Monthly Archives: September 2012

I’m thrilled: Ashwini Ponnappa

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports

Did you expect the Arjuna award this year?
Honestly, I didn’t think about it. I’ve been training extremely hard and trying to do my best in the game. I think my hard work paid off when Jwala and I won gold during the Commonwealth Games and then the bronze at the World Championship. My aim was to win a medal for the country during the London Olympics, but unfortunately that could not happen…

When Jwala and you missed out on the quarterfinal berth by a difference of just one point despite winning the match, it seemed as though the two of you had no clue as to what happened?
Yes, Jwala and I were unaware that we failed to make it to the quarterfinals despite winning the match. We knew we had to win by a certain margin, but the exact number eluded us. It was much after the match that we got to know of our fate. Plus, there was so much drama happening around that time…

Drama?
To be honest, a few countries did not play fair and we had to bear the consequences. The Chinese and Indonesians have always ruled the roost in badminton. Post our ouster, we lodged a formal protest, but it fell on deaf ears. Of course, the complaint was lodged a little late in the day. Gopi sir (Pullela Gopichand) too was very vocal about the issue. However, the decision was completely unfair. We have to work so hard to book a berth for ourselves at the Olympics. But there are countries like Australia, South Africa, Canada and others, who don’t really have to qualify as they get in through the Continental spot.

Heard that you won’t be teaming up with Jwala in the future?
That story is completely wrong. I’m not planning on changing my doubles partner. It’s just that Jwala is taking a break now and since I’ll be playing, I have to pair up with other players. We’ll be back soon.

What about playing singles?
It’s not easy to shift gears from doubles to singles and vice versa in a blink of an eye. Both formats need a lot of training and different sets of disciplines. I’m happy playing
doubles for now.

Saina, Jwala and you are credited with making the sport glamourous.
I’m flattered when people call me glamourous. When Saina broke into the scene, she brought along a lot of new fans of the sport. Ditto with Jwala and me. One has to be a good performer to get people into watching a sport which is not cricket. It’s nice to be well-dressed on court. Of course, people have loved watching us play and that’s a great thing.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports / by Sarah Salvadore, TNN / August 30th, 2012

Chase your dreams with a passion

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Bangalore:

It’s important for youngsters to chase their dreams, but equally important to have a back-up plan, felt Indian cricketer Robin Uthapppa. Concurring with him was singer Vasundhara Das, but actor-director Pavan Kumar felt a back-up plan means you don’t chase your dream with passion.

They shared their thoughts at Headtable, a student leadership forum organized by Inexcel in association with Times NIE at Bishop Cotton Boys’ High School. Head boys and head girls from 226 city schools fired questions at panelists Robin Uthappa, activist Jasmeen Patheja, Pavan Kumar and entrepreneurs Shruti Shibulal and Pallav Nadhani.

Uthappa said several factors made him choose cricket as a career but passion was a driving force. Nadhani said as a 17-year-old, his passion for programming drove him to experiment and set up FusionCharts, a company that has earned the trust of US President Barack Obama.

For Shruti, success meant coming out from the shadow of her well-known father and establishing an identity for herself. For Patheja, on the other hand, it’s quantified by the public’s understanding about sexual harassment. She set up Blank Noise to bring about a change of attitude in both men and women. Pavan Kumar added that men must educate fellow men that harassment of women cannot be justified, and that each one should play a role towards this end.

The panelists added a brushstroke each to a blank canvas later completed as a work of art by Ranjana Ramchandran. The program was compered by Vasundhara Das and the discussion moderated by consultant Sam Selvakumar.
Quote hanger

Robin Uthappa

When you wake up, the first thing you think about is what you are passionate about.

When you have dream, tell the important people in your life – family, friends, and teachers – about it and they will help you achieve it.

It’s important to build a support system around you and they’ll push you in the direction of your dream.

Do your best. That way, even if you fail, rest assured you’ve given it your best shot, your everything.

Have a back-up plan, but that too must be something you enjoy doing. My back-up plan was to be a driver.

Pallav Nadhani

It’s important to find unconventional ways if one has to succeed in life.

The advantage of being young is that you can fluctuate between different goals. Experiment and figure out what you love doing best and then follow it up.

Luck is a combination of opportunity and sweat. If you work hard, luck will favour you.

When you’re young, your mistakes are forgiven and forgotten, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Jasmeen Patheja

Everybody is a survivor because everybody has been a victim at some point in time.

Everyone has to fight battles based on their inner convictions. We must have a sense of purpose and follow it through.

Pavan Kumar

People may dissuade you from pursuing your passion, because they are concerned for you. Do not be discouraged or lose focus. Enjoy the experience of climbing to the top as it can be tough getting there.

Failure was my first girlfriend. If you embrace failure and learn from your mistakes, she will break up with you and push you to success.

Don’t be afraid of being different, laughed at or alone. Take it in your stride. However, be genuine. Don’t deliberately try to be different.

Shruti Shibulal

All of us at some time may have to give up one thing for another. We have to make choices depending on situations.

Give the present your all without worrying too much about what you will be doing in the future.

It’s true women have to work harder to prove themselves to be taken seriously. But once, you achieve that, you gain the respect of your peers.

Education is just a guideline, experiential learning is what will help you understand what you want to do.

Vasundhara Das

Negotiate with your parents when they don’t agree with your dreams.

Having a back-up plan empowers you to go all out in chasing your dream.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / TNN / September 02nd, 2012

Security: GPS fitted on two elephants in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

Tracking pachyderms

In an unique attempt, Global Positioning System (GPS) devices have been installed on the collars of two tamed elephants at Dubare elephant camp in Kushalnagar. It is for the first time that GPS has been installed on elephants.

Two elephants that have got the privilege of GPS are Ranjan (4) and Shivagange (11). With the installation of GPS on Saturday, the path on which the elephants walk could be traced through the internet enabled system.

The elephants at Dubare are left to roam around in the forest after bathing them in Cauvery river and providing them with food. These elephants roam around in the forest in search of food and return to the camp in the evening by 4.30 pm.

The elephants that are left to the forest are tied with iron chains with links. These chain links leave mark on the road on which the elephant walks, thus enabling mahouts to find the route on which the elephant has traveled.

However, mahouts find it challenging to trace elephants during heavy rain as the mark created by chain links are usually washed out. It is at this juncture, that the GPS comes to the rescue of mahouts. The radiation emerging out of the GPS will help to find the exact location of the elephant with the help of internet.

Inspired by Prajna

Animal lover and elephant expert Prajna Chowta is the inspiration behind introducing GPS devices in Dubare. Prajna Chowta, who is looking after four elephants in Dubare camp has installed GPS devices on two of her elephants.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Dubare range forest officer Appaswamy said that Prajna had brought the matter of installing GPS devices on two of her elephants in the camp, to the notice of the higher officials. Hence, the department decided to install devices on the elephants, he said.

A GPS-enabled device normally records and stores location data at a pre-determined interval or on interruption by an environmental sensor.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / by Shrikanth Kallammanavara, Madikeri / September 03rd, 2012

Women & Guns

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Mysore, Sept. 8:

The Week magazine dated September 16, 2012, has a surprise for Kodavas particularly as it carries on its cover the gun-toting, trigger-happy Kodava woman who lives in city, Mrs. Tiny Biddapa.

The 66-year-old Kodavathi, Madrira Tiny Biddapa, is also featured on the inside-spread of the magazine with her 12-bore gun resting on her shoulder inside her coconut-garden in the outskirts of the city adjacent to the Police Layout in Mysore East.

The article says that many women see guns as a force equaliser in this unfair world, well, dominated by men of lust and greed.—KBG

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / September 08th, 2012

Talacauvery temple panel to enforce dress code

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Irked by tourists who wear skimpy dress while visiting the Bhagandeshwara temple in Talacauvery, the management committee of the shrine has decided to impose a dress code for visitors.

“We have not finalised the dress but any dress that covers women and men adequately would suffice. This is not an ordinary tourist centre but is a shrine of Cauvery river which feeds lakhs of people in Mysore and Bangalore and in Tamil Nadu and also irrigates several thousand hectares of agricultural land in South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. So we should show some respect to the shrine by being presentable at the shrine,” said the committee president AK Manu Muthappa.

The committee is also wary of the litterbugs. “They throw all sorts of trash including empty food packets, water bottles, polythene bags in the temple premises. The committee has taken a serious view of this and has decided to start a campaign against littering” Muthappa said.

The committee member TS Narayanachar said: “The dress code will come into force immediately and those who wish to visit the temple should be prepared to wear the prescribed dress.”

The festivities (Sankramana Jathre) at the shrine will begin on October 17 when lakhs of pilgrims are expected to visit the temple.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / Daily News & Analysis / Home> Bangalore> Report / by DNA Correspondent, Place: Madikeri, Agency: DNA / Tuesday, September 04th, 2012

Jwala takes a sabbatical, Ashwini looks for a partner

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

New Delhi:
India’s famed badminton doubles exponent Jwala Gutta has decided to go on a sabbatical, telling her partner Ashwini Ponnappa to look out for a partner.

Photo: AFP

There is uncertainty over how long Jwala will be out from competitive badminton.

Jwala told IANS that it is indefinite, though she hopes to be back on court as early as in six months’ time.

What has heightened the curiosity is that Jwala has asked Ashwini to quickly find a new partner and carry on playing the doubles till her return

What might put speculation at rest is that Jwala at 29 feels she is good for one more Olympics, but she doesn’t want Ashwini to be hamstrung waiting for her.

“I will be back but don’t know when. I have taken time off as I want to come back fresh and fitter. I needed a break after playing continuously for 6-7 years. I have had a chat with Ashwini about it and she understands my position,” Jwala told IANS.

Ashwini, for the time being, will concentrate on mixed doubles with Tarun Kona and look out for a women’s doubles partner.

Jwala-Ashwini, the bronze medallists at the last World championships, are easily India’s most successful doubles team on the circuit, and would not like to give it up. Both hope to be back together.

Jwala thinks it is crucial for Ashwini to carry on in her absence even though it is going to be a tough task considering India’s bench strength.

“Having said that, she has just started playing and I would tell her to find another partner to continue playing in my absence. It will be tough for her as the second string is way below our level. It is time she started mentoring a junior player who is interested in playing doubles, like the way I did with her,” she said.

Ashwini is receptive to Jwala’s idea and says she would take a call after her mixed doubles commitments in China and Japan next month.

The options available to Ashwini are reigning national champions Pradnya Gadre and Prajakta Sawant.

“I can play with either of them but I have not given a serious thought to it. I will take the call once I am back from China and Japan,” 23-year-old Ashwini told IANS.

Talking about reunion with Jwala, Ashwini hopes the two will pair up again, though she is not looking too far ahead, not even till the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I can’t really say anything about how long we are going to be together. We would take a call after Jwala’s return. As of now, my focus is on mixed doubles with Tarun,” Ashwini told IANS .

The Jwala-Ashwini pair, ranked 23rd in the world, was unlucky at the London Olympics where they failed to make the quarters despite faring better than those who made the cut.

“Who knows we might be there together at the next Olympics, but we are not really thinking about it. Personally, my next targets are to do well in the Commonwealth and Asian Games in 2014.”

Asked whether age will be a factor in deciding their future, Ashwini said: “Jwala is a gutsy character and she could play for as long as she is passionate about the game. I will be close to 27 and Jwala 33 by Rio. But as I said, Rio is a long way off. No one knows what is going to happen before that.”

What is going on in Jwala’s mind?

“I am not really a planner. I would want to play with Ashwini at Rio, but four years is a long time. I am not growing any younger. Probably, I would have wanted to quit after getting an Olympic medal in London but to try for it all over again, I need to come back highly motivated.”

source: http://www.sports.in.msn.com / MSN Sports / by IANS / Friday, August 31st, 2012

Pandi curry

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The pandi curry at Coorg is one of the top dishes of Bangalore

The pandi curry at this quaint home-turned-restaurant (on weekends) is the highlight of the buffet; invariably, it has patrons lining up for seconds, and even thirds. Coorg’s owner, KC Aiyappa, pointed out that “it’s a compulsory fixture at all Kodava feasts and functions too”. A meal in which this slow-cooked pork preparation is the star dish certainly does take on a celebratory tone, if only to applaud the time, precision and care that goes into achieving this wondrous amalgamation of fatty meat and many, many spices.

Aiyappa leaves the cooking in the able hands of his wife, Priya, who first treats the pork with rock salt, pepper, turmeric and a hint of chilli, then bastes it with masala before setting it on the flame. The meat cooks in its own oil and fat for nearly an hour before she adds another mix of spices, this time fragrant plantation produce from Coorg, such as cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and cloves. Much later, only when the dish has simmered and thickened, does it get flavoured with kochampuli, an ingredient that’s also brought from the coffee-growing regions of the state, which lends the curry its dark colour and sour, woody taste. The Aiyappas insist that for the pulp to be made correctly, it must “be left on firewood and most importantly, watched over.”

Not differing from tradition, the folks at the restaurant don’t refrigerate the rich curry. Instead, it is heated over and over till it is lapped up by customers, most commonly with several akki ottis, or soft, porous rotis made from cooked rice.

Coorg 477, Krishna Temple Road, 1st Stage, Indira Nagar (+91 98454 93688). Fri 8.00pm-11.00pm, Sat, Sun 12.00pm-3.30pm, 8.00pm-11.00pm. No cards. R180.

source: http://www.timeoutbengaluru.net / Home> Restaurants & Cafes> Features / by Ria Basu / Photos by Selvaprakash L / August 31st, 2012

Fishing for compliments

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

At the Coorg table, you can immerse your tastebuds into a dark, tangy fish curry, with spice tones reminiscent of the famous pandi curry, but thinner and sharper. No coconut here — just ground onions, garlic and a few grains of raw rice as a thickener, a faint, pleasing bitterness from fenugreek seeds, dark roasted spices. Sharp, clear flavours emerge from the earthenware cooking pots. For a land locked, hill people, we eat a lot of fish in Coorg. The streams and rivers offered a generous supply of fresh water crabs and fish, like the sweet-fleshed bare meen.

Fishing trips had a touch of the theatrical — fire-lit or lamp-lit men, balancing along the mud embankments of the fields, or river-banks, to spear or trap fish. Bamboo traps were laid in cold, swift flowing streams. In season, the flooded paddy fields were full of crab and the prized, tiny koile meen.Fresh catch from the sea was just a day -trip away and, centuries of trade with the Malabar coast established a tradition of fresh and dried fish finding their way into Coorg homes, in sawdust-lined tin boxes, carried by Mapilah traders, to be haggled over in backyards. Salted fish was set aside for the monsoon months, or pickled in a thick layer of spices, immersed in baranis (earthenware jars).

To the fish and crustaceans of the sea and their own highland streams, the Coorgs brought their typical spice mixtures that added beguiling flavours. Whole mackerel, sardines, or slices of sweet-tasting river fish were lightly marinated in red chilli powder, turmeric and the indispensible kachampuli (Coorg vinegar), dipped in rice powder, and fried crisp on cast iron tawas. The contrast of the crunch of crisped exteriors, the lingering levels of spice in the firm flesh and a squeeze of lime was always perfect. There were plump morsels of pickled fish, and curries and pickles of prawns. Some days, an estate worker would come by with a catch of slender, flashing fish, a couple inches long, from the paddy fields. Fiddly to clean of the grit and mud, we spent ages rubbing slippery mounds with ash or salt for curry, or my favourite — clusters of koile meen, mixed with spices, for ‘cutlets.’

Fresh crab, caught in streams or fields were quick fried, or curried with finely ground coconut into a sour-spicy curry. Served with hot akki ottis and melted ghee. As we sat around a small, dining table, crunching crab claws and sucking out tender meat, my mother-in-law would explain which phases of the moon brought the crabs heavy with meat and, the knack of catching live crabs without receiving a painful pinch. I would nod enthusiastically, but left that particular task to the experts.

RECIPE
Coorg Fish Curry
Ingredients
* 1kg fish (seer works very well) cut into ½ inch thick steaks
Grind together to a fine paste
* 4 large onions
* 1 inch ginger
* 8 pods of garlic, peeled
* 1 ½ tsp jeera
Dry spices
* Red chilli powder to taste
* 2 tsp coriander powder
* 1 level tsp turmeric

For seasoning
* 1 tsp mustard seeds
* 2 green chillies
* 2 onions, sliced thin
* 8-10 curry leaves

For the roasted masala
* 1 tsp whole cumin (jeera)
* 1 tsp mustard seeds (rye)
* ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds
* ¼ tsp raw rice
* ½ tsp black peppercorns kachampuli, or malt vinegar

Slow roast the above spices separately on a hot tawa until they release their aromas and change colour. Allow them to cool, and crush to a powder, separately, and then mix.
* Salt to taste
* ½ cup oil
* 2 cups hot water

Method
Wash and dry the fish fillets or steaks.
Mix the kachampuli (or malt vinegar), the turmeric, chilli powder, salt into the fish, and set aside.
Heat the oil in a deep pan, or kadai, add the mustard seeds. When they begin to splutter, add the curry leaves, the sliced onions and the green chillies, and fry gently until softened.
Add the coriander powder, chilli powder, and ground paste of onions. Cook slowly, until the raw smell disappears.
Add 2 cups hot water, or more according to gravy required, and when simmering add the fish, and cook uncovered, until almost done.
Add the dry roasted, powdered spices, and simmer until done.
Optional — you can thicken the curry with a small amount of tamarind paste too.

– The writer is an anthropologist and independent author based in the city, who delves in to food, wine, travel and heritage. She is also behind A Gourmet’s Table In Coorg (http://coorg.com), a blog exploring the fascinating traditions of Coorg cuisine, food lore and special meals.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Channels> LifeStyle> Dine o Mite / by Kaveri Ponnapa, DC / September 06th, 2012

‘Kail Pold’ festival celebrated in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

“Kail Pold”, one of the main festivals of Kodagu, was celebrated with traditional gaiety across Kodagu on Monday.

The festival symbolises “Ayudha Puja” for the people of Kodagu, mainly Kodavas. It also marks the culmination of paddy transplantation throughout the district and waning of monsoon. Firearms, weapons of all sorts, including “odikathi’ (curved dagger), are burnished, plough used to till paddy field, yoke and old Kodava artefacts are placed at the “Nellakki” (place where Kodavas offer prayers in their houses) and worshipped. Kodavas of Nalknad area celebrated the festival on August 28.

The eldest person in a family dressed in traditional attire would offer puja to the items placed at the “Nellakki”. Bacharaniyanda P. Appanna, former president of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, arranged artefacts of the yore to worship, symbolising the festival at his residence in Kushalnagar on Monday. The objects included “ambkathi”, “pillkathi”, “koykathi”, “balkathi”, “maradudi”, “tarikutt”, “vannali”, “mora”, “morkuthi”, plough, and yoke used in households in Kodagu in the past.

Pall of gloom

However, a pall of gloom descended on the district when two persons, who were returing home after celebrating the festival in the district, died on Monday.

Avin Ponnanna (30), who was crossing the old bridge across the Cauvery at Balamuri near Murnad on his motorcycle, was washed away. He was returning home after taking part in the Kail Pold sports events organised at Hoddur village, reports received here said. Kodagu in-charge Minister M.P. Appachu Ranjan and Capt. Ganesh Karnik, MLC, visited the spot.

H.B. Gopal, who took part in the festivities at Mutharmudi near Murnad, fell into a stream and drowned at Tobattumane area while returning home.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, September 05th, 2012

Serving the Kodava cause

About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders


File photos of (left) CNC members led by N.U. Nachappa presenting a memorandum to the Kodagu district administration representative and (right) Kodavas staging a protest to highlight their demands.— / Photos: Nanda kumar, Sampath Kumar G.P./ The Hindu

Will the two-decade-old struggle of the Codava National Council (CNC), demanding an autonomous Kodava homeland, succeed? This is a debatable point. The CNC led by its president, Nandineravanda U. Nachappa, initially was demanding a separate Statehood, but later scaled it down to seek an autonomous homeland. Mr. Nachappa has been able to keep the organisation alive and make its presence felt, both at the State and the national level, by organising protests, demonstrations and other conspicuous events.

The main demand of the CNC is a full-fledged Kodava Autonomous Region, encompassing the 45 ancient traditional ‘naads’ (‘nad’ is a group of villages), on a par with the Darjeeling Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Mr. Nachappa says that the Central Government must accord ethno-linguistic tribal minority status to the Kodavas under the Constitution and extend reservation facilities in the fields of education, economic and employment. It should also ensure Constitutional special guarantee for the land tenures and customary personal laws of the Kodavas without any interference, on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast States of India under Articles 370 and 371 of the Constitution.

The Government must facilitate the CNC to establish a Central University to propagate “Kodavalogy” on the lines of North-Eastern Hill University, Aligarh Muslim University and Banaras Hindu University, Mr. Nachappa demands. Kodava language must be included in the VIII Schedule to the Constitution and implemented as one of the three administrative languages in Kodagu.

The exemption under the Indian Arms Act to hold firearms to the ‘Kodava by race’ people should continue without any hindrance, Mr. Nachappa argues. In the same manner, the land rights being enjoyed by the Kodava people, thanks to privileges such as ‘Jamma’, must stay, he demands.

The CNC opposes the Dilip Singh Bhuria report submitted to the Centre that wanted Virajpet taluk to be declared as a Scheduled Area for the benefit of tribal people who live in that taluk. Mr. Nachappa argues that it would adversely affect the Kodava people, whose roots could be traced to Virajpet taluk and parts of Madikeri taluk.

Submitting memoranda

Memoranda are being submitted to the State and the Central Governments time and again by the CNC to further its cause. The Central and the State Government authorities too have been acknowledging them. But, there are many who look at its struggle sceptically. The movement lacked political support and the backing of the entire populace of Kodagu, they say. They also term it as an unpopular movement which does not cover populace other than a group of Kodava people in the district. But Mr. Nachappa maintains a hard stand, stating that cause of the struggle was important and it was achievable irrespective of numbers or backing by the majority.

He says that the struggle was totally peaceful and well within the bounds of the Constitutional framework. The CNC had also forged alliances with 13 other like-minded organisations across the country to achieve its goals in the past, including the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The CNC claims credit for a series of development works that were initiated in Kodagu in the last one-and-a-half decades, including roads and bridges, plus release of special grants. It also says that the credit for the proposed move of the State Government to write to the Centre recommending establishment of a Central University in Kodagu, should go to the organisation.

Guests

Mr. Nachappa’s effort to rope in the support of political leaders and heads of other organisations is worth a mention here. During the previous Annual Day celebrations of the CNC in Madikeri, the AICC general secretary, Oscar Fernandes, Additional Advocate-General of Haryana and Supreme Court advocate, Brijesh Kalappa, and Karnataka High Court advocate, M.T. Nanaiah, were the guests. Gorkha leader Dawa Pakhrin, JMM leader Shibu Soren, and intellectuals Balveer Arora and T.K. Oommen, among others, have been guests in the past.

Mr. Nachappa has reiterated the demand of the CNC to establish the proposed Central University at the ‘Kodava Kund’ (Kodava Hill), a location identified by the CNC near Kakkabe.

The CNC delegations have submitted memoranda to the State Governors and met the Chief Ministers of Karnataka several times in the past.

Census

The CNC has been appealing to the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner to direct the caste census enumerators to enlist the Kodava people separately under the columns of the ‘Kodava’ caste, and not as ‘Kodagaru’ or ‘Kodaga’ or ‘Coorgi’ in the census sheets. This move would enable the minority Kodava people to assert their identity and uphold the dignity of the community whose people had been serving the nation admirably well in various fields, it felt. Some success was achieved in this regard in Kodagu.

To bolster its base, the CNC has been organising ‘Ain Mane’ (ancestral home) programmes in select Kodava families since a few years. It has been coming up with ‘human chain’ programmes in the entire district, mainly targeting the areas dominated by the Kodava populace.

Other causes

The CNC, apart from taking up the causes of the Kodava people, has also been observing World Indigenous Peoples Day, World Minorities Day, and ‘Black Day’ on November 1, coinciding with Kannada Rajyotsava.

Mr. Nachappa argues that ‘Kannada Nadu’ could not be complete without the creation of an autonomous homeland within the State of Karnataka.

Mr. Nachappa, who has not groomed a deputy so far in his nearly two-decade existence, has preferred to change the nomenclatures of his organisation several times. What appeared to be a broad-based organisation encompassing a few other communities as well in the beginning has come to patronise only Kodavas in the recent times. The ‘Kodagu Praja Vedike’ which took birth only to counter the CNC has now fizzled out.

Mr. Nachappa hopes that the Kodava Autonomous Region would become a reality along with Telangana.

Jeevan Chinnappa

A full-fledged Kodava Autonomous Region, a Central University to propagate ‘Kodavalogy’, special land rights… the CNC has a whole list of demands

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Features> District Plus / by Jeevan Chinnappa / September 08th, 2012