Monthly Archives: August 2020

‘Mixed feelings’ as Bopanna flies to USA to return to Tour

August 19, 2020Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports, World Opinionadmin

The doubles world No. 37 is the only Indian who will play the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Open, which marks the return of the men’s ATP Tour after a five-month break.

Rohan Bopanna will fly around 8,000 miles from India to the US before covering half of that distance next month to go from the US to Europe, touching down on three countries in a span of a month-and-a-half during a pandemic. All this to play just four tournaments.

It’s an unusual itinerary, for professional tennis players normally club together a bunch of tournaments in one continent in a season. But in the current scenario, Bopanna, India’s highest-ranked tennis pro, will partner Canadian rising star Denis Shapovalov to play the ATP Cincinnati Open (from August 22) and the US Open (August 31) in New York, the Rome Masters (September 14) and the French Open (September 27) in Paris before returning home.

The doubles world No. 37 is the only Indian who will play the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Open, which marks the return of the men’s ATP Tour after a five-month break while also acting as a curtain-raiser to the hard-court Grand Slam at the same venue.

“Mixed feelings about being back (on the Tour),” Bopanna said over phone before taking his flight from Bengaluru to New York early Saturday morning. “I have a daughter who is now going to be 15 months old, so it was special spending time with her and being with her at home.

“I love competing and am really happy to be back. Having said that, the tournaments will feel different with no people watching. There are so many restrictions with the US Open in terms of the (halved) doubles draw and no singles qualifying. So, yes, it’s a Grand Slam, but it’s kind of a closed Grand Slam. So I’m not really sure what to expect,” he added.

For a long time, the 40-year-old also wasn’t sure if he would make the journey to New York, with different travel and quarantine restrictions in place. But once India started limited flights to USA and the participating players at the US Open were promised a waiver of the quarantine period, Bopanna decided to give it a shot despite the reservations.

“Initially nobody was sure because we don’t have any firsthand information about how things are planned there. We are only reading and receiving information. But once they put in place the protocols and logistics of how everything was going to be carried out, it made it a little easier to make the decision to travel. The main thing was the flights had to open up in India,” he said.

Bopanna took a Covid-19 test on Wednesday – which returned negative – before his flight. He will be tested again once he checks into the designated hotel in Queens and enters the bio bubble before a range of regulations and restrictions kick in. “I’m going with an open mind. Once we get there I think we’ll have a better idea of how things are. But there will be no access to Manhattan or any restaurants or anything else. It’s just tennis courts and back. So I’ll kind of be in another lockdown, only this time in New York!” Bopanna said.

The US Open might be on but it will lack in flavor. A number of top-100 players, including the men’s and women’s singles defending champions, have pulled out while both the tournaments in New York will be played behind closed doors.

“Not at all surprised that some players have decided not to go,” the 2017 French Open mixed doubles champion said. “It’s a purely personal decision; I don’t think anybody can be held for that. Everyone has different thoughts on the situation. But that’s the beauty of our sport—you can make your own call.”

Bopanna was the first tennis pro to resume training in India, hitting the courts in Bengaluru in June before recurrences of the lockdown in the state disrupted his continuity. He feels his preparation after a long break has been adequate but is going to take it one game at a time.

“Physically I’m feeling great. I’ve been doing a lot of Iyengar Yoga, which has enhanced my physical strength. I’ve been practising in my academy for the past three weeks, both on clay and hard courts. So in terms of hitting the ball, I feel fine. Clearly, no one will be match-sharp. We just have to take things, literally and absolutely, one match at a time. There’s no point thinking too far ahead,” he said.

There sure isn’t. Tournaments continue to get cancelled and there is no certainty about how the Tour will shape up after the French Open ends in October. Bopanna thus wants to treat this two-month phase like the start of a fresh season wherein players play a tournament or two before heading straight into the year’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open.

“It’s the same scenario here. It’s very difficult to say how it’s going to be and there’s no point pre-guessing it. All I know for a fact now is that once I leave, I won’t be coming back immediately. I’ll play all the four tournaments, return to India and get quarantined,” he said.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Tennis / by Rutvick Mehta, Mumbai / August 16th, 2020

Obituary : Berera Shambhu Aiyanna

August 17, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Berera Shambhu Aiyanna (73), former President of Bengaluru Kodava Samaja, a social worker and a resident of Vidyranyapura in Bengaluru, passed away early this morning at his residence.

He leaves behind his wife and two sons. Cremation was held this afternoon at Bengaluru.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / August 18th, 2020

Inspiring a generation: Gandhi’s Kodagu visit

August 16, 2020Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Gandhi Mantapa in Madikeri was built to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Kodagu in 1934. DH file photo

It was a cold February morning in 1934, when a young Seethamma, around 10 years old, woke up with excitement. After all, it was an important day and all she wanted was to catch a glimpse of Mahatma Gandhi, who happened to be in Kodagu.

Gandhi was set to address a gathering at Kakotuparambu grounds in Virajpet that day and Seethamma had to cover several miles on foot to reach the venue.

Her parents and cousins were already waiting outside and they all set out towards the venue immediately, only stopping to wash their faces in a small stream on the way. When they reached the ground, a large crowd had gathered and they saw the Mahatma from a distance.

“Gandhiji was sitting on the stage with his legs crossed to one side,” Seethamma would often tell her children and grandchildren, recalling that historic day. Just a glimpse of the great man was her most treasured memory.

The Mahatma, who was touring Tamil Nadu to mobilise funds for the upliftment of ‘Harijans’, was invited to Kodagu by Pandyanda I Belliappa and other freedom fighters of the district, which was then a Chief Commissioner’s Province.

On arriving at Kodagu, the Mahatma and his entourage first visited a Harijan colony in Gonicoppa, following which he addressed a meeting mostly attended by women. Though on a short visit, Gandhi also addressed gatherings at Ponnampet, Somwarpet and Madikeri among other places. He appealed to the people to donate generously to help the victims of an earthquake that had hit Bihar in January that year and also requested them to contribute to the Harijan Welfare Fund.

He asked the women to donate their gold jewellery and ornaments for the cause, while stating that, “The amount is not important to me because it is a token of tangible sympathy to the suffering. Thus, even a copper coin is valuable.”

Moved by the appeal, writer Kodagina Gowramma, who was around 22 years at the time, famously donated all her gold ornaments to the Harijan Welfare Fund.

Seethamma and Gowramma, and several others like them knowingly or unknowingly became part of the national movement – which was as much about uniting the very diverse people of India as it was about fighting a foreign rule.

Such was Gandhi’s charisma that he inspired people, young and old; women and men; poor and rich. This made the freedom movement a mass movement.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum > Spectrum Statescan / by Dhanyata M Poovaiah / August 15th, 2020

The Amara Sullia uprising, 20 years before 1857

August 15, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Twenty years before the First War of Independence in 1857, there was the ‘Amara Sullia Dange’ or Kodagu- Canara Mutiny against the British government. This fight, which was labelled ‘Kalyanappana Katakayi’ (Loot of Kalyanappa), to tone down its significance, received unprecedented support from people in today’s Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka and Kumble region in Kerala.

After Tipu Sultan’s death in 1799, South Canara (Dakshina Kannada) passed into British hands. Neighbouring Kodagu, however, still maintained a precarious independence.

In 1834, the East India Company resolved to invade Kodagu, which was ruled by King Chikkaveera Rajendra of Haleri dynasty. On April 11, 1834, the political agent of the British at Mercara (Madikeri), Lieutenant Colonel J S Fraser, issued a proclamation annexing Kodagu into the British administration. Fraser also resolved to respect the social and religious customs of the locals, but the promise remained on paper.

The British introduced major economic, social, and even territorial changes in Kodagu, for their administrative convenience. Amara Sullia was separated from Kodagu and made part of South Canara district, which was then part of the Madras province. What further incensed the people was a change in the mode of tax payment, which was now to be made entirely in cash. The farmers were used to giving part of their produce as the tax, but the new system only added to their burden. Now, many of them refused to pay the tax outright.

After Kodagu’s annexation, there was a resistance movement planned. In 1835, Swamy Aparampara, a Jangama saint, appeared in Manjarabad in Hassan district and claimed that he was a legal heir to the Haleri throne.

His plan was to attack and occupy Madikeri Fort on December 5, 1836. The people of Kodagu believed him to be the son of Appaji, who was the uncle of Chikkaveera Rajendra. Aparampara planned a resistance movement with the help of other rebellions including Kalyanaswamy, Kedambadi Rame Gowda and Guddemane Appayya Gowda. Aparampara visited Subrahmanya and met Kujugodu Appayya Gowda and Mallappa Gowda, the representatives of the Ikkeri dynasty. From there, they marched towards Madikeri with a battalion.

The British got wind of the plan and imprisoned Aparampara, with the aid of Kodagu’s Dewan, Cheppudira Ponnappa.

Now, the responsibility of the movement shifted onto the shoulders of Kalyanaswamy. He claimed to be the second son of Appaji and therefore, a member of the Haleri dynasty. Declared a king by his men, he popularised the movement by proclaiming that if he became the king, he would stop collecting revenue for the first three years and abolish the duties on commodities.

Dewan Ponnappa proved that Kalyanaswamy didn’t belong to the Haleri dynasty. However, the rebel leader remained popular and enjoyed support from local leaders.

Kalyanaswamy slowly extended the movement to Sullia and other parts of South Canara. Kedambadi Ramegowda of Sullia was primarily responsible for the organisation of rebellion in South Canara. When Kalyanaswamy was travelling from Kodlipet to Wayanad, he was captured by the British forces, though his imprisonment was concealed. His friend Putta Basappa posed as Kalyanappa and continued the rebellion.

Meanwhile, the resentment against the new tax policy continued, and Kedambadi Ramegowda and Nanjayya decided to start a rebellion in Sullia. They killed Atlur Ramappaya, the Amaldar (Agent) of Sullia, who was loyal to the British.

The battalion, headed by Kalyanappa (Putta Basappa), Kedambadi Ramegowda and others reached Bellare and attacked the British treasury. The rebels then reached Mangalore and hoisted the Haleri flag in ‘Bavutagudda’ on April 5, 1837, to mark their victory over the British.

In response, the British brought in reinforcements from Kannanur, and attacked the rebels. Several leaders were captured and killed, while a few others escaped. Putta Basappa and Appayya Gowda were hanged.

The British Commissioner Cotton, who submitted a report on the Canara Insurrection to the government in 1839, mentioned the movement was a furtherance of the Nagar Peasants’ Revolt of 1830-32, in present-day Shivamogga. “The Amara Sullia insurrection has the features of primary resistance, as well as peasants’ movement; the main intention was to drive away the colonial intruders,” says K R Vidyadhara, a lawyer in Madikeri who has studied the uprising.

A few scholars have conducted extensive studies on the Amara Sullia mutiny, with the incident even being portrayed in a Yakshagana performance called ‘Kalyanappana Katakayi’.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Spectrum> Spectrum Top Stories / by Charan Aivarnad / August 15th, 2020

‘Get acquainted with Kodava tradition’

August 15, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorgadmin

Kodava Education Society Joint Secretary Chiriyapanda Raja Nanjappa inaugurates 'Kodavame Padipu' programme at CIT PU College in Ponnampet on Wednesday. Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy Chairperson Dr Parvathi Appaiah, Academy member Dr Mullengada Revathi — Kodava Education Society Joint Secretary Chiriyapanda Raja Nanjappa inaugurates ‘Kodavame Padipu’ programme at CIT PU College in Ponnampet on Wednesday. Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy Chairperson Dr Parvathi Appaiah, Academy member Dr Mullengada Revathi

People are busy in agricultural activities during the month of Kakkada and also it keeps raining during the month. Hence, our ancestors imposed restrictions on holding auspicious programmes during Kakkada month, opined Kodava Sahitya Academy member Dr Mullengada Revathi Poovaiah.

Speaking during ‘Kodavame Padipu’ programme, organised by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, at Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT) in Ponnampet on Wednesday, she said that the youth should understand the reasons behind the religious rituals. “Our elders gave a lot of importance to indigenous food and used them during the rainy season. They planned their food according to the seasons,” Revathi added.

Inaugurating the programme, Kodava Education Society Joint Secretary Chiriyapanda Raja Nanjappa said it is believed that the Kodava tribe was present during the origination of River Cauvery and called upon the present generation to get acquainted with the local tradition and culture.

He further said, “The Jamma land is not government land. It is inherited by Kodavas from generations. Also, the gun is used for religious rituals in Kodava culture. However, our ancestors did not use a gun for fighting. Gun rights of Kodavas should be preserved, he added.

During the programme, the resource persons spoke on the importance of ‘Kakkada Padinett’, ‘Kakkada Tingalra Pudume’, ‘Kodava Namme’ and ‘Kodava Takk.

Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy Chairperson Dr Ammatanda Parvathi Appaiah, member Padinjaranda Prabhukumar, CIT PU College Principal Dr Sannuvanda Rohini Thimmaiah, Thookbolak Kala Sahitya Vedike convener Madhosh Poovaiah and others were present.

Students of CIT PU College watched the programme online.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Karnataka Districts / DHNS, Kodagu / August 14th, 2020

When Kodagu merged with Mysore: A short political history of the region

August 13, 2020About Kodagu / Coorg, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

An erstwhile independent state, Coorg was merged with Mysore after the States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956.

It was S Nijalingappa’s death anniversary on August 8 and I was reading about the unified Mysore state’s first Assembly elections in order to get some insights about the first and one of the longest serving Chief Ministers of our state. One article led to another and I found myself in the middle of several articles about Coorg’s merger with Mysore. It was such an interesting revelation that I kept hopping from one article to another and got deeper into the rabbit hole.

Since most of us outside of Kodagu are informed just in passing in our textbooks about how Coorg was an independent state before the unification, I thought this was a story worth telling.

After more than a century of direct British rule since its annexation from its last ruler Chikka Veera Rajendra (in 1834), Coorg became an independent (Type C) state within India along with other small, hilly, erstwhile princely states like Himachal Pradesh. Coorg had a strong Congress party presence and participated enthusiastically in the freedom struggle, with even stalwarts like Gandhi visiting the state on a few occasions to mobilise the immensely patriotic people from the land of coffee, commanders and Kaveri.

But the Congress leadership within Coorg was heavily divided over whether to remain an independent state or to join the larger neighbouring state of Mysore. While one faction led by the Gandhian CM Poonacha was more pragmatic in seeing the impracticality of a tiny state like Coorg being allowed to remain independent in a country as large as India and being open to the idea of merging with Mysore since Kannada was already the language broadly used in education and administration within Coorg, the other faction led by another Gandhian Pandiyanda Belliappa was , staunchly against the merger. The loyalty of both factions and leaders, however, lay with the Congress.

When the legislative assembly elections were announced in late 1951, to be held along with the first ever election to independent India’s parliament, the Pandiyanda Belliappa faction moved away from the Mysore-sympathetic Congress and formed the Thakkadi Party (weighing machine), contesting as independents on the plank of Coorg’s continuation as an independent state.

In what was a Brexit style election to decide the future of Coorg state, the Congress emerged victorious, winning 15 seats in the 24-member Coorg Assembly, while the Thakkadi Party won the remaining 9 seats. Questions were raised about the fairness of the elections as allegations surfaced that voters were sent from the neighbouring towns in Mysore to vote for the Congress, in effect for Coorg’s merger with Mysore. Poonacha, however, took oath as Coorg’s first and only elected Chief Minister and ruled till 1956 with a two-member Cabinet.

In 1956, the States Reorganisation Act was passed in the Parliament by the Nehru government, allowing Coorg’s merger with Mysore. Several efforts were made by key dignitaries from Coorg to secure an independent state status, including the decorated Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who was then serving as India’s High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand. He wrote a letter to President Rajendra Prasad, making a case for Coorg to remain an independent state. But it proved too little, too late as the Nehru-led Congress government remained committed to the Act and reined in dissent within the party units across states.

When the bill was taken up to be voted by Coorg’s Assembly as it required ratification by state assemblies before becoming a legislation, 22 out of 24 legislators, including Pandiyanda Belliappa, voted for Coorg’s merger with Mysore. The first and only elected legislative assembly and government of Coorg was thus dissolved, paving the way for its integration with the unified Mysore state.

Poonacha went on to serve both the Mysore and central governments in various capacities as cabinet minister holding various important portfolios, and also served as the Governor of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. He was also Coorg’s representative in the Constituent Assembly. Coorg also sent two members to independent India’s first elected Parliament. After its merger with Mysore, however, Coorg was clubbed with Mangalore earlier and Mysore later into a single parliamentary constituency. It sends two legislators to the 224-member state assembly of Karnataka.

Many people in Coorg are still divided and emotional over the issue of Coorg’s merger with Mysore. The Codava National Council, under the leadership of NU Nachappa, fought for the restoration of statehood for Coorg for several decades. But it has now toned down its demand to that of an autonomous development board exclusively for Coorg within Karnataka, with many other perks similar to those offered to other sparsely populated hilly regions and tribes in the Himalayas and the North East.

Kodagu, the official name of the district, is one of the most developed districts of Karnataka across most parameters of development. With an HDI of 0.817, it is only behind Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in terms of human development. As it reels under another bout of floods this monsoon, let us keep the beautiful Coorg in our prayers and cherish its less known history.

Rakshith S Ponnathpur is a financial and economic policy researcher with a keen interest in Karnataka history and politics.

source: http://www.thenewsminute.com / The News Minute / Home> News> History / by Rakshith S Ponnathpur / August 12th, 2020

Daughters Of Talacauvery Chief Priest Reach Kodagu

August 12, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Madikeri:

As rains have abated in Kodagu, rescue operations have been initiated in full swing and over 150 personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Madras Engineering Group (MEG) are carrying out search for the priest family that was washed away at Talacauvery on Wednesday midnight.

Five persons of a family including the Chief Priest of Sri Cauvery Temple T.S. Narayanachar are buried alive as a portion of the Brahmagiri Hill collapsed on two houses where the priests lived. Along with Narayanachar, his wife Shantha Narayana, Narayanachar’s brother Anandathirtha Swamiji and relatives Ravikiran Bhat and Pavan Bhat are feared to be dead.

In the search carried out on Saturday, the body of Anandathirtha was found. Search is on to find other missing persons. Meanwhile, daughters of Narayanachar-Shantha couple Sharada and Namitha who are settled in Australia and New Zealand have reached Talacauvery and are discussing with the rescue personnel about the rescue operations.

Rains have abated in the hilly district but areas where River Cauvery flows are still deep under water. Flood situation at Balamuri and Kottamudi remains to be grim as water level has not receded. The connection between Murnad and Napoklu continues to be disrupted. Flood waters have receded in Kushalnagar and the residents have begun cleaning their houses to make them fit for living.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 10th, 2020

Kodagu secures 18th place in SSLC results

August 11, 2020Education, Records, Alladmin

Students and teachers of Government High School in Mayamudi, which has achieved 100% results in SSLC examinations. DH Photo

Kodagu district stood at the 18th position in the state in the SSLC examination results announced on Monday.

The district has shown a lot of improvement as it was in the 22nd position last year.

This year, a total of 7,164 students took SSLC exams in 27 exam centres in the district. Among them, 74 candidates were from Covid-19 containment zones.

Jagath Poovaiah of Fathima Convent in Kushalnagar has emerged as the district topper while scoring 620 out of 625 marks.

Gana, a student of Sandeepani School in Somwarpet, has scored 618 marks and is the second topper from the district. She has scored 122 marks in first language Kannada, 97 in English and 100 each in Hindi, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies.

Other toppers

Vijaya M D from Morarji Desai Residential School and K S Anusha from Lions School, Gonikoppa, have secured 617 marks each and share the third place in the district.

H K Rahul from Vishwamanava Kuvempu High School of Chowdlu village has secured 607 marks.

OLV English Medium School student N K Shravani has secured 605 marks.

Government High School in Mayamudi has secured 100% results. The students have excelled in the examinations, despite the pandemic. Most of the students in the school are from economically backward families and therefore, their achievement is worth a praise, Headteacher Vani Nachappa said.

Other schools which have registered 100% results are: Morarji Desai Residential School in Basavanahalli, Cauvery School and Pragathi School in Virajpet, St Annamma High School and Bright School in Virajpet, Sandeepani English Medium School and Vishwamanava Kuvempu English Medium School in Somwarpet and Shantinikethana School, Kodagarahalli.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Karnataka Districts / by DHNS / August 11th, 2020

Anandatheertha, the sage who lived for Kaveri, dies

August 10, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, Alladmin

Anandatheertha lived a life of intense commitment to the Kaveri. He died in landslide in Talakaveri on August 6.

Regular trips to Talakaveri, located near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka, are fond for river Kaveri. A temple to Goddess Kaveri, also dedicated to Shiva as Agasthyeswara and Ganesha, overlooks the ancient tank that collects water from a nearby wild spring there.

For the devotees, the tank was the origin of the east-flowing river of peninsular India. According to the legends, the river disappears in its birthplace — only to take rebirth at Bhagamandala located a little away at the foothills.

I met Swami Anandatheertha (died at 76) for the first time one September evening about a decade ago. The meeting was followed by a long conversation about the mighty river, the lifeline of vast stretches of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Several conversations followed over time — and each one of them gave me the impression that he was no less than a living encyclopaedia — not just on the Kaveri but all the rivers on Earth.

It was this school teacher-turned-sage who showed me the exact origin of the river. Anandatheertha lived in Mumbai for long and taught at a school there, but returned to his native place three decades ago to become the traditional trustee and administrator of the temples in Talakaveri and Bhagamandala.

He lived a spartan life in a small house in Talakaveri, located in the Brahmagiri range of Western Ghats at an elevation of 1,341 metres. His brother-in-law was the chief priest of the temple. He lived with his sister and her husband.

A scholar with strong social and political concerns, Anandatheertha was a secular person. Between sacred and profane, he lived a life of intense commitment to the river and the surrounding forests.

In the 1980s, he was among the members of the Save Western Ghats March — a major environmental protection initiative involving scientists, anthropologists, sociologists, activists, journalists and local communities.

He marched together with others for 100 days along the length of the ghats, highlighting the socio-ecological challenges the area grappled with. He had actively engaged with almost all attempts to save the Western Ghats and the Kaveri from human encroachment and destruction.

He travelled extensively across the length and width of the river, urging local communities to save the river. He found comfort in the role of a low profile environmentalist with extreme devotion to the cause.

Journalist and filmmaker O K Johnny, who authored Kaveriyodoppam Ente Yathrakal (Journeys Along Kaveri), pointed out that Anandatheertha was always anxious about the fate of the Kaveri.

Except for the little stretch in his small locality, the river is on its deathbed. For Anandatheertha, Western Ghats and the river were integral to his existence. In a way, he always spoke in the river’s voice.

It was the place where sage Agasthya was blessed by Brahma, Vishnu and Ganesha while meditating under the ashwaththa tree. Saptarishis, or the seven great sages, had performed their yajna or ritual sacrifices at the Brahmagiri peak.

He also spoke about Lord Brahma’s daughter Lopamudra, who was rechristened as Kaveri later. Kaveri eventually turned herself into a river to serve the humankind.

Everything is a fond memory now. On August 6, 2020, Anandatheertha failed to turn up at Talakaveri temple along with the chief priest to conduct the morning rituals. One of the security guards at the temple went to check the priest and found the priest’s house buried in mud.

According to available information, the development officer of the local Grama Panchayat had issued a notice to Anandatheertha, directing him and the family of the head priest to move away from the place for the hill was prone to landslides; Anandatheertha was living at the foothills.

However, Anandatheertha refused to move away. Even the cowshed he had with over 20 bovines was buried deep in mounds of mud and rubble. The area surrounding the priests’ houses is now inaccessible, according to Kodagu district commissioner Anies Kanmani Joy.

A portion of the Brahmagiri Hill collapsed on the two houses where Anandatheertha and the priest were living. At least five people are missing as of August 7.

Other than Anandatheertha, his sister Shantha Narayana (68), her husband and temple’s head priest T S Narayanachar (70) and relatives Ravikiran Bhat and Pavan Bhat are missing.

Mud came crashing down on the two houses Wednesday midnight; around 30 acres of the mountain range collapsed. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had predicted possibilities of landslides in Talakavery, in the close vicinity of the temple, after detecting surface cracks during last monsoon.

It had conducted extensive field study in Kodagu following the two subsequent floods since 2018 and discovered slope modification without proper precautions as the major cause of landslides.

Unbridled construction of houses by carving hill slopes resulted in land destabilisation in the region. Unsupported slope cuts for road widening also contributed to the tragedy.

A spiritual leader who always expressed concern over change in land use patterns in Brahmagiri hills and the mushrooming illegal constructions has now turned its victim.

He was always against large-scale capital investments to convert Talakaveri as a concrete jungle in the name of spiritual tourism. The encyclopaedia on rivers is no more.

source: http://www.downtoearth.org.in / Down To Earth / Home> Environment / by K A Shaji / August 07th, 2020

Jothe Jotheyali: Here’s What Anu And Arya Have To Tell You About The Kodava Attire

August 9, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

As we know, Anu and Arya recently dressed up for their ethnic day in the beautiful Kodava attire. Speaking of which, we all know how Kodagu is a travel destination and the most beautiful place to be. However, here’s a little about their outfits!

Kodagu or Coorg is the smallest district in Karnataka, is perched on the Western Ghats at a height of about 1000m above sea level. It is known for its hills and tropical forests along with wild animals and lush coffee plantations on hill slopes. About a third of the district is covered by forests fed by monsoon rains that lash the region for nearly four months in the year.

The first thing that comes across as ‘different’ about Kodavas is their traditional dress. The Kodava women drape their sarees in a distinctive style with the pleats tucked at the back of the waist and the pallu drawn under her left shoulder as it is considered more convenient for agricultural and other work. The traditional jewellery worn by Kodava women is also distinctive and is inspired by nature – the moon, flowers, fruits, snake to name a few.

The Kodava man’s attire is a kupya which is a long black or white wrap-around tunic along with a red gold-embroidered silk chele that is a sash with a peeche kathi (dagger made of silver, gold, ivory and wood). A white mande thuni (turban) or a red chouka (checked scarf) is tied around his head while an odikathi (war knife with a broad blade) is fixed to a thodang (silver girdle) at the back of his waist.

Catch all the episodes of Jothe Jotheyali exclusively on ZEE5!

source: http://www.zee5.com /ZEE5 / Home> Zee5News> Entertainment / August 08th, 2020

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas