Soldier from Karnataka’s Kodagu district dies after injuries in Poonch accident
Mysuru :
A soldier from Kodagu district, who was seriously injured after a vehicle fell into a gorge near a forward post in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch last Tuesday, succumbed to his injuries.
The martyred soldier, Deevin Palangoti, was 28 years old.
With his passing, the number of soldiers martyred in the incident from Karnataka has risen to four.
Deevin, a resident of Siddapur Alur, had been serving in the Indian Army for the past 10 years. He was the only son of Jaya and the late Prakash from Alur Siddapura in Kodagu district.
His marriage was scheduled for January 2025, and the family had been busy with preparations when the tragic incident occurred.
Following the accident, his mother Jaya traveled to Srinagar, where he was receiving treatment.
Sources reported that Deevin had sustained severe injuries to multiple organs.
Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda, who had been in constant touch with the doctors treating him in Srinagar, expressed his condolences. “He made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. We stand with the family during this difficult time,” he said.
“His sacrifice will always be remembered,” Dr. Gowda added. “He set an example for young people to serve the nation and society.”
I am shocked, says Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer KC Wadiyar: “I am shocked by the untimely death of the soldier Deevin. His sacrifice to the country is always remembered,” he told TOI.
“He sacrificed his life for the nation. We will stand with the family in this hour of grief,” he said.
source: http://www.msn.com / TOI> The Times of India / Home / by Shrinivasa M
On the 125th birth anniversary of K M Cariappa, here’s a look at one of his letters to Jawaharlal Nehru.
After his retirement, Field Marshal (then General) Cariappa served as the high commissioner of India to Australia and New Zealand from 1953 to 1956 and after completing this tenure he settled in Madikeri in Coorg. (Source: Express Archives)
Field Marshal K M Cariappa , the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army, wrote a series of letters to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru with several suggestions — from the Kashmir issue to the setting up of a National Defence College.
After his retirement, Field Marshal (then General) Cariappa served as the high commissioner of India to Australia and New Zealand from 1953 to 1956 and after completing this tenure he settled in Madikeri in Coorg.
On the 125th birth anniversary of K M Cariappa on January 28, here is a look at one of his letters to Jawaharlal Nehru.
In his letter dated April 14, 1960, a plain-speaking Cariappa expressed his annoyance to Nehru for not replying to two of his letters. “Since we last met on 16th January at Bangalore I have written to you two letters on matters which I thought and still think are of some importance. Taking you at your own word I have always written and talked to you quite frankly, without beating around the bush with no ulterior motives or political ambitions of any kind whatsoever. I know what a very busy person you are. But I did expect at least a line or two In reply to those letters. Have I said anything, traitorous or unpatriotic? At any time that you should so totally ignore the matters. I have written to you. Panditji, I never expected this of you. This is indeed a sad and tragic ‘discovery’ for me. I am afraid, I cause and create unhappiness to myself By being too much of an idealist,” wrote Cariappa.
Cariappa then went on to raise three issues in his letter which he had mentioned on previous occasions to Nehru. He referred to the urgent need to look into the morale of officers in the Army, and also opposed the setting up of a National Defence College citing expenses and administrative issues about it.
Field Marshal Cariappa also emphasised to Nehru the need to reach out to the then president of Pakistan Ayub Khan and solve the Kashmir issue, saying that it should not be left pending for future generations. “Panditji please do this in your lifetime. We cannot live forever and we cannot hold office forever. Ayub will be prepared to discuss things with you if you show your desire to thrash out the matter between you two. Please let India and Pakistan settle the 12-year-old matter between themselves. This will then secure a more permanent feeling of goodwill between the two countries than if it were left to someone else — third party to settle it for us,” he said.
Urging Nehru to give “a kind and charitable thought” to his suggestions, Cariappa ended the letter by asking Nehru not to dismiss his suggestions by saying “yet another irresponsible thing from one who is mental”.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Cities> Chandigarh / by Man Aman Singh Chhina / January 28th, 2025
Deputy Commissioner, Kodagu, Venkataraja addressing a press conference in Madikeri on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Raja Seat, one of the main tourist attractions for visitors in Madikeri, is hosting a flower show from Friday. The annual flower show, on the occasion of the Republic Day, will conclude on January 27. Besides the flower show, an exhibition has also been organised at Gandhi Maidan.
Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja told reporters here on Thursday that the four-day flower show will attract visitors as a variety of attractions created in flowers will be in store. Keeping the interests of children in view, some creations have been done in flowers, and the entry for children wearing uniforms will be free. The entry fee for adults is ₹20.
Mr. Venkataraja said the expo is open from 8 am to 8:30 pm. This year, a sum of ₹35 lakh was being spent on the flower show. The honey produced by the Horticulture Department will be marketed under the brand name “Jhenkara”. The Jhenkara brand and Coorg Honey brand will be created in flowers, he added.
Efforts are on to repair the toy train as a report has been sought from the railway engineers from Mysuru.
He said an expert team from New Delhi visited to look into the snag in the musical fountain. The musical fountain will be set right soon, the DC said.
The main attraction of the flower show is the model of Sri Omkareshwara temple.
A total of five lakh flowers were used to create the model. The models of honey bees were also being created besides the models of vintage cars.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 23rd, 2025
The initiative aims to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks and train women from self-help groups to become successful coffee entrepreneurs.
Women harvesting coffee beans. Initially, 400 women will be trained to become master trainers at the coffee board’s head office in Bengaluru. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak
The Coffee Board of India, in partnership with the National Livelihood Mission in Karnataka, has initiated a project to empower 1,00,000 women members of National Livelihood Mission Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the State on coffee brewing techniques and rural cafe management.
To execute the programme, an MoU was signed between K.G. Jagadeesha, CEO and Secretary, Coffee Board, and P.I. Sreevidya, Mission Director of National Livelihood Mission. This was mainly aimed to facilitate the establishment of rural and urban cafes dedicated to offering an authentic filter coffee experience, said the coffee board on Wednesday.
“The coffee board, in collaboration with subject matter experts and in-house specialists, will work along with the Atal Incubation Centre of Coffee Board, the implementing and monitoring partner, to ensure impactful outcomes,’‘ said Mr. Jagadeesha. Ms. Sreevidya added: “This coffee micro entrepreneurial project will provide a new window of opportunities to women empowerment.”
According to the coffee board, the project will be implemented in two phases. Initially, 400 women identified by NLM will be trained to become master trainers at the coffee board’s head office in Bengaluru, who in the second phase will subsequently upskill other women at taluk and hobli levels. The initiative aims to establish 2,500 coffee kiosks and train one lakh women from SHGs to become successful coffee entrepreneurs.
The State government allocated ₹25 crore in its 2024-25 State budget to train one lakh women from NLM SHGs as coffee entrepreneurs. ‘’By supporting potential and existing entrepreneurs, it promotes gender equality, reduces poverty, and fosters opportunities for marginalised women,” Mr. Jagadeesha said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 23rd, 2025
The Kodagu forest department officials handed over a compensation cheque of Rs 15 lakh to the family of Thammanna, a 67-year-old tribal from Yadavanadukuppe in Somwarpet taluk, who was trampled to death by an elephant recently.
The cheque was handed over to Thammanna’s mother, Boji, by ACF A A Gopal. The compensation was provided following the direction of local MLA Dr Manthar Gowda.
The officials advised the family to use the compensation amount for a good cause. They also warned the tribals living in the reserve forest to be cautious about elephant attacks and not to venture into the forest. In case of a wild elephant sighting, they should immediately inform the forest department staff, they were told. Elephants that attack humans will be captured and rehabilitated.
Somwarpet Range Forest Officer Shailendra Kumar, Thammanna’s brother Annaiah and local residents were present during the cheque handover event.
source: http://www.english.publictv.in / Public TV, English / Home> Karnataka> Latest> Main Post> States / by Public TV English / January 19th, 2025
Jammada Preeth Appaiah, a resident of Bannimantap in city, won a silver medal in the Senior Master’s Women’s Category at the 2nd Nagraj Rao Jagdale Shooting Contest and Championship-2025.
The event was held from Jan. 12 to 26 at the Sports Authority of India Shooting Range in Bengaluru, which the Karnataka State Rifle Association organised to promote Sports Shooting in Karnataka State and to have a State Ranking. Preeth won the medal in (A-103) .177 Open Sight10 M Air Rifle Senior Master’s Women’s (NR) Category.
Preeth Appaiah is a Mysuru Sports Shooting Academy (MSSA) student. In 2023, she achieved a remarkable feat by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain peak in Africa. Preeth is the wife of advocate Jammada M. Aiyanna.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / January 18th, 2025
The third edition of The Feet on Earth Festival, curated by dancer Pujita Krishna, will bring together art, culture, history and ecology this weekend.
Performers from the Kudiya tribe, Coorg | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The third edition of The Feet on Earth Festival, to be held in Hyderabad this weekend, invites visitors to participate in a session of tree walk and storytelling. The baobab tree at the venue — Hyderabad Public School , Begumpet — is among the oldest in the country and the festival will attempt to touch upon how trees are associated with folk or mythological tales. The festival curated by dancer Pujita Krishna is on the theme of vriksha (tree).
Since its inception, Pujita intended The Feet on Earth Festival as a cultural initiative promoting dance and the connection between the form, the practitioner and the earth. “The idea was to bring together arts, culture, history and ecology.”
Armed with a master’s degree in Fine Arts, specialising in dance from the University of California, Pujita honed her skills in Indian classical forms Vilasini Natyam and Kuchipudi and Western styles of modern, jazz and flamenco.
This year’s festival will feature dance presentations by well known and emerging artists. One of the highlights will be the Uurti Kott Patt, an indigenous performance by the Kudiya tribe from Coorg, Karnataka. Hyderabad-based Srividya Anish will present the traditional Nruthyahari. Among the mainstream dance presentations, the festival will feature Kathak by Aditi Bhagwat from Mumbai and Shilpanatanam by Maya Kulkarni and Mesma Belsare from the USA.
The line-up includes contemporary expressions of Kuchipudi and other innovative features such as Shalabhanjika Krida, inspired by a traditional sport played when the Shala trees were in full bloom; this will be an interactive performance with the participation of the audiences.
Hyderabad-based naturalist and researcher Kobita Dass Kolliwill lead the tree walk and the session will culminate in an experiential movement performance named Radish by Kriti Stories. The venue will also display Tree of Life paintings by Bhaskar Rao Botcha.
Pujita Krishna
Pujita Krishna’s will be a 45-minute solo performance of dance, drama and dialogue named Vriksha Sakhi (friend of the tree), inspired by the concept of ‘dohada’, which she describes as “the magical or mystical longing of a tree, particularly one that can be fulfilled by the touch or presence of a beautiful woman.”
A woman’s embrace is considered to awaken the spirit of the tree, encouraging it to flourish. Pujita explains that this poetic imagery symbolises the interconnectedness of nature and the divine feminine, where the woman’s touch serves as a catalyst for the tree’s growth, underscoring themes of fertility, abundance, and nature’s responsiveness to love and beauty.
Vriksha Sakhi will present theories of how in ancient lore, the yakshis were revered as ethereal feminine spirits intertwined with the essence of the forest, embodying both its beauty and its guardianship. “These enchanting beings are immortalised in temple friezes, depicted as graceful women entwined with tree branches — known as shalabhanjikas,” says Pujita. Lores such as these will be presented through the retelling of the Kannada folk tale, A Flowering Tree.
(The Feet on Earth Festival will be held at Hyderabad Public School, January 18 and 19; 5pm onwards. Entry is free)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Entertainment> Art / by The Hindu Bureau / January 15th, 2025
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah handed over a cheque for Rs. 1 crore to the Kundyolanda family, organisers of the 2024 Kodava Hockey Festival, during a ceremony held here on Thursday.
The funds, allocated from the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, underscore the government’s commitment to promoting the unique sporting tradition of the Kodava community in Kodagu.
The event was attended by Virajpet MLA and Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna, MP Ajay Maken, Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharanprakash Patil, Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh, Chief Secretary to the Government Shalini Rajneesh, and Additional Chief Secretary to the CM and Additional Chief Secretary, Finance L.K. Atheeq.
Highlighting the cultural and sporting significance of the festival, CM Siddaramaiah praised the Kodava hockey tournament, which entered the Guinness World Record last year as the largest field hockey event.
The 2024 edition saw participation from 360 teams and 4,800 players, showcasing the unmatched passion of the Kodava community for hockey.
“Hockey is deeply rooted in Kodava culture, and it is a matter of pride that the tournament has gained global recognition. As the birthplace of hockey legends like Dhyan Chand, India must nurture this sport alongside cricket. The State Government remains steadfast in its support for elevating the Kodava Hockey Festival to greater heights,” Siddaramaiah stated.
The Kodava family hockey tournament, a hallmark of the Kodagu district, has been organised annually for over two decades. It began in 1997 with just 60 teams and has grown into a mega-event with international attention.
Many Kodavas have gone on to represent India in national hockey teams, further cementing the community’s association with the sport. CM Siddaramaiah expressed his hope for the tradition to flourish and promised continued support to sustain the festival’s legacy.
It may be recalled in Aug. 2024, Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Ajay Maken, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, had highlighted that the Kodava Family Hockey Tournament 2024 had earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records — a remarkable achievement accomplished without any support from the Union Government, though the State Government had fully backed the event. This, he had argued, underscores the urgent need for the Centre’s involvement in such significant sporting events.
He had also called upon the Centre to provide financial assistance for the Annual Kodava Family Hockey Tournament.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / January 13th, 2025
A philanthropist from Kodagu has set an inspiring example by celebrating his 50th birthday in a truly noble way — by gifting homes to the homeless.
Ganesh, a resident of Arji panchayat in Kodagu, marked his milestone birthday by cutting a cake with homeless individuals and gifting them houses.
“No one is permanent in this world. We cannot take anything with us when we leave. Instead of accumulating property and wealth, we should keep only what is necessary and donate the rest,” said Ganesh.
An electrical contractor by profession, Ganesh was born into a poor family and, through hard work, made a living for himself. He understands the struggles of the homeless and has always wanted to help those in need.
“I won the Betoli grama panchayat elections in 2000 by a margin of just five votes, and during my tenure, I became acquainted with the lives of the people. I was re-elected in 2005 and served as vice-president before later becoming a taluk panchayat member. During this time, I met a girl who scored 95% in SSLC but came from a financially poor background. Her hut had no electricity. The video of her studying under an oil lamp went viral on social media, and her story inspired me. I provided a free electricity connection to her family’s hut,” recalled Ganesh.
In 2023, during a panchayat survey, Ganesh came across a woman named Kala from the tribal community, living in poor conditions. He noticed that none of the families in the area were living in decent homes. Moved by their situation, he vowed to help them and assured them of new houses.
He built a four-room house for Kala’s family and handed over the keys to them on January 22, 2024, during the inauguration of the Rama Mandir in Ayodhya, hoping it would be a day they would always remember.
In April 2024, while serving as the taluk president of the Billava community association, Ganesh learned of a woman whose house had collapsed. He immediately arranged for a new house to be built for her as well.
Now, many more families have approached Ganesh seeking housing. As part of his 50th birthday celebrations, Ganesh donated two houses to Shankar and Vasanti. Additionally, he has provided electricity connections to five families through the panchayat.
“I visited the Theremekadu Paisari area for some work and met Shankar’s family, who were living in a hut about to collapse. I promised them a new house and built one at a cost of Rs 1.6 lac, handing over the keys to them,” said Ganesh.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld / Home> Top Stories / by Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (MS) / January 12th, 2025
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