Monthly Archives: July 2011

Don’t Fear the King Cobra, says Expert

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , ,

MADIKERI:

When you spot a king cobra, no matter how petrfied you are, stay put. Don’t run for cover, is herpetologist Snake Satish’s advice.

The king cobra, he says, is a shy creature. “When we walk in the forests, the reptile catches the earth’s vibration and moves away from it,” he explains. Satish works as a warden and estate manager in Coorg Public School, Gonikoppal

Popularly known as Snake Satish, he has captured 42 king cobras in the past eight years in Kodagu. Most of them have been freed into the forests. The snakes have been caught from houses and estates. Most of his catches were from Karike, Padi, Perambadi Cherambane, Heggala, Shanthalli and Kundalli areas.

King cobras are shot dead out of sheer fear. “There has been no incident of death due to a king cobra bite in Kodagu, Satish says. Though they are aplenty in Kodagu, the shy and slithery creatures are rarely sighted. They are active in August and September. One among the most venomous snakes in the world, the king cobra feeds on members of its own ilk and other little snakes. It is the only snake to build its own nest.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by G Rajendra / TNN / Jul 07th, 2011

Tribals to Take on City Life in Reality Show

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , ,

Let alone televisions and cars, even toothbrushes are alien to some of them. Yet, eight tribal men from the interiors of Karnataka have dared to face 60 days of city life in Bangalore for a Kannada reality show, where they’ll learn a few English words and even do ramp walks.From living isolated lives in their respective tribes, these men aged between 25 and 34 will be slipping into jeans and wearing shirts to adapt to the Bangalore crowd for Kannada channel Suvarna’s Halli Haida, Pyeteg Banda, which means – “Village lad lands in the city.”

The show is a result of the success of Pyete Hudgir, Halli Lifeu (City girl, village life), which garnered an average viewership of 1mn people with a maximum response from youths, Anup Chandrasekharan, business head of Suvarna said.

“This new show is a sequel to Pyete Hudgir, Halli Lifeu. For the first season, we took eight city girls to experience village life. But this time, we decided to bring not just village boys but tribals to the city and see how they adapt themselves here,” Chandrasekharan said.

According to Chandrasekharan, it costs them up to Rs700,000-Rs800,000 per episode to produce such a show.

The team behind the show took approximately three months to research on Karnataka tribes and has brought together contestants from tribes such as Bedar, Sholaga, Haki Pikki, Kodavas of Coorg, Kurubas and others.

“Our research teams went to various parts of Karnataka and went into the interiors to look for these boys. It used to be very difficult because even the closest shop to their place of stay used to be 25-30km away.

“It was also extremely tough to convince them, their parents and relatives. In fact, there is going to be one guy on the show whose wife is pregnant, and by the time he goes back to his tribe, she would have delivered their child. Still he has come to see what a city looks like,” Chandrasekharan said.

“Most of them have not seen a TV, a car, a mobile phone. And they don’t even use something as basic as a toothbrush or toothpaste. Here we will try introducing them to many new things,” he said.

The eight tribal contestants will stay at a huge house in Bangalore and will be teamed with one city girl each. The girls will mentor them through their transformation and the contestants will be eliminated one by one in subsequent weeks, depending on their performance.

“We plan to have ramp walk contests, change their dressing style, teach them a few English words – and it should be interesting to see how a person who has lived all his life in a remote place adapts to the city atmosphere,” Chandrasekharan said.

The winner will get a “cash compensation,” but the amount hasn’t been decided yet.

source: http://www.gulf-times. com / Doha / IANS – New Delhi / Tuesday Aug 24th, 2010

Lingo Lure

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Regional Indian languages such as Bhojpuri and Haryanvi may not have made it to India’s Constitution, but their knowledge can qualify you for selection to political positions in the US government

 

Language : Kutchi
State: Gujarat
Spoken by: aprox 866000
Language family: Indo-aryan
Spoken in Kutch region of Gujarat and often termed as a dialect of Gujarati, Kutchi has more resembling dialect with Sindhi. It is believed that the language has assimilated features of Gujarat, Rajasthani and Sindhi. However, a group of language teachers believe that Kutchi is a combination of Gujarati and Sindh.
Language: Kodava takk
State: Karnataka
Spoken by:  500,000
Language family: Dravidian
The language is often referred as Kodava or Coorgi in English. It is the language of Kodavas. However, other communities and tribes in Kodagu also speak this  language. It doesn’t have significant written literature.
Language : Magahi
State: Bihar
Spoken by:  11,362,000
Language family: Indo-European Indo-aryan
Magahi is spoken in and around Patna, Gaya, Nalanda and Rajgir. Written in Devnagri, the language was believed to be practised by Lord Buddha in his preachings. A few books in Jainism have also been composed in Magahi.
Language : Haryanvi
State: Haryana
Spoken by:   30 million
Language family: Indo-aryan
Prominently spoken in Haryana and adjoining
Delhi, Haryanvi has an influence of Punjabi.  The language has many  dialects.
Language : Chhattisgarhi
State: Chhattisgarh
Spoken by:  11.5 million
Language family: Indo-aryan
Like Sanskrit and Hindi, Chhattisgarhi is written in Devnagri. It is also spoken in Madhya Pradesh.
Language : Bhojpuri
State: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
Spoken by:  12o million
Language family: Indo-aryan
Bhojpuri is one of the most popular languages in UP and Bihar. The language has derived its vocabulary from Sanskrit, Hindi, Urdu. Around 70 million people in UP and 50 million in Bihar speak Bhojpuri. It is estimated that 170 million people across the world speak this language.
Language : Awadhi
State: Uttar Pradesh
Spoken by:  20 million
Language family: Indo-aryan
Considered as dialect of Hindi, Awadhi is a colloquial language of Awadh region which comprises Kanpur and Allahabad. Important works in Awadhi are the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas, the Padmawat of Malik Mohammad Jaisi.
Language  : Marwadi
State: Rajasthan
Spoken by:  13.2 million
Language family: Indo-aryan
A large populace in Rajasthan communicate in Marwadi. The language has Devnagri script. It is also spoken in some parts of Gujarat and Pakistan.

 

source: http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com / Ahmedabad > Home > News > Reports > Story / Tuesday Feb 17th, 2009

 

Thriller and Priya Teamed in ‘RANA PRATAPA’

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

Thriller and Priya Teamed in ‘RANA PRATAPA’

Sarathi-Nath creations that made a touching film ‘Samskaravantha’ a few years ago was based on the real life peddler with unclaimed bodies for cremation.

For this ‘Rana Pratapa’ the producers Raghunath and Parthasarathy have banked on commercial elements to make money in the box office. GK Mudduraj a veteran of 35 films has made the story and directed the film. Ramnarayan has penned the screenplay and dialogues for this film. To cover up a small mistake how the crime builds up is discussed in this film. 

Thriller Manju plays the title role of ‘Rana Pratap’. He has four stunts and says screenplay is the most captivating aspect of this film. He is a journalist in the first half and as a cop in the second half.

Priyadarshini Bopaiah from Coorg is making debut as a homely girl in the film. Ashok Rao, Ramakrishna, Satyajith, Shanker Ashwath and others are in the supporting cast.

The film is at the dubbing stage and hitting the silver screen by August 2011.

source: http://www.supergoodmovies.com / Jul 05th, 2011

 

Jobs in Coffee Board of India

Business & Economy, Uncategorized,

Total of 89 posts advertised as available:

Specialists,  Subject Matter Specialists,  Assistant Specialists,   Research Assistants,  Junior Liasion Officer,  Extension Inspectors

Last Date for submission:  Jul 12th, 2011

For more information on the posts and how and where to submit applications, please click on the link below:

http://www.indiacoffee.org/userfiles/ADVT_COFFEE%20BOARD_board_16x27[1].pdf

‘Muthina Male’ Coorg Rain on Screen

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, , , , , , , , , , , ,

'Muthina Male' Coorg Rain on ScreenThe rainy season of Coorg district is very special and something lovely to watch. The five Coorgi friends Bhasker Raju, P Chandrasekhar Raju, KK Balaji, YS Satish and DM Vishwanath are up to give a cooling effect for Kannada audience from the first venture ‘Muthina Male’. Male – rain is referred to pearls in literature.

Priya Sagar has worked in the camps of directors Prem, Victory Vasu, Om Prakahs Rao, Kashinath and Dwarki. There is no special story but the presentation if the new thing he says. In the beginning and ending rain will be found on the silver screen.

Ragana a Coorgi is appearing in her second film. It is because the shooting will be held in Coorg Ragana alias Anusha Poo accepted this film. She has appeared in ‘Besuge’ Kannada film. it is a homely role says Ragana. Ragana comes to Coorg to give an invitation and there the ‘Pyaar’ factor evolves.

Vishwas of ‘Kalgejje’ is in his fifth film and this is his second film as solo hero. Priya Sagar as director has done good story, screenplay, dialogues and the team has the winning aspiration says Vishwas.

AT Ravish is Ravi Sharma from this film is trying his luck as music director. He has six songs for this film. Mohan is the cameraman of ‘MM’.

Chandrasekhara Raju on behalf of the producers said this is a new attempt said we want to present the feel of Coorg rain for the silver screen from this film.

source: http://www.supergoodmovies.com / Jun 27th, 2011

Naren Thimmaiah Wins ‘Best Chef of India’ Award

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

Every foodie in Bangalore knows him. And last week Delhi got a glimpse of him as well. For Chef Naren Thimmaiah, who runs one of Bangalore’s best-loved restaurants, was in the capital to receive the ‘Best Chef of India’ award under three-star category at the annual Tourism Awards

While tourism minister Ambika Soni presided over the highprofile gathering, home minister P Chidambaram was the chief guest. “And he asked me about my restaurant and promised to drop by the next time he’s in Bangalore,” says Chef Thimmaiah, who has fed a long line-up of celebs in his 18 years in the business. To be sure, PC will love his appam and Aleppey fish curry!

“To be up there, acknowledged, was a great feeling,” says the unassuming chef, who has also represented India at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore in 2005. Well done, we say!
(Link by: Bopanna; Photo: Internet)

source: http://www.kodagucommunity.com / Monday Mar 02nd, 2009

Gourmet Meal: Kodava Pandi Curry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, , , , ,

The mouth-watering ‘Kodava Pandi Curry’, eaten with ‘Akki Roti ‘or ‘Kadambuttu’ (Rice Dumplings), is the staple diet of Coorg.

Gourmet Meal: Kodava Pandi CurryKodava Pandi Curry. Picture Courtesy: Anuj Kumar, Executive Chef. 

Generally eaten for breakfast, the ‘Pandi Curry’ is a specialty of Coorg and is cooked on all special occasions here.

 

To prepare a delicious Kodava Pandi Curry meal, you will require the following ingredients in addition to 1 kg of pork:

Ingredients:
1).  Half a kg of Onion
2).  Two hundred and fifty grams of Garlic
3).  Ten Green Chillies
4).  One inch of Ginger
5).  One tea spoon of Jeera
6).  Two or three Cloves
7).  A bunch of Coriander

Gourmet Meal: Kodava Pandi CurryKodava Pandi Curry. Picture Courtesy: Anuj Kumar, Executive Chef. 

Cooking Instructions:
1.    Roughly grind the ingredients to form the main ‘Masala’ used to marinate the pork.
2.    Add one tea spoon of Red Chili powder, ½ a tea spoon of Turmeric and Salt to taste.
3.    Keep the mixture marinated for 20 minutes.
4.    Place the marinated meat in a heavy bottom pan, and keep this on the fire for 45 minutes, depending on how tender the meat is.
5.    Once the meat is cooked, add 2-3 table spoons of the ‘Pork Masala’ (available at stores in Coorg).
6.    Add ‘Kachimpuli’ (Coorg Vinegar) and let the meat cook for a few minutes.
7.    Garnish with chopped Coriander and chopped Curry Leaves.

The ingredients for the ‘Akki Roti’ include:
1.    A cup of Cooked Rice
2.    A cup of Rice Flower
3.    A pinch of Salt

Procedure:

1.    Mash the Cooked Rice.

2.    Add the Rice Flower to the mashed Rice and knead it to form soft dough.

3.    Make a ‘Chapatti’ (Indian bread) out of the dough on the ‘Tava’ (Frying Pan).

Your delectable ‘Kodava Pandi Curry’ dish is ready to be served!

Gourmet Meal: Kodava Pandi Curry
Divya Madaiah

Divya Madaiah is a homemaker and a buisness woman. She caters snacks for all occasions and has taken training in baking and making desserts. Her hobbies include cooking, gardening, listening to music and reading..
source: http://www.coorgexperiences.orangecounty.in / by Divya Madaiah / Jul 14th, 2010

 

Cairns of Megalithic Era Found

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

UNEXPLORED:A view of the cairns at Doddamalte village in Kodagu.

UNEXPLORED:A view of the cairns at Doddamalte village in Kodagu.Legend has it that the relics at Doddamalte date back to the Mahabharata . ASI took up a survey of the area two years ago. Survey discovered rich deposits of granite

Madikeri:

Antique cairns that have been sighted in a few places in Kodagu have so far remained a mystery. One of the sites where a number of such structures are found is at Doddamalte village, close to the picnic spot of Honnammanakere,  in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which had conducted a survey of the area a couple of years ago, had concluded them as megalithic burial monuments. These are called cairns. These cairns remain at the ground level or in some cases their tops crop out of the ground a little bit. They resemble a stone chamber about six or seven-foot long, three-and-a-half to four-foot wide and about four to five-foot in height. In some cases, granite pillars raised at four corners are surmounted by a granite slab.

These burial structures, which could date back to 2,500 to 3,000 years, (megalithic period) appear either as solitary structures or in groups or in columns at Doddamalte village. One could surely conclude that human civilisation thrived at that age in Kodagu. However, not much of an effort has gone into the mystery to ascertain what exactly those cairns contained, residents of Doddamalte, who call the spot as “Pandva Pare”, say.

There are two hillocks towards both ends of Honnammanakere, one of the popular picnic spots in Kodagu, near Somwarpet town. The hillock towards left of the Honnammanakere temple has these megalithic burial monuments.

Shivanand, a resident of Somwarpet, says the ASI did take up some kind of survey of the area two years ago, but nothing happened afterwards. The areas had rich deposits of granite. Quarrying took place in one portion of the hillock but it had now stopped, he told The Hindu.

Legend also has it that the Pandavas, celestial heroes of the yore, travelled the place and stayed at the spot by which the name Pandava Pare was derived.

According to another version, people who dug up the Honnammanakere did not get water. Water came in abundance only after human sacrifices were made. Those bodies were buried at Pandava Pare. Whichever theory is correct, the ASI has failed to protect these monuments, including fencing, leave alone ascertaining the facts.

The ASI had two circles in the State, one at Dharwad and another in Bangalore. These monuments came under the purview of the Mysore sub-circle of the ASI.

Similar sites were found at Bavali village in Madikeri taluk ( The Hindu reported it two years ago) and also in some places such as Kedamullur in Virajpet taluk.

According to information gathered here (from the Gazetteer of Coorg), one such cairn was first noticed in Kodagu in 1856 and several others were found near Virajpet in 1868 and also near Fraserpet (now Kushalnagar) later.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / by Jeevan Chinnappa / National / Karnataka / Apr 07th, 2010

Kodava Community’s Service to Society’s Betterment Hailed

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AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: The Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, inaugurating a Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy function in Madikeri on Thursday.

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: The Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, inaugurating a Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy function in Madikeri on Thursday.

New body of Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy installed

Madikeri:

The Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, on Thursday hailed the contribution of the Kodava community to the betterment of society in all spheres of life.

He was inaugurating a function here at the Cauvery Kalakshetra organised to mark the assuming of charge by the new body of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, headed by Iymudiyanda Rani Machaiah.

Expressing anguish at the small and well-knit communities, including the Kodava, losing their identity, Mr. Urs said the fear of extinction had made many a community to remain alert and active to save its culture for posterity. The Kodava was one such community.

If the language of a particular community could be saved, it would result in fostering its culture. Mr. Urs suggested to Ms. Machaiah to initiate action with regard to translating several landmark Kodava literary works into other languages. Similarly, books could be published on native medicines, festivals, folklore, different Kodava speaking groups (other than Kodavas), Devarakadu (sacred groves) and land tenures.

Mr. Urs lauded the unique culture of Kodagu where the concept of “nad kachcheri” (Government office to deal with all revenue matters at the hobli level) originated and the noble concept of preserving Devarakadu (sacred groves) had been in vogue for centuries. Women had always enjoyed freedom and security, which was worth emulating, Mr. Urs said.

He appealed to Ms. Machaiah to seek the help of all to run the administration of the academy efficiently and help foster the cause of Kodava.

The president of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, Matanda C. Monnappa, who was a guest, appealed to the academy members to propagate Kodava literature in schools, especially the literary works of Haradasa Appacha Kavi, one of the earliest literary figures of Kodagu.

He said the academy members should display unity and work as one team to further the cause of Kodava language and spread its culture.

Mr. Monnappa suggested to Mr. Urs to appoint a fulltime registrar to the academy who was conversant with Kodava.

Kalegowda Nagavara, former president of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, said that Kodava culture was an ancient one and it needed to be nurtured by the State Government through the academy.

Documentary filmmaker S. Srinivasamurthy suggested to Ms. Machaiah to prepare a long-term development plan and solicit the support of the youth to run the administration of the academy meaningfully.

Ms. Machaiah, who presided over the function, said the academy had approved an action plan to cover 23 different programmes across Kodagu in the next one year.

 

source: http://www.thehindu.com / by Staff Correspondent / National / Karnataka / Jun 05th, 2009