The following members have been elected as the new office-bearers of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, for the year 2021-23:
Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa – President; Malachira M. Ponnappa – Vice-President; Mukkatira B. Jeevan – Hon. Secretary; Appanderanda Tara Somaiah – Joint Secretary and Machimada P. Nanaiah – Hon. Treasurer.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / January 19th, 2022
Actress Nidhi Subbaiah enjoyed a quick getaway to Coorg last weekend with her family, saying it was the perfect soul rejuvenation as she got to indulge in her favourite activities and spend time with her loved ones.
“It was my mother’s birthday weekend, so it made this trip all the more special. I decided to drive down from Bengaluru, pick my mother up and head to Coorg.
We went to my aunt’s place, where I spent much of my childhood. So, it was a whole lot of nostalgia. My cousins and I had a good time reminiscing our favourite things. My cousin, who lives in Australia, was back for the first time after the pandemic, so I got to spend time with my niece and nephew too,” she adds.
The outing involved barbeques, hikes, visits to favourite spaces and family bonding. “I had a great time with the kids, as we went around the area. We even spent time recreating old pictures. One of the best things was when the kids and I had a ride on a burrow, which was a lot of fun. I am glad that I could have such a good trip with my family,” shares Nidhi.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / by Sunayana Suresh, TNN / January 24th, 2022
Actress and model Shubra Aiyappa recently got engaged to beau Vishal Sivappa.
The star said ‘Yes’ after a dream proposal in Maldives. Sharing the engagement news with the fans, Shubra Aiyappa shared a cosy picture with her fiancé. The lovebirds are seen sharing some romantic moments in the pool. She captioned the picture, “I said yes to my panda @vishalsivappa.”
Shubra is said to have been dating the Bengaluru-based businessman for some time now and the two have finally taken their relationship to the next level.
Talking about her engagement to The Times of India, the actor revealed, “I am still taking it all in. I cannot believe that we are engaged. Vishal went above and beyond to make it a magical moment that was so special, giving me no clue about what was in store. All I knew was that I was going to the Maldives for a trip. All I knew was that we had a dinner reservation. I wore my favorite outfit, thankfully. He had set up this place on a private beach with candles and a gazebo, where he went down on his knees and asked me if I would marry him. It was beautifully curated and it was an emotional moment for both of us.”
Meanwhile, Shubra Aiyappa will next star alongside Anant Nag in Sanjay Sharma maidan project Thimayya & Thimayya. Produced by Rajesh Sharma, the film went on the floor last October. Thimayya & Thimayya will also have Aindrita Ray featuring alongside Diganth.
source: http://www.pinkvilla.com / Pink Villa / Home> Entertainment> South / by Pinkvilla Desk / January 25th, 2022
“This edifice is believed to be the house of Hombale Nayaka, a close aide of King Dodda Veera Rajendra who once ruled Kodagu kingdom,” said Nagesh Kaluru, a writer.
Madikeri :
Three stone pillars with Nandi sculptures on them. This is what is first seen of an age-old edifice in Kathuru village limits in Murnad of Madikeri taluk. Over three centuries old, the building is now covered with scribbles carelessly left by people who did not know better. However, if revived, this edifice will narrate the iconic history of Kodagu and its renowned kings.
The Archaeological Department is currently involved in village surveys across Kodagu to identify and revive historical places. During one such survey in Murnad limits, the 18th-century edifice was located amidst the bountiful coffee estates in the area.
“During the village survey, we were told about this place by the locals,” explained Rekha, curator of Kodagu District Museum. The department with support from the NSS students of Murnad PU College and professor Harish Kiggal cleared the area of dense growing weed and the edifice glowed under the sun.
“This edifice is believed to be the house of Hombale Nayaka, a close aide of King Dodda Veera Rajendra who once ruled Kodagu kingdom,” said Nagesh Kaluru, a writer.
According to historical findings, Homabale Nayaka stayed here during the 18th century along with his family. A close aide of the royal family, he was one of the people who helped the king escape from Tipu Sultan’s prisons in 1788.
The historical edifice was under the care of the Kere Mane family settled in Kathuru. The family has an ancestral connection with Homable Nayaka and the building had been home to many other ancestors from the family.
However, the archeological department has now discovered the historical importance of the edifice. There is though no confirmation from the department about plans to revive it. Other historical monuments in the district including the Madikeri Fort and the Nalknad Palace are already awaiting funds for maintenance.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Pragna GR, Express News Service / January 25th, 2022
Actor Raghavendra Rajkumar’s next Sthabda was launched on Monday, and the team has commenced shooting in Bengaluru
Actor Raghavendra Rajkumar’s next ‘Sthabda’ was launched on Monday, and the team has commenced shooting in Bengaluru. Laali Raghav, who has previously helmed the Tamil film, Ariyamai, forays into Kannada with ‘Sthabda’.
The film starring Prathap Simha in the lead also marks the first collaboration of Raghavendra Rajkumar and Harshika Poonacha.
“Sthabda is a psychological thriller and deals with illusions,” says Laali.Sthabda, backed by Vidyasagar, has music by Arav Rishi and PVR Swamy for the camerawork.
Veteran music director Hamsalekha will be penning the lyrics for the songs.
Sthabda will also feature Prashant Siddi and Shruti Raj in pivotal roles .
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by Express News Service / January 26th, 2022
Kodagu is a small and beautiful mountain district of Karnataka and is well known in the world for coffee and its ‘brave warriors’, men and women, serving in all services.
New Delhi :
It was a proud moment for the people of Kodagu district when Lt Gen CP Cariappa took command of India’s elite 1 Strike Corps at Mathura on Friday. Lt Gen Cariappa became the Corp Commander and the District boasts of rare distinction of three Lieutenant Generals serving the army simultaneously.
Kodagu is a small and beautiful mountain district of Karnataka and is well known in the world for coffee and its “brave warriors”, men and women, serving in all services. Talking only of Indian Army there are 90 posts at the rank of Lieutenant General.
Lt Gen PC Thimmaya and Lt Gen CB Ponnappa are the other two generals. Lt Gen Thimmaya is the Army Commander at the Army Training Command and Lt Gen Ponnappa is the Chief of Staff at the Northern Army Command. All three officers are a product of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla and joined the army at different times. Lt Gen Ponappa is the junior-most who joined the Army in June 1985.
Lt Gen CP Cariappa was commissioned in June 1984 into the 4th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles. He served in UN Peacekeeping Forces at Mozambique (Africa) and Iraq- Kuwait. Prior to taking over command of elite 1 Corps, he was the Military Secretary to the President of India at New Delhi. The officer on taking charge emphasized that his priority is ’fight against COVID-19 threat.’
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Kodagu Connect / @KodaguConnect
Kodava population: 1.25 lakh
Number of Kodava Lieutenant Generals in Indian Army at present: 3
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At present Lt, Gen PC Thimmaya is the seniormost coorgi officer, who became Army Commander on 1 November 2018. He was the best cadet in pre-commission training at Indian Military Academy and was awarded the Sword of Honour. He got commissioned into 5th Battalion of the Mechanised Infantry in June 1981.
He commanded Army’s 10 Corps and was the Commandant, Army War College at Mhow before becoming Army Commander. Like the other two officers he also had UN Stint, was a Military Observer in UN Mission, Angola. He also was Defence Attache in the High Commission of India in Bangladesh. He assumed the command of Army Training Command in Nov 2018.
Lt Gen C Bansi Ponnappa is Chief of Staff of the prestigious Northern Command since Feb 2020. He was commissioned into 2 MAHAR Regiment in Jun 1985 and later commanded the same unit. The officer had two UN Tenures. He was in Somalia under UNOSOM-II and North Kivu Brigade of UN Peace Keeping Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These officers follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors like Field Marshal K M Cariappa and General Kodendera Subayya Thimayya. Field Marshal Cariappa was first Indian Commissioned Officer, first Indian General and then first Commander-in-Chief of India.
A total of eleven officers from Kodagu have occupied top posts in the Army so far. This apart, Kodagu also boasts of having 20 Major Generals and four Air Marshals, which undoubtedly makes Kodagu, the Land of Generals.
Although, with time the numbers of people joining forces from the district have fallen, steps are being taken to regain it. The district has its own War Memorial with names of all martyred soldiers of Kodagu. A museum in the name of former Army Chief General Thimmaiah is also being constructed. The Kodava Legacy in the Army will continue.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Mayank Singh, Express News Service / April 05th, 2020
The unseeded pair of Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan beat the top seeds, Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 7-6(6), 6-1 in the doubles final of the $521,000 ATP tennis tournament here on Sunday.
It was the first professional tournament together as a pair for Bopanna and Ramkumar, who had partnered each other in the last Davis Cup tie against Finland.
In five matches, the Indian pair dropped one set and did not drop even one service game, to collect the winner’s share of 250 ATP points and $18,700.
While it was the maiden Tour title for Ramkumar, it was the 21st Tour doubles title for the former World No. 3 Bopanna, ranked 41 now. It was only the fourth doubles title with an Indian partner for Bopanna after the ones with Mahesh Bhupathi and Divij Sharan.
“Amazing feeling to win my first ATP title with Bopsy! A great week ended on a high note. Always lived for these moments and thankful to Almighty for all the blessings,” said Ramkumar.
Interestingly, it was a chance pairing as Bopanna was scheduled to play with Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who subsequently got into the ATP Cup in Sydney. Since both were in the same flight from Dubai, Bopanna asked Ramkumar to travel to Adelaide for the doubles, as the latter was only scheduled to train in advance for the Australian Open qualifying event.
“I think it worked well for both of us. He got into the singles here as well. He got five doubles matches. Couldn’t have asked for a better week for both of us,” said Bopanna.
Bopanna has watched Ramkumar grow in the professional circuit and has guided him at every opportunity.
“I have seen Ram grow as a player. He has got tremendous potential. His serve is his biggest weapon. Every time I play with somebody serving that big, makes it easy for me at the net. I really felt Ram’s serve today in my ear. So I know how hard it comes through,” said Bopanna.
Ramkumar has grown in stature as the current India No. 1, and has the new-found confidence as part of his arsenal. “I think what has changed is the belief in himself. That has really changed from last year. Ram was playing some good tennis by the end of the season. He is serving well, volleying well. Now, he is starting to believe he can do well at tournaments. It is just a matter of time for him to string a few matches together and break back into the top-150, 100,” observed Bopanna.
“I would love to play more with Bops, whenever we can,” said Ramkumar, who would focus on the Australian Open singles qualifying event from Monday in Melbourne .
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Tennis / by Sports Bureau / Adelaide – January 09th, 2022
The Karnataka State Western Ghats Chairman Ravi Kushalappa visited Hunsur on Thursday and apprised himself of the pollution in Lakshmanteertha river that flows through the town.
The tributary of the Cauvery is highly polluted, carrying untreated sewage from various towns along its course, and efforts to clean the river has not yielded the desired results so far.
Mr. Ravi Kushalappa met the local MLA H.P.Manjunath, Deputy Commissioner Bagadi Goutham, ZP CEO Yogesh, Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahesh Kumar and other officials and held extensive interaction on reviving the quality of the river.
Citizens of Hunsur including NGOs and environmentalists who met Mr. Kushalappa also gave their feedback and the latter promised to incorporate the suggestions while drafting an action plan to clean up the river.
The activists suggested that release of untreated effluents including sewage into the river should be stopped and measures should be initiated to treat the effluents and sewage and diverted for secondary use in agriculture.
There are small rivulets that join the river to augment the volume of water but some of them have been encroached and the flow has been blocked, said the activists. Hence efforts should be made to clear the encroachment to facilitate inflow of water.
S. Sreekanth, founder of Development through Education (DEED), an NGO working for tribal rehabilitation and empowerment, said it was imperative to take up massive afforestation along both the banks of the river and declare them as an eco-sensitive zone to improve the local environment.
There was also a suggestion to divert Konganahole rivulet to Lakshmanteertha to augment the river flow. Activists also called for a crackdown on sand mining along the course of the river and said that the action plan to rejuvenate the river should be implemented in a time-bound manner.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / January 06th, 2022
There are two basic forms of writing. One is prose and another verse. Prose is used in speaking and writing, distinct from verse. Prose follows a basic grammatical structure. In verse, poetry, there is compromise on grammar and even use of words and phrases. It is called poetic liberty. It follows a metrical structure.
With this, brief, succinct introduction to prose and verse, let me take on a book that landed on my desk for review and critique. The title of the book ‘A Place Apart – Poems From Kodagu,’ is alluring. It is originally written in Kodava language, a dialect, using Kannada script. The author, a junior college lecturer in Kodagu and a Kodava by race.
Much thought and labour seem to have gone into the writing and production of this book which carries both translation from Kodava language (written in Kannada script) into English and a transliteration where Roman script (english alphabets) is used to write the original poem, just as Kannada is used in the first part of the book that contains 21 poems.
The translation and transliteration are by Kaveri Ponnapa, the famous author of the book ‘The Vanishing Kodavas,’ a magnum opus of a pictorial, research-based book on Kodava people, their heritage, culture and a dismal future. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Anthropology from London. Naturally, the book acquires its importance because of the quality of the translation and transliteration that enables the reader to understand the sound and pronunciation of the spoken Kodava language.
She has indeed played the role of James Boswell to Dr. Samuel Johnson, the english lexicographer, so to say. Of course, Boswell made Johnson more famous by writing a masterpiece of a biography of the latter. Let it be. But here, the book of 21 selected Kodava poems written by B.P. Appanna and rendered into english by Kaveri Ponnapa, seems like serendipity for B.P. Appanna in getting a scholar of Kaveri Ponnapa’s stature to select his works for this book in english. For me those poems, described elsewhere as ‘deceptively simple poems’ did not seem to portray, as claimed, ‘the sense of dislocation and erosion of identity’ of Kodava people at all. This was the subject of Kaveri Ponnapa’s book ‘The Vanishing Kodavas.’ Here it is a poetic narration of Kodagu’s natural beauty — the deep verdant valley, the cloud kissing peaks of mountain ranges, dark forests, wildlife — almost like a prose sans soul, emotion, without igniting imagination in the reader.
Even so, this book will surely expose the author and the translator to the world outside Kodagu ignorant of Kodagu and Kodavas, a land and its people with distinctive geography and culture.
Kodava language, the dialect, has its vocabulary limited to that of the hunter-gatherer of the early ages related to agriculture, hunting and skirmishes. Naturally, a Kodava writer or a poet has to express himself using these limited vocabulary only. To overcome this handicap, perforce he has to borrow words from another language, here Kannada. Which is why, for example, in one poem where he should have used the pure Kodava word ‘Batte’ for road, he has used the word ‘Marga’, road in Kannada. May be for the purpose of alliteration in the stanza.
The transliteration section of the book is a testimony to Kaveri Ponnapa’s patience, tenacity and dedication to her work. It is a transliteration of the Kodava poems (written in Kannada script) using Roman, with a Kodava-english key to reading them. It offers an opportunity to those who do not know Kannada but know english to approach the sound and sense of Kodava language.
According to Kaveri Ponnapa, Romanisation like this will offer a practical opportunity to keep the language alive by reaching out to maximum number of speakers. Indeed, very true. As she further avers, “If we are looking at a way to taking endangered languages into the future, we need more speakers (and also readers).”
Here is her final word to those who tried to develop a new script for Kodava language, including the well-known Kodava author I.M. Muthanna. She says: “Languages like Kodava Takk do not need new scripts, they need more accessible scripts that open them up to a greater number of speakers or readers.”
We read in ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘What is a book without pictures’ and ‘A picture is worth a thousand words.’ Fortunately, for the reader of this book, there is much consolation and compensation when he sees those water-colour illustrations of people, places and artefacts of Kodagu the land, by artist Rupesh Nanaiah. Wish they were in colour. They speak about the subject of the book more eloquently than all those words.
I also wish Kaveri Ponnapa had chosen for this book some poems from other Kodava poets also.
There are some brilliant poems written by non-Kodavas about Kodagu and Kodavas like Panje Mangesh Rao, for example. A Kodava Sanyasi of Ramakrishna Ashram Swami Shambhavananda, I.M. Muthanna and others too have written about the people, flora and fauna of Kodagu that evoke nostalgia among the old and the diaspora.
Anyway, A Place Apart is a significant contribution to the Kodava community and its literature. The book must adorn every Kodava household and also the libraries of every Kodava Samaja. To purchase the book, contact: Dushyant on WhatsApp 99009-99994 or place your order at: https://www.coorg.com/kaveri.
e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns> abracadabra / by K.B. Ganapathy / January 08th, 2022
Mangaluru :
Varsha Acharya with versatile talent is making her big career in both acting and fashion designing industry at the same time.
Coastal region always known for producing talents and Varsha Acharya is one who manages both professions with ease. In her short span of career, Varsha has grown exponentially with managing multiple roles that can set example for young generations.
Varsha Acharya hails from Kodagu, has done her pre-university at Canara College and fashion designing at Karavali College. Varsha is the daughter of Venkataramana Acharya and Vidyalatha Acharya and has a sibling Vrushab Acharya. Varsha was titled ‘Princess of Malnad’ in a beauty pageant in 2016.
During her fashion designing course at Karavali College, Varsha used to do lots of shoots, designing where the opportunity popped out for Varsha four years ago through Hombanna.
Varsha Acharya was always passionate about designing, illustrations, paintings. Apart from acting Varsha has shown interest towards fashion designing for several occasions. Kannada movie Padavipoorva was the first breakthrough for Varsha to showcase her creativity in fashion designing. Apart from fashion designing, Varsha is playing a key role in the movie Padavipoorva.
Varsha has also designed a main sequence in the movie Abracadabra directed By Shishir in the banner of Paramvah Studios. She is also the designer for an album song as well in a movie starring Pruthvi Ambar And Kushee Ravi, while two projects as an actor is on card. Varsha is delighted to pull of both the professions equally by being an actress and a designer.
Speaking to daijiworld.com about her dual job Varsha Acharya said, “Although they are two different professions, there is quite a bit of overlap but it all comes under how passionate I am about the work I do to manage both the professions equally. Being an actor was always my passion, as I have done my Fashion Designing i love to carry forward that in the industry too as if feel I can put both under the same roof.”
She also says, “Acting is all about fitting into the character and requires more of homework, practice and so on. Perhaps in Fashion Designing we have lot of groundworks, pre-production, try to figure out different looks of the character, fitting them in , figuring out the exact time scales per project for the preparations of the attire, time management, sudden schedule changes, being active, involvement, interest. I love to take challenges. It’s a whole different feeling being in both the professions.
“I will have a clear idea about the costumes once the script is narrated. I always have a word with my directors if they have any particular visually planned ideas, so that I can get an actual output as per the director’s plan, she says.
When asked about managing tight deadlines, Varsha says, “Tight deadlines have always made me feel good, that makes me happy knowing that I am doing good at it. However tight the schedule is, I keep my charm and smile on my face that makes my work even easier.”
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Coastal> Cine World / by Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK) / January 05th, 2022
