Tag Archives: Akhila Kodava Samaja

Former President Of Akhila Kodava Samaja Mathanda Monnappa Passes Away

Madikeri: 

Mathanda Monnappa, the former President of Akhila Kodava Samaja, breathed his last at the age of 76 yesterday afternoon at his son’s residence in Bengaluru.

He is survived by his wife, a son, two daughters and a multitude of relatives and friends. His mortal remains were placed for public viewing at his residence in Kedamullur Tora in Virajpet taluk until 12 noon today. Subsequently, the last rites were scheduled to be conducted at the family’s burial grounds in Bollumadu later in the afternoon, as per family sources.

Monnappa, a native of Bollumadu village, was born in 1948 to Mathanda C. Chengappa and Lilli Chengappa of Kedamullur Tora village. He was a stalwart and a visionary who founded the Akhila Kodava Samaja in 1973, and diligently served as its President for nearly half a century until he voluntarily relinquished the post in 2022. 

His dedication to the Kodava community was further evident through the establishment of the Akhila Kodava Samaja Pommakkada Parishat and Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing. He actively championed the cause of Kodagu and the Kodava community.

Moreover, his illustrious contributions extended to serving as the President of the Talacauvery Abhivruddhi Horata Samiti and Talacauvery Jeernoddhara Samiti. His philanthropic spirit shone through his brainchild, the annasantarpana (mass feeding) held on Tula Sankramana Day annually. 

His multifaceted involvement also extended to various other organisations, including his role as the President of Beppanad Kodava Samaja. He held the position of a member of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, was the Honorary President of Kodava Samaja Okkoota and served as the Founder Director of CIT (Coorg Institute of Technology), Ponnampet.

Monnappa was an active participant in the movements concerning Jamma Baane and Kodava gun licence issues. Due to declining health, Monnappa had been residing at his son’s residence in Bengaluru for the past few years, where he breathed his last on Saturday.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 22nd, 2023

Hot sun, not rain, leads to umbrella use in Karnataka’s Kodagu

Growers of coffee and pepper, the key commercial crops in the district, may land in trouble, if the situation continues.

Hot sun, not rain, leads to umbrella use in Karnataka's Kodagu
People and street vendors use umbrellas to protect themselves from the scorching sun in Madikeri, an unusual scene in August. Credit: DH Photo 

In monsoon every year, Kodagu is among the districts to receive the highest rainfall in the state. But this year, except for a few days in July, the rains have played hide and seek here.

The situation is best captured in the maximum temperature of 30º Celsius recorded in Kodagu district on August 11, creating panic among people, especially agriculturists.

Usually, August is a wet month for the district. The rains bring down the temperature to less than 25º Celsius. However, this time, the rains are conspicuous by their absence, pushing up the mercury levels. The 30º Celsius recorded in August this year is the highest in the last five years.

It is common sight for people to sport umbrellas for protection when the skies open up. But umbrellas are out for an unusual reason in the district these days, protection from the hot sun. 

Coffee & pepper

It is now common talk in the district that growers of coffee and pepper, the key commercial crops in the district, may land in trouble, if the situation continues. There has been no rain in the first 15 days of August. This month, there is a 81% shortage of rains.

Instead of the normal of 31 cm rain, there was only 5 cm rain. In the current monsoon, the district is facing a 42% deficit in rainfall.

Coffee grower Harish Madappa from Srimangala said the Lakshmanateertha river was not even half full.

Drinking water

In previous years, there would usually be floods in the river. The situation is so dreary this time that there could even be a shortage for drinking water, he said.

Agriculture department joint director Shabana M Sheikh said that only 40% transplantation of paddy has been undertaken in the district this year. The crops will be affected, if there are no rains in the near future, she said. Krishi Vigyan Kendra weather expert Chengappa said the monsoon clouds are weak as of now. There is no possibility of heavy rain in the next five days, he said.

Special prayers

The Akhila Kodava Samaja has planned to offer special prayers at the Padi Iggutappa temple on August 17 for rains. The Samaja’s youth wing president Chammatira Pravin Uttappa said this was the first time he had seen prayers being offered for rains in the month of August. 

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by K S Girish / August 17th, 2023

Kodava Community’s Service to Society’s Betterment Hailed

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: The Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, inaugurating a Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy function in Madikeri on Thursday.

AUSPICIOUS BEGINNING: The Secretary of the Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, inaugurating a Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy function in Madikeri on Thursday.

New body of Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy installed

Madikeri:

The Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, B.R. Jayaramaraje Urs, on Thursday hailed the contribution of the Kodava community to the betterment of society in all spheres of life.

He was inaugurating a function here at the Cauvery Kalakshetra organised to mark the assuming of charge by the new body of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, headed by Iymudiyanda Rani Machaiah.

Expressing anguish at the small and well-knit communities, including the Kodava, losing their identity, Mr. Urs said the fear of extinction had made many a community to remain alert and active to save its culture for posterity. The Kodava was one such community.

If the language of a particular community could be saved, it would result in fostering its culture. Mr. Urs suggested to Ms. Machaiah to initiate action with regard to translating several landmark Kodava literary works into other languages. Similarly, books could be published on native medicines, festivals, folklore, different Kodava speaking groups (other than Kodavas), Devarakadu (sacred groves) and land tenures.

Mr. Urs lauded the unique culture of Kodagu where the concept of “nad kachcheri” (Government office to deal with all revenue matters at the hobli level) originated and the noble concept of preserving Devarakadu (sacred groves) had been in vogue for centuries. Women had always enjoyed freedom and security, which was worth emulating, Mr. Urs said.

He appealed to Ms. Machaiah to seek the help of all to run the administration of the academy efficiently and help foster the cause of Kodava.

The president of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, Matanda C. Monnappa, who was a guest, appealed to the academy members to propagate Kodava literature in schools, especially the literary works of Haradasa Appacha Kavi, one of the earliest literary figures of Kodagu.

He said the academy members should display unity and work as one team to further the cause of Kodava language and spread its culture.

Mr. Monnappa suggested to Mr. Urs to appoint a fulltime registrar to the academy who was conversant with Kodava.

Kalegowda Nagavara, former president of the Karnataka Janapada Academy, said that Kodava culture was an ancient one and it needed to be nurtured by the State Government through the academy.

Documentary filmmaker S. Srinivasamurthy suggested to Ms. Machaiah to prepare a long-term development plan and solicit the support of the youth to run the administration of the academy meaningfully.

Ms. Machaiah, who presided over the function, said the academy had approved an action plan to cover 23 different programmes across Kodagu in the next one year.

 

source: http://www.thehindu.com / by Staff Correspondent / National / Karnataka / Jun 05th, 2009