Monthly Archives: July 2015

Aiming for the World Championship cut

GEARING UP: Tintu Luka (left) and M.R. Poovamma warm up during a practice session on the eve of the 55th National inter-State athletic meet on Thursday. Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu
GEARING UP: Tintu Luka (left) and M.R. Poovamma warm up during a practice session on the eve of the 55th National inter-State athletic meet on Thursday. Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu

To pick walkers for the Worlds would be the most difficult task for selectors

The moment M.R. Poovamma and Tintu Luka came together to exchange pleasantries, the national media was quick to seize the opportunity to capture it. The two, who were part of the 4x400m relay women’s team which won a historic gold in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, posed for photographs to whet the media’s appetite.

For Poovamma and Tintu — the Senior National inter-State athletics meet beginning on Friday which is touted as the final opportunity for aspirants wishing to make the cut for the upcoming World championships in Beijing from August 22 to 30 — it will not be make or break event as they have sets their eyes on the 2016 Rio Olympics. While Poovamma hasn’t yet qualified for the worlds in 400m, Tintu (800m) has already booked a ticket to Beijing.

“My focus is on Rio, and I am concentrating completely on that,” said the 25-year-old from Karnataka. “I am getting better with every race. I am fit and ready.” Tintu echoed Poovamma’s statements.

Tamil Nadu’s Arokia Rajiv, a bronze medallist in the 400m event at the 2014 Asian Games, is keen to put his best foot forward. He, too like others, is not looking at the Worlds, but Rio. “It’s a long travel, and I will have time to prepare to my full potential for Rio,” he said.

It is not sure if the shot putter Inderjeet Singh of Haryana, who won gold in the Asian championship in Wuhan, China, will be able to make it on time for the National meet.

Kerala’s Jinson Johnson, won silver in 800m in the Asian championship and bagged gold in three back to back Asian Grand Prix in Thailand, will be the one to watch out for. The 24-year-old admitted he is tired after participating in Asian championship and three Grand Prix. “June has been hectic and tiring, but I am confident of doing well here,” he said.

To pick walkers for the Worlds would be the most difficult task for selectors as 13 of them have already made the cut. “The best three would be picked,” said C.K. Valson, Secretary, Athletics Federation of India. “We’ll have to see how many does well there, and fitness also matters.”

W.I. Davaram, President, Tamil Nadu Athletics Association, said he wasn’t sure till the last minute that the meet would be held at the Nehru Stadium. “Till three days back, we were really worried whether he would host it in the main stadium and whether we would be able pull it off at the Nehru ‘B’ practice ground.”

Now that the meet is finally on, the focus will be entirely on the athletes.

source:http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by K. Keerthivasan / Chennai – July 10th, 2015

My Kodagu Safari

Only Special Land Laws can save this Paradise

Club Mahindra, Virajpet: A view of the main building.
Club Mahindra, Virajpet: A view of the main building.

Making an excuse of my attending a friend’s daughter’s wedding at Virajpet, Kodagu (Coorg), I decided to spend the night at Club Mahindra, about 12 kms from Virajpet proper. Located in a valley, apparently a paddy field earlier, surrounded by coffee plantation in sharp contrast to Taj Vivanta in Madikeri (Mercara), located atop a hill, Club Mahindra is good for young couples with children for a holiday. As for me and my wife Ralie, it was like being in an OCU — Oxygen Care Unit. After all, towns in Kodagu are crowded with people and tourist vehicles spewing toxic fumes and raising dust that do not disappear into atmosphere because of the veil of mist and cold air.

My experience as a guest says that the success of any hospitality industry, specially this kind of holiday resorts, depends on facility and food with courteous, prompt service. How a guest is attended to on arrival and when the guest leaves is also equally important. Actually I was discouraged to choose Club Mahindra by a member of Round Table, who had stayed here last month, for the reason of delay in checking in, goof-ups in allotting rooms and in room service.

It is here the need for efficient human resource arises — from a sweeper to the master chef. Happily, I had no problem — except once when I called for a buggy to take us for the dining hall and it was drizzling. I was told ‘Buggy is only for the old.’ I was flattered that I must have sounded like an youngster to the person at the reception. At the massive dining hall, all was well for us — service, food and personal attention from Executive Chef – Kitchen, Nitten G. Chughh.

Be that as it may, this wedding afforded me an opportunity to meet my old friends and college-mates. One was M.C. Nanaiah, former Law Minister. Many imagine, not without truth, that being a Kodava (Coorg) is to be hard-drinking and pork-eating. Nanaiah as a Kodava and an unemployed politician was a pleasant company for me. Of course, with age we have sobered and are wise to be moderate, both in drinking and eating. However, I confess [and am sure Nanaiah will agree] that the mind is willing to indulge but alas the flesh is weak!

These days it has become a fashion among Kodavas and even among other original inhabitants of Kodagu, to discuss about the onslaught of tourists to Kodagu and the climate change. The damage caused to the district as a result of mushrooming of Home Stays and Holiday Resorts has become a matter of serious concern. I am reminded of the English man’s reaction to the London climate. Everybody complains about the climate, but nobody does anything about it. So it is with Kodagu at present. Nobody seems to be able to do anything to save Kodagu from the impending danger to its land and eco-system as a result of heavy influx of tourists and tourist-related infrastructure — roads, holiday resort buildings, etc. There is another area that poses threat to Kodagu — deforestation, mining of granite and sand.

According to M.C. Nanaiah, Prof. Madhav Gadgil’s Report on Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Western Ghats is the most acceptable than the second one by Dr. Kasturirangan because the first report would have prevented the proliferation of Holiday Resorts that leads to deforestation and imbalance in ecosystem.

I did not venture to react for I knew that the report, even if accepted, would not have stopped the establishment of Holiday Resorts of all India repute like Club Mahindra, Taj Vivanta or The Tamara Coorg and more, simply because Gadgil Report had merely mentioned 53 villages as out-of-bounds for these activities but what about the remaining 246 villages? Resort hunters could always go in here. If this is under Red category of the two categories created by Gadgil Committee, under its Yellow category you are prevented from using chemical fertilisers for the coffee estate and for other agricultural crops. As agriculture is a gamble, to allow only organic farming will only increase the number of farmer suicides!

The general opinion in Kodagu is that the difference between these two Reports is cosmetic — a difference between tweedledum and tweedledee. Whatever it is, there is an urgent need to bring in special laws relating to land use in Kodagu to save Kodagu from the land sharks and vandals.

And finally, what is a holiday for the fun-loving if there is no booze at an affordable price? Reports say the Excise Department has banned sale of liquors and even home-made wines at the Home Stays. Good Luck bootleggers.

Tailpiece: For the record, according to Excise Department about one crore litres of liquor and 25 lakh litres of beer was sold in Kodagu during the financial year 2014-2015. Hic!

e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra…..Abracadabra / by K.B. Ganapathy / Wednesday – July 08th, 2015

Saurav Ghosal, Joshna Chinappa Emerge National Squash Champs

Two games up and again 6-2 in the fourth game, defending champion Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu seemed to have got into the groove for another tilt at the title, but the wily Ghosal came up with an outstanding fight back and pushed the match into the decisive fifth which he won comfortably for his 10th national title.

Saurav Ghosal in action during Asian Games / © AFP
Saurav Ghosal in action during Asian Games / © AFP

Thiruvananthapuram:

Saurav Ghosal regained the men’s title while Joshna Chinappa took the women’s crown in the 63rd Senior National Squash Championship here on Sunday.

Two games up and again 6-2 in the fourth game, defending champion Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu seemed to have got into the groove for another tilt at the title, but the wily Ghosal came up with an outstanding fight back and pushed the match into the decisive fifth which he won comfortably for his 10th national title.

The women’s final too was well contested though the score line would not suggest that. Chinappa showed experience mattered while dousing the challenge of national junior champion Harshit Kaur Jawanda in three games.
It was Chinappa’s 14th national title as she is well on way to reach that magical number of 16, which is the number of titles that Bhuveneswari Kumari had won for a record total.

Final results:

Men: Saurav Ghosal (TN) bt Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu (TN) 8-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6.

Women: Joshna Chinappa (TN) bt Harshit Kaur Jawanda (Del) 11-6, 12-10, 11-5.

source: http://www.sports.ndtv.com / NDTV Sports / NDTV Sports> News / by Indo-Asian News Service / Sunday – July 12th, 2015

On the ball…and how!

11dmc hockey in my blood2 / The Hindu
11dmc hockey in my blood2 / The Hindu

The Kodava community keeps its pride in hockey alive through an annual tournament

Long ago hockey was considered as the alpha game of the country. With India’s domination at the world stage coming to an end one can only reminisce about the times when the world watched our players in awe. So when Sandhya Kumar’s Hockey In My Blood in English and Kodava-takk (with English sub-titles) was screened last week at India International Centre, one was curious to know how much of hockey is left in our connective tissue.

The 52-minute film is about hockey in Coorg narrated through the story of Kodava Hockey Festival (KHF), the world’s largest hockey tournament played between the families there. The subject was suggested to the director by a Kodava acquaintance. “The theme of how such a big hockey event was being organised, especially in the midst of all the cricket mania, caught my interest,” reveals Sandhya. Attending a friend’s wedding in Coorg she was fascinated by the Kodava customs, traditions and the role of the family and elders even in the ceremony. “The decision to make the film was quite impulsive after that,” she explains. Incidentally, considered as one of India’s hockey nurseries, Coorg has sent over 50 players to the national team.

Hosted by one family every year it sees players from over 200 families belonging to the martial-tribal community Kodava come together to play. There is no bar on age or gender and the only rule applicable for forming the team is that all the members must be from the same family. Hence, you watch young boys and girls, fathers, uncles, mothers, professionals and even former Olympic heroes, wielding the stick. Sandhya says her intention was to find an answer or rather portray an answer as to what made all these people gather to play the game.

Started in 1997 by Pandanda Kuttappa, who, in the film discloses witnessing the Asian Games in New Delhi, set him thinking of organising a tournament to keep the fire of hockey burning in Coorg as well reignite Kodava family pride by bringing the people together. Viewed as a serious event ever since, there have been instances when players have quit their jobs and missed their examinations to participate.

The film uses the Madanda Hockey Fest-2013 (hosted by Madanda family) in its narrative to highlight the stories of the players, families and the preparations and the matches. “It has converted little boys and girls who were once in the audience into players and players into professionals,” comments Sandhya. A beaming mother discloses in the film that even though initially she was ignorant about the game, she picked it up and feels proud to see her husband and two sons playing.

Acquainting herself about the film’s subject and the people in it, the director took some time to understand the game and learn about the community and the background of the tournament. “One of the biggest challenges for the research of this film was that unlike say a film on national hockey or on Coorg culture, there were no books or scholarly articles analysing the Kodava hockey festival from either a sociological or historical perspective. There were a few newspaper articles covering past tournaments, but most of the information, including how to find characters for the film had to be built only through meetings and more meetings,” says Sandhya.

Assisted by her friend Deepthi Bopaiah, she made multiple trips to Coorg to capture the thinking, preparation and all the work that went into holding the event. She met participating players and their families in Bangalore and Coorg besides visiting junior hockey camps and coffee estates.

Former Olympians A. B. Subbaiah, goal keeper and C.S. Poonacha have been interviewed in the short film with the former fondly recalling days when around 80 people would gather in Coorg grounds to play the game. He says he had to play in the family tournament to inspire young players and encourage hockey in Coorg.

Initially the Kodava community seniors were slightly tentative about the documentary and asked Sandhya to write a letter explaining as to why she was interested and what the film would be about. “But once we met they were very pleased to hear that the film was going to be about family and sport, looking at the hockey tournament and also Kodava society. I think they felt quite proud that they had built something that an outsider like me would find worth making a film on,” she says.

Besides KHF the film brings to fore the culture and some of the prayer rituals of the community while depicting women with differently pleated saris and covered heads and men in black robes, cummerbunds and turbans.

It is heartening to realise through Hockey In My Blood that the Kodavas have not allowed the regret for what hockey used to be to become a lament and have not consigned it to the past. “They still value and enjoy it as a sport of the present times,” remarks Sandhya.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by S. Ravi / July 10th, 2015

Looking back …: An encounter with firebrand Minister B. Basavalingappa

Madikeri Palace (Fort)
Madikeri Palace (Fort)

The then Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu, A. Bharath, had convened a meeting to discuss the revision of various privileges granted to the people of Kodagu.

This important meeting was chaired by the then Revenue Minister B. Basavalingappa. The meeting was at the highly ornate meeting hall that was earlier a Palace, inside Madikeri Fort.

The Palace and the Fort were constructed by King Mudduraja in 1681 and renovated by King Lingarajendra Wadiyar II in 1813.

Myself and all the District Officers, political leaders and elite public were present at the meeting. As the subject was highly contested, people had assembled in large numbers and the hall was jam-packed.

The meeting started and DC Bharath introduced the subject and highlighted the objective of the meeting. He explained the need for the revision, as many of the privileges were outdated and were out of context. Afterwards, Revenue Minister Basavalingappa expressed the thinking of the Government and wanted the opinion of the public to facilitate issuing a revised order.

As the public were preparing to put forth their arguments, suddenly the Minister shot a question: “Who is the Divisional Forest Officer, Hunsur?”

I got up and after wishing him good morning Sir, introduced myself, ‘Sir, I am A.C. Lakshmana DFO Hunsur.’

Where is the land for rehabilitation of farmers from Nagarahole Wildlife Sanctuary? Where is the money for compensation? came the thundering questions from Basavalingappa.

I was surprised by the unexpected change in the topic of the meeting. By observing his anger, I could fathom his anger, at our proposal. We had proposed rehabilitation of nearly 1,000 people from Nagarahole, which he had rejected outright and ordered for eviction of farmers.

Most of these farmers were welcomed and settled under the “Grow more food campaign” of 1950s. They were granted suitable marshy wetlands in the forest for cultivation of paddy. At that time, there was an acute shortage of food in the country.

When I tried to support my proposals for rehabilitating the farmers in alternate lands and giving some incentives, he shot back: “Where is the land I say?”

I was stung by his pungent remarks but controlled myself. I explained that my predecessor Yellappa Reddy and Conservator of Forests B. Baliah had already earmarked 400 acres of forest land at a Northern corner of Thithimathi forest.

Not satisfied with my explanation, he put a stinging question: “Where is the money? You have asked for nearly Rs. 10 lakh as compensation.”

As government servants, we were never grilled in the public like this earlier by any Minister, and this was a strange situation I was facing.

He continued, “Do you pluck Rs.10 lakh from leaves of forest trees and distribute?”

I felt I am losing a good cause by being polite and submissive and if I do not defend now, the struggle for rehabilitation that was going on for the last six years will be lost forever.

I mustered all my courage and loudly blurted, “Sir, by rejecting our proposal, you are bringing discredit to Government of Karnataka.”

The packed assembly fell into pin-drop silence at this unexpected development. My heart started pounding hard.

Basavalingappa’s voice came piercing like a bullet, “Are you in your right senses while replying to a Minister?” he shouted in a thundering tone.

Me, a trusted blue-eyed boy of the forest department, felt being humiliated in the presence of public. I was defending the voiceless innocent animals and plants and supporting needy farmers. Suddenly, I felt that I should be vociferous and blurted back: “Sir, Karnataka government that was kind enough to release over 3000 acres to rehabilitate Tibetans nearby, if they say no to the local need for 400 acres, how can the Government get a good name?”

I paused for a moment and could see the Minister in a dilemma. I shot off a remedial answer, “Sir if I sell two rosewood trees from my division I can get Rs. 10 lakh. This investment is sufficient to keep all my animals, plants and the concerned farmers happy and at peace.”

The Minister was quick to order me to sit down. He added that we will discuss this matter in the DC’s chambers after this meeting. I felt he wanted to silence me.

I stood my ground firmly and said that as the matter is introduced here in public, it must be resolved here itself.

The Minister ordered in a raised tone, “Sit down.”

I politely disobeyed him and insisted, “Sir, you should solve the problem here and now.”

After seeing my stubbornness, he asked the DC to advise me. Bharath used his goodwill and friendship and cajoled me to sit. Reluctantly, I sat down and the regular meeting started.

After this meeting, we met at the DC’s chambers. The Minister shot another question, “How much of compensation have you recommended per family?”

I replied, “Rs. 5000, Sir.”

“Why have you asked only Rs. 5,000 per family?” asked the Minister; it was an awkward question to me.

I gave an awkward answer, “Sir, for asking Rs. 5,000 you scolded me that much, if I had asked for Rs.10,000 by mistake, you would have thrashed me in the meeting.”

Suppressing his anger and smile, he asked my name again. I replied, A.C. Lakshmana Sir.

Suddenly my stars and luck appeared to have changed, the Minister became cool and suggested that myself and the DC should meet him at Bangalore with a revised proposal.

The Minister could understand my strong support for wildlife sanctuary and the compulsion for supporting the farmers. It is the labour and sacrifice of such farmers that had made this country self-sufficient in food front during the “Grow more food” campaign of 1950s. [PS: Even now I have continued my relationship with these farmers rehabilitated at Channangi-Gudlur area of Thithimathi. Their suggestion is, we should have given 2.5 acres to each family.]

Now the farmers were sacrificing their three decades of hard work in favour of forest and wildlife conservation. The government was bound to support the farmers. After finishing the discussions, he shook hands with us and left for Bangalore.

Next day myself and the DC revised our recommendations increasing the compensation to Rs. 10,000 per family and took it to the Minster at Vidhana Soudha. We gave the letter to him at 11 am. A government order was issued and handed over to us by the Minister promptly by 4pm along with a cup of coffee. The coffee and the government order were both sweet and remained green with us.

Retrospectively, it is an interesting study. The Minister was close-fisted and conservative and hence might have rejected the recommendations for releasing the land and paying compensation. He was aggressive in expressing his displeasure openly at me, feeling that I am liberal or laxative in dolling out favours.

Once he was convinced that I was judicious, he had the conviction and greatness to revise his judgement. What is outstanding here is his statesmanship. The file went from Revenue to Forest and Finance and then back to Revenue and a government order issued in five hours.

I have the experience of working in the Secretariat as Secretary. I know the difficulties in taking quick decisions in an atmosphere where acts, rules, precedents, court orders, government orders bind the Secretariat staff and slows down the speed of disposal. In this backdrop, the administrative skill of Basavalingappa wins the admiration of every person.

After this memorable Madikeri incident, every time Basavalingappa passed through Hunsur, he used to send words for me and shared a cup of coffee at the PWD guest house. It was an everlasting friendly gesture on the part of Basavalingappa.

Basavalingappa left an indelible mark in whatever capacity he worked. Once when he was allotted a less known Environment and Ecology portfolio, as Minister he brought it to the forefront. He awakened the staff, officers, municipalities and industrialists about the need for a clean and green environment. He was a Minister five times and was always in an urgency to deliver.

Earlier, he was instrumental in bringing a legislation bringing dignity and hygiene to the pourakarmikas in Karnataka. It is a landmark legislation that other States and Government of India are struggling to copy. His vision and efficiency should be a model for everyone, particularly the politicians who are tending to be sloppy and lack vision. Basavalingappa fought aggressively for the upliftment of the deprived, downtrodden and socially backward people. He is called the ‘Ambedkar of Karnataka.’ This is the contribution of that firebrand Basavalingappa.

Good administration heaps plenty of benefits to society. The administration is a complex subject and is the result of good co-ordination and understanding between people involved in administration. Here the law of physics ‘Light travels in a straight line holds good.’ If anyone in the line has a dissent, the light will not pass through. This ends up in more correspondence, suspicion, delays and disappointments.

Here it is worth recalling the observation of a British officer who remarked as follows: The process of taking decisions in the Mysore Representatives during the rule of Rajarishi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, was summed “that the administration in Mysore is very good and can match the best administered States in the world. They discussed one subject yesterday at the Representative Assembly and orders are issued today.”

This efficiency is our heritage, let us revive the old glory and take Karnataka to be a model State not just in India but anywhere in the world. We should remember B. Basavalingappa and his valuable contributions to society.

[aclakshmana@yahoo.com]

Camp: New York

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – July 05th, 2015

More on General K.S. Thimayya

MORE ON GENERAL K.S. THIMAYYA

Sir,

A few readers have written about General K.S. Thimayya in these columns with reference to your Abracadabra dated May 28. May I add further to some already written.

In 1957, Gen. Thimayya became COAS (Chief of Army Staff) superseding two of his seniors. V.K. Krishna Menon was the Defence Minister, had made a name in UN and other international forums, with high calibre and intelligence. Thimayya’s tiff with Menon was not personal. Whenever Menon visited Army units and interacted with Jawans (soldiers), he used to ask pointed questions on their grouse against any of their officers. It is something not liked by the senior officers who were accompanying the Defence Minister.

It was a question of discipline in the Army. Gen. Thimayya sent his resignation letter to Prime Minister; the rumour was that the other Chiefs were to follow if the resignation was accepted. Prime Minister Nehru tactfully handled the situation; General withdrew the resignation.

Gen. Thimayya wanted to write a book about his experiences in war fronts but the Government did not permit as he was in the service. Thimayya happened to meet one American writer Humpry Evans, who stayed with the General for sometime, made notes and got it published in US. The book “Thimayya of India” having a glossy wrapper on the cover with an impressive photograph of the General reviewing a Guard of Honour presented to him at West Point ( US Academy to train Defence officers).

Though he retired in 1961, his services were requisitioned directly by UN, to head a Peace Keeping Force at Cyprus — a small Island in Mediterranean, off the coast of Turkey and Greek, which had won Independence under Archbishop Makarios from Britain. However, it had to face a civil war between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot (mostly Muslims). Gen. Thimayya as head of the Peace Keeping Force did very well in separating the warring factions and brought peace.

Gen. Thimayya died in Nicosia (Cyprus) in Dec.1965. His body was brought to Bangalore; his wife and only daughter were there. Last rites were performed and the body was buried with all military honours and 17 gun salute. The Government of Cyprus honoured him by issuing a commemorative stamp and naming a street after him.

Gen. Thimayya was an alumnus of the Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bangalore. The alumni of the school celebrate “Gen. Thimayya Day” every year by arranging lectures by senior Army Officers and other dignitaries.

— Capt. (Retd.) A.K.Char / V.V.Mohalla, 28.6.2015

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / Sunday – July 05th, 2015

The Hockey Stars of Coorg

Still from "Hockey In My Blood" (India International Centre)
Still from “Hockey In My Blood”
(India International Centre)

Around April every year, Coorg’s famous tea-plantation fields turn into a hockey ground to host the Kodava Hockey Festival. It is considered the world’s largest hockey tournament that’s played fondly, and as a tradition, between the families of the region. The essence of this unique tournament has been canned in a 52-minute long documentary, “Hockey in my blood,” by Sandhya Kumar. It captures the relationship between the sport, the festival and the people involved – the Kodavas, a martial-tribal community who live in the beautiful Western Ghats in south-western Karnataka.

It all started when 69-year old Pandanda Kuttappa, who was a first division hockey referee, realized the passion for hockey in Kodagu district and also, that the junior hockey players were not getting enough recognition and exposure. In 1997, he organized the first tournament which was also a way to unite the community at one common occasion. In the beginning, there were 60 families, and today the number has gone up to 200. Interestingly, the game has no rules regarding age and gender but all the team members must be from the same family. The Kodava Hockey Festival has given India more than 50 players who have represented it in international tournaments; seven have even represented India in the Olympics. Renowned hockey players B P Govinda, M P Ganesh, M M Somaiya and C S Poonacha are all Kodavas.

“Hockey, once India’s pride, has been on the path of steady decline. From a dead certain Olympic gold medal discipline just a few decades ago, these days the national team struggles to qualify for the major tournaments. Given this scenario, for one region to continue to be so passionate about the game is a story in itself. But how the Kodavas have used the sport as a social glue to keep their community together is uniquely another story,” says the filmmaker.

The film starts with the final match of the 2013 tournament and runs back and forth from turning the rural hinterland into a professional hockey ground, stories of families and team players and different levels of matches. The whole family — from the oldest member to the youngest — practicing hockey in coffee plantations reflects the sentiments attached to the sport. Little Prajwal says that his family team is the best, just like Team Australia in the World Cup! On the other hand, 17-year-old Priya boasts of how she was made the captain the first time she ever played because she was the only girl in the team. “Over three months, the film travels to many parts of Coorg in a quest to understand ‘why hockey’ and ‘what a family tournament means to its people’”. The film also has former Olympians and professional hockey players from Kogadu going down the memory lane reminiscing their days playing on the plantation fields.

Bangalore-based Kumar has been making documentary films since 2007 and received the President’s National Film Award of India for 2013. She has films like “O Friend, This Waiting!” (2012), “Memory of a Light” (2014) and “Light Falling on White Flowers” (2009) to her credit.

-“Hockey in my Blood” was recently screened in Delhi at India International Centre and is scheduled to be screened in Bangalore this evening at Everest Talkies in Fraser Town. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/hockeyinmyblood

source: http://www.uk.bluinartinfo.com /BlouInArtInfo.com / Home> Performing Arts> Film> Article / by Hemani Bhandari /July 09th, 2015

Shivarajkumar gets candid with Shubra Aiyappa

ShubraKF09jul2015

Bonding with your co-star is perhaps the best way to ensure that there is chemistry onscreen. Century Star Shivarajkumar is known to be friendly, so it comes as no surprise when we spotted that he had posed for a selfie with his beautiful Vajrakaya co-star Shubra Aiyappa.

Vajrakaya is Shubra’s debut Kannada movie, which has gone on to do exceptionally well at the box office. What we also like about the picture is that both the actors are colour-cordinated as they are both wearing white outfits. Sweet!

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / TNN / July 08th, 2015

Coffee, Coorg hockey

Every year, Kodava players from over 200 families come together to play in their own hockey tournament

Vikalp Bengaluru, a forum of documentary filmmakers who regularly screen documentaries from the world over, present Doc@Everest, the Thursday documentary screening at Frazer Town’s famed Everest Talkies.

On July 9, they will screen Hockey in my Blood, a film about hockey in Coorg, told through the story of the Kodava Hockey Festival, the world’s largest hockey tournament played between the families of Coorg in the coffee hills of South India. The 52 minute film is in English and Kodava takk, with English subtitles.

Kodavas, the people of Coorg are a martial-tribal community known for strong ties to land and family. Every year, Kodava players from over 200 families come together to play in their own hockey tournament – The Kodava Hockey Festival. There is no bar on age or gender. The only rule of forming a team is that all members must be from the same family.

Young boys and girls, fathers, uncles, mothers, professionals and even former Olympic heroes – are all players. With the families playing for bragging rights for the rest of the year, victories are hard fought and competition can get heated. At the end of the month-long event, there is just one winning team but many winners – the sport and the sense of community not least among them.

The film be screened on July 9 at 7 p.m. Entry is free and donations welcome.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Events / July 07th, 2015