Monthly Archives: January 2021

Recalling Gandhiji’s Visit To Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

By Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore

Mahatma Gandhi was always impressed by Kodavas who are hard-working and play a major role in protecting India’s borders. In fact, there are many Kodavas who held and still hold top positions in Defence Forces like the Chief of Army Staff. 

Here we recall Gandhiji’s visit to Kodagu. He was camping at Madras (now Chennai). There was a rumour that Gandhiji would visit Bangalore and Mysore. At that time, Pandiyanda I. Belliappa (people lovingly called him ‘Gandhi’ later due to the Mahatma’s visit to his house) was a prominent Congress leader and he was also bringing out a newspaper called Kodagu. He requested Gandhiji to sanctify Kodagu by his visit. 

Gandhiji agreed and along with Veeranna Gowda Patil who was the Chairman of Harijana Sangha and others arrived at Gonikoppal on the evening of 22.2.1934. Immediately, he expressed a desire to visit Harijanakeri (where Harijans live). Gandhiji visited Kaikeri, a small village near Gonikoppal. His first programme was to visit the houses of Harijans where more women had gathered than men and Gandhiji spoke for a short while. 

The women gathered there collected Rs.25 among themselves and gave it to Gandhiji. He had been garlanded and those garlands were auctioned which fetched Rs. 3. During that time, there was an earthquake in Bihar and Gandhiji spoke about the agony of people and requested contribution, however small it may be and the women immediately gave away their gold ornaments.

From there, Gandhiji went to Ponnampet and visited Sharada Ashram (Sri Ramakrishna Ashram) and collected Rs. 22 and one ana. From there he went to Thithimathi and collected Rs. 39. Then he went to Hudikeri and addressed a gathering of 800 persons. Chendira Thammayya, who was the President of Taluk Board, welcomed Gandhiji and collected Rs. 72 and 13 anas and gave it to Gandhiji. 

Local school students collected Rs. 2 and one ana. From there Gandhiji returned to Ponnampet and again visited Sri Ramakrishna Ashram where he was welcomed by Shambavanandaji. Gandhiji established Harijan Welfare Sangha and he was given a fund of Rs. 220. 

While addressing the gathering there, he said that he could not think of living without Dharma. “My Dharma depends upon the support given by men and women who are equal partners. Here, caste should not make its entry at any cost. Dharma means coming closer to God and whatsoever we do should be dedicated to God and this should be nothing but like the clean air we breathe in,” he said. 

From there, Gandhiji went to Virajpet where a Muslim leader spoke from the dais in Urdu language. This brought great joy to Gandhiji. He said Hindus and Muslims should live in harmony.

He went to Basavanahalli in Somwarpet and on his way he camped at Siddapura where he was given a donation of Rs. 7. From there he went to the house of coffee-planter Manjunathayya where women donated their ornaments. One woman gave her jewels in the presence of her husband. Gandhiji asked this husband,“What do you say about this donation?” He replied that the ornaments belong to his wife and she is free to use it in whatever manner she wants. 

Gandhiji felt happy and asked that man his age and thirty years was his reply. Gandhiji said, “At your age I was not a wise man as you are. Wisdom came to me later.” Everybody burst into laughter. In his short speech, Gandhiji asked them to work hard and make Kodagu prosperous.

Later, Gandhiji went to Madikeri and reached near Raja’s Seat. Over 4,000 persons had gathered there and gave a donation of Rs.760. Gandhiji was given a donation of Rs.82 for Bihar earthquake victims.

He said, “Though travel to Kodagu was tiresome, I am enticed by the natural beauty. Another thing which has given me satisfaction is that there is no untouchability in Kodagu. But Harijans are losing precious land and this should not happen hereafter.”

That night Gandhiji stayed at Madikeri in the house of C.P. Nanjappa. Nanjappa’s wife donated a silver cup and a saucer while Nanjappa donated a gold necklace. The tea-tray made of wood was auctioned and it fetched Rs. 9. In Nanjappa’s house a prayer meeting was held and I.C. Subbayya announced that Rs.2,000 has been given as donation. 

Gandhiji stayed that night in Subbayya’s house. He woke up at 2.45 am and wrote letters to Manilal and Susheela. The letter contained a short note — “Tonight we are in Kodagu. It is a small place and its population is 150 thousand. Tomorrow by about six, we descend down and go to Mangalore.”

Meanwhile, some prominent Congress leaders wanted to discuss some political developments in Kodagu. Gandhiji did not permit them and said “I am happy here because there is no untouchability. I have come here to see the activities of Harijans.”

Gandhiji’s visit to Kodagu is special and was worthy of remembrance. This incident had happened about 86 years ago. To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s visit, a postal cover was released on May 29, 2015. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns / by Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head, Department of Ancient History & Archaeology, University of Mysore / January 16th, 2021

Mushrooming interest

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

Women in Kodagu are increasingly learning cultivation and becoming self-reliant

Madikeri :

Don’t underestimate the mushrooms. They are having their moment. This is a story about homemakers in Kodagu district. And it is also a story about mushrooms. “I grew up wanting to do something unique,” says Ambika Achaiah, 35, a budding entrepreneur from Cheyyandane village. While Ambika dreamt of starting a unique venture, she was married off after completion of her degree and nearly 10 years passed in managing home and hearth.

Nevertheless, her ambition to achieve something different was reignited when she stumbled upon a radio broadcast about free training for mushroom cultivation in 2019. “I was excited when I learnt of it. I travelled nearly 60 km to Krishi Vignyana Kendra in Gonikoppal to avail the training under the National Skill Development Corporation programme,” recalls Ambika. While she thought that it would last a day, she was shocked to learn that it was a 25-day course. Encouraged by KVK scientist Dr Somashekar, Ambika completed it and received a certification in oyster mushroom cultivation.

Ambika is currently working at the mushroom cultivation lab in KVK and experimenting on different varieties of mushroom cultivation. “I started off with spawn cultivation. But now I am versatile in mushroom tissue culture and the entire process of mushroom cultivation. I have applied for a loan and I will soon set up my own unit at my house,” she says.

While she is involved in developing the popular oyster mushroom variety, she is also experimenting on cultivating the seasonal milky mushroom. Apart from the cultivation process, she trains other like-minded homemakers. “Various women cooperative societies and other self-help groups invite me for motivational talk. I encourage women to take up the profitable mushroom business and I have also provided training for a few women in mushroom cultivation,” Ambika says.

Rashmi Bharadwaj, 40, is also a homemaker. She indulged in gardening – especially in orchid cultivation – as a hobby and sometimes even earned some pocket money. However, it has been nearly two years since Rashmi stepped into the field of mushroom cultivation and today she runs her own unit.
“I run a mushroom cultivation unit on contract basis with KVK in Gonikoppal. It would take nearly Rs 15 lakh to establish a unit. However, it was easier for me to work on contract as I did not have to worry about initial investment. And all the equipment is readily available,” says Rashmi.

After being a homemaker for several years, she started working for a minimum remuneration at a mushroom spawn cultivation unit. But after eight months into this job, she started cultivating oyster mushrooms from scratch and she now sells 100 to 120 harvested oyster mushroom bags per day. “I work from 9 am to 5 pm every day. Apart from the ready-to-cook oyster mushroom bags, I also manufacture Ready To Fruit Bags, which sell like hot cakes among mushroom farmers,” she explains. Ready to Fruit bags (RTF) are mushroom seeded and grown straw bags of oyster mushrooms.

The clients who buy them have to cut out a few holes in these RTF bags and keep them in a well-lit area (not under direct sunlight) and sprinkle water regularly. Oyster mushrooms bloom from these packets, without the risk of any contamination and effortlessly within five to seven days. Another shining example is Lakshmi, 55, who worked as a domestic help and switched many jobs in between even as she worked as a hospital help at daily wages for 25 years until recently. “I worked at a hospital as a cleaning staffer for many years. But I wanted to become self-reliant,” she recalls.

Lakshmi stumbled upon the mushroom cultivation training programme and she found her path to independence. She is cultivating mushrooms on a small scale and has set up her own unit in a single bedroom. “Contamination-free is the key to mushroom cultivation and the business gets profitable only when the set-up is unpolluted. I collect paddy straws from a known people, bake and dry the straw, purchase mushroom growing bags and start spawn cultivation by keeping the bags under the cot – where the temperature is less and visibility is low,” says Lakshmi.

Though she is self-reliant, she says, “I am unable to manufacture mushrooms on a large scale as I lack the required funds to purchase improved facilities. However, I am happy with my small scale set-up, which is better than working for someone.”

Oyster Mushrooms
After White Button, oyster mushrooms are mostly cultivated and consumed across India.  These have many health benefits as they are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibres, and low in calories. They are believed to help increase immunity.

Women Turn Entrepreneurs
The mushrooms, bought by customers across Kodagu, are not just making for a tasty treat but are enabling entrepreneurship skills among many women. The cultivated mushrooms are sold throughout the year at local markets, and even  home delivery is available on request. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States>Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / January 17th, 2021

Kodavas And Arebhashe Gowdas Are Like Kith And Kin: Rangayana Director

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Mysore/Mysuru:

The two major ethnic groups of Kodagu, Kodavas and Arebhashe Gowdas, are like kith and kin and have contributed immensely for Kodagu land, opined Rangayana Director Addanda C. Cariappa.

He was speaking on the occasion of staging of Arebhashe play ‘Sahebru Bandavre!!!’, organised by Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi-Sahitya Academy in association with Rangayana Mysuru at Kiru Rangamandira, Rangayana here, yesterday.

“When I took charge as Director here, during Bahuroopi Theatre Festival, it was a feast to watch Kodavas and Arebhashe Gowdas dancing in their traditional attire. Now, Arebhashe play is being staged here in Rangayana. I would like people to come in large numbers to watch and support Kodava, Tulu and Kannada plays,” he said.

“By just stopping speaking a particular language, one can effectively kill a particular section of populace and their unique culture. If you stop speaking Arebhashe language, there will not be Arebhashe Gowdas. Similarly, Kodavas cannot survive without Kodava language and Kannadigas without Kannada,” he added.

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, President of Kodagu Gowda Samaja Thontabailu Manohar and Academy Chairman Lakshminarayana Kajegadde, Rangayana Jt. Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 16th, 2020

Kodagu DC On Long Leave To Join Husband In The US

Records, All

Kodagu ZP CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena to take charge as in-charge DC

Madikeri:

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Annies Kanmani Joy is on a long leave from today (Jan. 15) to join her husband Stephen Mani, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Officer, posted recently as First Secretary to Indian Embassy in Washington DC, USA, along with their daughter Apoorva, for some time.

Kodagu Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhanwar Singh Meena will take charge as the in-charge DC.

Annies, who had a two year successful tenure in Kodagu as the DC, has thanked everyone for the support and co-operation provided to her, especially during handling of natural disasters, controlling COVID-19 pandemic and conducting GP polls.

The DC said that she had sanctioned 274 acres of land to various development works including establishment of Waste Segregation Unit, residential school and community centres.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 15th, 2021

Reviving Spiritual Leaderships

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

United Kodava Organisation to hold Mand Namme at Ammathi tomorrow

The Kodavas were originally worshippers of ancestors and of nature. A Kodava joint family was called an Okka. The members of such a family owned and tilled their farmland in common. A group of these families formed a hamlet called a Keri. A few such hamlets formed a village called an Oor. Each village would have one or more temples. A number of such villages formed a cluster called a Naad. A number of such clusters formed a region called a Shime. Kodagu comprised 8 regions or 35 clusters.

 There was a traditional system of leadership in Kodagu called Thakkame. Accordingly, every village, cluster, region and temple was led by a prominent Okka called a Thakka family. This family was responsible for guiding the people in the affairs of and in settling disputes within their jurisdiction. Generally, every family (whether Thakka or not) was presided over by its head who was usually the eldest, able male member called a Pattedara. A Thakka family was hence represented by its respective head. 

The Shime Thakka and Naad Thakka families are named in a century-old compilation of Kodava folklore called the Pattole Palame. The Shime Thakkas were sometimes called Desa Thakkas. Some of the Naads had more than one Naad Thakka. Every village in Kodagu had an Oor Thakka and every Devasthana (temple) had a Deva Thakka. Therefore, the Thakkas were hereditary managers who helped run the various local societies in Kodagu.  The Thakkas would frequently gather in an Ambala, a roofed hall on a raised platform. A meeting of the Thakkas was called a Thakkorme. In the modern era, with the march of western civilisation, these concepts have been largely forgotten. 

A few temples outside Kodagu and frequented by Kodavas also have Deva Thakkas. They served as temple managers especially during the annual festival days. For example, there is the Puggera family at the Baithurappa temple and the Mundiolanda and Bovverianda families at the Payyavoorappa temple.

A Kodava Trust called United Kodava Organisation (UKO) has now been putting in efforts to revive the Thakkorme practise. On Dec. 25, 2020, UKO held a Thakkorme event at Begur village. Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa, President and Convener of UKO, spoke on the occasion, enlightening the crowd about the ancient practise. Mathanda Monnappa, President of Akhila Kodava Samaja and a present-day Desa Thakka, was also present.

According to UKO President, over 85 Thakkas participated in the event. He said that a Thakka is a religious head and an Oorme is a unity. Hence, Thakkorme is a confluence of religious heads. During the ancestral era, the Kodava clan system was led by these leaders. Urbanisation and politics had affected the system and have a negative effect on the community. 

Currently, these spiritual leaders who also head the administrative system of the villages, are losing their hold. The revival of this religious head culture is now being planned by UKO. The 2020 event was held with the purpose of uniting the religious heads so as to empower them to protect the cultural heritage of the Kodava community. Hence, UKO has started an initiative to promote and revive these clan system rituals in their recently organised religious heads’ meet.

In 2015, UKO had organised a padayatra (foot march) from Talacauvery to Bengaluru. Every year they organise the Mand Namme (festival of village greens). The Mand is a village meadow with a sap tree. The dances and sports organised during annual festivals such as the festival of arms Kail Poldh and the harvest festival Puthari are held here. Sometimes disputes are settled in the Mand. This year (2021), the UKO Mand Namme is being held on Jan. 12 at Ammathi-Ontiangadi.

“In order to strengthen our religious system, we need to empower our Thakka culture. We need to revive the Thakka rituals and follow the associated rules strictly. In this manner we can preserve and protect the heritage of our Kodava community,” said Manju Chinnappa, during the Thakkorme meeting. 

Just as how the spiritual leaders in various religious mutts are trained, we need to train the thakkas so that they can effectively guide our community. Through these thakkorme programmes, UKO will provide training to the present and the future generations of thakkas. We have to strengthen the thakka culture to ensure that our religious system remains strong.

— Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa, President, United Kodava  Organisation (UKO) at Thakkorme event in Begur village on Dec.25.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Mookanda Kushalappa / January 11th, 2021

Annual Meeting Of Ramakrishnanagar Kodava Association Held

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Mysore/Mysuru:

The 19th Annual Sathyanarayaswamy Puja and Annual Meeting of Ramakrishnanagar I-Block Kodava Welfare Association and adjoining residents was held recently at Shree Ganapathy Temple premises  in Ramakrishnanagar.

Kattera A. Nanaiah presided over the meeting. Poodrimada Somaiah, Vice-President, welcomed. Nayakanda Mandanna, Advisor of the Association, addressed the gathering.

Kotrangada Shreehan Sub-baiah was felicitated with a cash prize for securing highest marks in CBSE class 10 exam while meritorious students belonging to the Association too were awarded cash prizes.

Maletira Ganesh, Secretary, presented the Annual Report of the Association. Kenjngada Cariappa, Joint Secretary, proposed a vote of thanks. Kodandera Pushpa Machaiah, Joint Secretary and all other Committee Members were present. About 40 Kodava families attended the meeting. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 10th, 2021

Sri Bhagavathi Kodava Association Team

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

Mysore/Mysuru:

The 16th Annual General Body Meeting of Sri Bhagavathi Kodava Association, Bogadi, was held at Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar recently. 

On the occasion, the new Managing Committee members for the year 2020-22 were elected unanimously.

They are: 

Palandira Somanna – President; Ballachanda Swathi Ponnappa – Vice-President; Ponnakachira Kushalappa – Secretary and Bollepanda Nanjappa – Treasurer. 

The Directors are:

Nellira Subbaiah,  Nayakanda Uthappa,  Sannuvanda Nanaiah,  Chimmanamada Harish, Mukkatira Karthik,  Chokira Subbaiah,  Bollachettira Karyappa, Bottolanda Sarala Somaiah, Thambukutthira Pawana Nanaiah and Bollachettira Deena Bopanna, according to a press release.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /January 10th, 2021

Women Of Udupi And Kodagu Prone To Anaemia

Records, All, Science & Technology

Mysore/Mysuru:

Dr. M.R. Udaykumar, Divisional Joint Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, has said that the anaemic level is little high in Udupi and Kodagu districts in Mysuru Division whereas it was normal in other districts.

He was speaking after inaugurating two-day Divisional-level ‘Anaemia Free India’ programme  for officials of Child Development and Health organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare here on Tuesday.

Udaykumar said around 1.9 billion people all over the world are anaemic. This would impact on physical strength of people as well as cause slow learning and other health issues. Anaemia hits mainly pregnant and lactating mothers as well as hinders child’s physical growth. There was a need to protect children from anaemia, he added.

Prasad, Divisional Deputy Director, Department of Health and Family Welfare, said that the Government of India, in a bid to protect children from anaemia, distribute de-worming capsules twice a year and also give them iron and folic acid tablets to protect them from malnutrition. Health staff had to watch the haemoglobin level in pregnant women especially during 7th month to 9th month and injection is given if the level was less than eight. 

K. Padma, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, regretted that ladies have failed to understand the seriousness of anaemia. They will go to doctor only if they are ill. However, women would not take doctor’s suggestion on haemoglobin deficiency. Around 3 percent to 4 percent of pregnant and lactating women suffer from anaemia mainly due to not eating nutritious food and lack of knowledge. Need of the hour was to educate women in this regard in order to save them from anaemia, she added.

Dr. T. Amarnath, DHO, Dr. H.K. Ramachandra, Divisional Joint Deputy Director, Dr. Mahendra from Regional Health and Family Welfare Training Centre, Advisors Dr. Shankarappa and Abid Ahmed, Resource Persons K. Vishwanath and Manoj Sebastian, were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 07th, 2021

Covid vaccination dry run held in six centres in Kodagu

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy inspects the dry run for the vaccination in the district hospital in Madikeri, on Friday.

Covid warriors were administered with mock vaccination as a part of the Covid-19 vaccination dry run held in the district hospital in Madikeri and across various health centres in Kushalnagar and Virajpet, on Friday.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy inspected the vaccination and enrollment centres and monitored the preparations towards software registration process, storage of vaccines, transportation, de-freezing processes and other mock exercises as a part of the dry run.

She said that the dry run was held in six centres in the district, namely, district hospital in Madikeri, taluk hospital in Somwarpet, Community Health Centre in Kushalnagar, Primary Health Centre in Kakotuparambu village, Institute of Dental Sciences in Virajpet and Urban Health Centre in Madikeri.

Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) Director Dr Cariappa, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr K Mohan and others were present.

During the dry run held at PHC, Kakotuparambu, medical officer Dr Shrishaini said that 25 health workers were selected for administering the mock Covid-19 vaccination. Those who received vaccination were required to enrol their names by providing Aadhaar card number. Before obtaining vaccination, they were made to wait in a room. 

Later, the documents were scrutinised online and the vaccination was administered. The details of the persons getting the vaccination were uploaded online. After vaccination, the person has to take rest in the observation unit for 30 minutes, she said.

If the person experienced any side effects, he/she will be provided with treatment as per the necessary precautionary measures. If there are no side effects, the person will be sent home, she added.

Taluk Medical Officer Dr Yatiraju said that the actual Covid-19 vaccination programme is likely to begin from next week.

The health centres were completely sanitised for the mock vaccination programme.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Mohan inspected the dry run held at the Community Health Centre in Kushalnagar. 

Speaking on the occasion, he said that health workers, Asha and anganwadi workers will be administered with Covid-19 vaccination in the first phase.

District Surveillance Officer Dr S Gopinath was present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / January 09th, 2021

Call to keep Coffee Board’s junior liaison offices intact

Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Their closure will adversely impact farmers, says coffee growers’ body

The South Indian Coffee Growers Association (SICGA) has urged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to repeal its decision to close junior liaison offices of the Coffee Board in various parts of the country.

Speaking to the media, K.J. Devassia, chairman of the organisation, said junior liaison offices functioning in rural areas were offering immense help to small-scale coffee growers. The offices provide advisory and information about various schemes and incentives offered by the board to growers.

The closure of such offices will adversely impact the farming community at a time when the price of coffee beans has declined to the lowest level, Mr. Devassia said.

The Ministry of Commerce and the Coffee Board are adopting anti-farmer polices, and they are yet to consider the fair demands of farmers, including fixing minimum support price for coffee beans, he added.

“The Ministry should fix an MSP of ₹200 a kg of coffee beans, as the price of the produce had reached the lowest in the past 10 years, he added. If they continue their anti-farmer stance, the organisation will launch an indefinite agitation with the support of similar bodies in the neighbouring States,” Mr. Devassia said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Report / Kalpetta – January 06th, 2021