Category Archives: Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg

It’s important to surround yourself with people who keep you positive: Shubra Aiyappa

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

Actress and supermodel Shubra Aiyappa  has been spending most of the lockdown time last in her hometown Coorg, where yoga, meditation, reading and dancing have kept her happy. She caught up with us over a video chat to share her experiences through the pandemic and more.

Despite being home, amid near-and-dear ones and lush greenery, Shubra  admits that she got bogged down during the second wave, what with all the devastating news that was doing the rounds. “We were taken by shock by the onset of the pandemic, but we thought we were prepared for everything after that. But the second wave has been hard for all of us. It has hit home, a lot of people we know have lost their lives. It has been difficult and we have learnt a lot of lessons. It has been more heart-wrenching for my family and me,” she says, adding, “I’ve had the luxury of being in Coorg, which has been nothing short of a blessing. I chose to keep away from news channels and newspapers to preserve my sanity. Personally, I am better when I am happy and I found my peace by doing yoga, reading books and meditation. I have continued this through the two waves. I am close to my family and my friends have been a strong support system. At times like these, it is important to surround yourself with the right people who pep you up and keep you positive. There have been bad days, but being away in Coorg and doing what I love doing has helped.”

The actress is particularly upbeat when she talks about yoga. “Many years ago, I had a problem with my uterus that required hospitalization. Surgery was suggested as a solution, but we were not sure if that was the right choice. A friend then put us on to a yoga teacher who promised to make the problem go away in only three months. We tried that and when I went back to the doctor, my issue was sorted and, ever since, I have been fine. Yoga changed me for the better and that is why I am so passionate about it,” she beams.

The other positive factor that has helped keep Shubra sane is her love for reading. “I began modeling when I was 17. You tend to spend a lot of hours at airports or on flights, which can get boring. I chose to fight this by reading, which became a habit and at a time like this, when someone like me who loves to travel cannot do much of it, books have transported me to different places, times and situations,” she says.


With things slowly starting to get back to a semblance of normalcy, Shubra is thrilled to be back at work. “I am so excited about my new film Aaganya , in which my character will have two distinct shades. The first half will see me kicking some butt, which is exciting and challenging. I have returned home from the shoot with bruises, but it is so gratifying. We’ve finished one schedule. We begin shooting for the next schedule this week with a small crew and all precautions in place,” she states.

She also has her next Kannada film underway. “I am doing a Kannada film titled  Ramana Avatara. It was announced a while ago, but has been delayed owing to the pandemic and other factors. We have shot for a few days earlier and I will continue with the rest probably next month. So, it is an exciting time, because I get back to work and I have so much gratitude to be able to say that,” wraps Shubra.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies / by TNN – Sunayana Suresh / June 24th, 2021

Star-struck fan travels over 900 kms to see Rashmika Mandanna

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All
Rashmika Mandanna will be next seen in Telugu film Pushpa. (Photo: rashmika_mandanna/Instagram)

All along the way, Akash Tripathi kept asking people for directions to Rashmika Mandanna’s residence. People grew suspicious and informed the police.

A star-struck fan of actor Rashmika Mandanna travelled all the way from Telangana to Kodagu in Karnataka, a distance of over 900 kms, to meet her but had to return after police convinced him to do so.

Akash Tripathi from Telangana is a die-hard fan of Mandanna. Wanting to see her, Tripathi used Google search to reach her and he took a train to Mysuru, then a cargo auto to Muggula near Virajpet in Kodagu, the home district of the actor.

All along the way, he kept asking people for directions to the actor’s residence. People grew suspicious and informed the police.

Soon, the police stopped Tripathi and told him to go back to Telangana as Kodagu was under lockdown. The fan also got to know that he cannot see the actor as she was away in Mumbai for a film shoot, the police said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Telugu / by PTI, Madikeri / June 24th, 2021

Lt. Gen. Channira Bansi Ponnappa Is 11th Corps Commander

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Madikeri:

Lieutenant General Channira Bansi Ponnappa, AVSM (Ati Vishisht Seva Medal) has been appointed as 11th Corps Commander. He took charge at Jalandhar in Punjab recently.  

With this appointment, the hilly Kodagu district, which has a long and illustrious history of courageous top Defence Officers, for which it is known as the ‘Land of Army Generals’, has added one more feather to its cap. 

Till now, Lieutenant General Bansi Ponnappa was the Chief of Staff Northern Command at Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir. At present, there are two Corps Commanders serving in the Indian Army from Kodagu District. 

While Lieutenant General Bansi Ponnappa is 11th Corps Commander at Jalandhar, Lieutenant General Codanda P. Cariappa is First Corps Commander at Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. 

Bansi Ponnappa hails from Nangala village near Bittangala in Virajpet taluk and is the son of Channira Ponnappa and Meera (Konerira, Virajpet Boikeri). He is married to Nitya Medappa (Keethiyanda). His son Nishanth is serving the Indian Navy as an officer and daughter Sunaina is studying in Bengaluru. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 04th, 2020

Retaining Wall Works Begin To Protect Kodagu DC Office

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

Mock drill demonstrates emergency preparedness 

Madikeri/Kushalnagar:

Under threat of collapse due to incessant rains and possible landslides, the Kodagu DC Office is being protected with a 40-ft concrete retaining wall. But the works have started only now though the project was formally sanctioned long back and works on making pre-cast concrete slabs began in February this year. 

Now the works have begun amidst heavy rains and a small portion of the wall has been built. The steep gradient on which the DC Office stands has been covered tightly with plastic sheets so that mud does not fall while undertaking the works. Rs. 5 crore is being spent on the project. 

The District  Administrative Office (DC Office) is located on a steep gradient along the Madikeri-Mangaluru Road and was built at a cost of Rs. 14.43 crore. It was inaugurated in November 2014 and last year, all the offices located in the DC Office Complex were shifted and they operated from the Office of City Municipal Council. 

Officials requesting anonymity told Star of Mysore that the works were delayed because of COVID second wave and the tendering too got delayed though the project was sanctioned long back. The Geologists from Geological Survey of India (GSI) who conducted a study of the steep gradient on top of which the DC Office is located, had recommended the District Administration to construct a retaining wall to prevent  any landslides. 

The wall will be 140 meters in length and the height varies from 30 to 40 feet. The contractors are using soil nailing and pre-casting method to build the sturdy wall. In this technology, iron rods are inserted into the walls up to two to three feet inside and two to three feet outside and then the wall will be built with pre-cast concrete material.

“Works have started now and we will continue the wall construction work till July first week and will stop the work if it rains incessantly. We have a project completion time till December or January 2022,” officials said.

Mock drill 

As the threat perception is high due to a couple of landslides that have occurred on the Madikeri-Mangaluru Road and following instances of road caving in and cracking open, a mock drill was conducted at the DC office last Friday where employees were evacuated. 

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire and Emergency Services Department conducted the mock drill where drills including evacuating the injured or the trapped were demonstrated and practiced. Ladders were placed on the outer walls of the building and ropes were used to demonstrate the preparedness in case of emergencies.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 21st, 2021

Kodagu-Based Indian Officer Shines At US Naval War College

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

Mysore/Mysuru:

Lieutenant Commander Suraj Aiyappa of the Indian Navy has made our country proud by winning the highest number of Awards this year and the highest ever accoladed to an Indian Officer, at the Naval Staff Course of the U.S. Naval War College.

Notably, Suraj has been awarded the Second Place in the national-level Secretary of Defense National Strategy Essay Competition across all Military Institutions in the US, joining a rare and elite group of International Officers to have achieved this feat.     

In addition, Suraj has also been awarded two prestigious Writing Awards (First Position), including the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Counter-terrorism Prize and the Naval Staff College International Essay Award at the U.S. Naval War College.    

Suraj is also the only International Officer this year and the first Indian Officer to earn a Graduate Certificate in Ethics and Emerging Military Technologies from the U.S. Naval War College. He has graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Defense and Strategic Studies.

Suraj is the son of Lt. Col. Mukkatira A. Kariappa, SM (Retd.) and Saraswathy Kariappa (Thamane – Annalamada), who are residing at Sena Vihar (A.W.H.O.), Bengaluru. 

Suraj’s elder sister Pooja Kariappa is Head – Human Resources at Vascon Engineers Limited, Pune.   

Suraj is married to Dr. Yamuna (Thamane-Maneyapanda) who is a Dentist by profession.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 14th, 2021

When Kodagu’s Aiyanna Outran The Flying Sikh

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports

Mysore/Mysuru:

No one flew like Milkha Singh. We all have heard about ‘Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh but how many of us have heard about Kunjiyanda Aiyanna from Kodagu district who had defeated Milkha Singh?

Aiyanna had trounced the Flying Sikh in a 100-metre race in 1951. While Aiyanna had clocked 10.69 seconds, Milkha Singh clocked 10.75 seconds. Who better than Aiyanna could understand the importance of 0.06 seconds? 

Aiyanna represented Karnataka in the National-level 100 mts. He has a credit of winning over Milkha Singh several times at National-level Meets and held the record for 100 mts for some period, unbeaten. Aiyanna never got recognition for his achievement and his name was hidden in the annals of history. 

His feat came to light only after the news of Milkha Singh passing away flashed across the media yesterday. By evening, Aiyanna became a known name in many Kodava families. Hailing from Kavadi Village at Ammathi in Kodagu district, Aiyanna was born on Aug. 2, 1929 to Kunjiyanda Chinnappa and Seethavva (Macharanda). 

He joined the Indian Army and served the Artillery Division. As he was a sprinter, his commanding officers recognised his talent and began training him amidst his Army duties. Aiyanna proved to be a true sportsperson and honed his skills to reach his defining moment that came in the form of National-level 100 mts. He sprinted to glory and defeated people who later rose to be legends. But Aiyanna remained in obscurity.

Kunjiyanda Aiyanna in the first place and Milkha Singh second.

Aiyanna married Gowri (Palachanda), sister of P.M. Kalappa who served as Additional Superintendent of Police in Kodagu. The couple had two sons and a daughter — Anitha, Anil Belliappa and Arun Thammaiah. After serving the Army, Aiyanna worked for Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML). The unsung hero passed away in 1995 at an age of 65. 

Speaking to SOM this morning, Arun said that his father used to speak a lot about his achievements. “He used to tell us about how he struggled hard in athletics at a time when sports was considered a least priority in India and at a time when there were not even basic facilities for sportspersons. He told us about how people from South India were called ‘Madrasis’ and were looked down upon by sportspersons from North,” Arun said.

“The discrimination was clear and my father had to remain in obscurity. No one recognised him and despite this, he gave a stellar performance on tracks,” Arun, who studied in Bengaluru Sports Hostel, said. Arun runs a wedding management firm in Kodagu while his brother Anil works for BEML, Bengaluru. 

The 100-metre race in 1951 where Aiyanna trounced Milkha Singh.

Aiyanna’s brother 84-year-old Kunjiyanda Poovaiah is a resident of Gokulam in Mysuru and he was also an athlete who has participated in National Meets. “I had been to Delhi along with my brother a couple of times and since my brother was a sprinter, I did not pursue running much,” he said.“I am glad that my brother has been recognised at least now,” he added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 10th, 2021

Rohan Bopanna reaches 400 doubles victories

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Rohan bopanna 

He is an active legend, although sometimes it is difficult for us to locate these stars in the stunt circuit.

The Indian tennis player, who reached the quarterfinals at this last Roland Garros with Franko Skugor, left Paris with a special record: 400 wins in modality.

Another step in the legendary career of the 38-year-old tennis player.

This week, in the grass of Halle, he already had time to add the 401.

source: http://www.explica.com / Explica.co / Home> Tennis / by Explica.co / June 15th, 2021

Madikeri: Journalists turn active partners in servicing Covid affected people

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All
Journalists turn active partners in servicing Covid affected people
Journalists turn active partners in servicing Covid affected people

HIGHLIGHTS

Journalists in this hill district have proved that they can go beyond their call of duty and serve society actively.

Madikeri:

Journalists in this hill district have proved that they can go beyond their call of duty and serve society actively.

The Kodagu district Press Club president Ramesh Kuttappa has formed ‘Madhyama Spandana’ to reach out to the poor, disabled and Covid patients after the pandemic broke out in the country over a year ago.

The team supplies food and medicines to coronavirus patients with the money raised from donors. As the district is hilly terrain, no public transport is available for the poor to buy medicines. The team comprising 50 journalists have supported poor families by paying school fees of their children.

The State government has declared journalists as Covid warriors keeping in view their exposure to the danger of getting infected with coronavirus while covering news. Some journalists have proved true to the distinction conferred on them by the government by volunteering to serve Covid patients in their leisure time. In one instance, the team of journalists arranged a vehicle to ferry five patients to Mysuru hospital for a medical emergency.

Amid lockdown rural people, in particular, are facing much trouble in seeking medical help. But a phone call to ‘Madhyama Spandana’ is enough. A team of journalists readily help them reach hospital. If needed, medicines are delivered at their doorstep. The team also distributed free food kits to the poor.

On May 16, when volunteers were unavailable, ‘Madhyama Spandana’ team stepped in to perform the final rites of an 85-year-old resident of Balamuri village near Madikeri. The family of the deceased, who had also tested positive for Covid, wanted to cremate him at an estate located half a km away from their residence.

But as they were Covid positive, none of the villagers came forward to help them. The son of the deceased man then turned to volunteers of ‘Madhyama Spandana’ who cremated the body. The team has provided a laptop to a poor college student in another case.

Speaking to The Hans India on Saturday, Press Club president Ramesh Kuttappa said his team was doing a humble service in their own small way. “Everyday, we hear tragic stories of deaths, hunger and disease. These are all depressing. Instead of merely reporting daily miseries, we have planned to support the poor and needy.”

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Coovercolly Indresh, Hans News Service / June 13th, 2021

Survey Of Rajara Gaddige In Madikeri Begins

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Most of the 19.88-acre land encroached Survey ordered by High Court

Madikeri:

Following a directive from the Karnataka High Court to Madikeri Tahsildar to conduct a survey of 19.88 acres of the area where Raja’s Tomb (Rajara Gaddige) is situated at Mahadevpet near Madikeri, the officer began the survey yesterday along with his team and amidst tight Police security. 

The survey was carried out under the leadership of Tahsildar Mahesh. In March this year, a Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by J.S. Virupakshaiah, a former State Information Commissioner, had ordered the Tahsildar to conduct a detailed survey for the Government to reclaim the encroached land. 

Virupakshaiah had alleged that there are several encroachments in the historical tomb area. Initially, the Gaddige had 19.88 acres of land. However, most of the land has been encroached and some have even built houses on the encroached land. Even a Government building has come up on the Gaddige land. 

The PIL brought to the notice of the Court about 31 families residing in the encroached land. In spite of having no land documents, the Panchayat has provided water, electricity, road and other basic facilities, Virupakshaiah had said in the PIL. 

Now the survey has begun with tight Police security. The Court will hear the PIL again on June 17 and the District Administration has to submit a report on the original land, encroached part and other details.

Before the survey team began work, Town Panchayat members Amin Mohisin, Basheer and Mansoor urged the Tahsildar to first demarcate the borders of the Gaddige as they said it is not possible to determine encroachment unless the borders are marked. 

Speaking to reporters, Tahsildar Mahesh said that during the last hearing, the Bench had given six weeks for the submission of the report. “Due to COVID and Town Panchayat polls, the survey could not be taken up so far. Now the survey is being carried out as per the Court directions. The exact border of the Gaddige will be identified and demarcated. The land has been listed under the Archaeological Survey of India Survey Number 30/1 and there is 19.88 acres. The Bench has also directed us to prepare a sketch of the entire land and pin-point encroachments. We are trying to bring out the truth regarding encroachments,”  Mahesh said. 

There are three tombs built for the royal dynasty. The central tomb which is the largest among the three is of Kodava king Doddaveerarajendra and his wife Mahadeviamma. The right tomb is built by Chikkaveerarajendra for his father Lingarajendra in 1820.  

The left tomb belongs to Veerarajendra’s guru Rudrappa built in 1834. Closer to the tombs is the burial place of the two brave royal officials Biddanda Bopu — Bopu Dandanayaka — and his son Biddanda Somaiah,  who sacrificed their life fighting with Tipu Sultan. In fact, Doddaveerarajendra had erected a plaque in the memory his soldiers in 1779.

Encroachers have political clout

Rajara Gaddige is one of the tourist attractions in Kodagu and tourists who visit Abbey Falls will pass Rajara Gaddige en route. However, it is in deplorable condition owing to the negligence of the Government and encroachment of land by local residents and vested interests. 

The Gaddige land became is controversial as the people who have encroached have the blessings of certain politicians who have consistently opposed any move of eviction and also development. Last year too, the Kodagu District Administration had attempted to conduct a survey of the land to determine the encroachment but the survey was withdrawn after protests from encroachers. 

Years back Madikeri Urban Development Authority had tried to develop the Gaddige into a tourist attraction. But it could only reclaim 3.5 acres and the rest of the land remained with the encroachers who opposed any move to evict them. Surprisingly, with their clout, the encroachers have managed to obtain all municipal facilities including water, power and roads.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 06th, 2021

I am 24, Varsha Bollamma corrects Google

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

There is an impression that actresses generally hide their age or lie about their actual date of birth. In the case of Varsha Bollama, it is the other way around. She stated her real age. Also, she tried correcting Google.

Varsha Bollama is shot to fame with ‘Middle Class Melodies’. She also appeared in two other Telugu movies.

In a recent live interactive session with her fans on Instagram, a fan mentioned that Google is showing her age as 25. To this, she replied that she is just 24. Varsha Bollamma wrote, “I’m a 1996 born. So, I am 24! But Google knows it better than my mom, I guess!”

source: http://www.telugucinema.com / Telugu Cinema / Home> News / by Telugu Cinema / June 04th, 2021