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Madikeri ready to weave magic on literary enthusiasts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Madikeri, the must-go town on the tourist’s itinerary, will be a literature enthusiast’s destination for the next three days. The 80th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana is all set to begin at this hill station on Tuesday and the town is awash with the yellow and red colours of the Kannada flag.
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Thousands of language aficionados have descended here, not bothering about the cold winter weather.

Hordes of volunteers are sweating it out for the success of the extravaganza. The literary conference is being held here after a gap of 32 years. Madikeri had hosted the 18th conference in 1932 and the 54th in 1982.

Writer Na D’Souza, who presides over the meet, will be brought in a procession to the dais named after writer Bharatisuta at the Field Marshal K M Cariappa College grounds in the town.

The venue has been named I M Muttanna Mahamantapa. Cutouts depicting Kodagu’s must-see tourist spots, with famous lines of well-known poets, adorn the main entrance to the venue.

The venue has a seating capacity of 20,000, including a thousand chairs for VIPs and special invitees. Giant LCD screens have been erected for the large gathering to watch the on-stage proceedings.

A second dais has come up at the auditorium in the adjacent college to host literary sessions and cultural programmes. The entrances to the eight roads leading to the main venue have been named after prominent personalities.

More than 400 stalls selling books and handicrafts have been set up beside the main venue. A total of 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the conference.

There will only be one-way traffic on the narrow roads of the town for the duration of the conference. KSRTC buses will ply passengers for free within the town during the event.

A total of 600 cooks will prepare the choicest of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the delegates attending the meet. Food arrangements have been made at the Police Parade Grounds, one km from the venue.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / Madikeri – DHNS, January 06th, 2014

A drink devoid of discrimination

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Coffee lore may not be marked by more than about a hundred years after the bushy crop made the three districts of the erstwhile Princely State of Mysore its home. Not many may recollect the happening of the centenary of its arrival in the State, if at all the event was celebrated. Residents of the old residential areas of Mysore city may remember the middle-aged, Khaki-clad, bicycle-borne, vendor sporting pith hat in the style of a hunter, peddling coffee seeds under ‘his’ brands of a) Chikamagalur Coffee, b) Giri Coffee (meaning Bababudangiri) and c) Coorg Coffee, delivering the material at the doorsteps nearly 60 years ago. The much-awaited coffee seed peddler vanished unheralded with the passage of time, leaving his captive customers, connoisseurs of refined tastes of Mysore, high and dry.

An unforgettable phase of the history of coffee in Mysore city, however brief, was marked by the presence of a) coal-fired, manually operated coffee-roaster with a capacity to roast a couple of pounds (equivalent to one kilogram) of coffee seeds and b) hand-operated grinding device in most of the middle-class households in order to brew fresh coffee, particularly to appease the grandpa and grandma in the joint-families, now not known to the younger generation of our times. The two most-prized equipments have since gone to the junk-yard (gujari).

The coffee planters may be concerned with a) the timely showers, particularly the April showers coinciding with the blooming of flowers on the bushes, b) the afflictions bugging the bushes and lately, c) the onslaught of jumbos devouring the lush green plants in a jiffy, but the city-dwellers are hell-bent on having their cuppa. The labour class (if there be one such class still in society) as well as the truant white-collared gentry in government offices must gulp the addictive drink more frequently than the limits prescribed by the physician. They couldn’t care less if the brew was loaded with the objectionable chicory and with disregard to right proportions of plantation ‘A’ and Robusta as well as peaberry, not to talk of adulterants.

Bangalore is shortly hosting the fifth edition of the India International Coffee Festival in which more than 1,000 delegates are expected to take part in the five-day global event, apart from attracting more than 10,000 visitors. The festival may augur well for MNCs of the coffee world, but the kick got out of the now-defunct coffee roaster and coffee grinder cannot be matched by brands such as ‘Starbucks.’ Coffee is unarguably the only unifying agent that abhors discrimination in society.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Editorial / January 10th, 2014

83 Dignitaries feted at Kannada Sammelana

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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Madikeri :

A total of 83 persons were felicitated in recognition of their services to Kannada on the closing day of the 80th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana here yesterday.

Veteran litterateur Prof. Dejagow feted the dignitaries in the presence of Sammelana President Pundalika Halambi.

Those feted were: Shantalinga Mahaswami, Jayadev Kadadevaramath, Mugur Nanjundaswamy, V.G. Nayak, M. Doddamani, G.T. Veerappa, H.V. Jayaram, Dr. Shivananda Gaali, Vamadevaiah, Dr. G.K. Ramchandrappa, Dr. Sharanu Patil, Halmidi Kallol, Rajashekhar Hathagundi, B. Rangaswamy, M.B. Vishwanath, Jenukurubara Sannappa, Ganga Changappa, Siddappa Tallalli, L.S. Shashtri, Prof. K.H. Belura, D. Ganesh, M.B. Perla, Somanath Mudda, Gaddigayya Karikantamath, Dr. Shashikanth Sinnoor, Gowramma Basavegowda, Mahalingappa Itagi, E.V. Sathyanarayana, B.M. Patel Pandu, G. Guruprasad, Veeranna Charantimath, Shekharagouda Malipatil, Prof. Kodi Kushalappa Gowda, A.R. Nagarajcharya, Dr. Wooday P. Krishna, K. Sathyanarayan, B.M. Patil, B.K. Mathapati, Shivaranjan Bolannanavar, C.S. Bopaiah, B.R. Subba Rao, Puttichanda S. Ganapathy, Dr. S.D. Narasimhan, Mukkatira Chotu Appaiah, H. Sridhar Hande, Raviteja, Vishwanath Hoogar, S.V. Nagaraj Rao, Dr. M.B. Subhash Chandra, Dr. G.R. Basavarajan, G. Suresh Gowda, Mukunda Rao Lokunde, S.

R. Manavalli, K.B. Talageri, Gayatri Ramanna, T.A. Narayan Gowda, Gayatri Navada, Mavalli Shankar, T.A.P. Nagaraj, Maddikere Gopal, Prof, M.G. Chandrashekharaiah, Nataraj Swamiji, R. Vijaya Raghavan, Bhaskar Jois Hebri, B.K. Hongal, R. Shivanna, C.H. Naarival, Sunil Patil, Umesh Aradhya, C.V. Shankar, Nazir Ahmed, B.R. Satish, Chalavali Ramakrishna, Yalanadu Anjanappa, Dr. S. Shivarudraswamy, Babu Shivapujari, H. Dandappa, G.H. Paramashivaiah, A.G. Hari Gopal, Nagesh Boppanadu, N. Krishnamurthy, Veeranna Karabantanal and Virupakshappa Abbigeri.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Shivashankarmurthy, former BBMP opposition leader M. Nagaraj, Sammelana office-bearers Sangamesh Badavadagi, P. Mallikarjunappa and others were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 10th, 2014

Hills come alive for literary jamboree today

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Madikeri (Kodagu district):

Picturesque locale, biting cold, wine and books. It seems like perfect jamboree for literature lovers. The Scotland of India is all set to host the 80th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, the annual literary festival, from Tuesday amid apprehension of possible traffic chaos and shortage of accommodation.

The hill town of Madikeri, about 250 km from Bangalore, will witness a mega literary event as authors and critics discuss the challenges before Kannada language and its culture at the three-day meet.

The backdrop of Madikeri Fort built in 1861 and Raja’s seat, a spot from where the kings watched the sunsets with their consorts, provide the perfect setting for writers to exchange views about region, politics and various facets of writing. Organizers are bracing for last-minute entries and trying to ensure nothing goes amiss.

This is the third literary festival being held in the district since 1915 – the previous two were held in 1981 (presided over by DV Gundappa) and 1932 (Shamba Joshi).

8,000 delegates to attend:

Over 8,000 delegates have converged to participate in the festival that will open with a keynote address by sammelana president Norbert Dsouza, a senior writer from Shimoga. It will be inaugurated by chief minister Siddaramaiah on the dais named after litterateur Bharatisuta.

Seers Siddharama Swami of Naganur Rudrakshi mutt, Belgaum, and Shantamallikarjuna Swami of Arameri Kalancheri mutt, Virajpet will provide the spiritual touch.

A band of ministers and elected representatives will participate at the event lending credence to some views that the sammelana has, of late, become a platform for politicians.

Union petroleum minister Veerappa Moily, who has penned many a literary piece, will be the special guest to release the souvenir and open seminars on language, literature and other issues.

The meet promises to be different. “Kodagu literature festival may change the way lit fests are organized as the place is known for its hospitality and culture,” said reception committee head and Kodagu district in-charge & PWD minister H C Mahadevappa.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Literature / by Manu Aiyappa & G. Rajendra, TNN / January 07th, 2014

Chikka Aluvara PG Centre inauguration tomorrow

Education

Mangalore :

Chief minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the new post-graduate centre of Mangalore University, science block, women’s hostel and staff quarters at Chikka Aluvara in Kushalnagar of Kodagu district on Tuesday.

The new post-graduate centre has come up in 70.47 acres of land and the work on it wad commenced on November 15, 2010, vice-chancellor T C Shivashankara Murthy said.

The university had sought grants of Rs 24.50 crore for setting up the science, commerce and arts blocks, library, administrative office, hostels for students, staff quarters, auditorium, ground, guest house, health centre, commercial complex and roads and Rs 20 lakh towards staff salary in 2008.

The government in 2009-10 had sanctioned Rs 2 crore and released Rs 1.50 crore.

The VC said the science block was built at a cost of Rs 4 crore. The compound was constructed at a cost of Rs 72 lakh. There are separate hostels for men and women and it was built at a cost of Rs 3.20 crore. The centre also have a house constructed at a cost of Rs 1.04 crore.

The Construction works of arts and commerce blocks (at a cost of Rs 4 crore) and water supply system (Rs 50 lakh) are under progress .

The Syndicate has approved work of constructing the commerce and arts blocks respectively. The university has requested the state government to provide a special grant of Rs 20 crore during 2013-14 for the various works that are being taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore.

The Existing PG departments of bio-chemistry and microbiology will be shifted from Field Marshal KM Cariappa College, Madikeri to the PG centre from January 8.

With the work on the arts and commerce block nearing completion, the university will start PG courses in economics, political science, commerce and MSW at the new PG centre from the next academic year. Plans are afoot to start two additional PG courses in the science block of Chikka Aluvara centre. Power and water connections will be up by the time the Centre formally start functioning from January 18.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / TheTimes of India / Home> City> Mangalore> Commerce / TNN / January 06th, 2014

German technology for book stalls

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technology

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Madikeri :

More than 300 book stalls that have come up in a sprawling 1 1/2 acre area in the town, as part of the literary fest, is expected to be a hit among the participants and the general public.

The book stalls are set-up using German technology, adjacent to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College ground, with each stall measuring 10×15 ft.

A 16-member Committee is supervising the maintenance of these stalls, with one stall reserved exclusively for Kodagu writers.

Apart from the book stall, commercial stalls featuring fancy stores, food outlets, textiles etc., too have come up. Also several women self help groups (Sthree Shakthi Sanghas) have taken up some stalls in order to promote their products.

The Committee has fixed a rent of Rs. 2,500 to each stall for the 3-day literary fest, with book-sellers from different parts of the State including Bangalore, Dharwad, Udupi, Gadag, D.K. and Mysore districts having booked the stalls.

‘Kodagu-Bedagu’ handbook to be distributed at Kannada meet

Madikeri, Jan. 6 (KBM&DM)- A handbook on Kodagu district titled “Kodagu-Bedagu” is ready for free distribution among those arriving for the All India Kannada Literary Meet to be chaired by renowned writer Na. D’Souza tomorrow at Madikeri.

The 20-page handbook, contains information on the geographical features of Kodagu district, a former Princely State, and its magnificent scenic valleys and other spots. It contains vital information on all religious places, including the dress code to be observed while visiting some prominent temples and tourist spots across the district.

The handbook, brought out with an attractive cover page, contains detailed information on the famous tourist spots in Madikeri including the Fort, Raja’s Seat, Archaeology Museum, Omkareshwara Temple, St. Michael’s Church and other scenic spots like Abbey Falls, Makkalagudi Betta, Talacauvery-Bhagamandala, Padi Shri Igguthappa Temple, Thadiyandmol Hill, Yemme Madu, Sufi Shahid Dargah, Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Nagarahole, Irupu Falls, Cauvery Nisargadhama, Harangi Dam, Dubare camp, Virajpet’s St. Anne’s Church, etc.

Handbook Committee President H.T. Anil said that the Committee had earlier planned to bring out a more exhaustive 48-page handbook but it was later scaled down to 20 pages on account of cash crunch.

The handbook will be distributed free of cost amongst more than 8,000 representatives and journalists attending the meet.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / January 06th, 2014

CM to inaugurate Kannada literary meet at Madikeri tomorrow

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Sammelana President Na. D’Souza to be brought in a procession
Sammelana President Na. D’Souza to be brought in a procession

Madikeri :

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah will inaugurate the 80th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana here at 12 noon tomorrow.

The fest will formally commence with Kodagu District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa hoisting the national flag at 8 am at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College Ground, which will be followed by the hoisting of Kannada Sahitya Parishat flag by Kannada Sahitya Parishat State President Pundalika Halambi and hoisting of ‘Naada Dhwaja’ by Kannada Sahitya Parishat District President T.P. Ramesh.

The main platform of the fest has been named as ‘Bharatisuta Pradhana Vedike,’ named after Bharatisuta, which was the pen name of the great writer S.R. Narayana Rao, while another stage erected has been named as ‘Ichettira N. Muthanna Mahamantapa’

Renowned writer Na. D’Souza who is to chair the fest, will be brought in a grand procession at 9 am tomorrow from Gandhi Maidan passing through CMC, Private Bus Stand, Indira Gandhi Circle and College Road, before reaching Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College ground.

The procession will be flagged off by Kodagu DC Anurag Tewari at 9 am. Naganoor Rudrakshi Mutt Seer Siddarama Swamiji and Arameri Kalancheri Mutt (Virajpet) Seer Shamba

Mallikarjuna Swamiji will grace the occasion. The Sammelana Immediate Past President Ko. Channabasappa will deliver the inaugural address. Na. D’Souza will deliver the presidential address.

Union Petroleum and Environment Minister Veerappa Moily will release the souvenir brought out on the occasion.

Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankar Murthy will inaugurate the book stalls. Home Minister K.J. George will release ‘Kannada Dinadarshike.’

Litterateur Dr. Malali Vasanthakumar will release books brought out by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, while Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan will release books of Kodagu writers and MP H. Vishwanatha will release works of different authors.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao will inaugurate commercial stalls, while Kannada and Culture Minister Umashree will inaugurate the cultural programmes.

Former Assembly Speaker and Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah will inaugurate a painting exhibition organised to mark the occasion.

MLC T. John will inaugurate the Pradhana Vedike, while MLC M.C. Nanaiah will inaugurate the Mahamantapa and MLC Ganesh Karnik will inaugurate the fest’s main entrance arch. Kodagu ZP President B. Shivappa, Lt. General (Retd) B.C. Nanda, State Government Employees’ Association President L. Bhyrappa, Kannada and Culture Department Secretary K.R. Niranjan will be the guests of honour on the occasion.

Following the inaugurals, seminars will commence at 3.30 pm, followed by cultural programmes later in the evening at 7 pm.

Seating arrangements have been made for over 20,000 participants. Welcome arches
have been erected on the roads leading to Mysore, Mangalore and as well on other prominent roads.

The city is wearing a festive look for the literary fest. Meanwhile, the District Administration has declared holidays for schools and colleges across the district from Jan. 7 to 9, on account of the 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 06th, 2014

MP’s book released in Madikeri

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Releasing of the book ‘Malligeya Maathu’ penned by MP A.H. Vishwanath (third from right) at Hotel Coorg International, Madikeri, Kodagu on Jan. 4, 2014.

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Others are (from left) Kannada lecturer at Cauvery College, Gonikoppa Dr. Rekha Vasanth, Kodagu District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President T.P. Ramesh, advocate and litterateur Balasubrahmanya Kanjarpane, Shanthamallikarjuna Swami of Arameri Mutt in Virajpet, litterateur Cheppudira P. Belliappa and Akashavani programmer Abdul Rashid.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / January 05th, 2014

Uthappa in for Mayank

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Sports

Opening batsman Robin Uthappa is all set to return for Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie against Uttar Pradesh from January 8.

The right-hander, who featured in a couple of matches for Karnataka in the league phase before suffering a hamstring injury, will replace Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order.

Agarwal, who has been relatively successful in his first season with 380 runs from seven matches, has been selected to feature in Karnataka’s Col CK Nayudu (under-25) Trophy quarterfinal match against Himachal Pradesh at Dharamsala on January 5 instead.

“The under-25 quarterfinal is important too so we decided that it would be better to have Mayank playing at Dharamsala instead of making him sit on the reserve bench here,” said chief selector Sudhakar Rao.

Karnataka squad: R Vinay Kumar (captain), CM Gautam (vice-captain/ wicketkeeper), Robin Uthappa, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Karun Nair, R Samarth, Shreyas Gopal, Ronit More, Abhimanyu Mithun, HS Sharath, Abrar Kazi, Ganesh Satish, Amit Verma, KP Appanna. Batting coach: J Arun Kumar. Bowling coach: Mansur Ali Khan. Manager: B Siddaramu. Physio: M Vasanth. Video analyst: Santhosh. Logistic manager: A Ramesh Rao.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / Bangalore – DHNS, January 02nd, 2014

My Wife’s Cool with Female Fans

Sports

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Rohan Bopanna should consider himself a lucky man. Not only is the tennis star still head-over-heels in love with his wife Supriya Annaiah, he says that she doesn’t get mad with all the female attention that comes his way. Unfortunately, being a famous, tall and handsome tennis player send a lot of adoring female fans his way.

Well, I’m married, so I think the fans know by now to leave me alone,” Rohan jokes. “But jokes aside, Supriya’s cool with it. She says its a great thing to have so many fans come out and recognise you. They have every right to come and speak to you, no matter what they want to speak to you about,” he says seriously.

The doubles player, who is currently ranked no 13, visibly grins when this reporter asks about his lady love, ahead of his match against the pair of Benoît Paire and Wawrinka. “Marriage is super,” he tells us a year after he tied the knot. “It’s always nice to have family on the road with you, and with Supriya, it’s great to have her with me during tournaments!” he says with a grin. Ask Rohan his wishlist for 2014 and pat comes the answer – win a grand slam title. Prod some more and out comes the second one. “I want to show my wife the rest of the cities (on the Tour), the parts she’s not seen. She’s seen the cities from June to December. I want to show her the ones from January to June,” he says with an even bigger grin. Aside from tennis, marriage has also brought about another change in Rohan’s travel itinerary. He finally gets to look around the cities he travels to.

And it’s all because of the wife. “I’ve been to so many places, but I usually never go out,” he says and admits that when it comes to doing touristy things in a city, it is Supriya who does all the work. “Usually, I’d just be sitting in my hotel room after practise, ordering room service, not doing anything. Now that my wife is there, she makes an effort to read up on what to do in the city we’re in and makes me go with her,” he says. “Also, now there’s somebody to go see these places with,” he adds with a wry smile.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Janane Venkatraman – Chennai / January 01st, 2014