties, including Kumbala Curry with vibrant pumpkin, Baimbale Curry with bamboo shoots, and Kaad Maange Curry with wild mango. Meat lovers can savor Kaima Curry, Erchi Curry, and the iconic Pandi Curry with succulent pork.

Accompaniments like Kadambutt, Nooputtu, and Tarkari Pulav perfectly complement the meal, which ends on a sweet note with Kaskase Payasa and Madd Kool. Paired with Coorg’s celebrated coffee, this pop-up promises a memorable journey through Kodava cuisine.

The exclusive Chef Pin pop-up at Tamra promises an intimate dining experience where each dish shares a story from the heart of Kodagu. Guests can enjoy the Lunch Buffet at INR 3,200 plus taxes per person or the Dinner Buffet at INR 3,500 plus taxes per person, making it a truly memorable experience.

source: http://www.contentmediasolution.com / Content Media Solution / Home> Business / February 05th, 2025

At the Golden Temple in Coorg: Where I learned the grammar of silence

February 3, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021), World OpinionCentre of Tibetan Culture in South India - Namdroling Monastery - Coorg, Coorg, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Namdroling Monastery - Coorg, Namdroling Monastery - Kodagu, Namdroling Monastery - Largest Teaching Centre of Nyingma Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the World, The Golden Temple - aka - Namdroling Monastery - Coorg, The Golden Temple - Coorgadmin

The Golden Temple at Coorg, better known as Namdroling Monastery, is a centre of Tibetan culture in South India.

The Namdroling Monastery Golden Temple at Coorg | Nitin SJ Asariparambil

When I first got to know about solo travelling, I was just a college student pursuing my higher studies in English literature. Back then, travelling alone to my college, 30 kilometres away from my house, was, in itself, a big leap; there was no scope for solo travel to an unknown place.

So I quietly and shamelessly brooded over the very romantic and challenging idea of solo travel for the time being, keeping my fingers crossed. But solo travel was always on my bucket list of wishes.

And I finally got to travel solo! The destination was the Golden Temple at Coorg, in Karnataka, better known as Namdroling Monastery, where I could find and feel the vibrant tapestry of Tibetan culture.

A few months after my marriage, my husband and I headed to Coorg. From Mysore to the resort at Coorg, we enjoyed the lush greenery of coffee plantations and sandalwood forests. As I sipped on a hot cup of Madikeri special coffee served in the evening at the resort garden, I hesitantly revealed my hidden desire for solo travel to my husband.

After listening to me, we discussed and came to a consensus. He suggested I head to the Golden temple situated nearby, where I can reach safely, spend time, relax my inner self and reflect on the spiritual and metaphysical absurdities and enigmatic realities of human life. Oh, that sounded crazy and philosophically heavy, but I somehow managed to reach there the early morning the next day.

While travelling in the taxi to the Golden Temple, I did not forget to research and arm myself with some information regarding its history and cultural significance. His Holiness the 3rd Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche laid the foundation stone of the monastery in the year 1963.

His Holiness Dalai Lama visited there to consecrate it and bestowed the name Namdroling. Located in Bylakuppe of the Mysore district of Karnataka, it is the largest teaching centre of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. Wow! What a perfect place to go solo.

At the gate of the monastery, I stood like another statue, excited and embarrassed. I never expected such a divine radiance and silence lingering there. A well-maintained, well-landscaped place. It had a kind of special emotional connect even to the first visitors, I felt.

While standing at the gate, I got a feeling that the real world had ended outside the gate, and inside, it was another surreal world. The celebration of colours was evident in the paintings and architecture, and I was allured by its charm. There, I noticed the big picture of His Highness Penor Rinpoche, who is said to be an incarnation of Vimalamitra, an 8th-century.

The centre of attraction was the calmness in the surroundings. Though there were visitors wandering here and there, all were keeping silent, or better yet, they might be talking to themselves like they had never done before.

The Smiling Buddha statue warmly greets us, and we human beings feel so small in front of this 60-foot statue. At a glance, we get a bitter self-realisation that we are only this much, ripped of our petty ego and superiority complex.

The tranquillity entraps you, making you wonder if reached some kind of enlightenment. The beautiful interiors of the temple, with its shimmering gold and dark red colour palates, par excellence, and the meditative silence, were infectious.

I remember the curios and wall hangings were there for sale in the outlet; though not cheap, it was a worthy buy for its uniqueness. I still have with me an antique wind chime I bought from a monk, safely hung on the balcony of my flat. Every time I listen to its delicate musical notes, an ancient silence touches me, and I breathe in a kind of pristineness.

The memories of my first solo trip still remain fresh in my mind, and the Golden Temple was an ideal choice, with no regret. Yes, there are certain places where we can experience loneliness and estrangement. Being alone in a crowd is enough to get that absolute feeling, because the true communication between the self and the universe finds its grammar only in loneliness, I feel…

Riya Joy, the writer, works at the Malayala Manorama in Kochi.

source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> News> Tourism / by Riya Joy / February 02nd, 2025

Sky Force: Kodava people condemn misrepresentation of Squadron Leader A B Devayya in Hindi movie

January 31, 2025Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, AllA B Devayya, A B Devayya Circle - Madikeri, Ajjamada B Devayya, Bollajira B Aiyappa, Bollajira B Aiyappa - President - Codava Makkada Coota, Book - Ajjamada B Devayya- 1965 ra Yuddha Haga Kodagina Mahavira, Bronze Stature of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B Devayya, Codava Makkada Coota, Coorg, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Madikeri, Maha Vir Chakra Squadron Leader Ajjamada B Devayya, Sky Force Movie, Squadron Leader AB Devayyaadmin

Some section of Kodava community have also urged the state government to ban the movie in Karnataka.

The bronze statue of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B Devayya

Madikeri:

The issue of portraying the character of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Squadron Leader Ajjamada B Devayya, as a Tamilian in the Hindi movie ‘Sky Force’, directed by Sandeep Kewlani has drawn the ire of people from Kodagu.

The move by the filmmakers has been criticised on social media. Tweeting about Ajjamada B Devayya, the people opined that even though the movie is based on him, his character has been misrepresented.

Some have also urged the state government to ban the movie in Karnataka.

The film was released on January 24 and is said to be inspired by the life of Ajjamada B Devayya and by his role in destroying a Pak aircraft during the Indo-Pak war in 1965. He was martyred during the fight.

Speaking to DH, Codava Makkada Coota president and publisher Bollajira B Aiyappa said that the real name of the patriot should have been used for the lead character in the film. Even though the character’s name is changed, the identity of him being Kodava should have been shown. The change of his identity as a Tamilian has hurt the sentiments of Kodavas. Kodagu has given Field Marshals, Generals and Squadron leaders to the country, he said.

Ajjamada B Devayya./ File Photo

“The movie makers had come to Kodagu to collect information about A B Devayya. The opening and closing credits of the movie have made a mention about the story being based on A B Devayya’s life, he said.

He further stated that a book has been published about Ajjamada B Devayya – ‘1965 ra Yuddha Hagu Kodagina Mahavira’.

The Coota has been observing his commemoration on September 7 every year at A B Devayya Circle in Madikeri where the statue is situated. The statue is erected and is being maintained by Codava Makkada Coota, Aiyappa added.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by Ashwani Kumar N K R / January 30th, 2025

126th birth anniversary of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa: Tributes pour in for the first Indian Commander-in-Chief

January 31, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022))126th Birth Anniversary of Field Marshall K M Cariappa, Coorg, Corporator Maletira U Subbaiah, Field Marshal K M Cariappa Abhimaani Balaga, Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, Field Marshall K M Cariappa Circle - JLB Road - Mysuru, First Commander in Chief of the Indian Army K M Cariappa, General K S Thimayya, January 28th, January 28th - Remembering the Legend -- Field Marshall K M Cariappa, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, Maletira U Subbaiah, Mukkatira C Ashok, Mukkatira C Ashok - President - Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru Kodava Samaja, Nayakanada Thimmaiah, Ponjanda A Ganapathy, Ponjanda A Ganapathy - President - Kodava Samaja, Sir Kodandera Kipper Madappa Cariappaadmin

Mysuru:

On the 126th birth anniversary of Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, tributes poured in from across the nation this morning, honouring the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army took to ‘X’ on January 28, writing, “Remembering the Legend…On his 126th Birth Anniversary, the Indian Army pays homage to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, OBE.”

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also shared his respect, posting, “Remembering First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army Field Marshal Sir Kodandera ‘Kipper’ Madappa Cariappa.”

In Mysuru, as part of the celebrations, floral tributes were offered to the statue of the Field Marshal at the Circle named after him on JLB Road.

Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda emphasised that the name of Field Marshal Cariappa, whose contributions to the country’s defence are immeasurable, should be honoured as long as the Sun and Moon exist.

Stating that the annual commemoration of the Field Marshal’s birth anniversary is a fitting tribute, he highlighted that Field Marshal Cariappa was known for his discipline, dedication and determination.

The MLA also mentioned that the Mysuru Kodava Samaja had previously proposed the installation of a statue of another Kodagu warrior, General K.S. Thimayya. He announced that work has now begun on the statue, which will be installed at the Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar, with funds allocated from his Legislator’s fund.

Kodagu’s contributions recalled

Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa pointed out that Kodagu is likely the only district in the country where almost every household has at least one member serving in the country’s defence forces. He also lauded Field Marshal Cariappa for his pivotal role in shaping the post-independence Indian Army, as well as his involvement in Iran’s army structure. Srivatsa added that Cariappa also had a deep love for sports and music.

MLC C.N. Manjegowda stressed the importance of celebrating the Field Marshal’s birth anniversary, encouraging youths to draw inspiration from his legacy and consider joining the army.

Manjegowda, an ex-serviceman, urged the Government to ensure that Field Marshal Cariappa’s birth anniversary is celebrated as prominently as those of other great personalities.

City BJP President and former MLA L. Nagendra highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates Deepavali every year with the Armed Forces at the country’s borders. He noted the renaming of Metropole Circle as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle in recognition of the late Commander’s accomplishments and called for it to be referred to by its new name.

Former Mayor M.J. Ravikumar suggested that the busy junction at the Circle be made safer by constructing a shelter that covers the entire area to prevent accidents from speeding vehicles. He also called for further development of the Circle.

Former Mayor Srikantaiah, former Corporators Maletira U. Subbaiah and Prameela Bharath, Kodava Samaja President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club President Mukkatira C. Ashok, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Abhimaani Balaga President Nayakanda Thimmaiah and community leaders were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / January 28th, 2025

Raja Seat in Madikeri to host flower show from today

January 27, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, AllCoorg Honey, Jhenkara - Honey, Madikeri Flower Show, Madikeri Flower Show 2025, Raja Seat, Venkataraja - Kodagu Deputy Commissioneradmin

Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu, Venkataraja addressing a press conference in Madikeri on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Raja Seat, one of the main tourist attractions for visitors in Madikeri, is hosting a flower show from Friday. The annual flower show, on the occasion of the Republic Day, will conclude on January 27. Besides the flower show, an exhibition has also been organised at Gandhi Maidan.

Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja told reporters here on Thursday that the four-day flower show will attract visitors as a variety of attractions created in flowers will be in store. Keeping the interests of children in view, some creations have been done in flowers, and the entry for children wearing uniforms will be free. The entry fee for adults is ₹20.

Mr. Venkataraja said the expo is open from 8 am to 8:30 pm. This year, a sum of ₹35 lakh was being spent on the flower show. The honey produced by the Horticulture Department will be marketed under the brand name “Jhenkara”. The Jhenkara brand and Coorg Honey brand will be created in flowers, he added.

Efforts are on to repair the toy train as a report has been sought from the railway engineers from Mysuru.

He said an expert team from New Delhi visited to look into the snag in the musical fountain. The musical fountain will be set right soon, the DC said.

The main attraction of the flower show is the model of Sri Omkareshwara temple.

A total of five lakh flowers were used to create the model. The models of honey bees were also being created besides the models of vintage cars.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 23rd, 2025

Hyderabad | The Feet on Earth Festival 2025 to celebrate ‘vriksha’

January 15, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, AllIndigenous performance of the Kudiya Tribe from Coorg, Kudiya Tribe, Kudiya Tribe of Coorg, Kudiya Tribe of Kodagu, Uurti Kott Pattadmin

The third edition of The Feet on Earth Festival, curated by dancer Pujita Krishna, will bring together art, culture, history and ecology this weekend.

Performers from the Kudiya tribe, Coorg | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The third edition of The Feet on Earth Festival, to be held in Hyderabad this weekend, invites visitors to participate in a session of tree walk and storytelling. The baobab tree at the venue — Hyderabad Public School , Begumpet — is among the oldest in the country and the festival will attempt to touch upon how trees are associated with folk or mythological tales. The festival curated by dancer Pujita Krishna is on the theme of vriksha (tree).

Since its inception, Pujita intended The Feet on Earth Festival as a cultural initiative promoting dance and the connection between the form, the practitioner and the earth. “The idea was to bring together arts, culture, history and ecology.”

Armed with a master’s degree in Fine Arts, specialising in dance from the University of California, Pujita honed her skills in Indian classical forms Vilasini Natyam and Kuchipudi and Western styles of modern, jazz and flamenco.

This year’s festival will feature dance presentations by well known and emerging artists. One of the highlights will be the Uurti Kott Patt, an indigenous performance by the Kudiya tribe from Coorg, Karnataka. Hyderabad-based Srividya Anish will present the traditional Nruthyahari. Among the mainstream dance presentations, the festival will feature Kathak by Aditi Bhagwat from Mumbai and Shilpanatanam by Maya Kulkarni and Mesma Belsare from the USA.

The line-up includes contemporary expressions of Kuchipudi and other innovative features such as Shalabhanjika Krida, inspired by a traditional sport played when the Shala trees were in full bloom; this will be an interactive performance with the participation of the audiences.

Hyderabad-based naturalist and researcher Kobita Dass Kolli will lead the tree walk and the session will culminate in an experiential movement performance named Radish by Kriti Stories. The venue will also display Tree of Life paintings by Bhaskar Rao Botcha.

Pujita Krishna

Pujita Krishna’s will be a 45-minute solo performance of dance, drama and dialogue named Vriksha Sakhi (friend of the tree), inspired by the concept of ‘dohada’, which she describes as “the magical or mystical longing of a tree, particularly one that can be fulfilled by the touch or presence of a beautiful woman.”

A woman’s embrace is considered to awaken the spirit of the tree, encouraging it to flourish. Pujita explains that this poetic imagery symbolises the interconnectedness of nature and the divine feminine, where the woman’s touch serves as a catalyst for the tree’s growth, underscoring themes of fertility, abundance, and nature’s responsiveness to love and beauty.

Vriksha Sakhi will present theories of how in ancient lore, the yakshis were revered as ethereal feminine spirits intertwined with the essence of the forest, embodying both its beauty and its guardianship. “These enchanting beings are immortalised in temple friezes, depicted as graceful women entwined with tree branches — known as shalabhanjikas,” says Pujita. Lores such as these will be presented through the retelling of the Kannada folk tale, A Flowering Tree.

(The Feet on Earth Festival will be held at Hyderabad Public School, January 18 and 19; 5pm onwards. Entry is free)

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Art / by The Hindu Bureau / January 15th, 2025

Get-together of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association – Mysuru East held

January 12, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Samajas, Associations, Clubs (wef. Sept. 03rd, 2022))Coorg, Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences - Virajpet, Dr Kanjithanda A Sunil Muddaiah, Dr Sunil Muddaiah, Kademada M Belliappa, Kodagu, Kodagu District, Kodagu First, Kodagu Model School, Kodagu Model School - Vidyashankar Layout - Mysuru, Ponjanda A Ganapathy, Sri Kaveri Kodava Association - Mysuru East, Virajpetadmin

Mysuru:

Sri Kaveri Kodava Association- Mysuru East hosted its annual get-together for 2024 at the Association’s Kodagu Model School premises in Vidyashanshankar Layout in city recently.

Association President Kademada M. Belliappa presided.

Dean and Managing Trustee of the Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Virajpet, Dr. Kanjithanda A. Sunil Muddaiah was the chief guest, accompanied by his wife Urvashi Muddaiah.

Mysuru Kodava Samaja President Ponjanda Ganapathy was the special invitee. Dr. Sunil Muddaiah was honoured at the event for his contribution towards education in Virajpet.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sunil Muddaiah lauded the Association’s efforts in advancing education and infrastructure. He praised the school’s facilities and suggested introducing training programmes for competitive exams like KAS and IAS to benefit the Kodava community youths.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 10th, 2024

A tribute to Nanjamma Chinnappa, chronicler of Kodava heritage

January 7, 2025Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022)Ainmanes of Kodagu, Architectural Heritage of Coorg, Are Kodavas Hindus, B D Ganapathy, B Nanjamma Chinnappa - Statistician and Writer, Book - My Coorg Chronicles, Book - Nanjamma Chinnappa - Chronicler of Coorg Culture, Book - Round and About with P T Bopanna, Coorg Cuisine, Coorgs, Dr Nervanda Veena Poonacha, Dr Sowmya Dechamma C C, Dr Sowmya Dechamma C C - Professor - Centre for Comparative Literature - University of Hyderabad, I M Muthanna, Kodava Oral Traditions, Kodavas of Kodagu, Kodavathi, Nadikerianda Chinnappa, Nanjamma Boverianda Chinnappa, Nanjamma Chinnappa, Okka, P T Bopanna, Pandyanda Belliappa, Pattole Palame, Sowmya Dechamma, Veena Poonacha, www.ainmanes.comadmin

P.T. Bopanna’s book Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture looks at how the writer who passed away last year and her husband closely observed and recorded many aspects of the Kodava culture.

P.T. Bopanna | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Pattole Palame (Silken Lore), originally compiled by the folklorist Nadikerianda Chinnappa in 1924, is considered a treasure trove of Kodava oral traditions, including songs, rituals, and stories that have been passed down through generations. Originally written in Kodava, it was the late Nanjamma Chinnappa and her late husband Boverianda Chinnappa who translated the work to English in 2003, making this treasured piece of literature accessible for Kodavas as well as others interested in oral literature around the globe.

As the celebrated author passed away in March 2024, writer and journalist P.T. Boppanna is set to release a book honouring her, titled Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture. The book is a collage of works of Nanjamma that talks about her setting the image of a quintessential Kodavathi, her work on the architectural heritage of Kodagu, ancestral homes and Coorg cuisine. It is also a personal tribute looking at how the Chinnappa couple guided Bopanna’s journey as an author.

Speaking to The Hindu, Bopanna said that Nanjamma and her late husband worked as a team for various projects and were associated with some of his work too. “The Chinnappas were closely associated with my book and website projects for over 15 years,” he said.

Book on Nanjamma Chinnappa by P.T. Bopanna. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The couple’s journey

“Nanjamma, a statistician of international repute, and her husband Chinnappa, an engineer, left for Cambridge, England, in 1974 where Nanjamma was a visiting fellow of Cambridge University. In 1975, they went to Canada to continue their careers and returned to India in 1995. Their first project after returning from Canada was to translate into English Pattole Palame, a book on Kodava culture, folk songs and traditions, written by their common grandfather Nadikerianda Chinnappa,” he explained.

Boppanna said that it took Nanjamma and her husband nearly eight years to complete the translation of the book which runs into 700-plus pages and was published in 2003. “The couple will be remembered mainly for their monumental book Ainmanes of Kodagu, on the traditional dwelling places of the original inhabitants of Kodagu. The Chinnappas believed that Ainmanes (house of elders/ancestral home) and their surroundings were sacred heritage sites that need to be preserved for future generations,” he said.

The Chinnappas are said to have visited close to 700 traditional and functional Ainmanes belonging to all communities in Kodagu and clicked 1,500 photographs during their field-work which took them five years. The book was published in 2014. “The couple also put together a website www.ainmanes.com that contains detailed information and photographs of each Ainmane visited, including oral narratives related to the Okka (clan) to whom the Ainmane belongs,” explained Boppanna.

A personal connect

The couple took a lot of interest in Boppanna’s own work on Kodava heritage and guided him in many ways, he said. “The Chinnappas were associated with my book and website projects since around 2007. They had gone through the manuscript of all my nine books, including my last book Round and About with P.T. Bopanna, published in 2022. They checked my books for grammatical and factual errors and offered suggestions for improving the content. Initially, I used to visit their home in Bengaluru. After they shifted to Mysuru a few years ago we exchanged emails and messages. They wrote the foreword for my book Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus? They also wrote the afterword for my book My Coorg Chronicle,” he explained.

Boppanna said that one of the highlights of this book is the interview of Nanjamma by Dr. Nervanda Veena Poonacha, an eminent sociologist and women’s studies scholar. Veena had spoken to Nanjamma on the latter’s life journey. The foreword for the book has been penned by Dr. Sowmya Dechamma C.C., Professor, Centre for Comparative Literature, University of Hyderabad.

In the foreword of the book, Dechamma says that those who are even slightly familiar with the Kodavas of Kodagu and their increased awareness of Kodava language, culture and identity politics in the last three decades or so, would have definitely come across Nanjamma Chinnappa, her work and her ideas.

Context of their work

“On 31st March 2024, Nanjamma left us, leaving a void in the Kodava world. If an earlier generation of Kodava writers and intellectuals like Pandyanda Belliappa, I.M. Muthanna, B.D. Ganapathy, set a foundation for a discourse about the different identities of the Kodava, it was around a time when limitations of literacy and media restricted access to their work and discussions around them. The times in which Nanjamma and her husband and collaborator in her work, Chinnappa, began researching, writing and translating on the Kodavas, their work began appearing during a period of immense growth in media, combined with changes in the larger socio-economic scenario that had bearings on identity politics of the 1990s and thereafter. The opening up of the economy and large-scale migration of the Kodavas into urban centres along with an awareness of a distinct Kodava identity was the context in which Nanjamma and Chinnappa’s works were received,” she says in the foreword.

What Dechamma finds of immense significance in this volume is the interview of Nanjamma by Veena Poonacha that charts Nanjamma’s life and work. “Her review of works by Nanjamma and Chinnappa are equally valuable. Bringing together in one place the reflections and works by Nanjamma and Chinnappa is one of the best tributes possible to the life and work they were part of. Their effort in spreading indigenous knowledge associated with Kodavas and Kodagu needs us to take their work further,” she says.

Priced at ₹195, the book Nanjamma Chinnappa – Chronicler of Coorg Culture is published by Prism Books Pvt. Ltd,. and is available for purchase on online stores such as Amazon and Flipkart.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Yemen S / January 03rd, 2024