Maleyanda Arun Poovaiah, a former International Badminton player, has won Men’s Singles title, Mixed Doubles Trophy and emerged Runners-up in Men’s Doubles Category at the PAN India Golden Master’s Badminton Championships held at Vardhan’s Vision Sports Club in R.R. Nagar Bengaluru recently.
Along with trophies, cash prize was also awarded.
A native of Nelji, Napoklu in Kodagu, Arun is presently based in Bengaluru and is involved in coaching budding Badminton players.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / August 25th, 2025
MLA for Virajpet A.S. Ponnanna being welcomed during the ‘Kodavameera Aara Bera’, a Kodava cultural festival, at Kodava Samaj in Mysuru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
The Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, in association with Mysuru Kodava Samaja, organised the ‘Kodavameera Aara Bera’ programme on Saturday at Mysuru Kodava Samaja.
The event was presided over by Ajjinikanda C. Mahesh Nachayya, president of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.
Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and MLA for Virajpet A. S. Ponnanna inaugurated the cultural fest by lighting the lamp in the presence of several dignitaries.
In his address, Mr. Ponnanna said the festival was intended to portray the richness of the Kodava language, culture, and traditions, and stressed the need to conserve and promote it for future generations.
The programme featured cultural performances, traditional dances, and a play highlighting the vibrant heritage of the Kodavas. An exhibition and sale of books published by the Kodava Sahitya Academy was also organised on the occasion.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 23rd, 2025
The Madikeri Forest Division RFO confirmed the growers have encroached on the sacred grove, a notified forest area, leading to the eviction of his crops.
Uprooted cardamom plants in Somwarpet.(Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
Over 800 coffee plants and several cardamom plants grown across government land were evicted by the forest department in the Somwarpet region. The incident has evoked anger among the grower community in Somwarpet, who threaten to intensify their struggle against the forest department.
“Over 35 years ago, my father, Kaalachanda Naniyappa had cleared the paisari land of about three acres at Mukkodlu limits and had cultivated the land with coffee and cardamom. Recently, as several coffee plants had worn out, he took up re-plantation work and had sown new coffee plants,” explained Kaushi, daughter of 70-year-old Naniyappa.
She added that the estate was readied on paisari land, and the survey number does not fall under the forest department. “Despite the land being paisari and not forest area, over 10 people who claimed to be from the forest department trespassed into our estate and destroyed all the crops,” she alleged.
According to her, over 800 coffee plants, alongside yielding cardamom crops, have been destroyed. “My father’s hard work of over three decades has been razed within an hour by the department officials. No notices were served and we did not apply for any lease as the land is ‘paisari’ and not forest land,” she explained.
The elderly grower, who lives with his ailing wife, is now in a dilemma as he has suffered huge financial losses in the process. From labour charges to cultivation costs, he has lost his livelihood, which has evoked the anger of other growers in the region.
However, the concerned RFO of Madikeri Forest Division confirmed that the elderly grower had encroached on the sacred grove, which is a notified forest area. “The grower has cut several trees in the sacred grove area and we have to file a case against him. We had warned him not to cut trees. Despite that, he has cleared the sacred grove. Since he is an elderly person, we carried out only the eviction process and have not booked him for the same,” the officer confirmed. He added that the cleared area falls under Bellacchu Sacred Grove forest area.
As per the survey details given by owner Naniyappa, however, the RTC shows that survey number 33/2 in Mukkodlu region is paisari government land that has been granted to him.
Meanwhile, members of the Raitha Horata Samithi of Somwarpet taluk gathered at the evicted area and declared they would intensify their fight against the forest department, claiming that the department is snatching away the livelihood of small growers.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / August 21st, 2025
Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja during his visit to an exhibition organised as part of an awareness programme on the PMFME scheme in Madikeri on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja has urged the people to make use of the support being extended by the Central and State governments for establishing small-scale food processing industries, after inaugurating an awareness programme on the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme in Madikeri on Thursday.
Elaborating on the opportunities available under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Deputy Commissioner said that a 50% subsidy would help individuals start ventures even at their homes, and stressed the importance of branding and market linkages to ensure a wider reach for food products. Special emphasis was laid on encouraging women entrepreneurs, which he said, would boost the district’s economic growth and generate employment opportunities.
The Deputy Commissioner appreciated the exhibition of food-processing products like bakery items, coffee, mushrooms, spices, millet-based products, and chapatis at the event.
Shivaprakash, Managing Director of the Karnataka State Agricultural Produce Processing and Export Corporation (KAPPEC), said Kodagu district has immense potential in food processing industries such as coffee, pepper, cardamom, cocoa, arecanut, honey, and paddy.
Mr. Shivaprakash urged entrepreneurs to file more applications under the scheme, pointing out that the district could even secure GI tags for its unique products. Up to ₹15 lakh subsidy (50% of the project cost) is available for setting up new units or expanding existing ones, he said, adding that flour mills, oil mills, bakeries, banana-based products, turmeric and coconut processing, snacks, pickles, chapati making, coffee powder, masalas, chocolates, honey, fruits, and vegetable processing are among the units that can be established.
B.S. Chandrashekar, Joint Director of Agriculture, said that 160 applications had been filed from the district, of which only seven were rejected. Loans worth ₹15.2 crore have been sanctioned against a target of ₹18.13 crore, benefitting 89 entrepreneurs since the launch of the scheme in 2020-21.
In the 2025-26 State budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the establishment of 5,000 small food processing units with an allocation of ₹206 crore. Kodagu has been given a target of 75 units.
Lead Bank manager Gangadhara Nayak, CFTRI Senior Technical Officer Raghavendra, NABARD representatives, and other resource persons spoke on the opportunities in value addition and market expansion at the event. On the occasion, the PM-FME scheme brochure was released by the Deputy Commissioner, and cheques were handed over to beneficiaries.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / April 22nd, 2025
On Sunday, the 13th (of July), my father and the Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, K.B. Ganapathy, passed away.
Knowing him, I think he would have got a kick out of it if he had kicked the bucket on Friday the 13th, popularly considered an unlucky day.
It feels odd to write about my father, but I feel I owe it to the readers of Star of Mysore, who have made this small newspaper from this small city into one of India’s most successful evening newspapers.
To not write about him would feel wrong. Especially because his life was not only well lived, but it was also wildly interesting.
KBG, as he was popularly known, never really spoke much of his early life with me until a few years ago, when I became a father and he, a grandfather. The stories were fantastic.
When you become one of the youngest lawyers in Bengaluru at a time when jukeboxes and dance halls were in vogue…
When you, as a nerdy, bespectacled boy from Coorg to have the audacity to move to Bombay to become an actor, then a scriptwriter, without knowing a word of Hindi…
When you rejoin College in Bombay to study journalism and are chosen to work under a legend like T.J.S. George…
When you launch your own advertising agency in Pune and help name the now-iconic moped, Luna…
When you move Osho Rajneesh from Juhu Beach into an apartment and handle his first PR campaign for The Illustrated Weekly of India…
When you finally pack it all up and return to Mysore to run a bill-book printing press… and then start your own newspaper… You’re bound to have stories. And KBG had a whole lot of them and he told them brilliantly…
From tales of quirky Bombay industrialists to the eccentricities of Osho Rajneesh, from the spiritual gurus he encountered in his career to dealing with political thugs he had confronted, his stories were always unexpected, always unforgettable.
Whether he was protesting at the Bombay Docks with George Fernandes or breaking ‘journalistic ethics’ by openly campaigning for H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda in Mysore, KBG lived with a conviction few dared to match and fewer still could argue with, though I often did.
What made him a good journalist was simple. A nose for news, a maniacal work ethic, and a fearlessness that bordered on charming arrogance.
KBG also had a quirk. He never wore a shirt without a pocket. Why? Because he always carried a tiny notepad and a pen. Even on the day he died, he had notes scribbled in his little notepad stuffed in his shirt pocket — observations and “news points for reporters.” He never stopped reporting.
KBG loved intellectual combat, and often our dinner table arguments ended with me yelling, “Youth may be wasted on the young, but wisdom is definitely wasted on the old !”
He would smirk and say, “Don’t flatter yourself. At your age, only Rahul Gandhi can be forever young.” Then, with a smile, he would ask, “Drink?”
That was KBG. You could argue with him, disagree with him, even mock him, but he always knew how to separate debate and decency.
That same spirit defined Star of Mysore. Even if you didn’t share his ideology, your voice still had a place in his paper.
Through Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, he gave voice to countless civic warriors. Many of them eventually joined politics, but before that, they helped shape our city.
He encouraged service clubs like Rotary, Lions and MGP, believing they created a collective civic conscience to keep the Government accountable.
Though he had an irreverent side, he was also deeply spiritual.
On his 85th birthday, I asked him, “After all these years, what according to you is happiness?” He replied instantly, “Freedom from physical pain.”
Then, after a pause, added, “You can have all the money and status you want, but if your body is hurting, even if it’s a toothache, you’ll be miserable.”
I asked when he had this spiritual epiphany. With a mischievous smile he replied, “When I had piles.” We both laughed. I said, “Now you know how it feels to work with you.” He laughed and clapped, something he would do on hearing something witty. That bellowing laughter with clapping will be missed.
Since his passing, people have asked me how I’m coping. For now, I keep reading the note he would write on the first page of his diary every year for over 40 years. They are lines from the Bible:
“The race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant,
but time and chance happen to them all.”
And then he would add, in his own hand:
“So do not despair, Ganapathy, for this too shall pass.”
And so, while we grieve, we carry on, for… this too shall pass.
On behalf of my family and everyone at Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, Thank You, dear readers, for your love and loyalty. We hope to continue informing, entertaining and waking the activist in every Mysurean.
P.S.: After his passing, some have criticised the current State Government for not offering KBG State Honours like his peers got.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter.
What greater honour can a journalist ask for than the love of his readers?
That, for my father, was more than enough.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns, In Blace & White , Top Stories / by Vikram Muthanna / July 26th, 2025
The society is currently under severe financial stress.
MP for Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar has taken the initiative to address the financial crisis faced by the Kodagu Coffee Growers’ Cooperative Society, which has been functioning for decades.
The society is currently under severe financial stress, and Mr. Yaduveer has therefore urged the Union Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance to intervene and provide relief.
During his visit to New Delhi, Mr. Yaduveer met Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and submitted a memorandum seeking his support.
Founded in 1956, the society has supported over 10,000 to 12,000 small and medium coffee growers across Kodagu, Mysuru, and surrounding regions. It has been a backbone for nearly 40,000 families and has provided employment to thousands of estate workers. However, due to market fluctuations and lack of capital, the society incurred a loss of ₹6.85 crore during 1995–96, he said in a press release here.
As per the Coffee Board’s order dated September 12, 2011, the society was directed to pay ₹1,55,28,034 as interest. Later, on September 20, 2015, the board issued a letter stating that if the principal was cleared, the interest would be waived. Accordingly, on December 22, 2015, the society paid ₹1,55,28,090. But in 2017, the board imposed an additional ₹5,83,85,155 as interest and other charges, Mr. Yaduveer said.
The society has incurred a loss of ₹13.13 crore, and is in deep financial crisis. At present, it is unable to pay the heavy interest burden. If forced to pay, the society will go bankrupt, impacting nearly one lakh people who depend on it, he said.
He urged that the Union Commerce Minister to intervene to rescue the society from the crisis and also appealed to the Finance Ministry to coordinate and extend appropriate relief and assistance.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 19th, 2025
Karnataka High Court Justice J.M. Khazi observed that social service, in the true sense, is an extension of justice.
She was speaking after inaugurating ‘Sarathya,’ the Third District Cabinet Presentation-2025 of Lions International District 317G at KSOU Convocation Hall on Hunsur Road here yesterday.
Noting that if we take a look at the world around us, the entire world seems to be full of Science and Technological advancements, Justice Khazi said that, however, one should also take note of the natural disasters, calamities, pandemics, poverty, starvation and the like, which have become a routine these days.
Pointing out that we should note that it is not the responsibility of the administration alone to handle such crises, she said that the entire society should play a key role in such situations for alleviating the problems of mankind. It is laudable that the Lions Club is working in this direction, she said.
“There are many instances where Lions Clubs volunteers have reached areas even before Government bodies and agencies arrived, which is really laudable. The Lions Clubs are known to provide service in rural areas and in times of natural disasters and calamities. The Lions Clubs are moving forward by following the famed Greek Philosopher Aristotle’s principle that serving mankind and doing good for the society is the essence of life,” Justice Khazi said.
Mysuru Kodava Samaja President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy and Mysuru Kodava Samaja Chief Advisor Ln. Kuttimada D. Kariappa, along with the Kodava Samaja Mysuru cultural team which participated in the Lions International ‘Sarathya’ programme held at KSOU Convocation Hall on Hunsur Road on Sunday.
Stating that her father was a Public Prosecutor, Justice Khazi recalled that she had most part of her early education in Kannada as her father used to serve at Taluk-level, where there were no English medium schools then and she thinks that it was a good opportunity for her to learn Kannada. “Most of my ancestors studied in Kannada medium and as such Kannada is a second mother-tongue for our entire family,” she said adding that she had given her rulings in Kannada in the HC in the dedicated year, for which she was honoured by the State Government. But now, all orders and rulings in the High Court should be written in English, Justice Khazi added.
Lions District Governor (2025-26) Ln. K.L. Rajashekara, in his address, said that Lions International District 317G incorporates Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar Districts.
Ln. Pankaj Mehta, who is the International Director, First Lady of the District Ln. Dr. M.N. Geetha, Past International Directors Ln. V.V. Krishna Reddy and Ln. Vamsidhar Babu, Multiple Council Chairman Ln. N. Mohan Kumar, District Cabinet Advisor Ln. K. Devegowda, District Cabinet Secretary Ln. M. Siddegowda, District Ambassador Ln. T.H. Venkatesh, Host Committee Chairman Ln. S.P. Adarsha, Secretary Ln. M.V. Nandish, Additional District Cabinet Secretary Ln. Naveen Subramanyam and others were present at the ‘Sarathya’ event.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 18th, 2025
The paddy farmland that had not recorded any farming activity for many years, was revived following the efforts of the organisation that pulled in over 150 youngsters to take up paddy cultivation activity.
Amidst the chilly weather and rainfall, the youngsters cultivated the land for paddy with great enthusiasm. Photo | Express
Madikeri :
Over 150 youngsters from the Kodava community, working in different cities, visited the district to take part in a unique initiative called ‘naati pani’ aka paddy cultivation.
Organised by Connecting Kodavas, the initiative aimed at promoting the ancestral culture of paddy cultivation among the younger generations.
It was a day filled with fun, frolic and hard work, as youngsters who usually sat in front of their computer systems for a change toiled across the slushy 10-acre farmland in Mutharmudi.
As confirmed by the sources, the 10-acre farmland belonging to the Kembadthanda family in Mutharmudi had been left vacant for several years. The Connecting Kodavas organisation approached the family and detailed its plan to revive the farmland with a unique initiative.
The paddy farmland that had not recorded any farming activity for many years, was revived following the efforts of the organisation that pulled in over 150 youngsters to take up paddy cultivation activity.
For over seven years, the organisation has been hosting this ‘naati pani’ initiative and has so far revived several abandoned farmlands. Each year, the organisation selects an abandoned farmland, which is prepared for paddy farming by youngsters who are getting back in touch with their roots.
The initiative was supported by various organisations including Mysuru Kodava Students Association, Kodava Samaja Youth Wing and others.
Apart from the cultivation process, the unique dishes prepared during the monsoon months are also served to the participants.
Amidst the chilly weather and rainfall, the youngsters cultivated the land for paddy with great enthusiasm. Several elders who have been practicing agriculture for several years guided the youngsters even as the organisation confirmed to continue the initiative in the coming years.
The event was curated by Connecting Kodavas organisation head Niram Nachappa and others.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / August 18th, 2025
The reservoir level at the KRS was 124.46 ft against the maximum level of 124.80 ft at 8 a.m. on August 17, according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.
A file photo of KRS reservoir used for representational purpose only. | Photo Credit: The Hindu
After a prolonged break, monsoon is active in parts of south interior Karnataka since the last few days and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Kodagu valid till Monday (August 18, 2025).
Meanwhile, in view of heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Cauvery and its tributaries, the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) has issued a flood warning for people living on the downstream of the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir as the outflow from the dam will be increased to nearly 50,000 cusecs.
This is due to increase in the rate of inflow to the reservoir, according to CNNL which said that people living on both banks of the river and the low-lying area of river Cauvery should move to safer places and take precautionary measures for safety and security of their lives and property.
The reservoir level at the KRS was 124.46 ft against the maximum level of 124.80 ft at 8 a.m. on Sunday (August 17, 2025), according to Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). The gross storage capacity of the reservoir is 49.452 tmc ft against which the present storage is 48.977 tmc ft.
During the 24 hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on August 7, parts of Kodagu received heavy to very heavy rains and Birunani in Virajpet taluk recorded 148 mm of rainfall. Other places which recorded significantly high rainfall included Srimangala (83 mm), Kudlipet (82.6), Madde (77.5 mm) Sampaje (77) Shanivarsanthe (76), Shanthalli (75), Kutta (60.5) Kadanuru (51), Kakatuparambu (50) and Hudikeri and Bhagamandala recorded 41.2 mm each.
The locations with highest rainfall in the region during the last 24 hours included Begar gram panchayat in Chikkamagaluru district which received 204.5 mm of rains followed by Shanuvalli GP with 185 mm. Hodgadahalla GP in Hassan district recorded 171 mm of rainfall while Kyamanahalli, also in Hassan district, registered 160.5 mm of rainfall. Niluvagilu GP in Chikkamagalur received 150.5 mm of rains during the same period, according to KSNDMC.
While the rains have gained fresh traction in the last few days, the period August 1 to 16 was on the deficit side. Kodagu has received 194 mm of rainfall (August 1 to 16) which is 45% below normal. Chikkamagalur which is another major catchment for the tributaries of Cauvery, also recorded below normal rains between August 1 and 16. According to KSDNCM, Chikkamagalur received 125 mm of rains during the period which is 52% below normal.
However, the cumulative rainfall from June 1 to August 16 is under normal category and while Kodagu has received 1624 mm of rains, it is below normal for Chikkamagalur which has received 897 mm of rainfall and it is 21% below normal. Other districts in the region including Hassan, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar fall under normal category while Mandya district has received 204 mm and is under excess category.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 17th, 2025
Minister in charge of Kodagu district N.S. Boseraju unveiling the foundation stone for the second phase works for construction of the 450-bed teaching hospital at Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences in Madikeri on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The foundation stone for the remaining and additional works (second phase) for the construction of the 450-bed teaching hospital of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) was laid in Madikeri on Friday.
Minister in charge of Kodagu district N.S. Boseraju laid the foundation stone on the KoIMS premises in the presence of MLAs Mantar Gowda and A S Ponnanna.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister told the doctors to provide quality healthcare services to poor patients. “When quality healthcare reaches the people timely, it brings a good name to the government. Therefore, doctors must ensure quality healthcare services,” Mr. Boseraju said.
The Medical Education Minister and the district’s MLAs have worked hard for upgrading the infrastructure of the institute, he added.
Mr. Ponnanna said healthcare services should reach everyone as all necessary development works were being carried out, while Mr. Gowda said it is the duty of doctors to provide quality healthcare to poor patients.
Steps have been taken to provide basic facilities to various departments of the institute, including the MRI scanning unit, Mr. Gowda said, adding that the cardiology department will also be upgraded soon.
Further, Mr. Gowda said that the hospital needs permanent doctors, and urged the Minister to take steps in this regard.
The upgradation works will be completed within a span of 18 months, and an additional ₹20 crore will be sought for the development of the Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, he added.
Steps will also be taken to start a Critical Care Centre, Mr. Gowda informed.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 15th, 2025
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