The annual get-together of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East, was held at its premises in Vidyashankara Nagar in Mysuru yesterday.
Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.
Association President Puliyanda S. Devaiah presided. Kodava Samaja Mysuru President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy was the special invitee.
On the occasion, MLA Ponnanna felicitated Senior Members of the Association for their services to the causes of community, institutions, education and in general — Kuppanda M. Achaiah, Manipanda A. Muthanna and Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Founder-Editor Kalyatanda B. Ganapathy, who received Hon. Doctorate from University of Mysore recently.
Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East, runs an educational institution — The Kodagu Model School — from LKG to X Standard at Vidyashankara Nagar here.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 04th, 2023
A unique project exhibition titled, ANVESHANE-2, aimed at inculcating scientific and research bent of mind among students leading to new perspectives, will be held at the Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT) here on Dec. 15.
The competitions would be held in three different groups. Students from SSLC, PUC and Diploma Engineering are eligible to participate in the event.
SSLC students can come up with projects relating to Science and Environmental Science and the winners of first three places will take home a cash prize of Rs. 8,000, Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 4,000 respectively.
Subjects for PU students for coming up with the projects relate to the streams of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. There are two cash awards in each of the category with the winner eligible to get Rs. 10,000 and the runner-up getting Rs. 6,000.
In the Diploma Engineering category, projects are related to the fields of Computer Science & Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Electronics & Communication Engineering. Cash award would be given in each of the categories. Winner will get Rs. 10,000 while runner-up will take home a sum of Rs. 6,000. A maximum of three teams are eligible to take part in the competitions with a maximum of four students in a team.
Students interested should register names before Dec. 5 in the google form issued to Colleges for registrations.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 03rd, 2023
The annual get-together of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East, will be held at its premises at No. 4, Kaveri Road, Vidyashankaranagar, Mysuru, tomorrow (Dec. 3) at 10 am.
Association President Puliyanda S. Devaiah will preside. Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna will be the chief guest. Kodava Samaja Mysuru President Ponjanda
A. Ganapathy will be the special invitee.
Association Senior Members Kuppanda M. Achaiah and Maniyapanda A. Muthanna will be felicitated on the occasion.
Also, Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra Founder-Editor K.B. Ganapathy, who received Hon. Doctorate from University of Mysore recently, will be honoured as a special achiever.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / December 02nd, 2023
The weekend turned out to be an exciting and rewarding one for JK Tyre Motorsport driver Suhem Kabeer from Coorg, Karnataka supported by Vamcy Merla Sports Foundation, who was participating at the final round of Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) 2023 in Indonesia.
He managed to keep the Indian flag flying high with his determined and focused drive at the Danau Toba Rally with multiple podium finishes.
The APRC was running concurrently with the Danau Toba Rally of the Indonesia National Rally Championship (INRC). The JK Tyre Motorsport team of drivers were vying for top spot in the overall APRC in the NVA (National Vehicles Approval) class and in the M2 class of the INRC.
Driving a 4-wheel drive car in the rally for the first time with a limited testing time of 6 kms, three Indian drivers finished the APRC finale held in Indonesia within top 8, the rally was held along with the Indonesian Rally Championship.
A total of 12 stages amounted to about 150kms of special stage from a total of 433kms. The Danau Toba Rally was spread across 12 all-gravel roads from conditions varying from wide open plantation sections to twisty winding mountainous sections.
The stages were challenging, technical and fast, while due to rain the surface was repeatedly changing the coarse, thus forcing all the participants to drive cautiously. Thus, a huge amount of dropouts of about 28 were on second day. Indian drivers showed much maturity to adapt to the surface condition and reach to the finish.
In the NVA category, Suhem Kabeer (driver) along with PVS Murthy (co-driver) was the winner followed by Lokesh Gowda and Ashwin Naik in second position while the pair of Jahaan Singh Gill and Suraj Keshav Prasad finished in the third position.
In M2 class which was part of the Indonesia Rally Championship, Suhem and Murthy finished second as Lokesh and Ashwin were in third. The celebration just did not end with the drivers ruling the podium as team JK Tyre Motorsport was awarded the best team performance award.
Among all the India participants, Suhem Kabeer along with PVS Murthy finished fourth, Lokesh Gowda along with Ashwin Naik finished in fifth position. Sanjay Takale and Musa Sherif finished sixth, Jahaan Singh Gill and Suraj Prasad finished in eighth position in APRC overall.
Suhem Kabeer along with PVS Murthy on day one was 17th fastest in SSS. They began their day two very cautiously since the track was bit slippery. In the second stage of the day, they spun once and lost some time and managed to reach the remote service with no reverse gear. But fixing this issue in remote service was impossible as it was meant only for tyre change and refuelling. Thus with no option left for further two stages, they had to manage. But it became much worse before the last stage before service they had to take on the stage with only 3rd gear working, which was later fixed in service. They began the final day with about 8 min difference with the leader and hence catching them up was out of question and they also had good lead on their follower in third position and hence decided to just nurse back the car to the finish in fourth position.
“It was one of the most difficult rallies that I have been part of. It was an uncharted territory for us with little knowledge of the terrain. The slush made the stages very slippery and I had to dig deep into my reservoir to finish the event unscathed,” Suhem said.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> Karnataka / by Media Release / November 30th, 2023
In a significant move aimed at bolstering connectivity and infrastructure, the Kodagu District Administration has conducted a comprehensive land survey for the establishment of a mini airport or airstrip near Kushalnagar.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Venkat Raja is set to submit a detailed report to the State Government soon, marking a crucial step in the realisation of this long-anticipated project.
The survey team reviewed various factors crucial to the successful implementation of the initiative, first announced in 2018.
Previous surveys identified a 49.5-acre plot adjacent to Sainik School, Kushalnagar (Koodige) at Doddathoor village, stretching to the border of Basavanathoor village, for the purpose.
The Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) is the Nodal Agency to develop airstrips across Karnataka. The initial plan for the 49.5-acre plot involved a 950-metre airstrip, complete with basic facilities like the airstrip, terminal, security post and fencing. However, during inspection, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deemed the plot inadequate, prompting the District Administration to order a re-survey.
The recent survey identified more than 130 acres of land, under the jurisdiction of the Revenue Department at Dodda Aluvara village near Koodige, addressing the need for additional space.
DC Venkat Raja confirmed that the survey report will be submitted to the State Government soon and upon approval, the land will be handed over to the KSIIDC.
The successful completion of the mini airport terminal is expected to make a significant contribution to the region’s economic and infrastructural growth. The establishment promises improved connectivity and enhanced transportation options, fostering local development and attracting further investments.
The Government Order issued in 2018 outlines the development of airstrips in various locations, including Kushalnagar, Chikkamagalur, Karwar, Raichur, Gadag, Bagalkot, Davanagere, and Udupi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 18th, 2023
Pavi Poovappa is a popular Indian fashion model who started her career in the fashion industry in 2013.
Bigg Boss Kannada season 10, hosted by Kiccha Sudeep, is currently in full swing. The show has managed to capture the attention of the viewers, keeping them on the edge of their seats. The show has reached the halfway point, with exactly 50 days remaining. Meanwhile, Bigg Boss Kannada has a new twist for the viewers, where two new wild card entries are brought to the house by Avinash Shetty and Pavi Poovappa.
Today, let’s take a look at the professional and personal life of wild card entry Pavi Poovappa.
According to reports, Pavi Poovappa is a popular Indian fashion model who is known for her strong presence on social media platforms. She has walked the ramp for several prominent brands. The model is known for her style statement and her mesmerising photoshoots for different brands. She started her career in the fashion industry in 2013. Over the years, Pavi has emerged as an influential model. In 2015, she also won the title of Mr and Miss Flamingo Sandlehood Star contestant. She also secured the first position in Riz Fashion Miss Awesome Bangalore in 2016.
As a model, she also walked the ramp for numerous prestige events like Coimbatore Style Week, India Glam Fashion Week, Fermina Wedding Show, Prime Fashion Week, and Malabar Fashion Week.
She also participated in Miss Karnataka International and won the title of Miss Body Beautiful. In 2018, she appeared in the Kannada reality show Soppana Sundari, a modelling contest aired on Sun Life.
Talking about her life and family life, Pavi Poovappa hails from Kodagu, Karnataka.
She did her schooling at Lewa English High School in Bangalore. Later, she completed her graduation from Rajajainagar PU College in Rajajainagar. Her father passed away in 2006 and her mother’s name is Panikuttira Pannnamma. She also has a brother, Rakesh Poovappa. As per reports, Pavi Poovappa has been dating DJ Maddy since 2020.
On the other hand, the other wild card contestant, Avinash Shetty, is also known as Asthik Avinash Shetty. He is an actor and model, initially making his mark in Tulu cinema with the film Jai Tulunadu and later featuring in Kannada films like Power alongside Puneeth Rajkumar.
source: http://www.news18.com / News18 / Home> Movies / by Entertainment Bureau , Local News Desk / November 28th, 2023
Hundreds of Kodava community members assembled at the Mysuru Kodava Samaja in Vijayanagar First Stage yesterday evening to witness a unique tradition of Kodava Paithande Namme.
The event, organised by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, Madikeri and Sri Bhagavathi Kodava Association, Mysuru, was inaugurated by Maj. Gen. Codanda K. Karumbaya SM (Retd.) It was presided over by Biddatanda S. Thammaiah, the Chairman of Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy.
In the past, Kodava society had a practice of honouring mothers who gave birth to ten or more children and they used to be respectfully adored as a great mother. Such mothers used to be honoured in a public function ‘Mangala’ (marriage ceremony) called ‘Paithandekkalapa’ or ‘Paithande Namme.’
The age-old tradition was introduced to the audience along with the rituals practiced during Paithande Namme. According to the organisers, the event was organised to recall the traditions that are rarely practiced now or are on the verge of extinction.
Apart from Paithande Namme, traditional dances including Bolakaat, Ummathat and Kathiyat were performed. The main attraction of the evening was, however, the mock show of Narimangala (wedding of a hunted tiger), a custom unique to Kodavas where the hunter of a tiger is wedded to the soul of the animal. The ritual was performed complete with traditional dresses, swords, guns, bands and other paraphernalia.
Minority Status :
Along with these traditional performances, the event was also a platform for chief guests to speak about the welfare of Kodavas. In his inaugural address, Maj. Gen. Codanda K. Karumbaya SM (Retd.) said that the Kodava Sahitya Academy was doing good work to preserve Kodava traditions within Kodagu district and also outside.
“We Kodavas do not have facilities like reservation as we are economically and educationally forward. But it is imperative for us to obtain minority status as enshrined in the Indian Constitution,” he said and called upon the community to stay united and fight for minority status. He suggested Kodavas to have one organisation to fight for recognitions and welfare of the community.
Political Representation :
In his address, Superintendent of Police (retired), Directorate of Civil Enforcement Mysuru Aramanamada K. Suresh opined that Kodavas must have a political representation. “We are a small community and we should ensure that we have representation in the Legislative Assembly and Council. This will give the much-needed political power to the community,” he said
“As Kodavas are educationally forward, the youths must take up competitive examinations and make a place for themselves in the upper echelons of the government,” he added.
Vanishing Traditions :
Speaking on vanishing Kodava culture and traditions, Keethiyanda Kavya Kuttappa said that the unique traditional Kodava attire which people wore on all occasions earlier has become rare now. “This is because Kodavas blindly ape Western culture. Unfortunately, some Kodavas think speaking Kodava language is improper,” she said.
“Many Kodavas have migrated to cities in search of employment and they have forgotten the customs and traditions. They don’t even go to their roots in Kodagu and this is the reason why traditions are being forgotten,” she opined. In a fervent plea to parents, Kavya said that it was their responsibility to ensure that their children dress well when they attend community and public functions.
On the occasion, a book “Kodira Poomale” written by Uluvangada Cauvery Uday was released by former BBMP Corporator Kaddaniyanda Harish Bopanna and Academy Chairman Biddatanda S. Thammaiah.
A CD that was brought out in 1985 on “Kodava Baalopaat” sung by late Napanda Thimmaiah and team from Garvale village in Kodagu was released by Mysuru Kodava Samaja President Moovera K. Kuttappa. The original CD was brought out by Thammu Poovaiah and Ambika of Nada Lahari, Madikeri.
Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy felicitated the President of Sri Bhagavathi Kodava Association Ballachanda D. Subbaiah. A book and CD sale was also organised.
Kodava MLA Candidate:
Concurring with Aramanamada K. Suresh on political representation to Kodavas, businessman and former BBMP Corporator Kaddaniyanda Harish Bopanna (in pic) regretted that Kodavas were dominated by other communities in Kodagu, their homeland. He appealed the community members to elect a Kodava candidate to the Assembly irrespective of the political party.
He also advised Kodavas not to sell their properties in Kodagu to others but instead sell them within the community if it is inevitable. He called upon them to support Kodava youth who have set up businesses in Kodagu and outside.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /July 13th, 2017
From raising funds to conducting door-to-door campaigns, PE teacher Poornesh Shetty has left no stone unturned to ensure a sports education for his students in Karnataka’s Kodagu.
While Poornesh Shetty is yet to accept himself as Kodagu’s Kabir Khan – a character essayed by Shah Rukh Khan in the famous sports drama Chak De India – the people of Karnataka’s Madikeri are already drawing parallels, he says. A physical education teacher, Shetty, 58, was recently recognised by the state government when he won the Best Teacher award at the state level for 2023-24.
From picking up the ball for hockey players at Somwarpet’s Blue Star Hockey Club in the 80s to captaining his school hockey team in Class 7, Shetty is now a proud physical education teacher in Boykeri, who counts hockey Olympians Arjun Halappa and S V Sunil as his students, among others.
A hockey player himself, Shetty has been training government school students in Kodagu in hockey since 1992. He later went on to pursue a C.Ped (Certificate in Physical Education). In 1994, Shetty was appointed the physical education teacher at the Boykeri Government Higher Primary School in Kodagu district’s Madikeri taluk.
“When I joined the government school in Boykeri as a PT teacher, I realised that the school did not have enough space for sports. I later called up the kids working at nearby coffee plantations and school students to dig up space and level the field for playing sports. By 1996, the school had a playground and I started training students in hockey and athletics,” says Shetty.
Shetty pooled money and sports equipment from donors and well-wishers to support aspiring hockey players. “My friend Dhananjay, who is a pilot, financially supported me to buy hockey bats, shoes, socks and T-shirts for the students to practice hockey,” he recalls.
Shetty is also instrumental in coaching government school girl students who later went on to participate in hockey tournaments at the state and national levels, including in Gujarat, Bihar and other states. While he helps students enrol in the District Youth Sports Hostel in Madikeri after Class 4, he also pushes students to join the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Ponnampet after Class 7 for further training in hockey.
Besides sports, Shetty was also recognised by the government for various academic interventions to ensure his government school in Boykeri did not close down. The school once had about 380 students from Class 1 to 7. However, over the years, the strength dropped to a mere 52. “To keep the government school going, we had to enrol children. So I decided to conduct door-to-door outreach creating awareness on education and more importantly, the benefits of enrolling children in government schools. We lost admissions significantly because of convent schools nearby. So I emphasised the fact that if their children enrolled in government schools, they would get eggs, milk, midday meals, and textbooks for free,” says Shetty.
He adds, “With this outreach programme, along with the help of teaching staff, we managed to register students right from the anganwadis. If we can get students to enrol from anganwadis, it would be easier for us to retain them till high school.”
In fact, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Shetty’s brother Hemanth, an MBBS doctor, and his friends collectively raised funds worth Rs 20 lakh to keep the government school running. Through this, Shetty managed to use Rs 15 lakh for building a dining hall, science laboratory, sports room, library, and toilets for the school.
In addition, Shetty also established Tycoon Sports Club along with 50 other sportspersons by pooling in Rs 25,000 each. With professional trainers, the club trains youngsters and adults in hockey, swimming, athletics and other sports. Shetty also teaches swimming in April every year to nearly 150 students in a day.
“I believe a lot of parents advise their kids on the importance of education but they will not lay much emphasis on sports. Which is why I believe in giving equal balance between sports and education, to ensure they either become employable or professional sportspersons in the future,” says Shetty.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Sanath Prasad, Bengaluru / September 09th, 2023
Ketolira Seetavva Ganapathy from Naladi village in Kakkabbe near Napoklu, celebrated her 100th birthday at Muttavva auditorium, on Sunday.
During a fun-filled ceremony, Seetavva was flanked by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and relatives.
Seetavva is the youngest of the five children of Mepadiyanda Mandanna and Subbavva of Karada village. She was born in 1920. She was married to Ketolira Ganapathy of Naladi village in 1941.
Seetavva Ganapathy has nine children – five boys and four girls.
Her husband Ganapathy passed away at the age of 45 and since then, Seetavva raised her children, carrying the mantle of responsibilities on her shoulders.
There are 67 members in her family, including children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Seetavva’s son Appanna and grandson Kaddaniyanda Harish Bopanna spoke on the occasion.
Centenarian Seetavva wished good health and prosperity to all people.
There’s so much more to a coffee trail as we discover in this quick getaway to the hills of Kodagu…
Coffee was the mood that reigned in the last few weeks — what with the World Coffee Conference & Expo 2023 that just concluded in Bengaluru and World Coffee Day or International Coffee Day observed on October 1 — the cuppa was everywhere and we coffee-holics weren’t complaining one bit! This was also the perfect time for us to head to Coorg or Kodagu — the hill-station where the commercial story of coffee in India began.
Know-it-alls will now feel the need to correct us and say coffee was first cultivated in the nearby Chikkamagaluru district and how Baba Budan Giri was where it all began and we will fully agree; Coorg, however was where commercial plantations began and that is why even today, South Indian coffee is synonymous with this district — that is the proud homeland of the Kodava or Coorgi people.
Now, most trips to this cool elevated coffee country would take the preferred route through the capital, Madikeri or Mercara, and would involve a mandatory visit to a coffee plantation, a processing plant and maybe, some shopping along the way. We, however, decided to go deeper into this verdant paradise — to the Pollibetta area — home to several of the Tata-owned coffee plantations in Karnataka.
We were there for a curated experience at the estates and also to check out the plethora of offerings under (Tata Consumer Products Limited) TCPL’s branded coffee portfolio like Tata Coffee Grand, Tata Coffee Gold and Tata Coffee Quick Filter. Puneet Das (president, packaged beverages, India & South Asia, TCPL) introduced us to several of the new formats including the delectable chukku coffee decoction variants that we are sure will take over the market very soon.
Our stay, however, was organised at one of the many bungalows strewn across these estates that are now a part of the Ama Plantation Trails. One of the newest product offerings from Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). Ama Trails and Stays, a group of heritage bungalows, guesthouses and homestays at unique locations across the country are meant for the curious and adventurous at heart who also have a penchant for old-world luxury.
We were assigned the Surgi Bungalow, a 40-year-old property in its current avatar, but probably around 150-years old, that is just across the road from Tata Coffee’s picturesque nine-hole golf course in Pollibetta. Perfect for a group of six, the bungalow’s three bedrooms can occupy two individuals each, thus making it a comfortable stay for a family or group of six.
Food is cooked in the bungalow and is catered to by IHCL, so expect high quality and standards, as well as a menu that can be altered for even the fussiest of eaters. We were welcomed that evening with hot cups of jaggery coffee, aloo bondas and an assortment of bajjis and pakodas — perfect eats for the now dropping mercury as the evening chill set in. Dinner was served almost immediately after and was a surprisingly large spread.
It didn’t take much of an effort to head to bed early that night. Cold weather and full tummies make the best combination for peaceful sleep and the next thing we remember was it was 6 am and our alarms had gone off simultaneously — quite the cacophony to be honest, especially when you’re in an environment so quiet, you can probably hear the squirrels, up in the trees, breathe.
We chugged down mug-fulls of Tata Coffee Grand and headed out for an estate walk that lasted for over two hours. Picking ripe avocados and smelling a gazillion flowers along the way, this is the perfect time to discover these plantations and estates on foot. The air still has a chill and the humidity of the afternoon is far away. There’s also a sense of childlike amusement with the symphony of bird-calls and animal chitterings that give you quite the jocund company throughout the walk.
Building up quite the appetite, breakfast was an elaborate affair and thankfully so. Post breakfast, we advise you to do what we did — relax in the well-kempt gardens, read a book or take a quick snooze. Checkout is only at 12 noon and so you have quite a few hours to make the most of this romantic bungalow experience. You could also ask for a guided estate visit, where you will learn the A to Z of coffee growing and lots more. Coffee tastings can also be organised.
Perfect for family getaways or for that gang of friends who like the leisurely life, the Ama Trails and Stays offer several other bungalow stay options here, including but not limited to Taneerhulla Bungalow & Cottage, Woshully Bungalow, Cottabetta Bungalow and Polibetta Bungalow.
INR 28,000 onwards. Nearest railhead and airhead: Mysuru. Five hour drive from Bengaluru and three hour drive from Mysuru.
Email: romal@newindianexpress.com X: @elromal
source: http://www.indulgexpress.com / The New Indian Express, INDULGE / Home> Travel / by Romal Laisram / October 05th, 2023
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