Category Archives: Records, All

Mother Mirra’s Coffee’s 100-year legacy

Agriculture, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Chasing the perfect brew Sundar Subramaniam, Executive Director of Mirra's Coffee | Photo Credit: S_SIVA SARAVANAN
Chasing the perfect brew Sundar Subramaniam, Executive Director of Mirra’s Coffee | Photo Credit: S_SIVA SARAVANAN

As Mirra’s Idhu Namma Veetu Kaapi now steps into the new age with its latest filter coffee variants, we look back at the company’s 100-year-old legacy.

“I promise, you will keep coming back for more,” declares Sundar Subramaniam with a confident smile. The executive director of Mother Mirra Group of Companies offers me a fragrant brew, made with coffee powder from Mirra’s Idhu Namma Veetu Kaapi brand. The group recently launched three variants of filter coffee. It’s limited to retail in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for now, but Sundar is bursting with plans.

“We are marketing Mirra’s Coffee with the line ‘I want you to buy my coffee once’… we plan to give away free brass coffee davara sets with every packet soon. And, there will soon be wet sampling at malls and stores.”

Mother Mirra’s Coffee has a 100-year-old legacy. It comes from the house of the first Asian planter, PPR Subramaniam (Sundar’s great-grandfather) and his Virakesari Plantations. PPR was an entrepreneur and journalist from Avanipatti village, in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu. He also started Virakesari, the first Tamil newspaper in Sri Lanka in the 1930s, to give a voice to the rights of plantation workers.

“Back home, our community was often associated with the money-lending business. My great-grandfather set a new path. He moved to Sri Lanka at a time when plantations were still owned only by the British and the Scottish,” Sundar says with pride.

Later, PPR moved to Malaysia, where he bought more plantations. “My grandfather Sundarakesari continued the tradition and owned plantations in Coorg. My father S Subramanian followed suit,” says Sundar, now settled in Coimbatore.

Today, their plantation AA — or Premium Arabica — variety of beans is exported to countries within Asia and beyond. They also have a line-up of Arabica and Robusta with varying ratios of chicory content in them.

“Our wholesale market is thriving. We also sell online on Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, and Big Basket, something I introduced after I took over in the last six months. My focus is on digital marketing. We are getting a good response from our active social media pages too.” The group has also branched into budget homes and service apartments.

“I did my masters in business marketing at Cornell University in New Zealand. I wanted to work abroad, but my father had other plans. He met me at Singapore and handed me my return ticket to Coimbatore,” laughs Sundar.

What followed was the launch of the retail brand. They added more German machineries to the factory at Coorg and introduced three new products — pure coffee (100% premium Arabica), premium filter coffee (with 15% chicory) and Gold (with 47% chicory). A network of 350 dealers ensures that the filter coffee reaches stores in Coimbatore, Madurai, Chennai and Puducherry. “In a couple of months, we want to start exporting to Singapore and New Zealand.” They also plan to enter the Sri Lankan market, from where it all began. A particular street in Colombo, from where Virakesari was born, still goes by the name Chettiar Street, to honour his great-grandfather.

Among new products, a green coffee is in the offing. Sundar also plans coffee counters at airports: where one can sow coffee, roast, grind and brew a perfect davara.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by K Jeshi / July 20th, 2018

H.S. Chandramouli Appointed As State Public Prosecutor

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

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Bengaluru:

The State Government on Monday appointed senior advocate H.S. Chandramouli as State Public Prosecutor (SPP). This is Chandramouli’s fourth stint as the SPP.

Chandramouli, who hails from Kodlipet in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district, was allotted the Congress ticket from Madikeri constituency in the May Assembly polls.

But a couple of days after the allotment of the Congress ticket, the party withdrew it following reports that Chandramouli had represented Nirav Modi’s relative in the Supreme Court in the PNB Bank scam.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 24th, 2018

Muhammad Anas betters own 400m national record

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Muhammad Anas’ earlier national mark is 45.31 which he clocked while finishing fourth at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Muhammad Anas on Saturday bettered his own 400m national record while winning gold with a time of 45.24 seconds in an event at Czech Republic.

His earlier national mark is 45.31 which he clocked while finishing fourth at the Gold Coast CWG.

Anas, who is training near Prague along with other quartermilers as part of preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, set the new mark at an event at Velka Cena Nove Mesto nad Metuji.

In the women’s event, MR Poovamma won gold with a timing of 53.01 seconds.

However there were only five women, who competed in the event.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> Sport> Other Sports / by Press Trust of India, New Delhi / July 21st, 2018

Measures to protect tourists at Mallalli waterfalls

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All
Mallalli falls near Somwarpet is in full splendour, following heavy rain in the region.
Mallalli falls near Somwarpet is in full splendour, following heavy rain in the region.

After 11 lives were claimed at Mallalli falls near Somwarpet, the Kodagu district administration has taken up protective measures at the tourist spot.

Like other falls in the district, Mallalli falls is now in its full splendour. Over the years, the place has been a favourite destination for tourists visiting Kodagu during vacations.

Mallalli falls, cascading from a height of around 150 foot in Bettadalli Gram Panchayat jurisdiction, attracts tourists during monsoon.

The falls is situated at a distance of three kilometres from Hanchinalli village, on the way from Shanthalli to Pushpagiri.

In spite of being one of the tourist destinations, the spot lacks basic facilities, including the toilet facilities, due to the apathy of the department.

So far, a total of 11 tourists, who visited the falls, have lost their lives, as there were no protective measures on the spot. Some tourists have been creating a nuisance by misbehaving and littering waste in the spot, it is said.

After some local residents staged a protest and urged the district administration to take proper measures for the protection of tourists, the district administration has installed iron rods and grills near the falls.

Prashant, a tourist from Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, said that there are no information signboards or warning boards at the spot. But the Gram Panchayat collects a hefty entrance fee from tourists, he charged.

Taluk Panchayat former president K M Lokesh urged the Tourism Department to develop the Mallalli falls by into a tourist place, by providing basic facilities, such as drinking water and toilets for tourists. Also, necessary staff should be deployed at the spot for protection, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by DH News Service, Somwarpet / July 20th, 2018

Video Of Class 8 Boy Narrating Kodagu’s Rain Woes Goes Viral

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

KalleraFatehMPOs16jul2018

Madikeri:

While many people have expressed their dissatisfaction about Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) for not sanctioning any funds to Kodagu in his Budget, this little boy from Yemmemadu village near Napoklu takes the cake. In a video that has gone viral, the boy vents his anger at the CM and at the same time highlights how Kodagu is ravaged by rain and how man-animal conflict has made lives miserable in this tiny district.

In the video, the Class 8 student, Kallira Fateh, son of Kallira Ummar and Rukya, says the district which has given River Cauvery to Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and Tamil Nadu has got nothing from Kumaraswamy.

Hailing from a farming and daily wager family, Fateh, holding an umbrella, is seen pleading with the CM to provide relief to the rain-affected Kodagu farmers. Taking a dig at the Chief Minister for ‘neglecting’ Kodagu district in the Budget, Fateh said, “Mysuru, Mandya and half of Tamil Nadu get water, if it rains in Kodagu district. But the unrelenting rain has destroyed coffee, pepper, areca and paddy crops in Kodagu.”

“The wild elephant menace is on the rise in Kutta, Birunani, Balele and Ponnampet because of which daily wagers and agriculture farmers fear to venture out of their houses. The rain-battered Kodagu-Kerala Road has become non-motorable. “Who should people approach to get their problems addressed? It is you (CM), who else,” he said.

He continued, “Kumaraswamy has meted out injustice to Kodagu by not sanctioning grants to Kodagu and added that the CM should treat all districts equally.”

The boy then addressed BJP State President B.S. Yeddyurappa to impress upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce compensation for the distressed farmers.

“Modiji is Prime Minister for 130 crore people of the country. He should treat people of all religions and castes on equal footing. This holds good for the CM too,” Fateh said.

The video went viral and reached the CM too. Kumaraswamy told reporters in Bengaluru that since Independence, many rulers have come. “Why am I being targeted, that too after taking charge just two months ago? I know about the problems faced by people of Kodagu. I will visit Kodagu and stay there for two days and hear the grievances of people and solve their problems,” he said. Fateh’s father Umar said his son was pained by the destruction of standing crops on 3,500 acres of paddy fields in the village.

“Our paddy field has been waterlogged for the past 13 days. No official or people’s representative visited our area. In our village, we get electricity only for six months a year. All this upset him,” he said. “I’m happy that the State Government and the CM have responded to our demands,” he said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / Madikeri – July 15th, 2018

Mega show for Dinesh Gundurao’s swearing in today

Leaders, Records, All

Dr G will hand over the party’s baton to Mr Rao.

Dinesh Gundurao
Dinesh Gundurao

Bengaluru:

Congress leader and MLA, Dinesh Gundurao, who has been appointed president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will take charge on Wednesday at a function organised at the Palace Grounds here.

Along with Mr Rao, a prominent Lingayat leader Eshwar B. Khandre who represents Bhalki in the assembly, will assume office as the working president of the KPCC.

Besides MPs from Karnataka and state Congress leaders, a large number of party workers are expected to participate in the event.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, who has been serving as the president of KPCC, will hand over the party’s baton to Mr Rao, while Mr Rao will hand over charge to Mr Khandre.Mr Rao, a five-time MLA representing Gandhinagar constituency in Bengaluru, is the son of late chief minister R. Gundurao. He was a national spokesperson for the AICC and has been elevated from working president, a post he held since 2016. Rao pipped several contenders for the post, including former Union minister K.H. Muniyappa ,state ministers H.K. Patil and M.B. Patil besides D.K. Shivakumar, and B.K. Hariprasad.

This programme is unique as Mr Rao who is perhaps the youngest PCC president, will be taking charge from the longest serving president, Dr Parameshwar on Wednesday. Dr Parameshwar has been at the helm of party affairs for eight long years, which in itself is a record.

Meanwhile, addressing a joint press conference at the Tripuravasini centre at Palace Grounds, after monitoring the arrangements, party leaders V.S. Ugrappa, V.R. Sudarshan and H.M. Revanna said that they were happy to see Mr Rao and Mr Khandre taking charge. “This is a joyous moment for all of us as a young leader will be taking charge from the longest serving KPCC president,” the leaders explained.

The leaders added that youngsters at the helm of the party will surely attract youngsters to the party and it will start getting new ideas to counter the BJP’s aggressive campaign across the country.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / Deccan Chronicle / July 11th,2018

Voice of The Reader : A Mysurean’s Tryst With Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

KodaguKF12jul2018

Sir,

I should consider it treason on my part if I don’t respond now to KBG’s Abracadabra titled “Will Kodagu, heaven on earth, cease to exist ?” (SOM dated June 23). Yes, I consider Kodagu my second homeland, if KBG calls Mysuru his homeland.

Ever since KBG advised me to go to Tadiyandamol in 1984 to enjoy a good trekking experience, my tryst with the land has been, probably, more significant than that of anybody else living outside Kodagu. During the first six years thereon (1984), one could find me wandering around seldom tread remotest and wildest paths of the district, along with my students. During 1990 and 1995 people could very regularly find me around Talacauvery, measuring rainfall and monitoring flows in small streams, including Cauvery and Kannike at their origin, and developing theories on ‘Pipeflow’ for my Ph.D.

Later, for about a decade, one could find my students working on data we collected from the region and me coming out with significant publications telling the world about the thrills of my work in the Western Ghats. Ever since I was awarded a Funded Project by ISRO in 2006, my association with Kodagu started expanding in multiples. Innumerable number of our (NIE) students started getting benefited from the project, and enjoyed working in the wet areas of the Watershed of Kumaradhara, which originates on the eastern slopes of Pushpagiri.

We instrumented streams, installed rain gauges and collected precious data. The project culminated in me setting up a very unique “Field Hydrological Laboratory” which now caters to teaching PG students of NIE practical Hydrology. The Annual Survey Camp for UG students was also being held for a few years in Garwale, exposing students to real-life problems.

Recently, I have got funds to the tune of Rs. 30 lakh from MoES, for continuing my work in Kodagu — this means I can work with freedom in the Ghats till my retirement from service at NIE. I hope, people will understand how formidable my emotional attachment with Kodagu is.

For this very reason, I oppose all forces working towards the fall of Kodagu. I assure you that my ‘alilu seve’ continues to be available for purposes that will do good to Kodagu. To add to my earlier write-ups, I now have a point to emphasise on.

During the over seven decades of independence and democratic rule in the country, very sadly, Kodagu has had the opportunity of sending only one of its own sons to the Parliament. People of Kodagu have cast votes 16 times and have seen their representative (C.M. Poonacha) becoming an MP only once. During the last four decades, which I have seen, no MP has ever done anything favourable to Kodagu, except for shedding crocodile tears. Hence, I strongly feel that the people of Kodagu take up the challenge of installing their own representative.

A true representative of the people is of utmost importance in shaping political decisions and a strong lobby which alone can bear fruits. No doubt that a long-lasting battle is required to achieve this goal.

– Prof. Yadupathi Putty, Krishnamurthypuram, 1.7.2018

You can also mail us your views, opinions, and stories to voice@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / July 11th, 2018

Booktalk: New Book On Kodava Death Rituals

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

KodavaRitualsKF09jul2018

Title: Kodavara Saavu Paddathi

Author: Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa

Pages: 52 /Price: Rs. 50 / Publisher: Akshara Prakashana, Mysuru

Noted artist Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa has written a book titled “Kodavara Saavu Paddathi” which deals with the death rituals involving Kodavas. The book was recently released to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Kodava poet and dramatist Haradasa Appaneravanda Appacha Kavi.

It is a unique book on the death-related rituals of Kodavas to be followed by Kodavas living outside Kodagu in cities like Mysuru and Bengaluru. The book explains customs and traditions to be followed after a person dies.

According to the author, Kodavas living in other towns and cities are finding it very difficult to follow all the rituals connected to death as is being followed in Kodagu. Many rituals are being left out and many are being performed wrongly. The book has been written after a year-long research.

The book is in two parts — from the time of death till cremation and after cremation till the completion of Deeksha. The author says there is no need for any priests as the rituals will be conducted by a Kodava “Aruva”. The book is written in Kannada with Kodava names of all rituals and it is a must-read for a Kodava.

About the author

Born in Kodagu on Jan.1, 1950 to Nellamakkada Bopaiah and Nanjamma, Kaverappa served as a teacher and also the judicial department. Since childhood, he was interested in art and writing and he studied art from M.T.V. Acharya who was a painter, illustrator and art educator, most famous for his work for the popular Indian children’s magazine Chandamama.

In 1994, Kaverappa established Bharani Art Gallery, the first private art gallery of Mysuru. This is the only private gallery that is given free for artists along with a guest room. So far, Bharani has conducted more than 100 exhibitions. He has also written a book in Kannada on the life and sculptures of artist Kiran Subbaiah. He has translated two books for Lalitha Kala Akademi.

Copies of the book are available at Mysuru and Bengaluru Kodava Samajas. The author can be contacted on Mob: 94485-54221. – OSR

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / July 08th, 2018

“The Virtues of Coffee” Explained in 1690 Ad: The Cure for Lethargy, Scurvy, Dropsy, Gout & More

Coffee News, Records, All, World Opinion

CoffeeKF09july2018

According to many historians, the English Enlightenment may never have happened were it not for coffeehouses, the public sphere where poets, critics, philosophers, legal minds, and other intellectual gadflies regularly met to chatter about the pressing concerns of the day. And yet, writes scholar Bonnie Calhoun, “it was not for the taste of coffee that people flocked to these establishments.”

Indeed, one irate pamphleteer defined coffee, which was at this time without cream or sugar and usually watered down, as “puddle-water, and so ugly in colour and taste [sic].”

No syrupy, high-dollar Macchiatos or smooth, creamy lattes kept them coming back. Rather than the beverage, “it was the nature of the institution that caused its popularity to skyrocket during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.”

How, then, were proprietors to achieve economic growth? Like the owner of the first English coffee-shop did in 1652, London merchant Samuel Price deployed the time-honored tactics of the mountebank, using advertising to make all sorts of claims for coffee’s many “virtues” in order to convince consumers to drink the stuff at home. In the 1690 broadside above, writes Rebecca Onion at Slate, Price made a “litany of claims for coffee’s health benefits,” some of which “we’d recognize today and others that seem far-fetched.” In the latter category are assertions that “coffee-drinking populations didn’t get common diseases” like kidney stones or “Scurvey, Gout, Dropsie.” Coffee could also, Price claimed, improve hearing and “swooning” and was “experimentally good to prevent Miscarriage.”

Among these spurious medical benefits is listed a genuine effect of coffee—its relief of “lethargy.” Price’s other beverages—“Chocolette, and Thee or Tea”—receive much less emphasis since they didn’t require a hard sell. No one needs to be convinced of the benefits of coffee these days—indeed many of us can’t function without it. But as we sit in corporate chain cafes, glued to smartphones and laptop screens and mostly ignoring each other, our coffeehouses have become somewhat pale imitations of those vibrant Enlightenment-era establishments where, writes Calhoun, “men [though rarely women] were encouraged to engage in both verbal and written discourse with regard for wit over rank.”

via Slate
Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness.

source: http://www.openculture.com / Open Culture / Home> Food & Drink History / December 03rd, 2014

Starbucks introduces coffee brewed with nitrogen for first time in India

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Records, All

Cold coffee which will be called–Nitro Cold Brew marks Starbucks next chapter of coffee innovation through the newest take on its signature cold brew.

Tata Global Bev
Tata Global Bev

Tata Starbucks, a 50-50 joint venture between the US-based Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Global Beverages has been on an innovation spree of its products.

Starbucks today introduced a new generation of coffee for the first time in India infused with nitrogen.

Cold coffee which will be called–Nitro Cold Brew marks Starbucks’ next chapter of coffee innovation through the take on its signature cold brew.

Starbucks Nitro Cold brew is made after handcrafting the cold brew coffee and then infused with nitrogen. It is also available with vanilla flavour– vanilla sweet cream cold brew.

Starbucks cold brew will be available across all outlets in India, while Starbucks nitro cold brew is currently available in 5 stores across India namely–Mumbai-Kamala Mills, Bangalore-Jaya Nagar, Delhi-Green Park, Noida-DLF Mall of India, Kolkata, Park Mansions.

The company achieved a topline growth of 28 percent last year, supported by better in-store performance and growth through new stores.

Tata Starbucks recently made its maiden foray into Kolkata, the seventh city for the company in India. It plans three more stores there.

source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / MoneyControl.com / Home> News> Business / July 04th, 2018