Sri Kaveri Kodava Association Mysuru-East Holds Get-Together

Mysore/Mysuru:

The annual get-together of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru-East, was held at its premises in Vidyashankar Layout in city on Nov. 27. Rangayana Mysuru Director Addanda  C. Cariappa was the chief guest. Kodava Samaja Mysuru President Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa was the special invitee. Association President Puliyanda S. Devaiah presided over the function.

Three senior members — Kalappanda B. Vishwanath, Kanjithanda  K. Aiyappa (ex-President) and Chowrira K. Seethamma (Chairperson – Academic Council) — were honoured by the Association for their selfless contribution.

Also, three members from the Association — Ittira Dr. Priya Uthaiah, Pattamada Dr. Lavya Muthamma and Manduvanda Kumari Ektha Ganapathy — were felicitated for their outstanding achievement in the field of education.

Students who achieved academic excellence were also honoured by the Association. Members gathered in large numbers and made the event a grand success.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 14th, 2022

23rd Kodava Hockey Festival From March 20

Hosts Appachettolanda family expecting participation of more than 350 teams

Madikeri:

The Kodava Family Hockey or ‘Hockey Namme’ is back with a bang after a gap of four years. This time, the tournament will be hosted by the Appachettolanda family from March 20 to April 10, 2023 at Napoklu village in Kodagu.

“After 2018, the hockey festival did not see the light of the day due to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be organising the 23rd annual ‘Hockey Namme’ in 2023 in a grand manner. The fest will be held at Napoklu General Thimayya Ground and more than 350 Kodava families are likely to take part in the tournament,” said Appachettolanda Manu Muthappa, the President of the Hockey Festival Committee.

Addressing a press conference in Madikeri recently, he said that in the last hockey tournament held in 2018, a total of 333 Kodava families participated in the Kulletria Cup Hockey and this time, they were expecting the participation of more than 350 families.

The festival is being conducted under the aegis of Kodava Hockey Academy.

It may be mentioned here that to prepare the family teams for the upcoming hockey festival, the Kodava Hockey Academy had organised the first Pandanda M. Kuttappa Memorial Cup rink hockey festival, in memory of the founder of the Academy and the hockey festival. It was organised from Oct. 27 to Nov. 6 at Ponnampet Turf Ground and a total of 114 teams had participated.

The logo of the Appachettolanda Cup family tournament was unveiled in Bengaluru recently by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai where a delegation of the family had called on the CM. Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, MLC Suja Kushalappa and the tournament-organising family members were present.

“The CM has assured us that a Rs. 1 crore grant will be released for the hockey festival for the first time and the CM has consented to inaugurate the tournament on March 20. In all, Rs. 1.50 crore will be spent for the festival and the remaining Rs. 50 lakh will be pooled-in by the family members and collected from donors. We are planning to invite and felicitate a host of national and international hockey players who have made the Kodagu district proud and hockey champions from all communities will be honoured,” Manu Muthappa said.

In all, three grounds will be utilised for the hockey festival and they will be also used as a back-up in case it rains. Kodava Hockey Academy President Pandanda Bopanna, who is the son of late Pandanda Kuttappa, will be one of the guests in the inaugural event. “It was his father who launched the first Kodava Family Hockey Tournament in 1997 and was organised by the Pandanda family, Manu Muthappa noted.

Secretary of the Hockey Festival Committee Appachettolanda Vasanth Muthappa, members Appachettolanda Harish Somaiah, Appachettolanda Ravi Monnappa, Appachettolanda Janath Kumar and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 13th, 2022

The Wild Cat’s Compendium: Cats Of All Tribes

Title : The Wild Cat’s Compendium / Author : Dr. Nima Poovaya Smith /Year : 2022 /Pages :  51 /Price : Rs. 449

(Kindle version)

Publisher: Caracal Publications, United Kingdom

Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith (parental home Ammanichanda) has just launched a delightful book titled  The Wild Cat’s Compendium, which is a collection of 45 brilliantly crafted verses on 45 species of wild cats as well as few of the domestic ones. 

Composing poems is an art and Nima excels in succinctly portraying the feline species in all its glory. In a few apt words, the 45 poems read as fluidly as the graceful strides of the cats. 

     (Read the sample poem.)

Nima Poovaya-Smith in conversation with David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood, during the launch of her book.

Cats of All Tribes

Cats of all tribes major, middling, minor, inlaid menace and glamour, damascened suits of shadow armour.

Your coats boast such stylish motifs. Spots, dots, rosettes, stripes, flecks, spirals.

Draw breath, there is more, of this feline allure. Marbled, banded, clouded, streaked, stippled, brindled.

Your fur a lush canvas for lavish mark-making. Each unique striation etched with precision. Nature’s artful illusion.

The guile of the design, woven into the dapple of sun and shade, dissolving into air without hint or sign.

Seeing you without knowing we do, even when face-to-face. Our deepest, murkiest selves in plain view to that occult feline gaze.

African Golden Cats: By Joseph Wolf

What is remarkable about this compendium is the in-depth research that has gone into the lives, habitat, behaviour, and appearance of each variety of cat.  Nima has been working on this book for quite a few years and has packed a great deal of information wonderfully crafted using her treasure trove of highly refined vocabulary. In addition, Nima has woven the grave threats these feline species face in the wild and that their primary detractors belong to the human species. In one of the poems, she has given a consciously chilling recipe for preparing tiger bone wine.   Hopefully those who indulge in such shameful practices will realise and shun their superstition-ridden beliefs.

In the Introduction to the book, Nima mentions about her (and mine) maternal grandparents’ home (in Palangala village, Kodagu), where tigers and other wild cats roamed close to human dwellings. During our childhood days we have heard several tiger tales from our shikar-loving uncles. Over the years, those childhood memories have expanded in Nima’s mind to bring out this wonderful collection of poems.

As a bonus, each poem is richly illustrated with paintings by several well-known artists.  One of the artists is Nima’s brother Sunil’s wife Sheila, an alumna of CAVA, Mysuru.

Nima earned her Ph.D in English literature from Mysore University under the guidance of Prof. U.R. Ananthamurthy who used to mention that Nima was one of his best students. She went on a scholarship to University of Leeds to pursue her post-doctoral studies. She has been a curator of several museums in the UK.  She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for her contribution in the field of arts and museums. She was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in 2020, which entails interacting with the British royal family.

Chinese Mountain Cat: By Sheila Ammanichanda

Currently Nima is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds.

Wild Cats’ Compendium was launched at the Ilkley Literature Festival in October 2022. In the accompanying photograph, Nima is in conversation with David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood (and second cousin of King Charles III), during the book launch.

Wild Cat’s Compendium is available on Amazon. However, currently only kindle version of the book is marketed in India: The Wild Cats’ Compendium: Cats of All Tribes eBook: Poovaya-Smith, Nima: Amazon.in: Kindle Store

Reading Wild Cat’s Compendium is an enriching experience. Every time you re-read a poem you learn something more. I rate this book as a Collectors’ Item.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by C.P. Belliappa / December 12th, 2022

Doha: KSQ honours coach of Karnataka men’s team, former Indian Hockey player

Doha:

Karnataka Sangha Qatar in cooperation with Indian cultural Center hosted Indian Community.

Welcome reception to V S Vinay, ex Indian Hockey team player and current Hockey Karnataka Sr team coach and felicitated on December 6 at Ashok Hall Auditorium of Indian Cultural Centre.

Dignitaries present during this event was president of Indian Cultural Center P N Baburajan, vice president of Indian Cultural Center Subramanaya Hebbgelu.

The platform to this felicitation was created by Indian Cultural Centre to Honour the dignitaries visiting State of Qatar during the FIFA 2022 event.

Mahesh Gowda president – Karnataka Sangha Qatar welcomed the gathering and thanked V S Vinay for giving time for the reception and expressed confidence that under his mentorship many players will get trained and join Indian Hockey team and play for the country, also mentioned it is a proud moment that V S Vinay hails from Coorg district of Karnataka and which is know for producing world class players and won many medals for India.

Mahesh Gowda also thanked Indian cultural organisations for their invite and all Associated Organisations for felicitating the guest.

P N Baburajan in his address briefed the dignitary about Indian Cultural Center and how ICC is involved in the FIFA celebrations.

V S Vinaya thanked Karnataka Sangha and Indian Cultural Centre for felicitating him and people for there time to meet him, also motivated the parents to put their children in any sports and also briefed how their children get all the training facilities from the federation if they are really doing well in the sport.

The programme emcee was done by KSQ member Nithi Ramesh.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Middle East / by Media Release / December 10th, 2022

Kodagu Soldier Passes Away In Ranchi

Madikeri:

A soldier from Kodagu, who was serving in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Jharkhand in Ranchi, passed away yesterday following a brief illness.

The deceased soldier is K.K. Shiju (48), son of Rajamma and a resident of Kadagadalu. He was serving in CISF since 23 years. He took ill about two days ago and passed away yesterday.

He leaves behind his mother, wife, two daughters and a host of relatives and friends.

His body is expected to arrive at his native place today evening and the last rites will be held at Kadagadalu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 09th, 2022

Hundreds Attend ‘Puthari’ Festival At Kodava Samaja

Mysore/Mysuru:

Mysuru Kodava Samaja celebrated Puthari-2022, the harvest festival of Kodagu, in traditional fervour and gaiety at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar here last evening.

Hundreds of members of the Samaja, wearing Kodava attire, attended the celebrations. Kodava men and women presented traditional dances on the occasion which won the applause of all those present.

In the previous years, the festival used to be celebrated at Sree Cauvery School premises in Kuvempunagar. But this year the celebrations were held in the Samaja premises itself and arrangements were made to distribute kadh (new paddy crop) to all the members by the Samaja volunteers.

Picture shows Kodava men performing a traditional dance.

The festival marks bringing home the new paddy crop from the fields, a symbolic welcome to Goddess Lakshmi. Before harvesting, the members chanted slogans ‘Poli Poli Deva’.

As part of the tradition, after the paddy sheaves are brought home, a unique pudding thambittu is prepared out of ripe banana, coconut, jaggery, sesame, cardamom, ghee and roasted boiled rice flour. Some grains of newly harvested paddy are used to prepare the dishes at home.

Office-bearers and Management Committee Members of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru;

President Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa;  Vice-President Malachira M. Ponnappa; Hon. Secretary Mukkatira B. Jeevan; Joint Secretary Appanderanda Tara Somaiah;  Hon. Treasurer Machimada P. Nanaiah; former Presidents and a large number of community people, young and old, were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 08th, 2022

Armed forces flag day

The Armed Forces Flag Day was observed in Madikeri in Kodagu on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The Kodagu district administration and Department of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement observed the Armed Forces Flag Day at General Thimmaiah Memorial Bhavan in Madikeri on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Mahaveer Chakra P.S. Ganapathy, Deputy Commissioner B.C. Satish, Superintendent of Police Capt M.A. Aiyappa, Air Marshal (Retd) Cariappa, Lieutenant Colonel Chacko, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat CEO S. Akash and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Every year, December 7 is observed as Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country to honour martyrs and men in uniform, who valiantly fought and continue to fight on the country’s borders.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / December 07th, 2022

Mapping of elephant corridor under way in Kodagu

Large populations of wild elephants moved freely between Kodagu and Kerala states even as the Bramhagiri-Nagarahole-Wayanad forest was known to be an age-old elephant corridor.

Elephant image used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Special Arrangement)
Elephant image used for representational purpose only. (Photo | Special Arrangement)

Madikeri :

Elephants are migratory beings and tigers are known to be territorial. However, with forests depleting to make way for human-centric development, wildlife conflict is peaking, as is evident in Kodagu. Nevertheless, experts opine that the conflict can be addressed scientifically by not just establishing conflict-mitigation projects, but by connecting fragmented forest areas.

While humans are confined to district, state, national and international borders, the wildlife, especially elephants, migrate without borders. Similarly, a large population of wild elephants moved freely between Kodagu and Kerala states even as Bramhagiri-Nagarahole-Wayanad forest was known to be an age-old elephant corridor.

However, this corridor has now been fragmented and the Kodagu division of the Forest Department is keen on connecting the fragmented forest area to make way for the free movement of the elephants. This in turn will also create a large undisturbed forest area for the territorial tigers too.

“Over 150 acres of two private coffee estates has disconnected the elephant corridor and is disrupting free movement of the elephants. The department is in talks with estate owners to purchase the land and establish an elephant corridor,” said B N Niranjan Murthy, Chief Conservator of Forests of Kodagu division.

A huge gap between Bramhagiri and Wayanad forest area has forced the elephants to tread through villages and on roads to continue their migration. An estimate of Rs 25 crore has been drawn to procure private lands even as the department holds a vision to invest on a flyover in an area for vehicle movement.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / December 07th, 2022

Sip like a king! Coorg Coffee Festival at Raja Seat on December 10 & 11

Kodagu: 

Coorg Coffee Festival and Expo will held at Raja Seat, Madikeri on December 10 and 11.

Kodagu as a whole is known for the wonderful nature accomplished with rains and mist, besides a galaxy of wild animals. The nature here is praised all over for the exciting seasons throughout the year and is even coined as the “Scotland of India”

Kodagu produces one of the finest Coffees under Western Ghats hot spots. which are marked as living ecosystems and ecologically sensitive areas, marching sustainably along with flora and fauna. Coffee growers in this region have imprinted world coffee lovers and engraved an image of best coffees in the Western Ghats.

To strengthen further and to make world to aware the instinct note of Coorg Coffee and Indian Lovers in particular, the District administration is organizing a “Coorg Coffee Festival and Expo” first of its kind on 10 and 11 at Raja Seat, Madikeri

The main objectives of the festival are to bring all the coffee stakeholders under one umbrella and to promote Coorg Coffee extensively among the Coffee lovers, tourists visiting Coorg from across the country and world also.

Disteict administration stated in a press release “private entities who are involved in the Coffee Value Chain are requested to take part in the festival and exhibit their products. In this regard, the Coffee Board and the Department of Horticulture will be the facilitating entities to carry out the above programme”.

All the communications related to exhibition stall including registration and remittance of stall charges will be on the coorgcoffee-coorgcoffeefestival2022@gmail.com

source: http://www.mysoorunews.com / Mysooru News / Home> Kodagu / Mysooru News Desk / December 05th, 2022

Acviss Develops Traceability App For The Coffee Board Of India

Acviss Technologies develops a “no internet” blockchain-based traceability application for the Coffee Board of India.

Brand protection and consumer engagement technology company Acviss Technologies develops a “no internet” blockchain-based traceability application for the Coffee Board of India. This app is designed to protect coffee production from counterfeiting. 

The Coffee Board of India has been working with marginalized tribal coffee growers to help them improve their farm productivity and quality. With the introduction of this anti-counterfeiting technology, farmers have been able to benefit from higher incomes in their farm produce.

In the last few years, the demand for differentiated coffees with traceability features has been increasing across the world and the differentiated coffees which can be traced back to their source can help obtain a premium for these coffee farmers. 

Commenting on this, Vikas Jain, Founder, of Acviss Technologies, said, “It has been a pleasure creating a solution for the Coffee Board of India, we’ve not only built something innovative but we’ve also tried to make it accessible and helpful for the common man, the app we have created is very simple and does not require Wifi for farmers to scan. It’s a very easy and user-friendly app created first and foremost for the benefit of farmers”

The blockchain-based traceability application by Acviss is an anti-counterfeiting solution that helps to reorganize the unstructured supply chain, provides transparency in transactions, and protects farmers from fraud and fake GI tag products with the help of quality evaluation. 

This app also helps farmers to generate stable income and protects them from any collateral damage with the help of automated payments, insurance, and financing as there is no middleman involved. For the end users, this app also helps consumers by providing authenticated certifications ensuring that the bought product is safe for consumption.

Talking about this implementation, the officials of the Coffee Board of India, said, “We have worked with Acviss to develop a blockchain solution that has been implemented in Karnataka and we have been very satisfied with the output. With this solution, the farmers have been able to gain benefits. Their incomes have gone up by about 43 per cent because of  this traceability app.”

Coffee has become an increasingly common target for food fraudsters, with low-quality ground coffee beans adulterated with filler ingredients such as corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, acai seed, brown sugar, or starch syrup. One of the main drivers has been a reduction in coffee bean output due to poor harvests in some key producers.

With this application, coffee procured by these tribal farmers can now be traced from the grower to the consumer. Coffee parameters like moisture, weight, type and outturn captured at source farms are mentioned. Along with this, certification data is also available for each sample collected. 

To build consumer confidence, this app also displays the farm locations and the farmer data. It helps in simpler transactions between farmers and the end consumer with the help of digitalization as every product packaged goes through an authentic signature. This digital signature cannot be tampered with and helps in easy tractions between the farmers, processing unit, warehouse, distributor, retail, and finally the consumer.

Coffee has become an increasingly common target for food fraudsters, with low-quality ground coffee beans adulterated with filler ingredients such as corn, barley, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, acai seed, brown sugar, or starch syrup. One of the main drivers has been a reduction in coffee bean output due to poor harvests in some key producers.

source: http://www.bwdisrupt.businessworld.in / BW Disrupt / Home / by BW Online Bureau / December 03rd, 2022