Charishma Kaliyanda has been elected as parliament member for Liverpool.
Madikeri :
At a time when people of Indian origin are making a mark — right from the corporate head honchos to politicians — a young woman with roots in Kodagu has been elected to the Australian parliament. Charishma Kaliyanda has been elected as the Labor member of Parliament for Liverpool.
Charishma was dressed in traditional Kodava attire while taking oath of office, drawing praise. “So excited to officially be sworn in as part of the 58th Parliament with some amazing colleagues. I’m honoured to represent my amazing community of Liverpool, and can’t wait to raise our challenges and celebrate our wins in this Parliament! The colours I wear today represent the official colours of NSW and I wear a Mysore silk sari, made in Karnataka (where I was born). I wear my sari in the Kodava style to honour my family heritage. Can you spot the Waratah brooch?! ????”, she posted on Facebook.
Charishma traces her roots to Napoklu in Madikeri taluk.
On her Linkedin profile, she has has described herself thus: “As a registered occupational therapist and elected representative, I am passionate about working with individuals and communities to fulfil their potential and engage in the activities they want. I have over 10 years of experience working with young people, particularly in the university sector. Currently, I work closely with students and staff to build capacity in mental health and wellbeing at UNSW, in order to help deliver their Mental Health Strategy 2025. I build relationships with various internal and external stakeholders to facilitate access to and awareness of help for students experiencing distress at UNSW”.
source: http://www.english.publictv.in / Public TV (English) / Home> Karnataka> Latest> Main Post> States / by admin / May 11th, 2023
The Kodava community came together in the heart of California’s Bay Area for the annual convention, ‘Namme by the Bay’ from Sept. 1 to Sept. 3.
The festivities commenced with an informal ‘meet the hosts’ gathering on the evening of Sept. 1 at the elegant Hotel Cabana Suites in Palo Alto, CA, setting the stage for an unforgettable weekend filled with camaraderie and cultural immersion.
On Sept. 2, a pre-convention event unfolded against the picturesque backdrop of the Elliston Winery in Sunol, featuring a surprise flash mob performance. The night culminated in joyous dancing to the tunes of traditional ‘Kodava Valaga.’
While some guests embarked on an invigorating morning hike organised by local Kodava families on Sept. 2, others enjoyed a post-hike BBQ. For those eager to explore the beauty of San Francisco, an organised tour was on offer.
The main event, held on Sept. 3 at the Los Altos Community Centre, saw men donning the traditional Kodava attire ‘Kupya-chale,’ while women added a touch of Kodava elegance with colourful sarees.
The venue was transformed to capture the essence of Kodava culture, with enchanting decorations centered around the unique ‘Namme’ theme. The stage backdrop artfully depicted the essence of three prominent Kodava festivals — Kailpodh, Puthari and Cauvery Sankramana.
The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and the ‘Baalo Paat.’ Dimpu Pasura, the event’s host, collaborated with local children to present a captivating cultural programme. Local Kodava children began with a devotional rendition of the ‘Kaveramme’ song, followed by an opening act by Chethan Bachamada and Pallavi Joyappa.
Priya Pattada extended a warm welcome, followed by a message about preserving the Kodava community from Col. (Retd.) Cheppudira P. Muthanna, who travelled from Kodagu to attend the convention.
The evening unfolded with a dance performance by local Kodava children, followed by a spirited ‘Bolakaat’ performance by the men. The highlight was a mesmerising dance by the ladies. A video message from prominent Kodavas representing the military, sports and show business played during the opening, offering their best wishes for the event’s success.
Overall, the event fostered hope and unity among the Kodava community worldwide. Looking ahead, the next convention in 2024 is eagerly anticipated in Chicago.
First-ever entrepreneur event
As part of the convention, the first ever entrepreneur event, led by Gana Pemmanda, Vikram Puttichanda and Sahana Bheemaiah Bachamada (Thamane Nambudumada), was held.
Entrepreneurs Nischay, Prithvi Biddappa Kandanda, Nischal Ammatanda, Sahana Bheemaiah and Gana Pemmanda shared glimpses of their entrepreneurial journeys, successes and learnings.
Guests had the opportunity to showcase their businesses and network within the Kodava community, with plans to maintain the momentum through a newly created North American Kodava entrepreneurs’ group, fostering collaboration.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 28th, 2023
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Global Kodava Summit organized by the Connecting Kodavas Trust organization in Madikeri on Friday.
Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna. (Photo | Twitter, @ASPonnanna)
Madikeri :
“The Kodava community must unite to fight for the rights. Our ancestors fought to protect our land and culture. Let this fight continue. But fight for your rights and do not mock other communities or religions. Love every community,” called out Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Global Kodava Summit organized by the Connecting Kodavas Trust organization in Madikeri on Friday.
Ponnanna appreciated the efforts of the trust in bringing the community together. He urged the trust to lay a foundation for the rightful voicing of the communities’ needs and said, “Let there be resolutions formed in this summit on what our rights are and what needs to be done to preserve the community. I will extend my full support to attain these resolutions,” he assured.
He opined that political maturity is needed amongst the community to attain support for the fight towards rights. He highlighted that the land problems concerning Jamma land, preservation of gun rights and ethnographic studies are the issues that must be fought unitedly under a strong leadership. He urged for the preservation of the land, nature, culture and relationships.
MLC Shantharam Budna Siddi, who was present as the chief guest, urged the youth to come forward to work for the society. He assured to extend his support in the legislature for the ST tag fight of the Kodavas.
Chethan Singhai, Chief Consultant of the National Curriculum-Ministry of Education, urged the community to focus on education and appreciate the values of culture. He called out to the community to focus on locality that he said is largely rooted in values.
Human activist Rashmi Samath called out to the youngsters to come back to their roots.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / December 30th, 2023
I wish to thank Santhosh Thammaiah for his touching and respectful tribute (“The Soldier who Saved Siachen”) to my late father, Lt. Gen. B.C. Nanda in SOM dated Dec. 26, 2018. I am immensely proud of what my father achieved in his professional career and, most of all, of what he meant to me as a beloved father.
I would, however, like to correct a portion of the account here: My father’s role model was his father, B.S. Chengappa (Chief Conservator of Forests, Andaman Islands) whose extraordinary work and contributions are held in high regard. It is from him that my father’s lifelong association with, and love of, nature and environmental issues came. It was during the early years of his childhood in Andaman Islands that my father’s keen observations of natural life began. This was the bedrock of my father’s interest in nature and environment.
As a young boy of 7, my father was able to assist a visiting English Naturalist in compiling an extensive list of local names for the fish of the Andaman waters — knowledge that he had imbibed through his passion for fishing, combined with a sharp eye and ear for all things in the natural world. Anyone who knew my father would know what an amazingly keen and astute observer of animal and bird life he was.
After my father retired from an illustrious career in the Indian Army in 1989, he devoted tireless hours to various causes, be it the issues and concerns of ex-servicemen, adventure sports foundations, or giving fresh direction and impetus to the Coorg Wildlife Society, to name but a few.
Over the years, my father, on his regular visits to Kodagu, visited Field Marshal Cariappa’s residence, to pay his respects as a nephew.
Also, my parents had always planned to retire in Kodagu.
Thank You once again for this tribute to my father.
Note: I had not met Lt. Gen. Nanda personally, but had seen him from afar and heard about his interaction with people living in remote villages beyond Gaalibeedu. I was told he was visiting Sri Bhadrakali Temple at Monnangeri, staying overnight in the humble house of a local. I heard of Gen. Nanda’s humility and love of nature when I visited his host’s house about five years ago.
My contact with him was mostly per letters on issues concerning Kodagu and Kodavas. On reading his daughter Shalini’s letter, I tried to look for Gen. Nanda’s letters in my file and was able to find just one written by hand. It is an eloquent testimony to what his daughter has written and his abiding love for Kodagu. Hence, I reproduce it here below. – K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief
Dear Sir,
Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter dated 10.8.2003 addressed to Mr. Ulliyada M. Poovaiah. I fully endorse your view that the Kodavas must be united. We are at the moment making efforts towards that end. I am sure you are aware of what is happening.
When I retired from service after 40 years in uniform, the Govt. of India sent me messages after messages asking me if I wanted a job. I declined as I needed to attend to my personal affairs that had been totally neglected. Any query to Mr. K.C. Pant, Mr. Jagmohan or Mr. Naresh Chandra will confirm what I say. Also Mr. Arun Singh. Later it was Mr. Moily. Now that I think back— may be that if I had accepted those offers — Kodavas would have benefited in some ways. It was just that those living in comfort in Kodagu were swallowing up my heritage and my land — I needed to put this in order.
I continue to dedicate myself to Kodagu and the Kodavas. With best wishes and regards
Yours sincerely,
B.C. Nanda
(15th Sept., 2003)
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / January 04th, 2019
The book titled, ‘The girl who unleashed magic’, written by Maya Appachu, is the 78th book released by the forum.
A native of Kodagu, Maya is the daughter of Sanchita and Karthik Appachu, who live in the United States.
Madikeri :
A posthumously published book written by a seven-year-old girl was released by the Kodava Makkada Koota in Madikeri. The book titled, ‘The girl who unleashed magic’, written by Maya Appachu, is the 78th book released by the forum.
A native of Kodagu, Maya is the daughter of Sanchita and Karthik Appachu, who live in the United States.
A student of Highcroft Drive Elementary School in the US, Maya was multi-talented. She used to maintain a diary filled with sketches in which she jotted down her encounters with fear, apprehensions and her experience in the new environment in the beginning days of her school. Her jottings have now been compiled into a book by the forum.
Thanking the forum for publishing the book, Maya’s parents who took part in the book release event relived the memories of their daughter.
Maya had an untimely death before she turned eight as she was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malfunction (AVM). By donating organs, Maya found meaning even in death. The parents of Maya were honoured with the ‘Honour Bridge’ award for donating their daughter’s organs and a cherry tree has been planted at Maya’s school in her memory.
She was a child with many talents who found interest in various things. Besides classical music, dance, literature and art, Maya aimed to become an entomologist due to her interest in the study of insects.
“The books will be made part of all the school libraries in Kodagu to inspire the younger generation,” shared Bollajira Aiyappa, the president of the forum. The book has been translated into Kannada by writer Pushpa Devaiah.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / December 23rd, 2023
Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna emphasises community representation in democracy
Dubai:
A Puthari get-together was organised recently in Dubai by the UAE Kodava Committee. The event not only featured cultural festivities but also offered valuable insights from Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna who was the chief guest.
Ponnanna underscored the importance of community representation in a democratic system. “It’s crucial to have representation in democracy for our community.” Stressing the role of the ‘Connecting Kodavas’ initiative, he highlighted its relevance and the necessity for systematic participation in the democratic process.
Ponnanna, along with Palengada Amit from ‘Connecting Kodavas,’ encouraged a collective mindset towards sustaining the Kodava community, irrespective of geographical locations. They also urged attendees to support such initiatives, emphasising a systematic thought process about the community’s survival.
“Regardless of our activities and locations, our thought process should be directed towards sustaining our Kodava community. We should all come together and contemplate the survival of our community,” remarked Ponnanna.
The event also featured engaging activities, including a quiz focused on Kodagu, providing a fun way for attendees to reconnect with the rich heritage and traditions of Kodava culture. Dressed in Kodava attire, participants underscored the sense of community and unity.
Beyond its celebratory nature, the Puthari get-together served as a platform to discuss pressing community issues and lay the groundwork for a brighter future. Delegates from ‘Connecting Kodavas’ also highlighted the importance of events like the upcoming Global Kodava Summit in 2023.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 27th, 2023
Funds of nearly Rs 3 crore are being spent for the event that has garnered support from all the Kodava Samajas including the Samajas established abroad.
Members of the Kodava community (Express)
Madikeri :
A Global Kodava Summit aims to unite the Kodava community under a single roof and highlight the culture, traditions, and crises faced by the community. Several members of the community in the district fear that the culture, traditions, and practices of the Kodavas are at stake and will soon vanish.
The summit will host various cultural programmes, exhibitions, and seminars to preserve the unique practices of the Kodavas. It will be hosted by the Connecting Kodavas Trust and will be held on December 29 and 30 in Madikeri.
The summit is the fruit of efforts taken by the trust for several years. “Since 2017, the Connecting Kodavas forum has been involved in collecting details of every Kodava clan from the nook and corner of the district,” said Niran Nanjappa, one of the core members of the Connecting Kodavas Trust.
Meanwhile, volunteers have visited all the villages in the district to document details of the roots of the various Kodava clans.
“As per our research, over 1,000 Kodava clans are in existence. Many other clans have vanished. A few clans have just two members and the biggest clan has over 650 members. All these details are documented and will be revealed during the summit that is likely to witness participation from 20,000 to 25,000 people,” Niran Nanjappa added.
“During our research, we have found several anecdotes relating to the roots, practices and evolution of the Kodava clans. We have insights into the issues that led to the vanishing of several clans too. All these anecdotes will be shared to ensure that the community flourishes and our culture is preserved,” he opined.
“After the summit, we also plan to release websites for each clan so that the members of the clan can track their lineage,”Niran Nanjappa added.
Funds of nearly Rs 3 crore are being spent for the event that has garnered support from all the Kodava Samajas including the Samajas established abroad.
Alongside seminars, the Global Kodava Summit will also have demonstrations of the various practices, architecture, and ancestral history of the community as well as interactive workshops.
The forum also aims to establish a model village in the near future across five to six acres of land to highlight the uniqueness of the community.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / October 31st, 2023
Remembering an extraordinary teacherof Kodagu, Devanira K. Appayya.
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” — Henry Brooks Adams, Historian.
In 1909, under the Imperialist Empire of Edward VII, an illustrious son was born in Napoklu, Kodagu, who would later be known for his colossal contribution to education. Little did Dr. Devanira Kunjappa know that this son, Devanira K. Appayya would one day be the recipient of India’s highest medal of honour bestowed on a citizen for teaching excellence.
By the age of 20, in 1929, Devanira Appayya or Appayya Master, as he was lovingly called, put himself through various schools in Kodagu and then went on to graduate from the prestigious Madras Presidency College, an almost unheard of feat at that time.
Presidency College was one of the oldest and the most prestigious institutions in India, boasting of an envious line of alumna including a Nobel Laureate C.V. Raman, freedom fighter C. Rajagopalachari and philosopher Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who later became the President of India.
Granny would regale us with stories of how Thatha, as we grand kids called him, got to Madras, now Chennai. “He walked, rode bullock carts, took multiple buses and then a train,” she said. It had apparently taken him weeks to travel from Coorg to Chennai, a distance covered in a few hours today.
Financial constraints prevented him from pursuing a higher education, at which point, he returned and joined the Secondary Grade Teachers Training College in Bangalore. This was the start of his memorable teaching career.
Thatha was a born teacher and taught with a sense of compassion and empathy. He held the Head Master’s job at Ammathi Middle School for over 22 years. Known for his impeccable British sense of style, sans the stiff upper lip, one would never find him in soiled clothes (from having spent his evenings picking coffee in his estate) or unpolished shoes.
He stood tall, towering over his colleagues, at 6’0”, but Thatha was modest at heart. It was said that he was a treat to watch as an eloquent speaker. He was also the only Head Master from the State to be selected as a member of the State Prescription Textbook Committee.
In 1962, Government of India presented Devanira Appayya, aged 53, with the prestigious National President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. An honour bestowed by the then President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, also a fellow alumnus of Madras Presidency College.
Never had a Kodava walked the history-laden, post-British Raj corridors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, dressed in the traditional Kodava attire of Kupya (black collarless, short-sleeved, knee length coat) with the ceremonial Mande Thuni (head gear) and Chale (maroon gold-embroidered silk waist belt), striking quite the intellectual, handsome figure.
Devanira K. Appayya with wife Dharani.
To be awarded this highest recognition was a matter of huge prestige, not just for him, but for the then small State of Kodagu and even smaller community of Kodavas. We were no longer tucked away in a silo of the Western Ghat. He had thus put the tiny State of Kodagu on the National stage.
The State of Mysore, considering his accomplishment as a teacher, extended his retirement by three years. “We pray to God to spare you for a full span of Vedic life and let God Almighty be with you and your family to enjoy your well-earned rest at Ammathi,” wrote the Siddapur Teachers’ Association on the day of his retirement on May 18, 1967.
Thatha died eleven years later at the age of 70. For his family, he was and is a larger-than-life figure, a trailblazer, a legend who touched the hearts of many and left a legacy which gets talked about even to this day.
Appayya Master was known for his unwavering dedication to his family and his craft serving as an inspiration. His ability to impart knowledge while being compassionate will be remembered for generations to come.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Pallavi Joyappa, USA / September 05th, 2023
The Annual Kodava Convention in North America is scheduled to take place on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, in the San Francisco Bay Area, famously known as Silicon Valley. The convention will culminate on Sept. 3, coinciding with the Kodava community’s Kailpoldh festival. The inaugural day’s events will start at 5 pm.
This convention is a tradition spanning approximately 15 years. This time, over 500 Kodavas and their families from across the United States have registered to participate in the event, which is jointly organised by around 40 Kodava families.
According to the organisers, the two-day event will see the participation of Kodava guests from around the world. They have received well-wishes from notable Kodavas, including individuals from the military, sports, and the entertainment industry.
Registration had to be closed due to limited seating capacity. Local families will come together to showcase the cultural events that reflect the deep-rooted Kodava heritage and their unique talents, as stated by the organisers.
The programme will feature a blend of traditional and cultural events, including Baalo Paat performances, Kailpodh Ayudha Puja, Kodava cultural dances, Kodava Koota updates, an entrepreneurial mixer, a Kodava cultural skit, and the traditional Bolakaat.
This convention serves as a gathering for Kodava brethren from across North America, providing an opportunity to meet, learn and celebrate the rich Kodava culture. This year’s convention is aptly named ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and promises to offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Kodava tradition, unique attire, art, cuisine, culture and the deities.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 02nd, 2023
Dr. Cheranda Koushik Ponnanna has been appointed as a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Phoenix, Arizona.
He will be conducting his Post Doctoral Resarch on the Genetic Basis of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. He holds a Ph.D in Genetics from University of Mysore. He is the son of Cheranda Ravi Thimmaiah and Usha from B. Shettigeri, Kodagu.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / August 14th, 2023
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