Indian Arms Act Exemption: Four Kodava Organisations Implead Themselves In PIL

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All

Bengaluru:

Federation of Kodava Samajas, Balugodu, Kodava Samaja Bengaluru (KSB), Codava National Council (CNC) and United Kodava Organisation (UKO) filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) urging the Karnataka High Court to consider them as respondents in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed with regard to gun licence exemption to Kodavas. 

The PIL has been filed by Captain (Rtd.) Yaladalu K. Chethan, who has questioned the 2019 notification of granting exemption to Kodavas in Kodagu district from the requirement to obtain a licence to carry and possess firearms as required under provisions of the Indian Arms Act, 1959.

The PIL came before the High Court yesterday and was heard by the Division Bench of Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum, who have directed the inclusion of Federation of Kodava Samajas, KSB, CNC and UKO as respondents in the PIL. 

While Additional Solicitor General Naragund appeared for the Central Government, senior advocate and former Additional Advocate General of Karnataka A.S. Ponnanna appeared for CNC and the Federation. Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya appeared for KSB and UKO was represented by Praveen Reddy. 

The Division Bench asked the respondents and the Centre to file their objections and views in writing within two weeks and posted the PIL hearing to Aug. 31. 

Petitioner Chethan, son of Yaladalu D. Keshavananda of Galibeedu village in Kodagu, has questioned the Constitutional validity of the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs extending the exemption for “every person of Coorg race and every Jamma tenure land holder in Coorg” from gun licence till October 31, 2029.

“The classification and use of term ‘Coorg race’ promotes discrimination between the citizens of Coorg region on the ground of caste, violating Article 15 of the Constitution. The classification of ‘Coorg race’ itself is derogatory and possesses a threat to the life and liberty as the people exempted are permitted to hold arms and ammunition without any scrutiny of their antecedents or criminal records,” the PIL said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 12th, 2021

Niki Poonacha balances tennis and a good cause in local tournament

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
File picture of Niki Poonacha.   –  KAMESH SRINIVASAN

Former National champion Niki Poonacha is finding time for a social cause amidst his tennis training.

The 26-year-old Niki, who had won the last ITF men’s tournament here in April, is helping in the organisation of a men’s ranking tournament in Chennai in collaboration with Rotaract Club of Madras and the Tennishub.

“The tournament will be held at the PowerPak Tennis Academy in Tharamani from September 2 to 5. The winner and runner-up will get ₹10,000 and ₹5,000 apart from goodies from tennishub,” said Niki. “All the funds raised from the event will be donated to Mahaishwar School for mentally challenged.”

Niki has been training well for the international circuit. “I am looking forward to competing in Tunisia and Egypt soon,” said Niki who trains at the Rohan Bopanna Academy in Bengaluru.

Registration for the tournament can be done on the link, https://forms.gle/qXRkcSUgt1BKVuSi7.

source: http://www.sportstar.thehindu.com / Sportstar / Home> Tennis / by Kamlesh Srinivasan / New Delhi – August 15th, 2021

2A Category Reservation For Panchamasali, Gowda Lingayats: Community People To Start ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ Campaign From Aug. 26

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

Mysore/Mysuru:

Urging the Government to provide reservation to Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat communities under 2-A category, a ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign will be launched from Aug. 26 to 30 to remind the Government on its promise of reservation.

Announcing this at a press meet after holding a meeting of Panchamasali and Gowda Lingayat community leaders at Hosamutt here on Monday, Sri Basava Jayamruthyunjaya Swamiji of Kudalasangama said that the community Seers and leaders had taken out a 750-km padayatra from Kudalasangama in Bagalkot district to the State Capital Bengaluru a couple of months ago seeking 2A category reservation for Panchamasali Lingayat and Gowda Lingayat communities. 

Pointing out that a massive convention was held at Palace Ground in Bengaluru following the culmination of the padayatra, he said that the convention had passed a unanimous resolution seeking reservation when the then B.S. Yediyurappa-headed Government had assured of seriously considering the demand. 

But now, in the changed political circumstances, Basavaraj Bommai, who had expressed support to the demand as a Minister then, has now become the Chief Minister. As such, the ‘Pratigna Panchayat’ campaign is being held from Aug. 26 to 30, from M.M. Hills in Chamarajangar district to Bengaluru  to remind the Government of its promise on reservation, the Seer said.

Maintaining that the then CM Yediyurappa had assured of fulfilling their demand by Sept. 2021, the Swamiji warned of  staging a dharna at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Oct. 1, marking the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J.H. Patel, if the Government fails to act on the demand by then.

Hosamutt Seer Sri Chidananda Swamiji, Lingayat Gowda Mahasabha State President Alanahalli  Puttaswamy, Panchamasali-Gowda Lingayat Co-ordination Committee Convenor and farmer leader A. Mallesh, Nataraj of Bengaluru, Shivakumar of Hassan, L.B. Patil of Mandya, Babitha Muthanna of Kodagu,  Community leaders Gangambika, Gowramma, Virupakshamma, Shambhu Patel and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 11th, 2021

Navy kicks off rally to Madikeri to mark Goa’s Liberation

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
The Sea Riders, a group of motorcyclists, will cover close to 1,000km to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and Goa’s Liberation

Panaji :

Folding away their crisp white uniforms and fatigues, the Indian Navy’s Sea Riders kicked off a six-day expedition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Goa’s Liberation and 75 years of India’s independence. Ten riders from Goa Naval Area are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri and will return to Goa by August 14.

The Sea Riders are a group of passionate motorcyclists from the Indian Navy, including women, who have undertaken  several expeditions across the country, including to the North Eastern estates, to create awareness. The six-day expedition will see the riders covering close to 1,000km.

“A motorcycle rally is being undertaken by Goa Naval Area to commemorate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and the diamond jubilee of Goa’s Liberation. Ten riders are participating in the ride from Goa to Madikeri,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Flag Officer Commanding Goa Area Rear Admiral Philipose G Pynumootil flagged off the rally from the War Memorial, INS Gomantak on August 9.

The War Memorial at INS Gomantak was erected in honour of the personnel who made the supreme sacrifice during Goa Liberation.

At Madikeri, the riders will visit Field Marshal Cariappa Memorial, General Thimayya Museum and Sainik School, Kodagu.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> News> City News> Goa News / TNN / August 10th, 2021

Denmark Masters: India’s Ashwini Ponnappa, Sikki Reddy runners-up in women’s doubles

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Ashwini-Sikki runners-up in Denmark

New Delhi :

India women’s doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy finished runners-up at the Denmark Masters after going down narrowly against top seeds Amalie Magelund and Freja Ravn of Denmark in the final here.

The Indian pair, seeded second, squandered an opening game advantage to lose 21-15 19-21 14-21 to the Danish combination in just under an hour’s contest.

Among other Indians, Lakshya Sen had lost in the semi-finals to France’s Christo Popov, while his brother Chirag Sen and Subhankar Dey, seeded fourth, bowed out at the quarter-final stages.

In women’s singles, Aakarshi Kashyap was the most impressive but lost the semi-final to fourth seed Dane Julie Dawall Jakobsen.

source:http://www.mykhel.com / myKhel / Home> Badminton> News / by Unnikrishnan G / August 09th, 2021

Tata Coffee Has Agreed To Sell Koraput Coffee In Global Market, Informs Odisha CM

Coffee News

Bhubaneswar:

 In what could be more financial stability for coffee growers in Odisha, Tata Coffee has agreed to procure coffee from the State. Announcing the development, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today informed coffee procured from growers in Koraput district by the Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd (TDCCOL) will be sold by Tata Coffee across the country and abroad.

Patnaik further informed Tata Coffee has agreed to keep the uniqueness of Koraput Coffee intact while selling it in the market.

He hoped the cooperation of Tata Coffee will help the socio-economic development of coffee growers in the State. This will also ensure livelihood of tribals get secured, the Chief Minister added.

He heaped praised on Sulochana Khara from Kasamapadar village and said, “Khara has set an example for others as a successful coffee grower by selling over 200 kg coffee beans to TDCCOL. Her contribution in popularizing Koraput Coffee is commendable.”

The State government provided forest land rights of 46,000 acres to 30,000 families till June 2021. The TDCCOL procured 28,790 kg coffee beans from 193 tribal coffee growers in Laxmipur, Kashipur, Dasmantpur, Nandapur, Lamataput, Koraput and Pottangi blocks of Koraput district in 2020-21.

Official sources said the government targeted to grow coffee in 80 hectares more in 2021-22.

source: http://www.sambadenglish.com / Sambad English / Home> Odisha Latest / by Sambad English Bureau / August 08th, 2021

India rises again, it’s time to reach for gold, nurture young talent: MM Somaiah

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

In fact, the Tokyo Olympics win is reminiscent of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, when India brought home the gold in hockey.

Chitradurga : 

A resurgent India has shown the world that the fire is still alive, and Thursday’s 5-4 victory over a strong German side is much to cheer about. In fact, the Tokyo Olympics win is reminiscent of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, when India brought home the gold in hockey.

Former India captain and lone Karnataka player of the winning team, MM Somaiah, said the game at Tokyo reminded him of the day they had played Spain in the finals, and a timely turn by his teammates helped the team scoop up a victory.

“The present team, which was 1-3 down, fought back well against Germany and equalled the score 3-3 by half-time, and finally won 5-4. The bronze medal has given a new lease of life for Indian hockey and the team should start strengthening its game now on, so that we go back to the golden era,” he added.

The country’s national sport, which was in a slump for some time, is back in the forefront and needs government support to surge ahead, Somaiah added. India’s bronze medal effort has come in for praise by many former internationals, who felt the players showed the grit they did in the Moscow Olympics finals; July 29, 1980 is a red-letter day for India.

The lanky right-half from Kodagu said the present team is mentally tough and doesn’t fear beating teams with higher rankings. “Though down 1-3, the Indians bounced back as the final whistle was blown. The entire team played a cohesive game and as a single unit. We are emotionally charged by the way our boys fought back,” he said.

Timely intervention by coach Graham Reid and the technical bench also helped the team excel in all aspects of the games, said Somaiah. He said that players at all levels need more exposure, and the academies at Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and Manipur should be replicated in every corner of the country, to tap and train the best hockey talents.

On the need to support hockey in Karnataka and especially Kodagu, Somaiah said the game needs support from all sections of society, including the government, so that young talents can be nurtured. Reacting to a question on foreign coaches, he said the nationality of coaches is immaterial, but the person in charge of the team should give it his best shot. 

The performance of the Indian team was exemplary, and our boys scripted a historic win on foreign soil after a gap of four decades. All the players played exceptionally well, though the efforts of goalkeeper PR Sreejesh were really commendable and his saves were excellent. The performance should inspire youngsters, so that hockey can flourish again in the country and Karnataka, said former goalkeeper and Hockey Karnataka secretary AB Subbaiah.

He said the time has come for governments to frame a sports policy where more school-level hockey tournaments and competitions take place. The private sector should also support sports in a big way, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sports> Olympics / by G Subhash Chandra, Express News Service / August 06th, 2021

Kodava An Optional Language In Mangalore University

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Madikeri: 

Mangalore University will introduce Kodava as an optional language for undergraduate programmes. The University Academic Council has approved the introduction of Kodava as an optional language for degree classes in the colleges affiliated to the University. MA in Kodava language will also be introduced subsequently. 

“Regulations have been prepared. Once it is finalised, it will be placed before the Syndicate and Academic Council for approval,” Vice-Chancellor Dr. P.S. Yadapadithaya said. The Academic Council also approved the syllabus for the undergraduate programmes.

Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy President Parvathi Appaiah, who is also the Academic Council Member, said that an Expert Committee has already prepared the syllabus. The textbooks will be printed by Prasaranga of Mangalore University.

Kodava language or the ‘Kodava Thakk’ is a mixture of all Dravidian languages. It has adopted words from Tulu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. It has emerged into a separate linguistic identity now. 

Kodava language is largely restricted to Kodagu district, besides a few settlers in Mysuru and Bengaluru and other major cities in the country and abroad. Kodava language is predominantly written in the Kannada script.

According to the census data, for the Kodavas, the problem of declining language is compounded due to a reducing population. Several Kodavas, especially those who have moved out of Kodagu, are now speaking English or Kannada at home.

The initiative by the Mangalore University to introduce Kodava as an optional language for Undergraduate courses will provide the much-needed boost to the language.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 05th, 2021

‘Kakkada Padinett’ celebrated in Kodagu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

The 18th day of the solar month ‘Ati’ was celebrated as ‘Kakkada Padinett’ in Kodagu on Tuesday.

Special dishes ‘Patrode’ of taro leaves and porridge of ‘Ati Soppu’ were prepared on the occasion.

It is believed that the leaves are rich in medicinal properties on the 18th day of the month of ‘Ati’.

Consumption of various dishes, with the juice of ‘Ati’ leaves, is believed to boost immunity. Side dishes prepared out of meat are also served on the occasion.

The greetings of the special day were exchanged, along with the special dishes.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Shanivarasanthe / August 04th, 2021

The Rise Of Oxygen On Early Earth Linked To Changing Daylength

Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
A stromatolite. Such fossilized microbial mats are the oldest sign of life on Earth. 
D.BRESSAN

Virtually all oxygen on Earth was and is produced by photosynthesis, which was invented by tiny organisms, the cyanobacteria, when our planet was still a rather uninhabitable place. Cyanobacteria evolved more than 2.4 billion years ago, as stromatolites – fossilized microbial mats – show, but it took almost 2 billion years until Earth transformed to the oxygen-rich planet we know today.

“We do not fully understand why it took so long and what factors controlled Earth’s oxygenation,“ said geomicrobiologist Judith Klatt in a statement published by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin. “But when studying mats of cyanobacteria in the Middle Island Sinkhole in Lake Huron in Michigan, which live under conditions resembling early Earth, I had an idea.”

Klatt worked together with a team of researchers around Greg Dick from the University of Michigan to study the microbes and cyanobacteria community colonizing groundwater inflows on the bottom of Lake Huron, where the oxygen levels are very low.

A scuba diver observes the purple, white and green microbial mats covering rocks in Lake Huron’s … [+] 
PHIL HARTMEYER/NOAA/THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY

“Life on the lake bottom is mainly microbial, and serves as a working analog for the conditions that prevailed on our planet for billions of years”, says Bopi Biddanda, a collaborating microbial ecologist from the Grand Valley State University. “The microbes there are mainly purple oxygen-producing cyanobacteria that compete with white sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. The former generate energy with sunlight, the latter with the help of sulfur.”

source: http://www.forbes.com / Forbes.com / Home> Science / by David Bressan, Contributor / August 02nd, 2021