Deputy Commissioner S.J. Somashekar chairing a review meeting on the progress of door-to-door survey in the ongoing Census 2027, in Kodagu district on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu S.J. Somashekar reviewed the progress of the door-to-door survey as part of the ongoing Census 2027 and directed the officials to expedite the process.
Chairing a meeting in Madikeri on Monday, Mr. Somashekar said Kodagu district currently stood in the 15th place in the State in terms of progress in the ongoing houselisting enumeration and directed the officials to achieve substantial progress by the end of this month.
The Tahsildars, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers, Block Education Officers, and Chief Officers of municipalities and town panchayats, who have been designated as nodal officers, were instructed to ensure that no household is left out within their respective jurisdictions.
Meanwhile, 999 enumerators have already been deployed across the district for the house-to-house census work, including 187 in Madikeri taluk, 61 in Madikeri town, 186 in Somwarpet taluk, 12 in Somwarpet town panchayat, 133 in Virajpet taluk, 36 in Virajpet municipality, 161 in Ponnampet taluk, 19 in Ponnampet town panchayat and 158 in Kushalnagar taluk and 46 in Kushalnagar municipality.
Additionally, 172 personnel have been assigned as Census supervisors, and about 10% of enumerators have been kept in reserve, the Deputy Commissioner said.
During the comprehensive review of the progress of house enumeration in Madikeri, Somwarpet, Kushalnagar, Virajpet, and Ponnampet taluks, the officials briefed the meeting on the status of house mapping, numbering, and field mapping activities.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News>India / by The Hindu Bureau / April 28th, 2026
Dhanyata M Poovaiah writes about Kodagu’s paddy varieties, festivals linked to the agrarian calendar and traditional rice dishes.
Vasudha and Krishna (in purple) varieties of paddy being cultivated near Ponnampet in Kodagu. Photo by Ravi Shankar
Kodagu today is synonymous with its lush, aromatic coffee plantations. But long before coffee arrived with the British, the region’s identity was rooted in paddy cultivation.
Kodagu transitioned from paddy to coffee only in the late 20th century, as coffee plantations turned to be more profitable and less labour-intensive. In recent years, real estate development has resulted in the conversion of paddy fields into non-agricultural land.
Yet, rice continues to be the staple diet in Kodagu and remains an important crop, cultivated in around 14,000 hectares in the district. Consequently, the cultural life of the region is intertwined with the various phases of paddy cultivation.
The Kodava New Year, Edmyar Ondh, celebrated in Mid-April, marks the beginning of the paddy cycle. The year is ushered in with ploughing of the paddy fields. During Kodava Kakkada, the peak monsoon month from mid-July to mid-August, paddy saplings are transplanted. On the 18th day of Kakkada, known as Kakkada Padhinett, maddh payasa, a special dessert is prepared from a plant locally called maddh thoppu (medicinal plant). This plant (Justicia wynaadensis) is known to have several medicinal properties which helps boost immunity.
The Kailpodh festival, celebrated on September 3 every year, marks the completion of transplantation and offers a period to relax after the hard labour.
Puthari, celebrated in the Birchiyar month between November and December, marks the harvest of paddy.
“Since Kodagu is blessed with abundant rainfall, paddy cultivation is entirely rainfed and cultivated as a single-season Kharif crop in the lowlands,” says Dr Prashantha C, Assistant Professor of Entomology and Head of the Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Ponnampet.
“From December to March, the focus shifts to coffee harvesting and processing,” he adds.
Local paddy varieties, known for their flavour and aroma, are largely grown for self-consumption. “High-yielding varieties meant for commercial use are declining due to reduced returns,” adds Dr Prashantha.
Labour shortages and increasing human-animal conflict have also discouraged farmers from continuing paddy cultivation.
However, Kodagu is still home to several varieties of paddy. Among the indigenous varieties are Jeerige Sanna, BKB – developed by agriculturist Baduvanda K Belliappa, Biliya, Rajamudi, Doddi and Boliya, while popular high-yielding varieties include Tunga, KPR-1, Athira, BR-2655, MTU 1001 and IR 64.
“Indigenous varieties such as BKB and Doddi grow up to 3.5 feet in height and are a good source of fodder for the cattle. However, they are low-yielding and require 150 days to mature. High-yielding hybrid varieties such as Athira grow 2 to 2.5 ft and have less straw. These varieties mature at 120 days and usually require mechanical harvesters,” says Koniyanda Sanju Somaiah, an agriculturist.
Varietal conservation
According to seed conservationist Ravi Shankar B P, paddy varieties from any part of the country can be grown in Kodagu. Only the yield may vary. He has conserved over 100 varieties of paddy from across the world including the Kala Namak (Buddha rice) from Uttar Pradesh and Magic rice (Komal Saul) from Assam, and wishes to preserve several other unique rice varieties.
“With proper techniques, yields of paddy can be increased fivefold. This involves proper water management and in-situ green manuring. Under this method of manuring, short duration leguminous crops such as cowpea are grown in the field and are incorporated into the soil after sufficient growth, before the paddy saplings are transplanted. This improves soil fertility and its physical, chemical and biological properties, while reducing the need for external manure,” says Ravi Shankar.
Local varieties yield around 10–15 quintals per acre, while high-yielding varieties can produce 25–33 quintals per acre.
Paddy cultivation plays a vital ecological role as well. Waterlogged fields can help recharge groundwater, depending on soil and local conditions.
“The rise in the water table ensures that lakes, ponds and streams do not go dry even during summer” says Dr Veerendra K V, Scientist (Plant Protection) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gonikoppal.
“Government schemes currently support farmers through subsidies on machinery, paddy seeds, pesticides, bio-fertilisers and green manuring crop seeds. However, increasing the minimum support price and offering other monetary benefits for cultivators will ensure increased paddy cultivation in the region,” he adds.
At present, procurement delays and storage challenges continue to deter farmers. While harvesting takes place in November–December, procurement happens only in February–March.
On the table
According to chef Naren Thimmaiah, Kodavas traditionally consumed pukkalakki (boiled rice) as their staple. Jeerige Sanna was used to prepare pulav and ghee rice on special occasions. However, since the mid-20th century, the white BKB variety has been widely adopted in the region. BKB and Jeerige Sanna varieties are also used to prepare otti, noolputt, kadambutt, paputt and thaliyaputt and payasa.
“In Kodava cuisine, pairing the right curry with the main rice-based dish is essential,” adds Naren.
Naada mann, naada kool’ (my soil, my rice) is a popular saying in Kodagu, reflecting the belief that instead of abandoning rice cultivation, each family should maintain at least a small patch. “For this, government support is crucial,” notes Ravi Shankar.
Women workers bundle paddy seedlings for transplantation in a field near Ponnampet in Kodagu. Photos by Ravi Shankar
Workers with harvested paddy. Photo by Ravi Shankar
A paddy field near Ponnampet. Photo by Ravi Shankar
A paddy field near Ponnampet. Photo by Ravi Shankar
source: www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India>Karnataka / by Dhanyata M Poovaiah / April 09th, 2026
Indian tennis legend Rohan Bopanna reflects on his journey in the sport from a late start in Coorg to Grand Slam success and becoming World No.1 in doubles at the age of 43.
Rohan Bopanna officially retired from tennis in November 2025 at the age of 45. Image: Reuters
In an interview with ATP Tour last year after his retirement announcement, Rohan Bopanna had this to say when asked about his career – “I think my career is a story of patience, discipline and self-belief.”
He wasn’t exaggerating. Ask any sports psychologist worth his or her salt and they will tell you that Rohan Bopanna’s tennis career can be a case study in those three simple and yet absolutely invaluable qualities – patience, discipline and self-belief. After all, he went from almost quitting the sport in 2021 to enjoying the best phase of his career in which he won the Australian Open men’s doubles title in 2024 and became the oldest man to climb to the very pinnacle of the ATP doubles rankings.
With Bopanna bringing the curtain down on his tennis career last year, Indian tennis bid adieu to the last of the “Fab-Four” who conquered the Grand Slams. A look back at his incredible journey in which he truly peaked past the age of 35 and continued to play at the highest level despite “no cartilage” in his knees due to “severe long-term wear and tear”, makes for fascinating reading.
The tennis journey, for Rohan, began later than most others who take up the sport professionally. Studies have shown that most tennis pros pick up the sport between the ages of four and seven. Rohan was 11 when he started playing tennis – an age when most of his peers were already mastering tactical and technical skills. Most coaches will tell you that it is very, very difficult for someone to start playing tennis at 11 and then go on to become a professional player on the Tour. It takes significant talent, training, investment and also mental toughness. In his case it was the challenges that drove him to excel.
“I started playing tennis relatively late at age 11, though sports were always central to my life in Coorg. Initially driven by curiosity and competition, I quickly fell in love with the individual challenge of being on court and figuring things out on my own,” Bopanna told Firstpost in an exclusive interview.
Rohan Bopanna won the Australian Open men’s doubles title in 2024 at the age of 44. Image: Reuters
Bopanna on forming Indo-Pak Express with Aisam
Bopanna was born and grew up in picturesque Coorg. Dubbed “the Scotland of India”, Coorg is of course famous for its coffee plantations, moss-covered hills and stunning Western Ghats landscapes. What it is not known for are tennis academies. His father played a pivotal role in helping him pursue his passion, including building a tennis court on their coffee plantation estate in Coorg. That gave him the wings he needed to fly. He moved to an academy in Pune when he was 14 and had to go through quite the grind. Though he turned professional in 2003 and played both singles and doubles (reached a world ranking of 213 in singles in 2007), it wasn’t until 2010 that he really understood the path he needed to exclusively follow – the path of the doubles game. In 2010 Bopanna reached the final of the US Open men’s doubles with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, the other half of the famous “Indo-Pak Express”. And that was what convinced Bopanna that he needed to focus on the doubles game.
“Reaching the 2010 US Open final with Aisam was a major turning point. It gave me the clarity that I could compete consistently at the highest level in doubles. I decided to commit fully to the format to maximize my strengths,” Bopanna further told Firstpost.
The Indo-Pak Express followed up that US Open success with the 2011 Paris Masters title. The duo in fact, went on to win titles on all three surfaces (grass, clay and hard) and the list includes the 2011 Stockholm Open, the 2011 Halle Open, the 2010 South Africa Tennis Open, and the 2014 Dubai Tennis Championships. Bopanna and Aisam subsequently also reunited in 2021 after a seven-year split. Overall, across doubles and mixed doubles (in which he won the 2017 French Open title) the list of Bopanna’s tennis partners makes for very impressive reading. It includes Mahesh Bhupathi (played with him in the 2012 London Olympics), Leander Paes (played with him in the 2016 Rio Olympics), Divij Sharan (won the 2018 Asian Games men’s doubles gold medal with him), Edouard Roger-Vasselin (reached the 2013 Wimbledon semi-finals with him), Matthew Ebden (won the 2024 Australian Open with him), Aisam, along with Ivan Dodig, Denis Shapovalov, Pablo Cuevas, Florin Mergea, and N Sriram Balaji. In the mixed doubles he played alongside the likes of Gabriela Dabrowski (won the 2017 French Open title with her), Sania Mirza (reached the 2023 Australian Open final and the semi-finals of the 2016 Rio Olympics), Timea Babos (reached the 2018 Australian Open final) and Rutuja Bhosale (won the 2022 Asian Games mixed doubles gold medal with her).
Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan and a young Rohan Bopanna celebrate a win in 2011. Image: Reuters
“I shared a natural chemistry with Mahesh Bhupathi and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi that translated into great results. In mixed doubles, playing with Sania Mirza was special because our deep friendship built a foundation of trust on the big stages,” Bopanna further shared with Firstpost.
Notably, Rohan and Aisam launched the “Stop War, Start Tennis” peace campaign and were conferred with the 2010 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award for promoting peace through tennis.
When Bopanna came close to quitting tennis
Like any other professional sports career, Bopanna’s too, saw some real dark lows. He came very close to quitting the sport twice – once in 2019 and then again in 2021. The first was after he discovered that he had “no cartilage” left in his knees, which of course severely affected his mobility and left him in a lot of pain. Bopanna in fact has gone on record in the past to say that he was having two to three painkillers a day. What really helped was Iyengar yoga – something he began practising during the Covid pandemic, doing one and half hour sessions, four times a week. The second really low phase was when he just wasn’t managing to win matches post Covid. The “hard quarantine” he was under in Melbourne was beginning to take its toll. After the Covid lockdowns were lifted and he went back to pro tennis, Bopanna lost his opening seven tour-level matches, going five months without a win. The then 41-year-old seriously contemplated retirement at the time. It is famously documented how a conversation with his wife, Supriya, who asked him to treat this as “a new challenge rather than a limitation” made him change his mind. What followed was the best phase of his career. It was then that Bopanna, as he told ATPTour.com- “started playing my best tennis.”
“Tennis has made me mentally resilient, teaching me to stay grounded through both success and failure. Beyond the court, I am grateful for the global community I’ve built; I have friends in nearly 50 countries who offer a perspective on the world that goes far beyond the tour,” Bopanna further told Firstpost.
Anyone who has tracked Bopanna’s career will, of course, be curious to know just how it felt to have that incredible second wind, where he found himself as the oldest first-time world number one in men’s doubles, at 43 – something that he ensured for himself when he and Ebden beat Argentina’s Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni in straight sets at the 2024 Australian Open. So, what did that mean to him? I had to ask him that.
“Reaching World No. 1 was special because it represented longevity and the belief that age is not a limitation if you take care of your body and stay hungry for success,” was Rohan’s answer – something that can well be a mantra for youngsters who are just picking up the sport.
Of course, Bopanna and Ebden didn’t just stop there – they went on to win the whole thing, beating Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the final. He was 43 years, 10 months, and 24 days old. This was a significant achievement for Bopanna, who in 17 previous appearances at the Australian Open had never progressed beyond the third round in the men’s doubles draw. It was also yet another indicator of just how successful the late blooming phase, if one can call it that, was for one of Indian tennis’ biggest legends. The cherry on the cake (though technically the announcement was made one day before the final) was Bops being conferred with India’s fourth-highest civilian honour – the Padma Shri. He had come a long way from deciding to focus on the doubles game in 2010. A few smart decisions yielded great returns in ensuring that he continued to remain a force to be reckoned with well into his 40s.
“The 2010 US Open gave me the initial belief. The second turning point came much later when I invested in a full-time physio. Prioritizing recovery and smarter scheduling allowed me to extend my career and play my best tennis into my 40s,” Bopanna further told Firstpost.
Bopanna reveals his sweetest victory
Apart from his achievements on the Tour, Bopanna has served Indian tennis diligently over many, many years. Apart from winning two Asian Games gold medals – one each in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles – he has represented the country in three editions of the Olympics (2012, 2016, 2024) and also played Davis Cup for India over two decades – from 2002 to 2023, collecting the Arjuna Award (2018) and of course the Padma Shri (2024).
So, I asked him – “You have two Grand Slam titles under your belt, but you also have two Asian Games gold medals and won multiple Davis Cup matches. Looking back at your career, if you had to pick the sweetest victory of them all, which one would it be?”
This is Bopanna, who famously told the chair umpire that a ball that had been ruled out when struck by his opponents in a crucial phase of the final of the 2023 US Open men’s doubles had actually touched his elbow. No one saw that happen and the point had already been awarded to Bopanna and Ebden. So, I was of course expecting an honest answer.
“The Australian Open title is a career highlight as the culmination of years of effort. However, representing India in the Davis Cup or Asian Games always carries a unique emotional value,” the two-time Grand Slam champion said.
Bopanna and Australia’s Matthew Ebden celebrate the men’s doubles final win at Australian Open. Image: Reuters
Post retirement, Bopanna’s biggest focus now is to help Indian tennis as best as possible. The Rohan Bopanna tennis academy is doing some great work, targeting structured coaching pathways for youngsters that fuels holistic development and high-performance training and mentorship. And you can bet that three of the core personal values being taught there are – patience, discipline and self-belief.
source: http://www.firstpost.com / FirstPost. / Home / by Akaash Dasgupta / April 27th, 2026
The book is rich with vivid details and engaging snippets from history and mythology.
The War Elephants of Trigarta By: Sarita Mandanna Publisher: Aleph Pages: 192 Price: Rs499
The War Elephants of Trigarta by Sarita Mandanna is part of the Bold Chronicles series, which aims to awaken a love of history and storytelling among the next generation. Inspired by fascinating moments from India’s rich and layered past, as well as world history, the series uses engaging storytelling to capture the attention of youngsters who are often absorbed in gadgets and reluctant to engage with anything beyond reels or apps. It is an uphill task, but Mandanna manages it with dexterity and humour, delivering a rich and enjoyable narrative that plants seeds of curiosity about history while also offering insight into the present.
At the heart of the story is the delightful Mili, the daughter of Raja Puru’s general, who is in charge of training and caring for the war elephants that are the pride of Trigarta. She forms a bond with a rare white elephant, whom she names Nathu. Over time, Mili becomes an unlikely but important player in the looming war led by the formidable Alexander the Great, culminating in the legendary Battle of the Hydaspes. As her father often says, and Mili repeats, “Never too old, and never too young!”
The book is rich with vivid details and engaging snippets from history and mythology. Readers encounter the fate of beautiful Parsa, or modern-day Persepolis, and the well-known story of how Alexander tamed the wild horse Bucephalus, who became his trusted companion. There are also references to Supratika and Sangram, the elephant heroes of mythology and history. In contrast, Nathu proves difficult to train and is a constant source of frustration. Even the general calls him a “donkey of a stubborn elephant,” much to Mili’s annoyance.
There is also a hilarious episode involving Nathu, a basket of stolen turnips, and an unfortunate bout of flatulence at the worst possible moment. At the end of it, Mili asks her father a question that is both innocent and amusing: “The royal family. Do they fart—I mean, do they pass wind too?”
However, the story is not all light-hearted. Given the subject, and Alexander’s well-known ruthlessness, the narrative does not shy away from darker realities. Mandanna presents these events in a way that is accessible to younger readers without losing their seriousness. As news arrives of Alexander sacking yet another rebel city, Mili repeatedly asks her father, “What happened to the children in the mercenary camp, Baba?”
The danger and horror of war feel immediate and real for Mili and those around her, as the Macedonian army advances. Yet, her courage stands strong. Like the great figures of history, she uses her intelligence and resilience to make a real difference in a world torn apart by conflict and ambition.
This is an irresistible story that will appeal not only to young readers but to anyone who enjoys a gripping and well-told tale.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Books / by Anuja Chandramouli / April 19th,2026
While trekking up mountains is a passion for many, a youth from Kodagu has taken that passion to an extraordinary level by climbing the district’s highest peak a hundred times.
Areyada Girish Thimmaiah from Paadi village near Napoklu has achieved the rare feat of scaling Thadiyandamol, the tallest mountain in Kodagu, 100 times.
Rising to a height of 1,748 metres above sea level in the Western Ghats, Thadiyandamol is considered one of the most challenging treks in the region. Climbing it even once requires endurance and determination. Doing it a hundred times is a remarkable accomplishment.
Girish’s fascination with the mountain dates back to the early 1990s. Around 1994, when foreign tourists frequently visited Kodagu to trek to Thadiyandamol, their enthusiasm inspired him to take up the challenge. What began as curiosity soon turned into a lifelong passion.
However, the journey was not without setbacks. A few years ago, Girish had to stop trekking altogether after undergoing spinal surgery.
“Climbing up is easier, but descending is far more difficult. Perhaps the strain during the descent worsened my back pain,” he recalled.
The trek to Thadiyandamol is also known for its wildlife encounters. Trekkers often come across herds of elephants, darting deer, tiger tracks and droppings, and the forest’s sharp scent.
“To keep wild animals away, we shout, clap and make noise while trekking. At times, it feels like life itself is at risk, but that is what makes the experience so thrilling,” Girish said.
Girish is the son of Areyada Ponnappa Ganapathi and Lakshmi Subbavva. He completed his education at Maharaja’s Junior College under the University of Mysore.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 03rd, 2026
The three-day tour will begin on April 27, starting from Bengaluru at 12.30 pm. The team will visit Dubare, Nisargadhama, and Kushalnagar before reaching Madikeri by 6 pm.
A view of Cauvery river / Credit: DH Photo
Mysuru:
Stating that Karnataka has been facing continuous injustice regarding the sharing of Cauvery River water, the Cauvery River Protection Committee will undertake a study tour of the river basin from April 27 to 29. The tour aims to collect ground-level data and evidence, to support a writ petition the committee plans to file before the Supreme Court in May.
Addressing a press conference, in Mysuru, on Wednesday, committee president H K Ramu said that the study will be conducted under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge N Gopalagowda.
Study tour
“The committee will visit various reservoirs and agricultural lands in the Cauvery River basin to interact with farmers, labourers, and members of various farmer organisations. We will collect information, photographs, and video evidence of the current situation, which will be submitted to the Supreme Court during the filing of the writ petition,” Ramu said.
Itinerary
The three-day tour will begin on April 27, starting from Bengaluru at 12.30 pm. The team will visit Dubare, Nisargadhama, and Kushalnagar before reaching Madikeri by 6 pm.
On April 28, the team will offer prayers at Talakaveri at 8 am, followed by a public meeting in Kushalnagar or Harangi. In the afternoon, the committee members will inspect the Hemavathi Dam in Gorur and meet farmer leaders. The day will conclude with a visit to the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district and a meeting at the Jaladarshini Guest House, in Mysuru city.
On April 29, the team will visit the Kabini Dam at 9.30 am and interact with local farmers, elected representatives, and workers. The tour will continue through Nanjangud, T Narsipur, and Shimsha, concluding at Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk, Bengaluru South district, before returning to Bengaluru city.
Committee office-bearers M Chandrashekar, H L Yamuna, K C Madesh, Gangadhara Gowda, Brijesh Kariyappa, Prakash, and former corporator K V Mallesh were present at the press meet.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka> Mysuru / by T R Satish Kumar / April 23rd, 2026
The members of Hathur PACS arrived at the Office of the JD of Agriculture in Madikeri with bags of fertilizers and a weighing scale. Photo | Expre
In a dramatic display, the farmers and cooperative representatives weighed the bags on the premises of the Joint Director’s office, highlighting what they termed as “fraudulent practices” by fertiliser suppliers.
Madikeri :
Allegations of large-scale discrepancies in fertiliser bag weights surfaced in Kodagu on Thursday, as members of the Hathur Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) staged a protest demonstration infront of the office of Joint Director of Agriculture in Madikeri.
Led by Kodagu District Cooperative Central Bank president Bonda Ganapathi, the PACS members arrived with truckloads of fertiliser bags supplied by Indian Potash Limited (IPL), claiming significant shortages in weight. The members alleged that several 50-kg bags were found to be underweight by as much as 4 kg.
In a dramatic display, the farmers and cooperative representatives weighed the bags on the premises of the Joint Director’s office, highlighting what they termed as “fraudulent practices” by fertiliser suppliers. They urged the Agriculture Department to initiate an immediate and thorough investigation.
“This is not an isolated issue. We suspect such discrepancies could be happening across the district and even elsewhere in the country,” members alleged, warning that such practices directly harm farmers financially.
Expressing strong displeasure, Ganapathi claimed that nearly 51 tonnes of fertiliser supplied to the society between February 18 and March 3 showed consistent weight variation.
He termed the issue a “serious injustice” to farmers and demanded that the losses be compensated by the supplier. He also called for reimbursement of loading costs and a district-wide inspection of fertiliser stocks in all cooperative societies.
Joint Director Chandrashekar assured the delegation that the matter would be escalated to higher authorities for further action.
Ganapathi said a formal complaint would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner and warned of intensified protests, including a possible lockdown of the Agriculture Department office, if swift action is not taken.
A follow-up meeting involving cooperative representatives and department officials is scheduled at the KDCC Bank building on April 27 to discuss the issue further.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express/ Home> Karnataka / by Prajna GR / April 23rd, 2026
Palecanda Bojamma (91), wife of late Palecanda P. Muthanna (former Advocate General of Karnataka and former President of Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru), passed away in Arizona, USA, on Apr. 22.
Originally from Madikeri town in Kodagu, Bojamma (Paruvangada) leaves behind her daughters Dechu Muthanna, Dr. Neeli Muthanna, son Poonacha Muthanna, grandsons and a host of relatives and friends.
Cremation took place at Paradise Memorial Gardens, East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA today (Apr. 24).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / April 24th, 2026
“Trace the Cup” new film-led series follows the journey from estate to cup, spotlighting sourcing and flavour.
Tata Starbucks is turning the focus to India’s coffee-growing regions with a new film centred on its first estate-specific single-origin offerings.
Sourced from the Nullore, Margolly, and Karadibetta estates in Coorg, Karnataka, the launch marks the brand’s first move into estate-exclusive coffees in India. The initiative puts a spotlight on how factors like origin, altitude, and farming practices influence flavour — elements often discussed in global coffee conversations but less visible to everyday consumers in India.
As part of this, the brand has introduced “Trace the Cup”, a content series that follows the journey of coffee from estate to cup. The idea is to make the sourcing and production process more transparent, while building awareness around Indian coffee and the people behind it.
“Indian single-origin coffees have a distinct identity shaped by their origin and more than that, the people who grow them. ‘Trace the Cup’ helps us bring that story to the forefront, allowing customers to better understand where their coffee comes from, what makes each origin unique and how it all contributes to the signature Starbucks experience, in our stores,” said Mitali Maheshwari, Head of Product & Marketing, Tata Starbucks.
source: http://www.afaqs.com / afaqs! / Home> Advertisins> News / by afaqs! news bureau / April 02nd, 2026
A study by researchers of the French Institute of Pondicherry at the Uppangala forest in Kodagu, Karnataka, showed how lianas, or creeper vines, hold key to framing green legislation. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
With their knack for piggybacking towering trees in evergreen forest ecosystems to access sunlight and nutrients, the lianas, a type of creeper vines, may appear to have patented a survival guide to grow and thrive inside the deep jungles.
Research at the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) offers new insights on the “intelligence” of this flora species and the dynamics at play in the liana–host interaction networks that could be crucial determinants of conservation strategies and for robust green legislation.
The study, set in the Uppangala evergreen forest in central Western Ghats of Kodagu district, Karnataka, led by Vincy K. Wilson, IFP associate researcher and researcher N. Ayyappan, delved into the survival traits and adaptive tricks of lianas, from minimalist sustenance to extroversion in networking with other tree species.
According to the researchers, despite the increasing number of liana studies in India, few have examined the distribution and association of hosts with lianas, or liana–host interaction networks to determine their functional significance and conservational value.
“Our objective was to fill the knowledge gap about the diversity, abundance, and network structure of liana–host interactions in response to logging disturbance in a typical wet evergreen forest”, said Ms. Wilson.
The study focused on lianas spread in an area demarcated into six one ha plots — four plots that had been selectively logged and two unlogged compartments. Before the 1988 ban on logging, specifically in the 1974-83 period, the site was subjected to extensive manual logging of trees, predominantly the dipterocarpus species.
Presenting a comparative investigation of the biodiversity variation of regeneration in the logged and unlogged sites in the Western Ghats, the IFP research found that the total regeneration density was 1,860 individuals, and species richness was 98 species representing 31 families. Logged sites had higher Shannon and Simpson diversity indices. Five species, namely Humboldtia brunonis, Vateria indica, Knema attenuata, Dipterocarpus indicus, and Psychotria nigra, collectively accounted for 36% of the overall density and exhibited a greater important value index.
While approximately 40% of the adult tree species at the logged site and 46% of the unlogged site were not represented in the regenerating species, the occurrence of ten species that are considered rare in unlogged plots was found to be more prevalent in logged sites.
Liana-tree interactions are a good indicator of nestedness (high frequency of interactions) and a sign of a robust system that allows species replacement. On the contrary, anti-nestedness points to fragility, where the removal of a single element in the network can potentially lead to a system collapse.
A striking aspect of the lianas is how they achieved the goal of height, instead of breadth, by willingly sacrificing supporting tissue, said Ms. Wilson, who had a few months ago, shared some research findings at a presentation, “Green Genius: Nature’s Amazing Tricks to Survive and Thrive”, at the Alliance Francaise.
“Their aim is to reach the canopy where they will get light… so they do not invest in lateral branches unlike trees”, she noted.
A significant takeaway from the IFP study was that a higher density and diversity in the logged sites may only signify robustness at a superficial level, as a deeper probing of modularity and nestedness, showed that logged systems exhibited anti-nestedness, low connectors, high modularity, high specificity — all clear signs of a fragile system.
“This understanding is important for implementing good laws. We need to continuously monitor the system to know the forest dynamics and the network properties in order to evolve appropriate and robust conservation laws and interventions”, said Ms. Wilson.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Puducherry / by Dinesh Varma / March 30th, 2026
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