Abolition of Jamma land tenure by BJP Government is a blow to Kodavas’ ethnic identity and survival in Kodagu

Brijesh Kalappa (Palachanda), a Kodava from Kodagu, is an Advocate in the Supreme Court, Legal Advisor to the Government of Karnataka (with the rank of Minister of State) and former Additional Advocate General, Haryana. Presently, he is also the Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress and is regularly seen on national TV channels representing Congress in panel discussions.

While in Mysuru a few days back, he visited ‘Star of Mysore’ Office and the Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy availed the opportunity to interview him on issues related to Kodagu and Kodavas, himself being a Kodava. —Ed

By K.B. Ganapathy

Star of Mysore: Welcome Mr. Brijesh Kalappa to Mysuru and to our office. Thank you for agreeing to take some questions relating to your mother district Kodagu and its future. My first question is about Congress losing Kodagu and BJP getting deep-rooted with two MLAs, one MLC and an MP. Kodagu, once a Congress bastion, in fact in the first general election of 1952 it was Congress that came to power with C.M. Poonacha, a Kodava, as the Chief Minister. How did it happen?

Brijesh Kalappa: The Jan Sangh had a marginal presence in Kodagu till Bank Nationalisation in the year 1969. The Bank staff, who were clerks and petty officers, came from mostly Dakshina Kannada and carried out their RSS activities after banking hours. Old-timers will tell you that the RSS members were not permitted into people’s houses in those days. However, with the entry of people like Dr. M.M. Chengappa and A.K. Subbaiah into the Jan Sangh and later BJP and with their constant anti-Congressism, some people came to buy the idea.

Star of Mysore: But in spite of what you say, Congress has been winning both Parliamentary and Assembly elections in Kodagu almost till 1994, the drift started thereafter…

Brijesh Kalappa: Yes, it is because BJP has been misleading Kodavas about Congress not supporting Kodavas in the Army and in the Party itself. But Congress has been supporting Kodavas. You know, the BJP constantly speaks about General K.M. Cariappa not being the first choice. But Cariappa was the first choice of the Congress Government and appointed him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian forces. In fact, even after his retirement, General Cariappa was appointed by Pandit Nehru as the High Commissioner to Australia. Again it was Congress government which gave the rank of Field Marshal to Gen. K.M. Cariappa.

Congress has given nominations to Kodavas from Jaji Mandanna to Polly Aiyappa to Prema Cariappa to Veena Achaiah. All these Kodava ladies enjoyed power because of Congress.

It was again Congress that appointed Gen. K.S. Thimayya as General of Indian Army and then sent him as the UN Peace Keeping Force Chief at Cyprus. But BJP spread the canard saying Nehru was responsible for Gen. Thimayya submitting his resignation, which he withdrew, as General.

Has BJP come anywhere even close to this record?! Instead, the BJP keeps harping on some imagined difference between Nehru-Cariappa or Nehru-Thimayya. Both Cariappa and Thimayya got post-retirement jobs from Congress Governments.

Now, has BJP Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee appointed a Kodava as Chief of Army Staff? Has the BJP Government appointed any Kodava as the Union Home Secretary? Congress appointed C.G. Somiah and later he was made the CAG. Now let me ask, at least has the BJP helped the Kodavas with their struggle for entry into the 6th Schedule of the Constitution?! Nothing has been done by the BJP for Kodavas. Even Roads were in terrible shape till the Congress was elected in Karnataka. I am surprised why then Kodavas, at least majority, support BJP.

Star of Mysore: The Karnataka Land Revenue (Third Amendment) Act 2011 abolishing the Jamma Bane tenure of Kodavas and others in Kodagu was gazetted on February 1, 2013 during BJP Government. Is it good for Kodavas and Kodagu?

Brijesh Kalappa: The amendments to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964 which were brought in by the BJP Government are ill-thought-out and present a clear danger to common areas such as the balya mane etc. This opens the door for all and sundry to acquire land in Kodagu, which does not augur well for the local Kodavas and other inhabitants of Kodagu. There is a danger of Kodavas losing their identity as a unique ethnic people.

Star of Mysore: Can’t the State Govt. pass laws restricting purchase of land in Kodagu by outsiders, non-Kodagu residents?

Brijesh Kalappa: It is difficult for the Karnataka Government to enact laws restricting others from buying property in Kodagu like in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. This is because this kind of restriction can’t be provided only to a district. However, if the Government of India bestows entry into the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, giving Kodavas an Ethnic Tribal status, such a restriction becomes possible.

Star of Mysore: Now that BJP is in power at the Centre, can’t it bestow entry into the 6th Schedule of the Constitution to make such a restriction possible?

Brijesh Kalappa: Absolutely, it is possible. But BJP merely wants to take the Kodava vote by such emotive issues as Tipu Jayanti and Ram Mandir and does not want to do anything at all for the good of Kodavas or Kodagu.

Star of Mysore: State Congress Government for the first time last year started celebrating Tipu Jayanti and for historical reasons it was opposed specially in Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada. What is your opinion as a Congressman?

Brijesh Kalappa: Why, I have already said in a TV interview that sentiments of people of these two districts should be respected.

Star of Mysore: For Kodavas, considered upper class, entry into government jobs, reservation in the field of education are almost completely blocked so also other privileges. Some politicians compare us to Parsi community and say Kodavas don’t need any help from the government or a Scheduled Tribe status under the Constitution. Apparently, these politicians and rich Kodavas think all Kodavas are rich forgetting a majority of 1.20 lakh Kodavas in Kodagu are just above poverty line. What do you have to say?

Brijesh Kalappa: The comparison to the Parsis by BJP leaders is odious and merely meant to misguide our people. The Parsis moved out of Gujarat into Mumbai in the 16th Century. They were associated with British business. They are 100 times more wealthier than us Kodavas. BJP leaders are cheating Kodavas by placing them on par with the Parsis and urging us not to claim Scheduled Tribe status. Our customs, traditions and language which is a dialict are such, Kodavas are well-qualified for inclusion as Tribes.

Star of Mysore: Since Kodavas are divided among themselves on issues like Jamma and Scheduled Tribe tag by getting entry into 6th Schedule of the Constitution, don’t you think the first step for achieving this goal is unity? At present there are about 8-9 different Kodava organisations fighting for their own perceived causes.

Brijesh Kalappa: There will always be dissenters. But if the cause is pursued with determination, like for example as being done by N.U. Nachappa of CNC, it is possible to get entry into the 6th Schedule.

I have already met, under UPA Government, Kishore Chandra Dev and Kanthilal Bhuria, both Union Tribal Affairs Ministers and they have written to Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya, Karnataka State Government, to make a study and send a report. If the State Government sends a NO Objection Report, the Centre can move the matter Constitutionally, you wait and see. Only BJP Government at the Centre should make up its mind.

Let me say to you that since RSS is against Reservation per se, BJP will say if Parsis could refuse Reservation why not Kodavas?

Star of Mysore: Do you mean that if the BJP at the Centre does not invoke the Constitutional provisions and help Kodavas and Kodagu, it will be a great let down?

Brijesh Kalappa: Of course, but BJP will not help. It wants to falsely boost the ego of rich Kodavas by saying they are like Parsis, they are not a Tribe. Has BJP recommended an ardent leader like Dr. M.M. Chengappa and made him an MLC even?! Did the BJP treat A.K. Subbaiah, who got them a foothold in Karnataka, with respect?!

The BJP has a long track record of using communities without ever meaning to give them any benefit whatsoever. The Dalits are also being misused by the BJP. Apart from the Traders and the Priestly class, every other community is being taken for a long ride by the BJP, just as the Kodavas have been taken for a ride all these years.

Brijesh Kalappa regrets bleak future of Kodagu and Kodavas

Kodagu today has sadly slipped from its pre-eminence and is a pale shadow of its glorious former self. The average Kodava in Coorg, though having assimilated into the local stock, feels alienated from the hustle and bustle of Indian democracy and considers himself as rather different from other citizens of his District and State.

Since history has it that Coorg has been an independent entity till 1956, at the very least, they ought to have their own Parliamentarian who can address their specific issues to the Union Government. In the absence of this, the Coorgs are reduced to being mute spectators in this participative democracy. Special consideration has always been given to people belonging to the hills under our Constitution in an attempt to preserve their special land holdings, customs and traditions and in addition to the fact that they are shy by nature and non-participative, unlike the people of the plains.

In this rather dim scenario, there had been a rather rash uprising to claim statehood for itself, this uprising has now channelled itself into a demand for an Autonomous Council under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution of India on the lines of the Gorkhaland Hill Council.

It is the solemn duty of the government to offer adequate representation to its people to ensure a participative democracy. It is therefore the thrust of the Kodavas that the Centre considers an ethno linguistic minority tribal national status for Kodavas under Article 340, 342 of our Constitution and to extend reservation facilities in the field of education, employment and financial benefits on the lines set by the Constitution of India.

This, accompanied by recognition of an autonomous region such as the one in Gorkhaland, by an entry under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, a constitutional special guarantee for land tenure and customary personnel laws on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern States of India under article 370 and 371 of the Constitution of India, besides due representation in the House of the People and the Council of States, will go a long way in enabling Kodavas of Kodagu an ethno linguistic minority to be part of India’s partipatory democracy.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / June 03rd, 2016