Category Archives: World Opinion

India’s coffee culture flourishing

India’s coffee culture flourishing. BBC’s Fasttrack features Coorg and the traditions of the Kodavas and coffee country.

India is a country best known for its tea rather than its coffee.
But head to Karnataka in its south-eastern corner and you will find some of the most avid coffee drinkers and growers in the world.

Mike London went to visit them and discovered how coffee has been helping grow local tourism.

Get in touch with Fast Track via e-mail or Facebook.
Watch Fast Track on the BBC World News channel
on Saturdays at 0430, 1230 and 1930 GMT or Sundays at 19:30 GMT.

You can log in directly at the link below to access and watch the programme:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/fast_track/9604546.stm

or on http://www.Facebook.com/Kodagu First
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002611604191

Lead source: Aslesha Belliappa /@aslesha1 / www.bbc.com/fasttrack

Food, fusion and flavours

Food to him is pleasure, understanding and expression. And when it comes to Indian cuisine, there are few things that set his imagination on fire like it.

British Australian food critic and TV presenter Matt Preston, says, “I have always found Indian food fascinating. I’ve been playing with various flavours for long and I’ve been eating it for even longer.”

MasterChef judge Matt Preston.

Preston, who was in India recently to promote the third season of MasterChef Australia with a live cook-off, says, “I love the sumptuous richness of Mughal dishes, and the sharpness of coastal cuisine from Goa and Kerala. I have become quite fond of Coorg style cooking too, ” says the MasterChef Australia judge, whose fascination with food began when he was hardly four.

Preston whipped up a watermelon, cucumber, mint and feta salad dressed with limejuice and raw nuts, perfectly poached egg on a toasted English muffin, served with roasted corn, avocado and smoked NY style mayo.

“I wanted to do brunch dishes that reflect Australian flavours without relying on meat. The mayo was something that I learned on our trip to film MasterChef Australia in New York, where I also purchased the smoking gun that I used to infuse the mayo with a hickory smoke flavour,” he adds.

Talking about emerging  food trends, he says, “Street food is going to be a hit. One would also see increased use of unique local, heritage or foraged ingredients.” And what makes a great dish?

“It’s always the three Ts — texture, taste, technique, topped up with lots of creativity,” he says. However, poor seasoning, cooking
without keeping the customer in mind, and chefs not tasting their own food enough are spoilers, he says.  “Indian food scores full marks for fusion, whether it’s the Goan vindaloo or the presence of originally Persian ingredients like apricots or almonds or Latin American ingredients like chilli and capsicum. When fusion works it is delicious. But when fusion fails, it’s like a failed Dr Frankenstein experiment! I’m not a fan of galangal in a Mexican salsa,” says Preston.

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / by Shara Ashraf, Hindustan Times / New Delhi September 03rd, 2011 / Lifestyle > Food.

 

Coorg – The Scotland of India

Coorg located on the Western Ghats around 180 miles from the hi-tech city of India Bangalore, in the state of Karnataka is admired for its enduring beauty. The recorded history of the area says that it was ruled by the Lingayat Rajhas who established their capital at Madikeri where they built a mud fort. The inhabitants of Coorg, Kodavas agitated the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the course of random rebellions.

Eventually Tipu marched into Coorg with a large army in 1785 AD and overcome to their little kingdom. But just after four years, with the British assistance, Coorg take back their Kingdom and Raja Veerarajendra set about the task of reconstruction. Yet in 1834 AD, the British captured the Coorg and prosecuted the last Raja Chikkaveera Rajendra and expelled him. With its foggy mountains and opaque jungles, Coorg give the impression like a little corner of to the British and adopted a name as the Scotland of India.

The British left a legacy behind that is still an imperative source of national capital. The well laid coffee plantations by them in Coorg account for almost half of Karnataka’s coffee production and the state goes on with to be the major producer of coffee. Talakaveri, the origin of the River Kaveri is situated in the Brahmagiri hills of Coorg and this area is about 4,500 ft above the sea level. Hence, it is one of the scenic spot in Coorg. A temple and a big tank have been built near the kundike at Talakaveri; the pilgrims’ take bath in the tank prior to praying at the origin of the river.

There are two famous Hindu Temples dedicated to lord Shiva and lord Ganesha and both the temples are open to visitors. Coorg has many verdant hiking routes in the midst of forests and hills, and it’s better to visit in the months from October to February. Misty hills, lush forest, acres and acres of tea and coffee plantations, orange groves, undulating streets and breathtaking views are what make Coorg an unforgettable holiday destination. You can accompany cheap flights to India for exploring this marvelous destination that is definitely going to manage your travel budget in a way you will be able visit much more places of interest.

A breathtaking attraction of waterfalls known as abbey Falls is located at a distance of around four miles from Madikeri town, approaching this attraction is itself an excellent ride experience as the path that you drive on is very narrow with countless turns and twists, ups and downs with a ebullient mother nature greets you at each turn. This famous falls, situated on a private property, attracts a large number of tourists around the globe. There are other famous waterfalls to be explored such as Iruppu Waterfalls, Mallalli Waterfalls and the Chelavara Waterfalls. A nature lovers paradise Nisargadama, an ecological park, this romantic 64-acre island is reachable through a hanging bridge offering immense pleasure to all the Nature and Fun loving tourists to wander around the park. You can also visit various stunning attractions like Nagarahole, Dubare Forest, Harangi Dam, Chiklihole Reservoir, Omkareshwara Temple, Coffee Plantation Farm, Raja’s Seat and Madikeri Fort.

source: http://www.CheapFlightHouse.co.uk / admin> News> / August 28th, 2011

 

Elizabeth Israel Announced as ADAM Architecture Travel Scholarship 2011 Winner

 

Elizabeth Israel, a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, has been awarded the 2011 ADAM Architecture Travel Scholarship. Now in its sixth year, the scholarship enables ADAM Architecture, the UK-based firm specialising in classical and traditional architecture and urbanism, to support and reward outstanding research. 

Her research proposal on European-settled hill stations in South India was a clear favourite with the judging panel, which included Robert Adam and George Saumarez Smith, directors at ADAM Architecture, Prof Georgia Butina Watson, Head of the Dept. of Planning at Oxford Brookes University and WAN’s own Editor in Chief, Michael Hammond.

Elizabeth plans to investigate a regional network of hill stations for patterns in the urban morphology, particularly with regards to environmental and cross-cultural conditions. The Indian hill stations were high-altitude towns formerly developed by Europeans as summer retreats. She plans to explore what urban types evolved from the exchange between the European settlers and the local Indian peoples, as well as analyze how the urban space and architectural language engaged the topography, climate, local materials, and traditional building methods.

Her study will focus on seven hill stations in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, including Srinagar, Coorg, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Kodaikanal and Munnar. Other possible sites may include Wayanad, Nelliyampatti, Devikulam, Peermada and Ponmudi. These sites were chosen because of their historical significance, regional proximity and similarity in environmental conditions. She plans to travel to India during December 2011 and January 2012.

Elizabeth, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana, earned a Bachelor of Architecture in 2011 from the University of Notre Dame. She will be pursuing a Masters of Architectural History at the University of Virginia, beginning in fall 2011.

source: http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com

A Tiger Wedding in Coorg, India

A Tiger Wedding in Coorg, India

The Illustrated London News,   Dateline: December 06th, 1873

A TIGER WEDDING IN COORG.
“The small province of Coorg, in Southern India, is situated among the mountains that separate Mysore from the Malabar coast to the west. Its late Rajah, being of cruel and treacherous misrule, was deposed in 1834, and the Coorgs, being put to the vote, unanimously desired to become complete subjects of the British Government. In 1852, the deposed Rajah visited England, accompanied by his daughter Gauramma, and paid his former enemies the compliment of seeking for her an English and Christian education. In June 30, 1852, she was baptized, the Queen herself standing sponsor, and giving her the name ‘Victoria.’ The Princess Victorian Gauramma, who was a constant visitor to her Majesty at Osborne and Windsor, eventually married an English officer of the name of Campbell. She died in 1864; her tyrant father lies buried in the Kensal-green Cemetery.
“A good description of Coorg will be found in ‘Eastern Experiences,’ by Mr. Lewin Bowring, late Resident or Governor of Mysore. The natives are distinguished for their fine appearance and warlike temper. They are skillful hunters, being trained for this from infancy; at the birth of a boy, the first thing done is to place a little bow and arrow in his hands, and to fire a gun outside the house, thus initiating his career as a huntsman and warrior.
“In the accompanying illustration there is abundance of music, feasting, torchlight, and dancers; and the owner of the mansion is brought in with triumph to graces the festival.
“A curious ceremony takes place when a tiger has been shot by a Coorg man. Tigers are not numerous in the country, and this ceremony has only occurred twice within the past four years. On the last occasion, March 9 of this year, the successful huntsman was Mr. Colovanda Carriapah, Head Sheristadar of the Mercara Talook. In this ceremony the man is wedded to the soul of the dead tiger.
“As shown in the Illustration, he is seated under a canopy in full warrior costume. On each side are placed his weapons and the household emblems of plenty, vessels of rice and milk, and burning lamps, analogous to the Masonic corn, wine and oil. So he sits, receiving the homage and congratulations of his relatives and friends. Each scatters a few grains of rice over his head, and gives him a sip of milk from a brass vessel resembling a teapot, and makes an offering in money, varying in value according to the means of the donor. The hero of the day is afterwards carried in triumph round the tiger, which is suspended to a high bamboo grame in the garden. The officers and ladies of the regiment stationed at Mercara, who reside in the late Rajah’s palace, were specially invited to attend.
“Mr. Carriapah is a native Coorg gentleman of high merit and distinction. He wears the gold Coorg medal, which was presented by the British Government to his father, for suppressing an insurrection in South Canara. Our correspondent would further testify to Mr. Carriapah’s unvarying support of English education among the Coorgs. A wealthy and influential man, he spares neither time nor money in this cause, and has, at his sole expense, erected schools for Coorg girls as well as boys, and has on several occasions received the thanks of the Government of India, as well as of the local Government of Mysore and Coorg.
“We are indebted to Captain Belford Cummins, of the Staff Corps at Mercara, for the sketch we have engraved.

source: http://www.harappa.com

More from Dr. SMITH’s DIARIES…..

 

Dr Smith was worried that the widespread destruction of the forests on the banks of the Cauvery, especially in Coorg, would ultimately kill the river, and turn Mysore into a desert like what had happened in Palestine.
He objected to the fact that every month, five Europeans were moving to Coorg, each with 150 acres and already 20,000 acres of forest had been taken over by coffee!  He felt that this was happening to Bangalore too, and spends 10 pages of his diary regretting the destruction of the forests around Bangalore. As he notes in 1849 “it is the opinion of the Superintendent of Nuggur that clearance of trees diminishes the quantity of rain”, and expresses concern that the groundwater springs that feed the tanks and lakes of Bangalore, and could be found as shallow as 50 feet below the surface, and exist among the rocks at a height, seemed to depend on the thick forests around NandiDroog and would be affected by the depletion of tree cover. 

He toured the countryside extensively, with Mark Cubbon in 1839, 1840 and 1849. They travelled long distances on horseback and elephant, between 300-700 miles each time, over several weeks, but with a large retinue.

On one trip the party is affected by cholera, and several die; while on n another one he is accompanied by his wife and child, and goes all the way to the top of Doddabetta. He describes the various temples and small villages of ‘great beauty’ and on yet another is awed by the carvings at Bailur (Belur). The Malnad comes in for special comment as it is seen to be extremely beautiful, with lots of parrots and birds, and well stocked with game (good shooting!), and they are even ‘surprised by a tiger’.

 

source: http://www.deccanherald.com/ by Sanjeev Jain and Pratima Murthy /