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Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy brings libraries to houses and communities

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The academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces, with each library consisting of a bookshelf and a curated collection of books based on the preferences of the recipient.

The Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces. | Photo Credit: special arrangement

As reading habits continue to decline in the digital age, the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has launched a unique initiative aimed at reviving library culture by bringing books directly into houses, offices, and community spaces across Karnataka.

The academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces, with each library consisting of a bookshelf and a curated collection of books based on the preferences of the recipient.

Speaking about the initiative with The Hindu, academy president Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah said that the programme was started with the intention of encouraging people to reconnect with books at a time when libraries and reading habits are slowly fading.

“Today, many youngsters spend more time on mobile phones and social media, while the culture of reading books is gradually disappearing. By setting up libraries in houses, offices, and community spaces, we want to create an environment where books become a part of daily life again. Even a small bookshelf can inspire curiosity, discussions, and the habit of reading among children and adults alike,” Mr. Nachaiah said.

Multilingual library initiative

Under the initiative which started this February 7, the academy collects a charge of ₹10,000, which is utilised for purchasing books and providing a bookshelf to the applicant. Along with books brought out by the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, additional books are selected according to the interests and language preferences of the individual or organisation.

Mr. Nachaiah said that the initiative was not limited to Kodava literature alone. “Though this programme is being implemented by the Kodava Sahitya Academy, we do not provide only Kodava books. We provide books in Kannada, English, Kodava, and other languages depending on what people prefer. We also collect books through donations and purchase additional titles so that every library becomes unique and useful to the people using it,” he said.

So far, the academy has established libraries in nine locations, including residences, community spaces like Kodava Samajas, offices, and associations in the district. One such library has also been set up at the residence of Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna. The initiative has also expanded beyond Kodagu, with a library already established in Mysuru Kodava Samaja.

Villages, ancestral homes

Among those who benefited from the initiative is Kukera Jaya Chinappa, a resident of Arekadu village in Madikeri taluk.

“I was impressed by the concept when I heard about it. People in our village regularly gather at the association building in the evenings, and now, because of this initiative, we have a proper library there. The collection includes Kodava, Kannada and English books, and many villagers have started reading during their free time,” he told The Hindu.

Similarly, Palandira Jaga Joyappa, a resident of Balamberi village, said the initiative helped preserve the literary legacy of his ancestral home. “Our grandparents were avid readers and were into the literary field and had a large collection of books. Over the years, many books were lost or scattered because we did not know how to maintain them properly. After learning about this initiative, the academy helped us organise the books and establish a proper library in our ancestral house,” he told The Hindu.

“With increasing interest from individuals and organisations, the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy hopes to expand the initiative further across the State in the coming months. Already many people are reaching out to us to have their own libraries,” Mr. Nachaiah added.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshan Devaiah B.P / May10th, 2026

Kodava Community’s Service to Society’s Betterment Hailed

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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