K.K. Gangadharan (76), a native of Aiguru village in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district, passed away on Jan. 19 at his residence in Bengaluru. He leaves behind his wife, one son and a host of relatives and friends.
A recipient of Kendra Sahitya Academy award from Karnataka last year for his book ‘Malayalam Kathegalu,’ Gangadharan had translated over 200 Malayalam stories and four novels into Kannada, besides a few Tamil and English stories. His translated works were being published in various Kannada magazines including Sudha, Mayura, Taranga, Roopathara, Mangala, etc.
He had served in Mysuru’s Railway Mail Service (RMS) of the Postal Department for several years before being transferred to Bengaluru, where he spent his retired life, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / January 21st, 2025
The Kutta to Madikeri “Kodavaame Baalo” foot march, led by the Akhila Kodava Samaja, successfully concluded in Madikeri yesterday.
This peaceful protest aimed to highlight the social, religious, and political challenges faced by the Kodava community while emphasising the need to preserve its distinct traditions and identity.
Under the leadership of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, several Kodava organisations, including the Federation of Kodava Samajas, Kodava Sahitya Academy, United Kodava Organisation, Codava National Council, Kodavamera Kondaata, Jabbhoomi Baalo, Kodava Speaking Native Communities Association, Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing and Kodava Riders Club, extended their support to the cause.
The march, culminated at the Kodava Samaja Mandh, near the General K.S. Thimayya District Stadium (Manns Compound), Madikeri. Dressed in traditional attire, Kodava men and women from across the region participated with utmost discipline.
Thousands of community members gathered as a memorandum listing key demands was formally submitted to Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja.
The DC commended the community for completing the 6-day peaceful foot march without any untoward incidents. He assured that the memorandum would be forwarded to the Central and State Governments and that the District Administration would take necessary legal measures within its jurisdiction to address the demands.
Key demands in the memorandum
The memorandum called for immediate action on the following:
The Kodava community, being a highly sensitive and small minority, requires urgent Constitutional protection for its land, water, culture, traditions, religious practices and social security.
The right of Kodava Jamma landholders to possess firearms must continue without any hindrance.
Political oppression by dominant communities over the small minority Kodava community must be curtailed.
Strict action should be taken against the mockery and misuse of Kodava cultural traditions, attire, ornaments and rituals, along with any acts that provoke the sentiments of the community.
The insulting remarks against Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa and General Kodandera S. Thimayya, two of the country’s greatest soldiers, simply for being Kodavas, should be taken seriously. A thorough investigation must be conducted, and strict action, including banishment from the district, should be taken against the culprit.
Steps must be taken to prevent disturbances to the Kodava community’s participation in Talacauvery rituals and to take strict action against vested interests causing unrest.
Measures must be implemented to ensure that Kodava culture is respected in all religious places in Kodagu. The Government must ensure a free and safe atmosphere for Kodavas to practice their traditions on their own land.
The renaming of the Mahadeva Temple at Kattemad village as Maha Mrithyunjaya Temple is an act of deliberate provocation, aimed at creating discord among indigenous Kodava and Kodava-speaking communities. The main culprits must be identified and held accountable.
The inaction against those who attacked Kodavas and attempted to restrict their cultural attire is unacceptable. Legal action must be taken against the perpetrators, and arrests must be made. Until this is done, Kodava community members will refuse to participate in any peace process initiated by the administration.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / February 08th, 2025
Walk ends tomorrow at Kodava Samaja Mandh, General K.S. Thimayya Stadium
Madikeri:
The fifth day of the 82-km ‘Kodavaame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march from Kutta to Madikeri aimed at preserving the unique culture and traditions of the Kodava community and Kodava language-speaking groups, began this morning from Nellimani near Murnad.
Since its launch on Feb. 2, the march has gained momentum, with thousands of men, women, and children clad in traditional attire joining in. More participants continue to pour in from villages along the route, turning the event into a large-scale cultural movement.
The march began from Kutta on Feb. 2 and reached T. Shettigeri on the first day. On Feb. 3, it continued to Ponnampet, and on Feb. 4, the marchers walked from Ponnampet to Bittangala via Gonikoppa. Last evening, they reached Bethri village in Madikeri Taluk, covering 62.8 km and halting at Nellimani.
The fourth day’s march passed through Virajpet Taluk Centre, Kadanoor (Kakkabe road junction), Kakotuparambu, Bethri, and concluded at Nellimani. Kodava community members from Madikeri Taluk welcomed the marchers from South Kodagu at the bridge over the River Cauvery at Bethri.
On the fifth day today, the march started from Nellimani, passing through Murnad, Hakkattur, and Kaggodlu, and will reach Mekeri village. On the sixth and final day, Feb. 7 (tomorrow), the march will reach Madikeri from Mekeri in the morning.
Massive crowd expected tomorrow
The rally will conclude with the submission of a memorandum to the State Government through the Kodagu district administration at the Madikeri Kodava Samaja Mandh, located in General K.S. Thimayya Stadium and Grounds (Mann’s Compound).
With hundreds of vehicles expected to arrive in Madikeri tomorrow, organisers are coordinating with authorities to arrange parking facilities in various locations across Madikeri and have already drawn the district administration’s attention to the need for designated parking areas.
Kodavas and Kodava speakers from the remotest corners of Kodagu have decided to head to Madikeri, while those residing in Bengaluru, Mysuru and other cities for employment, education, and other reasons have also committed to participating in the final leg of the march.
Massive participation is expected from Bengaluru and Mysuru, with many already booking buses and taxis. Over 70 buses and 28 TT vehicles have been booked for those travelling from Bengaluru under the leadership of various Kodava organisations.
From Mysuru, over 25 buses and tempos have been booked for participants. Participants are being urged to opt for rented vehicles rather than private ones to avoid traffic congestion and to move as a unified group.
Almost all rental vehicles in Kodagu have been booked and due to high demand, additional vehicles have been arranged from Kerala, as well as from Hunsur and Periyapatna. In addition to private bus arrangements, 50 KSRTC buses have also been booked.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 06th, 2025
Historic Kutta-Madikeri community walk to complete 62.8 kms today
Virajpet:
The fourth day of 82-km ‘Kodavaame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march from Kutta to Madikeri, began this morning from Bittangala.
The march, advocating for community’s constitutional rights and protection of its unique costumes, customs and traditions, aims to draw the Government’s attention to the challenges threatening their existence and security.
The march began on Feb. 2 from Kutta, reaching T. Shettigeri on first day. On Feb. 3, it continued to Ponnampet and on Feb. 4, thousands of participants, dressed in traditional attire, walked from Ponnampet to Bittangala via Gonikoppa. By this evening, they are set to reach Bethri, covering 62.8 kms, before reaching Madikeri on Feb. 7.
Grand welcome, orderly traffic
From Bittangala, the marchers resumed their journey via Heggade Samaja, passed through Virajpet Clock Tower and Kakotuparambu, before concluding the day’s walk at Bethri. Thousands of Kodavas and Kodava-speaking communities, clad in traditional attire, are actively participating in the walk.
The march witnessed an exceptional reception along the way. In Gonikoppa, the entry of the 10,000-strong crowd was dramatic yet orderly, with no traffic disruptions. Locals showered flower petals, offered refreshments and distributed juices as a warm gesture.
Due to the overwhelming participation, for the first time, the Police used long nylon ropes to keep marchers to the left side of the road, ensuring smooth vehicular traffic flow.
Despite the massive turnout, not a single incident of misbehaviour or traffic congestion was reported.
The Kembatti community, the original inhabitants of the region, welcomed the marchers with refreshments at Jodubeeti. Further along, near the Coffee Board, local Kodava families in Aruvathokkalu village extended their hospitality.pix03
Several community organisations, including Koyava Samaja, Iri Samaja, Kodava Madivaala, Boone Pattama and Savitha Samaja, also organised welcome ceremonies along the route.
Tributes to Army heroes
At Gonikoppa, marchers paid tributes to Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa and General Kodandera S. Thimayya by garlanding their statues near Cauvery College. The villagers of Kaikeri hosted lunch, while at Hathur village, locals provided refreshments.
Prayers were offered at Vana Bhadrakali Temple, where devotees also arranged refreshments. The Kannangala Jamma Muslim community extended their support, with Mandamada Mohammed enthusiastically expressing solidarity with the marchers.
At Bittangala, the Heggade Samaja, led by Padanjaranda Aiyappa, welcomed participants with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and a high tea with snacks.
Today, the ‘Kodavaame Baalo Padayatra’ crossed Virajpet Clock Tower, Bus Stand and a lunch stop was arranged at Virajpet Kodava Samaja.
Later, the procession will pass through Chikpet Junction, Kadanur, Arameri and Kakotuparambu, before reaching Bethri near Murnad in the evening.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 05th, 2025
The second day of the ‘Kodavame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march advocating for the rights and identity of the Kodava community this morning, saw an overwhelming response as thousands of Kodavas and Kodava-speaking people marched from T. Shettigeri to Ponnampet to reach Madikeri on Feb. 7.
The march, which began in Kutta yesterday morning, halted at T. Shettigeri before resuming today towards Ponnampet. The event is jointly organised by Akhila Kodava Samaja, Federation of Kodava Samajas, Kodava Sahitya Academy, United Kodava Organisation, Codava National Council, Kodavamera Kondaata, Jabbhoomi Baalo, Kodava Speaking Native Communities Association, Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing and Kodava Riders Club, along with various local community groups.
The 82-km march aims to draw the Government’s attention to the challenges faced by the minority Kodava community, particularly concerning identity, existence and security. Participants, including men, women and children dressed in traditional attire, carried banners and placards advocating for their rights and cultural preservation.
As the padayatra progressed, over 20,000 community members joined in along the route, demonstrating widespread support for the cause. Kodava families welcomed marchers with refreshments, reinforcing a sense of unity and shared purpose.
A particularly poignant moment was the participation of 86-year-old Bayavanda Saraswathi Poovaiah from Hysodlur village near Hudikeri, who arrived in a wheelchair to express her unwavering support.
Adding to the cultural vibrancy of the event, women from T. Shettigeri Kodava Samaja’s Pommakkada Koota and the Sambhrama Women’s Cultural Centre performed traditional folk dances, celebrating Kodava heritage.
Yesterday, the march covered a 16-km stretch, ending at T. Shettigeri and today, it is scheduled to reach Ponnampet in the evening. Notably, the march is a self-driven effort to unite Kodavas and Kodava speaking communities, setting aside past differences to secure a collective future.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / February 03rd, 2025
Kotera Yamini Muthanna, daughter of late Chendrimada Raja and Sundari, will be presenting ‘Devi Marga,’ a classical dance drama at the Madikeri Dasara cultural programme on Oct. 9 at 7 pm.
Guru Yamini Muthanna of Kalasinchanam Nrithyalaya will be performing with her senior students at the Gandhi Maidan here along with a host of other cultural groups.
An artiste par excellence in the field of Classical Dance and Ashtanga Yoga, she is a Top Grade artiste of Bharatanatyam and Yoga Acharya. She has presented dance performances in many prominent festivals and cultural events all over the world and has travelled as an Ambassador of Culture assigned by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (External Affairs Ministry).
She has scripted and directed 26 episodes of Therapeutic Yoga on Doordarshan in various Indian languages which is at present telecast on DD Bharathi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home > News / October 06th, 2024
‘Sky Force,’ a Hindi historical war film highlighting the heroics of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, a Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) awardee from Kodagu, who heroically downed a Pakistani aircraft and made the ultimate sacrifice during 1965 Indo-Pak War, is set to release on Jan. 24, coinciding with Republic Day.
Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik under Maddock Films alongside Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios, the film stars Akshay Kumar as Wing Commander O.P. Taneja (Veer Chakra).
Veer Pahariya debuts as Squadron Leader Devayya, while Sara Ali Khan portrays Devayya’s wife, Sundari Devayya. Nimrat Kaur also plays a significant role.
The film’s trailer has already stirred a wave of patriotism. It is based on the book ‘1965 War and Kodagu’s Maha Vir Chakra Awardee Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya’s Life Story,’ authored by journalist-writer Ithichanda Ramesh Uthappa and published by Kodava Makkada Koota under the guidance of Bollajira B. Ayyappa.
Before production, Devayya’s wife Sundari Devayya, their children, the Kodava Makkada Koota and author Ramesh Uthappa granted a no-objection certificate to the film-makers.
Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya and Sundari in an undated photo
The air battle of Sargodha
Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devayya was just 32 when he gave his life for the nation during an audacious airstrike over Sargodha, Pakistan’s most fortified airbase, on Sept. 7, 1965.
Despite piloting a French-made Dassault Mystere, vastly inferior to the US-made Pakistani F-104 Starfighter, Devayya displayed extraordinary courage, shooting down the enemy aircraft in a two-minute dogfight before crashing.
Posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) in 1988 — 23 years after his sacrifice — Devayya’s valour came to light thanks to Pakistani Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, whose aircraft he shot down, and British author John Fricker’s book ‘Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965’.
Born on Dec. 24, 1932, in Manchalli village near Kutta, South Kodagu, to Ajjamada Bopayya and Neelamma, Devayya joined the Indian Air Force on Dec. 26, 1954. Devayya was married to Keethiyanda Sundari. During the 1965 war, he was an instructor at the Air Force Flying College and was posted to ‘No.1 Tigers Squadron’.
Actor Veer Pahariya, who debuts as Squadron Leader Devayya, seen with Sundari Devayya, the 90-year-old wife of the legendary Maha Vir Chakra recipient, Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya and their daughters, Smitha and Preetha, in Bengaluru.
Dogfight at 7,000 feet
Devayya’s final mission was part of an airstrike targeting Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. In a legendary dogfight at 7,000 feet, he outmanoeuvred and damaged Hussain’s advanced Starfighter, forcing him to eject. Devayya, despite being hit, didn’t eject and decided to give a far superior plane, a fight for its life.
Though mortally wounded, Devayya chose to stay in the fight, firing point-blank and bringing down the enemy aircraft. Devayya opened his 30mm cannon and fired at point-blank range at F-104, damaging the aircraft. Amjad Hussain was forced to eject at a low level but Devayya was not able to eject due to its damaged Mystere and crashed on Pakistani soil.
The action was over in less than two minutes. What Devayya achieved in the pre-dawn Pakistani skies that morning is now considered one of the most remarkable events in the history of post-world war air combat.
Memorials
A 6-ft-9-inch bronze statue of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya has been installed at the Old Private Bus Stand Circle in Madikeri, Kodagu district. The installation was led by members of the Ajjamada family, the Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya Memorial Trust, the Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum, and the Kodava Makkada Koota.
In Mysuru, the Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya Bhavan, situated near the old Deputy Commissioner’s Office, is managed by the Department of Sainik Welfare and Rehabilitation. The initiative to name the building after Devayya was championed by late Mandetira N. Subramani, President of VeKare Ex-Servicemen Trust, Mysuru, who passed away on Sept. 21, 2023.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / January 13th, 2025
The Kodava Family Hockey Festival is celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary this year from March 28 to April 27. To mark the occasion, the official logo for the “Muddanda Cup Hockey Tournament 2025” was unveiled on Saturday last at the Kaveri Auditorium here. This year, the Muddanda family is hosting the tournament at the Madikeri Sports Ground.
The logo unveiling ceremony organised by Muddanda family witnessed the participation of several dignitaries, including Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.
Inaugurating the event by lighting the lamp, Yaduveer lauded Kodagu’s unique culture and traditions, particularly its deep-rooted passion for hockey. He emphasised the significance of preserving Kodava heritage through events like the hockey festival and expressed pride in representing the Mysuru region, which encompasses Kodagu.
Pledging his support for hockey, Yaduveer Wadiyar underscored the sport’s integral role in Kodagu’s identity.
Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna reminisced about the previous year’s Kundyolanda Cup Hockey Festival, which set a Guinness World Record for the largest family participation in a sporting event.
Despite being a small community, he highlighted the Kodava community’s remarkable ability to showcase its rich culture and sporting spirit. Additionally, Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken, who previously raised the festival’s prominence in Parliament, proposed establishing a hockey training centre in Kodagu, leveraging the region’s favourable elevation. Ponnanna said a survey is currently underway at Ammathi for this initiative.
Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda called for collective efforts to ensure the success of the silver jubilee edition and assured his support for the event.
Former MLA and Speaker K.G. Bopaiah fondly recalled the festival’s inception by Pandanda Kuttappa, popularly known as Kuttani, a retired State Bank of India official and a hockey enthusiast, in 1997.
He mentioned the Rs. 5 lakh grant provided in 2008 under the then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the subsequent Rs. 1 crore grant given to the Appachettolanda family. Given the festival’s silver jubilee, he urged the government to allocate a Rs. 2 crore grant this year.
Former MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah, prominent figures from the Muddanda family, including family Pattedara (head) Dali Thimmaiah, Organising Committee Hon. President Muddanda B. Devaiah, Kodava Hockey Academy President Pandanda Bopanna, Muddanda Ponnappa and others were present.
Hockey Festival Secretary Muddanda Adya Thammaiah announced plans for a traditional fashion show showcasing India’s diverse culture during the semi-finals and finals. The event will also feature musical performances by renowned singers to captivate the spectators.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports> News / January 13th, 2025
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