Timbertales, A Luxurious New Escape, Opens in Coorg

Business & Economy, Travel, Tourism & Homestays (wef. Oct 03rd, 2021),

Bengaluru : 

Timbertales Luxury Resort, nestled amidst the luah forests of Coorg, is delighted to announce its grand opening this January. This much-anticipated retreat with 71 villas, spread across 100 acres , is designed to pamper, soothe, and offer an oasis of serenity for those who seek an escape.

Timbertales is more than a resort. It is an experience where every leaf tells a tale. Designed by a noted architect Mr. Abdul Manan, the resort’s global architecture seamlessly blends eco-luxury with traditional local craftsmanship. All villas on the property are made with Laterite stone, with the structures blending harmoniously with the lush greenery, exuding an air of understated luxury.

The true essence of Timbertales comes alive with the extensive use of Balinese bamboo that reflects limitlessness. The design features open spaces and abundant natural light, making you feel part of the forest and seamlessly blending architecture with nature, creating a tranquil and immersive retreat.

Mr Prasad G P, Joint Managing Director and the visionary behind Timbertales, says, “Timbertales is not just a place to stay, it’s an experience that embodies the charm of Coorg while redefining luxury tourism in India. Our goal is to create a retreat where guests can reconnect with nature, immerse themselves in local culture, and indulge in personalized luxury”.

Wellness in Nature

Embrace wellness and tranquillity at Viyoma, where nature and tradition unite to rejuvenate your mind and body. The 27,000 sq. ft. centre, spread across three levels, has 25 therapy rooms offering Swedish, Balinese, Aromatherapy, and Ayurvedic treatments. Viyoma also offers the only Turkish Hammam in the region.

Guests can also relax in the panoramic sauna, which creates a calm environment with beautiful views of the surrounding landscape. Additionally, Viyoma includes specialized skin and hair care treatments designed to enhance natural beauty and rejuvenation. Understanding that wellness is a necessity in today’s fast-paced world, Viyoma expands its services to include wellness for kids, thoughtfully crafted to nurture their well-being and promote holistic growth.

Offering guided yoga and meditation sessions, the Vinyasa Yoga Deck is an atmosphere that offers calmness and vitality. Set against the backdrop of a vast 7-acre lake, it transports you into the embrace of nature and fosters an unmatched sense of tranquillity.

The Villas

Each of the 71 villas at Timbertales is designed with luxury and comfort in mind.

Windchimes Duplex Villa – This cozy yet luxurious duplex villa offers a unique experience where you descend to a beautifully designed room and wake up to an amazing nature view. Ideal for couples with distinct personas.

Riverstone Family Villa – Designed for families seeking togetherness and personal space, the villa has interconnected staircases that balance privacy and connection. The large balconies, invite you to spend time outdoors, offering a seamless connection with nature.

Mistwood Pool Villa – This villa is designed as a serene retreat, where the mist whispers ancient woodland stories to those who listen, offering a breathtaking view from its infinity pool, perfect for a young family.

Forestlight Luxury Villa – This villa is a world in itself, covering 3200 sq. ft. of luxurious space. It offers a truly unique experience, featuring an open living area, an in-house therapy space, an open-air shower, a jacuzzi, and an infinity pool overlooking the lake.

Timbertales offers luxury experiences priced between INR 40,000 and INR 1,00,000, where everything from meals to curated experiences is thoughtfully managed, embodying the essence of stress-free getaways.

The Dining Experience

Food is at the heart of any holiday memory. In line with this philosophy, the resort’s restaurant “Bamboo Buzz” offers over 250 curated dishes, lakefront views, and a unique ‘pan-to-plate’ experience. The ‘pan-to-plate’ concept emphasizes a fresh, immersive dining experience where guests can witness and ensure that each dish is as authentic and flavorful as it can be. “The Cellar Lounge Bar” awaits, where Winchester-style seating and an exquisitely appointed bar offer a perfect backdrop making it a must-visit destination.

“Twisted Basil” a plant-based culinary haven, features a dedicated vegetarian kitchen, private dining pods on a water body, and tropical surroundings with stunning panoramic views. Each of the curated set menus offer a luxurious 7-course meal, crafted to soothe any palate.

The Experience

At Timbertales, there is never a moment to get bored. Nature walks, aided by expert naturalists, wellness therapies, curated yoga sessions around the lake, kayaking, the infinity pool ‘Ripples’ overlooking the lake and equipped with a bar, and a lot more.

For children, the exclusive play area ‘Funky Turtle’ provides engaging activities that encourage them to step away from screens and enjoy interactive play. ‘The Modur Kaapi’: A Coffee Experience Centre offers guests a glimpse of the coffee-making process, as well as delightful choices in local brews. Guests can explore the entire process, from bean selection to brewing techniques, as part of the resort’s unique Bean to Brew concept.

Timbertales is situated 7 km away from the main city of Madikeri and can be accessed by road or nearby aerodromes. The resort offers one of the few helipads in Coorg for direct and convenient access.

About Timbertales Luxury Resort

Timbertales Luxury Resort, located in the lush landscapes of Coorg, is founded on the belief that nature is a storyteller. Here, luxury and the wild coexist in perfect harmony, offering guests an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the tales of the natural world. Designed with eco-consciousness at its core, Timbertales seamlessly integrates sustainability with opulence, allowing visitors to experience the soul of the forest while enjoying unmatched comfort.

source: http://www.msn.com / MSN / Home / by ANI news www.aninews.in / via PRNewswire / January 22nd, 2025

Obituary: Lt. Col. Kulletira B. Appanna

Defence Services (Air,Land,Sea),Police (wef. Dec 09th, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , , , , ,

Lt. Col. Kulletira B. Appanna (retd.), a resident of No. 537, 14th Main, B-Block, 3rd Stage, Vijayanagar, Mysuru, passed away yesterday. He was 89.

He leaves behind his wife Sarasu Appanna (Sannuvanda, Mayamudi) and a host of relatives and friends.

Last rites were held at Muktidhama in Vijayanagar 4th Stage here this afternoon.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / January 11th, 2025

Kodagu forest officials hand over cheque for Rs 15 lakh to family of wild elephant attack victim

Records, All, , , , , , , , , ,

Madikeri :

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

‘Sky Force’ to celebrate heroics of Kodagu Sqn. Ldr. A.B. Devayya

Uncategorized

Madikeri:

‘Sky Force,’ a Hindi historical war film highlighting the heroics of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, a Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) awardee from Kodagu, who heroically downed a Pakistani aircraft and made the ultimate sacrifice during 1965 Indo-Pak War, is set to release on Jan. 24, coinciding with Republic Day.

Directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik under Maddock Films alongside Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios, the film stars Akshay Kumar as Wing Commander O.P. Taneja (Veer Chakra).

Veer Pahariya debuts as Squadron Leader Devayya, while Sara Ali Khan portrays Devayya’s wife, Sundari Devayya. Nimrat Kaur also plays a significant role.

The film’s trailer has already stirred a wave of patriotism. It is based on the book ‘1965 War and Kodagu’s Maha Vir Chakra Awardee Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya’s Life Story,’ authored by journalist-writer Ithichanda Ramesh Uthappa and published by Kodava Makkada Koota under the guidance of Bollajira B. Ayyappa.

Before production, Devayya’s wife Sundari Devayya, their children, the Kodava Makkada Koota and author Ramesh Uthappa granted a no-objection certificate to the film-makers.

Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya and Sundari in an undated photo

The air battle of Sargodha

Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devayya was just 32 when he gave his life for the nation during an audacious airstrike over Sargodha, Pakistan’s most fortified airbase, on Sept. 7, 1965.

Despite piloting a French-made Dassault Mystere, vastly inferior to the US-made Pakistani F-104 Starfighter, Devayya displayed extraordinary courage, shooting down the enemy aircraft in a two-minute dogfight  before crashing.

Posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) in 1988 — 23 years after his sacrifice — Devayya’s valour came to light thanks to Pakistani Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain, whose aircraft he shot down, and British author John Fricker’s book ‘Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965’.

Born on Dec. 24, 1932, in Manchalli village near Kutta, South Kodagu, to Ajjamada Bopayya and Neelamma, Devayya joined the Indian Air Force on Dec. 26, 1954. Devayya was married to Keethiyanda Sundari. During the 1965 war, he was an instructor at the Air Force Flying College and was posted to ‘No.1 Tigers Squadron’.

Actor Veer Pahariya, who debuts as Squadron Leader Devayya, seen with Sundari Devayya, the 90-year-old wife of the legendary Maha Vir Chakra recipient, Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya and their daughters, Smitha and Preetha, in Bengaluru.

Dogfight at 7,000 feet

Devayya’s final mission was part of an airstrike targeting Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. In a legendary dogfight at 7,000 feet, he outmanoeuvred and damaged Hussain’s advanced Starfighter, forcing him to eject. Devayya, despite being hit, didn’t eject and decided to give a far superior plane, a fight for its life.

Though mortally wounded, Devayya chose to stay in the fight, firing point-blank and bringing down the enemy aircraft. Devayya opened his 30mm cannon and fired at point-blank range at F-104, damaging the aircraft. Amjad Hussain was forced to eject at a low level but Devayya was not able to eject due to its damaged Mystere and crashed on Pakistani soil.

The action was over in less than two minutes. What Devayya achieved in the pre-dawn Pakistani skies that morning is now considered one of the most remarkable events in the history of post-world war air combat.

Memorials

A 6-ft-9-inch bronze statue of Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya has been installed at the Old Private Bus Stand Circle in Madikeri, Kodagu district. The installation was led by members of the Ajjamada family, the Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya Memorial Trust, the Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General Thimayya Forum, and the Kodava Makkada Koota.

In Mysuru, the Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya Bhavan, situated near the old Deputy Commissioner’s Office, is managed by the Department of Sainik Welfare and Rehabilitation. The initiative to name the building after Devayya was championed by late Mandetira N. Subramani, President of VeKare Ex-Servicemen Trust,  Mysuru, who passed away on Sept. 21, 2023.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / January 13th, 2025

2nd Nagraj Rao Jagdale Shooting Competition: Mysurean wins silver in Senior Masters

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022),

Mysuru: 

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

Big coffee planters in Karnataka see relief, but small planters continue to face labour shortage

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

For the past five years, coffee plantations in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts have grappled with a labour crisis during the crucial November-to-March harvest period.

While harvesting requires manual labour, small planters are proposing mechanisation of processes like drying beans and irrigation, which will help reduce dependency on labourers. | Photo Credit: File photo

Karnataka’s big coffee planters, reeling under years of labour shortage, are enjoying a welcome respite this harvest season as migrant workers arrived in sufficient numbers to meet the demand even as coffee prices have hit a record high this year, offering a financial cushion to growers after years of challenges.

For the past five years, coffee plantations in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts have grappled with a labour crisis during the crucial November-to-March harvest period. Planters heavily rely on migrant workers, primarily from Assam and West Bengal, with smaller contingents from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and north Karnataka. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and state and general elections in those States disrupted the arrival of these workers, exacerbating the shortage.

“We’ve seen a good inflow of labourers from Assam and West Bengal, unlike in recent years,” said Kaibulira Harish Appaiah, former president of the Kodagu Growers’ Association and executive committee member of the Kodagu Planters’ Association.

“All the elections in these States are over. There is no pandemic. This has ensured that workers can travel to Karnataka without disruptions. Coupled with record-high coffee prices, growers are hopeful that this will help recover from the losses incurred over the last 15 years, and help them reinvest in their estates,” he added.

However, workers from Tamil Nadu and north Karnataka have dwindled, opting for construction jobs in urban areas, such as Bengaluru. “These sectors offer regular work and comparable wages, pulling workers away from coffee estates,” said Mr Appaiah.

Kiran Hegde, a planter from Sakleshpur in Hassan, said, “Coffee harvesting is physically demanding and requires precision, which is why we rely on trained workers. The return of migrant workers has brought some relief, but it’s been a tough few years for all of us. If these high prices sustain, it might just give us the breathing room we desperately need.”

Varun Raj, a coffee grower from Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru, said, “We’re finally seeing hope. With global prices rising and labourers returning, it feels like we’re catching a break. However, this is just the beginning — we need sustained efforts to address these challenges for the future. Again next year we don’t know whether the labourers will come and if the price of the coffee will be high.”

Struggle for small growers

While large coffee estates have sufficient labour, small growers are still struggling.

“It usually takes a month to harvest my five-acre plantation with adequate workers. This year, we’ve only managed to cover 30% so far. Despite the high prices, small growers like me cannot afford the increased wages being offered by the larger estates. If we don’t harvest soon, the overripe cherries will drop, causing significant losses,” said Ramesh Uthappa, a planter from Birunani village in Kodagu.

Labour-intensive harvesting requires skilled hands, as the delicate process involves picking ripe cherries without damaging the plant. Workers, often earning double their usual wages, are incentivised to make the long journey to Karnataka.

Planters urge support for coffee mechanisation

Coffee growers rued the lack of support from the State and Central governments as well as the Coffee Board.

M.T. Poovaiah, a coffee planter from South Kodagu, said, “Labour shortages have become a major challenge. Local labourers are no longer available, and we have to rely on workers from Kerala, who come here, work for the day, and return home. We bear their transportation costs and hefty labour charges, which result in significant losses. Around 80% of the profit we earn from coffee goes back into maintaining our estates throughout the year. This includes expenses for harvesting, fertilizers, irrigation, and other essential work.”

Small coffee planters are urging the government to support mechanisation and automation to address labour shortages.

Highlighting this need, Mr Poovaiah added, “To tackle labour shortage problems, mechanisation and automation must be adopted in coffee plantations, and the government, especially the Coffee Board, should assist us. While harvesting still requires manual labour, mechanisation can be applied to processes like drying beans and irrigation, which will help reduce dependency on workers in these areas.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Business> Agri-Business / by Darshan Devaiah B.P. / January 17th, 2025

Muddanda Cup Hockey 2025 logo released

Uncategorized

Madikeri:

The Kodava Family Hockey Festival is celebrating its landmark 25th anniversary this year from March 28 to April 27. To mark the occasion, the official logo for the “Muddanda Cup Hockey Tournament 2025” was unveiled on Saturday last at the Kaveri Auditorium here. This year, the Muddanda family is hosting the tournament at the Madikeri Sports Ground.

The logo unveiling ceremony organised by Muddanda family witnessed the participation of several dignitaries, including Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.

Inaugurating the event by lighting the lamp, Yaduveer lauded Kodagu’s unique culture and traditions, particularly its deep-rooted passion for hockey. He emphasised the significance of preserving Kodava heritage through events like the hockey festival and expressed pride in representing the Mysuru region, which encompasses Kodagu.

Pledging his support for hockey, Yaduveer Wadiyar underscored the sport’s integral role in Kodagu’s identity.

Virajpet MLA  Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna reminisced about the previous year’s Kundyolanda Cup Hockey Festival, which set a Guinness World Record for the largest family participation in a sporting event.

Despite being a small community, he highlighted the Kodava community’s remarkable ability to showcase its rich culture and sporting spirit. Additionally, Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken, who previously raised the festival’s prominence in Parliament, proposed establishing a hockey training centre in Kodagu, leveraging the region’s favourable elevation. Ponnanna said a survey is currently underway at Ammathi for this initiative. 

Madikeri MLA Dr. Mantar Gowda called for collective efforts to ensure the success of the silver jubilee edition and assured his support for the event.

Former MLA and Speaker K.G. Bopaiah fondly recalled the festival’s inception by Pandanda Kuttappa, popularly known as Kuttani, a retired State Bank of India official and a hockey enthusiast, in 1997.

He mentioned the Rs. 5 lakh grant provided in 2008 under the then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and the subsequent Rs. 1 crore grant given to the Appachettolanda family. Given the festival’s silver jubilee, he urged the government to allocate a Rs. 2 crore grant this year.

Former MLC Shantheyanda Veena Achaiah,  prominent figures from the Muddanda family, including family Pattedara (head) Dali Thimmaiah, Organising Committee Hon. President Muddanda B. Devaiah, Kodava Hockey Academy President Pandanda Bopanna, Muddanda Ponnappa and others were present.

Hockey Festival Secretary Muddanda Adya Thammaiah announced plans for a traditional fashion show showcasing India’s diverse culture during the semi-finals and finals. The event will also feature musical performances by renowned singers to captivate the spectators.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports> News / January 13th, 2025

Hyderabad | The Feet on Earth Festival 2025 to celebrate ‘vriksha’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, , , ,

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 Kolli will 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

CM grants Rs. 1 cr. to Kundyolanda hockey tourney organisers

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bengaluru:  

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

Philanthropist in Madikeri celebrates 50th birthday by donating houses to homeless

Amazing Feats, Records, All, , , , ,

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