Monthly Archives: August 2021

Sainik schools now open for girls also: PM Modi

At present, 33 Sainik schools are operating in the country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation. Credit: AFP Photo

All Sainik Schools across the country will now open doors for girls, like the ones in Kodagu and Bijapur in Karnataka.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during his Independence Day speech on Sunday that all the Sainik Schools across the country would now enrol girls.

“Today I am sharing good news with the countrymen. I used to get lakhs of messages from our daughters that they want to study in the Sainik Schools. The doors of the schools should be opened for them,” Modi said while addressing the nation from the rampart of the Red Fort in Delhi.

The Ministry of Defence had in 2018-19 launched a pilot project at the Sainik School at Chhingchhip in Mizoram, admitting six girl students.

Six more girls got enrolled in the school in 2019-20 and seven in 2020-21. The success of the pilot project prompted the government to start admitting girls at five more Sainik Schools from the 2020-21 academic session – the ones in Kalikiri in Andhra Pradesh, Ghorakhal in Uttarakhand Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Kodagu and Bijapur in Karnataka.

“Now the Government has decided that all the Sainik Schools will be open for the girls. The daughter too will study in all the Sainik Schools of the Country,” said the Prime Minister.

source: http//www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / by Anirban Bhaumik, DHNS, New Delhi / August 15th, 2021

Freedom Fighters Remembered On I-Day: Sainik School Kodagu

Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal (retd.), was the chief guest at the 75th I-Day celebrations at Sainik School in Kodagu.

The chief guest and officers laid the wreath and paid homage to war heroes at the War Memorial of the School. After unfurling the Tricolor at Thimmaiah Parade Ground, the chief guest witnessed a cultural programme at Kuvempu Multipurpose Hall.

Patriotic songs, a dance displaying diverse Indian culture, a video titled ‘Awakening Dream’, which intended to imbibe sense of patriotism and integrity was screened during the programme.

The day scholar cadets performed a skit ‘Carri Came Back’. It portrayed Air Marshal K.C. Cariappa’s relentless efforts in the 1965 war.

The chief guest presented the Principal’s Commendation Certificate to B.A. Rajgolkar, TGT (English), H.M. Kavya, Lab Asst., Zakir Hussain, Shivaprasad and S.S. Ramachandra, general employees, for their yeomen service rendered to the school.

To mark the I-Day, an online group discussion competition was conducted on the topic ‘Progress of India by 2047.’

Harishna, Research Scholar, University of Kerala and N.V. Ashokan, TGT (English), coordinated the programme.

Col. G. Kannan, Principal, Lt. Col. Seema Tripathi, Vice-Principal, Sqn. Ldr. R.K. Dey, Administrative Officer, academic and administrative staff were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / August 19th, 2021

Academy takes up digitisation of Arebashe books

Mangaluru :

Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi and Sahitya Academy have taken up the digitisation of books as part of its decennial celebration to be inaugurated this month. The digitisation process that began about four months ago, is an attempt to popularise and protect the language. So far, 42 books published by the academy have been digitised.

Lakshminarayan Kajegadde, academy president, said that this is an attempt to unite people who speak Arebhashe, across the world. We have also written letters to writers who had published books on their own, of which many have agreed to get their books digitised through the academy. Meanwhile , works on an Arebhashe dictionary and documentation of Arebashe culture, through the items that were used by people, is on.

The academy is also organising a four-day Arebhasha Samskruthi Shibira (camp), where resource persons are selected locally, to enlighten participants on the traditional practices and songs. The oral traditions of Arebhashe are one of the major traditions that show the finer aspects of the language. The camp will be held at Moornadu in Kodagu from Monday. A minimum of 30 people will participate in the camp. This year-long series will help in protecting the culture.

Bharathesha Alasandemajalu, the academy member, said Arebhashe has a history of approximately 500 years.

According to linguistic scientists, it is close to Kannada, but it is difficult to even for Kannadigas to understand the language. An estimated five lakh people, mostly belonging to the Gowda community, speak Arebhashe in Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts in Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala.


Prof K Chinappa Gowda, former vice-chancellor, Karnataka Folklore University, said that there is a need to protect Arebhashe or Gowda Bhashe, as it is spoken by several communities in Sullia and Kodagu.

“The language resembles Kannada but it is different. It is easy to neglect a language, but to bring it back to the mainstream is a challenge. Every language has unique words that speak about the qualities of the language. It should be noted that there is literature in Arebhashe, which possesses the quality of being taught in schools.

Several works in Arebhashe are being translated into other languages,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Education / by Deepthi Sanjiv, TNN / August 17th, 2021

Hillocks in Kodagu bleed purple as rare Kurinji flower blossoms after 12 years

“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF

Madikeri :

The two scenic hillocks of Mandalpatti and Kote Betta in Kodagu district are bleeding purple as the Neelakurinji flowers have taken over the spot like an army of soldiers. This rare sight has attracted many visitors including tourists as well as natives of Kodagu.

“I visited Kote Betta recently along with my cousins and it was a surreal experience. The major part of the hill was covered with these purple flowers and we later found out that they blossom once in 12 years,” said Dhanush Kaveriappa, a native of the district.

The Mandalpatti belt – which is mostly traversed in a jeep to get the off-road experience – has also become home to these flowers and visitors are enthralled by their beauty.

“Locally, they are called Kurinji flowers and are scientifically known as Strobilanthes kunthiana. It is true that they bloom once in 12 years,” confirmed Poovaiah, the Madikeri DCF.

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

World Elephant Day Celebrated

Mysuru/Kodagu: 

World Elephant Day was celebrated at the elephant camps in Kodagu and Chamarajanagar districts and at Mysuru Zoo yesterday.

World Elephant Day was launched on Aug. 12, 2012 to raise awareness about the issues threatening elephants. Shrinking habitats and illegal poaching for the trade of elephant ivory are just two of the most serious issues that the elephant population faces today. World Elephant Day is a way to raise awareness and rally support for these issues.

Dubare Elephant Camp

The day was celebrated at Dubare Elephant Camp at Kodagu in a simple manner by following COVID guidelines and performing puja to the elephants.

All the elephants were bathed in River Cauvery by Mahouts and Kavadis and were later decorated with flowers and garlands. The elephants were led near Basaveshwara Temple in the camp, where Somwarpet Sub-Division Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) K.A. Nehru, Kushalnagar Range Forest Officer (RFO) J. Ananya Kumar and Dubare Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) K.P. Ranjan and staff performed puja to the elephants. The elephants were fed with sugarcane, jaggery and banana by the Mahouts and Kavadis.

Dubare Camp elephants seen near Basaveshwara Temple at the camp.

Speaking on the occasion, RFO Ananya Kumar said that World Elephant Day is being celebrated on Aug. 12 every year at the camp during which various games were being held for the elephants. But due to COVID pandemic, games were not organised since two years and instead, puja is being performed to them at a simple function, he added.

Grocery kits were distributed to the families of Mahouts and Kavadis at a simple event organised at the Travellers’ Bungalow premises on the occasion.

Mathigodu Elephant Camp

World Elephant Day was celebrated at Mathigodu Elephant Camp in Anechowkur Range in Kodagu, where Golden Howdah carrying elephant Abhimanyu is housed. Apart from Abhimanyu, other elephants, namely, Surya, Varalakshmi, Bhuvaneshwari, Chamundeshwari, Bheema, Gopalaswamy, Sarala, Mahendra, Sriranga, Bheem from Maharashtra, Ramaiah, Manikanta, Krishna, Somashekar, Masti, Dhruva, Ravi, Kyatha, Ganesh, Balarama, Ashoka and other elephants are also housed here.

All the elephants were given bath at Kantapura Lake and were decorated for the occasion. The elephants were treated with sumptuous food and the guests too fed these gentle giants with fruits and jaggery.

Kodagu DC Charulatha Somal feeding bananas to an elephant at Mathigodu Elephant Camp.

Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Charulata Somal, speaking on the occasion said that it is happy that elephants too have their day and added that the Forest Officials and staff were working honestly to prevent man-elephant conflicts, which are on the rise.

Pointing out that animals too have the right to live like humans, the DC said that human beings should give importance for forest and wildlife conservation as forest and wildlife play an important role in the ecology.

Nagarahole Project Tiger Director D. Mahesh Kumar, who too spoke, explained about the significance of Elephant Day and felicitated Ganesh, Mahout of Ashwathama and J.K. Ravi, Kavadi of Varalakshmi.

Games were organised for Mahouts and Kavadis, while their children took part in painting, clay modelling and cultural competitions. Prizes were given away to the winners. Keeping in mind the online classes being held now, a tablet was given to a PU girl student, while books, pens and other stationary items were given to students studying in Primary and Higher Primary Schools.

Kodagu Superintendent of Police (SP) Kshama Mishra, ACF Satish, RFO Kiran, ATPF staff, family members of Mahouts and Kavadis were present.

Bandipur

Bandipur Tiger Reserve Forest officials had organised a webinar to mark World Elephant Day yesterday. Retired PCCF Ajay Mishra, APCCF (Wildlife) Subash Malkade, APCCF (Project Tiger) Jagatram, Bandipur  Project Tiger Director S.R. Natesha and Prof. Vidya took part in the webinar.

An elephant decorated at Rampura Elephant Camp in Bandipur.

Later, a simple event was held at Rampura Elephant Camp at A.M. Gudi Range in Bandipur in which S.R. Natesha, ACFs Sumeet Kumar, M.S. Ravikumar and K. Paramesh, Wildlife Wardens Krithika Alanahalli and Nanjundaraje Urs, Veterinarian Dr. Wasim Mirza, RFOs and others were present.  

Elephant Day was also celebrated at Mysuru Zoo. Zoo Executive Director Ajit Kulkarni and Zoo staff participate.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 13th, 2021

Indian Arms Act Exemption: Four Kodava Organisations Implead Themselves In PIL

Bengaluru:

Federation of Kodava Samajas, Balugodu, Kodava Samaja Bengaluru (KSB), Codava National Council (CNC) and United Kodava Organisation (UKO) filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) urging the Karnataka High Court to consider them as respondents in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed with regard to gun licence exemption to Kodavas. 

The PIL has been filed by Captain (Rtd.) Yaladalu K. Chethan, who has questioned the 2019 notification of granting exemption to Kodavas in Kodagu district from the requirement to obtain a licence to carry and possess firearms as required under provisions of the Indian Arms Act, 1959.

The PIL came before the High Court yesterday and was heard by the Division Bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, who have directed the inclusion of Federation of Kodava Samajas, KSB, CNC and UKO as respondents in the PIL. 

While Additional Solicitor General Naragund appeared for the Central Government, senior advocate and former Additional Advocate General of Karnataka A.S. Ponnanna appeared for CNC and the Federation. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appeared for KSB and UKO was represented by Praveen Reddy. 

The Division Bench asked the respondents and the Centre to file their objections and views in writing within two weeks and posted the PIL hearing to Aug. 31. 

Petitioner Chethan, son of Yaladalu D. Keshavananda of Galibeedu village in Kodagu, has questioned the Constitutional validity of the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs extending the exemption for “every person of Coorg race and every Jamma tenure land holder in Coorg” from gun licence till October 31, 2029.

“The classification and use of term ‘Coorg race’ promotes discrimination between the citizens of Coorg region on the ground of caste, violating Article 15 of the Constitution. The classification of ‘Coorg race’ itself is derogatory and possesses a threat to the life and liberty as the people exempted are permitted to hold arms and ammunition without any scrutiny of their antecedents or criminal records,” the PIL said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 12th, 2021

Niki Poonacha balances tennis and a good cause in local tournament

File picture of Niki Poonacha.   –  KAMESH SRINIVASAN

Former National champion Niki Poonacha is finding time for a social cause amidst his tennis training.

The 26-year-old Niki, who had won the last ITF men’s tournament here in April, is helping in the organisation of a men’s ranking tournament in Chennai in collaboration with Rotaract Club of Madras and the Tennishub.

“The tournament will be held at the PowerPak Tennis Academy in Tharamani from September 2 to 5. The winner and runner-up will get ₹10,000 and ₹5,000 apart from goodies from tennishub,” said Niki. “All the funds raised from the event will be donated to Mahaishwar School for mentally challenged.”

Niki has been training well for the international circuit. “I am looking forward to competing in Tunisia and Egypt soon,” said Niki who trains at the Rohan Bopanna Academy in Bengaluru.

Registration for the tournament can be done on the link, https://forms.gle/qXRkcSUgt1BKVuSi7.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Tennis / by Kamlesh Srinivasan / New Delhi – August 15th, 2021

2A Category Reservation For Panchamasali, Gowda Lingayats: Community People To Start ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ Campaign From Aug. 26

Mysore/Mysuru:

Urging the Government to provide reservation to Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat communities under 2-A category, a ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign will be launched from Aug. 26 to 30 to remind the Government on its promise of reservation.

Announcing this at a press meet after holding a meeting of Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat community leaders at Hosamutt here on Monday, Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangama said that the community Seers and leaders had taken out a 750-km padayatra from Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district to the State Capital Bengaluru a couple of months ago seeking 2A category reservation for Panchamasali Lingayat and Gowda Lingayat communities. 

Pointing out that a massive convention was held at Palace Ground in Bengaluru following the culmination of the padayatra, he said that the convention had passed a unanimous resolution seeking reservation when the then B.S. Yediyurappa-headed Government had assured of seriously considering the demand. 

But now, in the changed political circumstances, Basavaraj Bommai, who had expressed support to the demand as a Minister then, has now become the Chief Minister. As such, the ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign is being held from Aug. 26 to 30, from M.M. Hills in Chamarajangar district to Bengaluru  to remind the Government of its promise on reservation, the Seer said.

Maintaining that the then CM Yediyurappa had assured of fulfilling their demand by Sept. 2021, the Swamiji warned of  staging a dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Oct. 1, marking the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J.H. Patel, if the Government fails to act on the demand by then.

Hosamutt Seer Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Lingayat Gowda Mahasabha State President Alanahalli  Puttaswamy, Panchamasali-Gowda Lingayat Co-ordination Committee Convenor and farmer leader A. Mallesh, Nataraj of Bengaluru, Shivakumar of Hassan, L.B. Patil of Mandya, Babitha Muthanna of Kodagu,  Community leaders Gangambika, Gowramma, Virupakshamma, Shambhu Patel and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 11th, 2021

Navy kicks off rally to Madikeri to mark Goa’s Liberation

The Sea Riders, a group of motorcyclists, will cover close to 1,000km to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Goa’s Liberation

Panaji :

Folding away their crisp white uniforms and fatigues, the Indian Navy’s Sea Riders kicked off a six-day expedition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Goa’s Liberation and 75 years of India’s independence. Ten riders from Goa Naval Area are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri and will return to Goa by August 14.

The Sea Riders are a group of passionate motorcyclists from the Indian Navy, including women, who have undertaken  several expeditions across the country, including to the North Eastern estates, to create awareness. The six-day expedition will see the riders covering close to 1,000km.

“A motorcycle rally is being undertaken by Goa Naval Area to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the diamond jubilee of Goa’s Liberation. Ten riders are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil flagged off the rally from the War Memorial, INS Gomantak on August 9.

The War Memorial at INS Gomantak was erected in honour of the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during Goa Liberation.

At Madikeri, the riders will visit Field Marshal Cariappa Memorial, General Thimayya Museum and Sainik School, Kodagu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> News> City News> Goa News / TNN / August 10th, 2021

Denmark Masters: India’s Ashwini Ponnappa, Sikki Reddy runners-up in women’s doubles

Ashwini-Sikki runners-up in Denmark

New Delhi :

India women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy finished runners-up at the Denmark Masters after going down narrowly against top seeds Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn of Denmark in the final here.

The Indian pair, seeded second, squandered an opening game advantage to lose 21-15 19-21 14-21 to the Danish combination in just under an hour’s contest.

Among other Indians, Lakshya Sen had lost in the semi-finals to France’s Christo Popov, while his brother Chirag Sen and Subhankar Dey, seeded fourth, bowed out at the quarter-final stages.

In women’s singles, Aakarshi Kashyap was the most impressive but lost the semi-final to fourth seed Dane Julie Dawall Jakobsen.

source:http://www.mykhel.com / myKhel / Home> Badminton> News / by Unnikrishnan G / August 09th, 2021