Monthly Archives: April 2019

All eyes on counting of votes now

About Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All
Women voters show inked fingers after casting their votes in the Maoist-infested Vanachalu polling booth in Madikeri taluk on Thursday. DH photo
Women voters show inked fingers after casting their votes in the Maoist-infested Vanachalu polling booth in Madikeri taluk on Thursday. DH photo

The calculations about who will be elected from Kodagu-Mysuru Lok Sabha seat, which have started with the electoral fortunes of candidates being sealed in electronic voting machines (EVMs) after the election on Thursday, will continue till the votes are counted on May 23.

The calculations on who will win or lose is being done on the basis of votes cast at booth level. Owing to a tough competition between the BJP and the Congress-JD(S) coalition in the constituency, both the parties have gone out of their way to woo the voters.

A voter turnout of 68.82 percent was registered in Mysuru-Kodagu constituency. Kodagu district has recorded a voting of 74.67%. The voting percentage in the 2014 parliamentary elections in the district was 71.88. Thus, the voter turnout has witnessed an increase by 2.79% when compared to the previous election.

Out of 2,21,157 voters in Madikeri Legislative Assembly constituency, 1,69,725 people have cast their vote, registering a voting percentage of 76.74. Of the total 2,19,573 voters in Virajpet Assembly constituency, 1,59,387 people have exercised their franchise (72.58%).

In 2014, 1,55,682 out of 2,10,819 people had cast their vote in Madikeri Assembly constituency. The voting percentage was 73.84. In Virajpet, 1,45,752 out of 2,08,514 voters had exercised their franchise in 2014. The voting percentage was 69.90.

There is an increase of 21,397 voters this time, compared to 2014. As many as 27,678 additional votes have been cast in this election. The BJP candidate had obtained a lead of 32,000 votes during the previous Lok Sabha election.

The question on whether the margin will decrease or increase due to the coalition of JD(S) and Congress parties, will be known when the counting of votes begins.

Kudos to PWD voters

As many as 3,022 out of 3,076 PWD (persons with disabilities) voters have exercised their duty, drawing appreciation from all sides. The percentage of voting by the PWD is a whopping 98.24.

The good turnout of PWDs has been attributed to the free vehicle facility provided by the district administration.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / April 20th, 2019

Study centre on Jewish seer in Attur

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Followers of Jewish seer Itamar Oren Narada Muni from Israel perform prayers at the tomb of the seer, located in Attur village in Ponnampet on Wednesday.
Followers of Jewish seer Itamar Oren Narada Muni from Israel perform prayers at the tomb of the seer, located in Attur village in Ponnampet on Wednesday.

The commemoration of Jewish seer Itamar Oren Narada Muni was observed at the seer’s memorial in Attur village in Ponnampet on Wednesday.

Donors of the land, Kuppanada Raja and Chaya Nanjappa on whose farm the memorial is located, announced that a study centre will be established in two acres of land near the tomb of Itamar Oren Narada Muni.

The centre will be devoted to the purpose of strengthening the relationship between India and Israel.

Speaking on the occasion, Rashtriya Swayam Sevaka Sangha Saha Karyavaha Mukund said that both India and Israel have been the targets of terrorism. The two countries should come up with a united strategy to fight terror. While India has been working on peacebuilding in South Asia, Israel has been striving to instil peace in Arab countries. The motto behind the efforts of both countries is the same.

Sessions were held on the topics, ‘Challenges Before India and Israel in Improving their bond’ and ‘Improving the bond between India and Israel on Cultural and Economic Fronts’.

The sessions were moderated by Swami Dayananda, Swami Vijnananda and Itamar Theodore. Immanuel, Sankar Sanu, Ravikumar, Satya Bansal, Tapan Ghosh, Michelle Harrison and Rajani Sareen took part.

Homage was paid to the seer on the occasion. Vedic chants were recited.

Followers of Itamar Oren Narada Muni performed prayers.

ADGP Bhaskar Rao, actor Malavika, VHP National Joint Secretary Vijnanand and RSS Prant Pravahak Giridhar Upadhyaya were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DH News Service, Ponnampet / April 24th, 2019

Tata Coffee reports total income of Rs 757 crore in FY19

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

Mumbai :

Tata Coffee, a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages and Asia’s largest integrated coffee company, has reported standalone total income of Rs 757 crore in April to March 2018-19 compared to Rs 762 crore in the previous financial year.

The profit after tax was Rs 72 crore against Rs 63 crore in the same period due to an improved plantation and instant coffee performance as well as on the sale of its non-core fixed assets.

For the quarter ended March 31, the company reported a total income at Rs 212 crore compared to Rs 207 crore during January to March 2018. Profit after tax was higher at Rs 12 crore compared to Rs 4 crore in the same period.

“The offtakes to Africa and European geographies continue to be strong and our focus on customer acquisition in new geographies has enabled a robust and healthy order book,” said Tata Coffee’s Managing Director Chacko Thomas.

“While volumes are high, the instant coffee business continues to be under margin pressure due to the current competitive scenario in the industry and hardening rupee,” he said.

On March 6, the company unveiled its first off-shore freeze-dried coffee production plant in Vietnam with a capacity of 5,000 million tonnes per annum.

Tata Coffee produces 8,000 to 10,000 million tonnes of shade-grown Arabica and Robusta coffees at 19 estates in south India. Its two instant coffee manufacturing facilities have a combined installed capacity of 8,400 million tonnes.

lt exports green coffee to 40 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

source: http://www.newkerala.com / New Kerala / Home> News> Business India News / by ANI / April 20th, 2019

Smiles are back in Kodagu’s tottering hospitality sector

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All
Tourists at Kodagu, the best known hill station in Karnataka. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
Tourists at Kodagu, the best known hill station in Karnataka. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM

After last year’s landslides, hotels and resorts in the coffee land saw 100 per cent occupancy for the first time this weekend.

After a gap of almost a year, hotels and resorts in Kodagu, which is back on its feet after last year’s worst-ever floods and landslides, have registered 100% occupancy.

The hospitality sector was badly hit since the tragedy in the district and it took almost a year for the industry to witness tourists coming in droves to the land of coffee.

Hotels and resorts in Kodagu have about 6,000 rooms, and almost all of them had been occupied since Friday. “We need to remember this weekend forever as it gave a new lease of life to the hotel industry, which was in a miserable state with tourists staying away from the hill station. This had forced many promoters to put up their hotels for sale,” said Nagendra Prasad, President, Kodagu Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts Association.

He told The Hindu that about 30,000 people are directly employed in the tourism industry in Kodagu of which the hospitality sector accounts for about 6,000 employees. As many as one lakh people are indirectly dependent on the industry for their livelihood. “People can breathe easy if tourism thrives in Kodagu. If weather permits, the season can be extended till June first week before the monsoon sets in,” he observed.

One of the reasons for the increase in footfall was the end of exams, and also elections in this part of the region. People visit the hill stations to beat the heat. But, this time, even Kodagu has not been spared with the temperature hovering around 32 degree Celsius, which is high by Kodagu’s standards, according to the stakeholders.

“Some parts of Kodagu had rains over the last week. A few more spells of rains will cool the coffee land, making it comfortable for visitors. After June, the season starts only in October for Dasara vacation. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed and expecting the season in May to be better,” said Mr. Prasad.

Unconfirmed statistics put the number of rooms in home-stays at 20,000. Kodagu alone has 4,000 of them. If rooms in hotels and resorts are added, Kodagu has over 30,000 rooms. All these used to get filled up before floods struck the land, the stakeholders said.

Worrying times
Though the hill station had recovered from the natural calamity, tourism had not picked up despite efforts from both the government as well as the stakeholders. The hospitality sector was unable to cope with the loss of business.

“We had been telling throughout the year that Kodagu is safe to visit. The turnout since Friday showed people believed in what we said,” said Mr. Prasad.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Shankar Bennur / Mysuru – April 22nd, 2019

Kodava families to take part in hockey tourney

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Sports
The ground readied for the hockey tournament at Napoklu.
The ground readied for the hockey tournament at Napoklu.

Highlanders Cup and Warriors Champion Cup Hockey Tournament will be organised by The Highlanders Family Club, at General K S Thimayya Taluk Stadium, at Napoklu from Tuesday.

The hockey tournament will be held between 14 Kodava families from the natural calamity hit villages in Kodagu. The funds raised from the tournament will be handed over to the victims.

The participating families are Naganda, Mandeera, Channapanda, Kalachanda, Tambukutheera, Mallanjeera, Odiyanda, Pasooru, Muddanda, Mukkateera, Chettira, Mandeyanda, Morkanda and Shanthanda.

Six Kodava families—Kaliyanda, Mandepanda, Kandanda, Anjaparavanda, Cheppudira and Areyada families will take part in the Warriors Champion Cup Hockey League.

Talented hockey players will be provided free education at KALS of Gonikoppa, Sai Shankar of Ponnampet, and Vidyashrama institutions in Mysuru.

The hockey tournaments will be held under the guidance of Coorg Hockey Academy Vice President Kaliyanda C Nanaiah, senior player Badakada Deena Poovaiah, commentator Cheppudira Cariappa and national hockey referee Anjaparavanda Sharan Cariappa, said organisers.

The inaugural of the tournament will be presided over by The Highlanders Family Club President Apparanda Sagar. Kodava Hockey Academy Vice President Kaliyanda C Nanaiah, growers Kulletira Shambhu, Apparanda Appayya, Dr Nadikeriyanda Tej Poovaiah, CNC President Nandineravanda Nachappa and others will take part.

The Highlanders Family Club President Apparanda Sagar said that the public can donate through the club to help the natural calamity victims.

The financial assistance will be distributed to the victims on April 24, during the valedictory ceremony.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / April 22nd, 2019

KCL cricket tournament from April 27

Sports

KCL cricket tournament will be held at Karadigodu in Siddapura from April 27.

A nearly seven-acre ground is being readied for the purpose. Parking facilities will be provided at the venue. The tournament is being organised by Siddapura City Boys team.

According to the organisers, the tournament is being publicised through social media. The cricket score of a match will be available on social media.

The tournament will be inaugurated by international athlete Arjun Devaiah. An exhibition match between a team of journalists and Kodagu district police team will be held on the day of the inauguration.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / DH News Service, Madikeri / April 22nd, 2019

Kodagu Swimmer Heads For Malaysian Event

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

AdityaBopannaKF22apr2019

Baduvamanda Aditya Bopanna will be representing India in the 62nd Malaysia Open Swimming Championship to be held from April 24 to 28 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Competing in National and State Swimming events, Aditya Bopanna has been training since age six and specialises in backstroke and freestyle sprint events.

Representing Karnataka and a winner of many national medals in various swimming events, Bopanna trains at the Nettakallappa Aquatic Centre in Bengaluru. He is currently pursuing his Second PUC at Vijaya College, Bengaluru.

Probably he is the first Kodava swimmer to represent India at an international event. Aditya is the son of Baduvamanda Cariappa and Sapna of Pollibetta in Virajpet. Aditya Bopanna excels in studies too and has scored 80.6 percent in Class 10 CBSE. For Aditya, getting this percentage after swimming and studying together is actually pretty good. “I squeeze in the free time I get during swimming for studies and I study almost every day after my swimming classes. Swimming has taken most of my life and has become a part of me now,” he says

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / April 22nd, 2019

Coorg Hockey Championship And Champions League Trophy Tournaments Begin

Records, All, Sports

CoorgHockeyKF22apr2019

Kodava family Coorg Championship Hockey Championship and Kodava Champions League Trophy Tournaments, organised by ‘Hockey Coorg’ commenced at Kakotuparambu Government Primary School Grounds yesterday. Earlier to that, special puja was performed at Kalabhyrava Temple.

Former International Hockey Karnataka General Secretary Dr. A. Subbaiah inaugurated the Tourney by lighting the traditional lamp. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Forum President Col. (Retd.) K. Subbaiah launched both the Tourneys simultaneously by hitting the ball with a hockey stick.

Speaking on the occasion, A. Subbaiah expressed pride to represent the family in the tourney and asked all families to participate with enthusiasm. Recalling the contribution of Kodagu district to hockey, he desired that many more should enter the national level.

Continuing, Subbaiah said that five sportspersons have joined the National Training Camp and added that M. Leelavati had joined the women’s team and three girls have joined the junior team.

Commending the sportspersons, he asked parents to encourage their children to take up sports. He lauded the organisers in launching the Hockey Tourney despite the flood havoc in Kodagu in the recent past because of which Kodava families had decided not to stage the Hockey Tourney.

Forum President Col. (Retd.) K. Subbaiah said that the spirit of the participating players should be on line with that of Olympics but advised players to focus on quality-based game to be appreciated by sports lovers.

Kakotuparambu Sports and Recreation Club President M. Chinnappa recalled that several Kodava families were engaged in playing hockey matches for the last 22 years which was started by P. Kuttani.

Tourney Committee Working President M.P. Subbaiah expressed pride in announcing that international player A. Subbaiah was his protege.

Hockey Coorg Vice-President P. Lavakumar, Partha Chengappa, M. Pemmaiah, Treasurer I. Lala Ayyanna, Technical Committee Head N. Pavan, Joint Secretaries Divya Mutthappa, K. Roshan, Sports Committee Vice-President M. Ravi Pemmaiah, Convenor B. Partha Chengappa, Tourney Head M. Subbaiah, Secretary B. Chengappa, A. Chengappa and others were present.

Totally 139 Kodava families have registered for the Tourney. For the Champions Trophy, 10 invited teams have been selected. The matches will go on till May 7 in two fields.

For the Champions Trophy, the first match was played between Kaliyanda and Jeppudira teams with the latter beating the former who are the defending champions surprising everybody.

Kodagu Hindu Football Tourney

In the Kodagu Hindu Football Tourney organised by Kodagu Hindu Malayali Samaja at Government Primary School Grounds in Gonikoppal yesterday, Maragodu Vaishnavi (A) and Mathrubhoomi teams entered the semi-final. In the quarter finals, Vaishnavi (A) team beat Ammatti Nehru team by 1-0 while Mathrubhoomi team defeated Cauvery Friends by 1-0.

In the valedictory this evening, International Athlete P.M. Thimmaiah, Shaurya Chakra winner H.N. Mahesh, district award-winning journalist S. Kishore Nachappa, H.K. Jagadish, Youth Sportspersons T.B. Ashwini and K.S. Aishwarya will be felicitated.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / April 22nd, 2019

When General Thimayya’s Grandson Comes Calling At ‘Sunny Side’

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Uncategorized, World Opinion

ThimmayyaMuseumKF20apr2019

Madikeri:

‘Sunny Side’, General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya’s house in Madikeri that is being converted into a museum and a war memorial, had a special moment last week when the celebrated General’s grandson Kongetira Belliappa visited the museum.

‘Sunny Side’ is located on G.T. Road in Madikeri and it is being renovated at an estimated cost of Rs. 6 crore. Belliappa is the son of Thimayya’s daughter Mireille, who married Maj. Gen. Kongetira M. Chengappa.

Visiting the museum that earlier functioned as RTO Office for the first time, Belliappa went around the museum and saw his grandfather’s photos, memorabilia and other artefacts. Stopping in front of some of the photographs, he turned emotional, recollecting the service of General Thimayya who was known as the “Soldier’s General.”

Some of the photographs portrayed the legendary General’s brilliant strategies and daring that have set the standard for professional soldiering and leadership. Belliappa appreciated the collection of photographs, artefacts and other items related to the Indian Army at the museum.

Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa-General K.S. Thimayya Forum Convenor Major Biddanda A. Nanjappa, who is instrumental in setting up the museum and the war memorial, explained the museum and its various sections.

Providing a detailed account of how General Thimayya inspired his soldiers to carry parts of Army Tanks up to a height of 12,000 feet snow-clad mountains of Zojila Pass — one of the highest Passes in the world — when Pakistan planned to annex Kashmir by force during their offensive of 1947-48, Nanjappa told Belliappa that it was a daring move and the Pakistan army ran away after seeing the Tanks staring at them. The parts of Tanks were carried up the mountains overnight and were assembled by early morning of Nov. 1, 1948.

The very appearance of the Tanks utterly dampened the morale of the bewildered Pakistanis who either fled or were vanquished. Once Zojila was taken, the road to Kargil was reopened and Ladakh was safe. Ultimately, on Nov. 24 Kargil was re-taken. Thus the unofficial 1st Indo-Pak War (and perhaps the longest and toughest of them all) ended in success owing to the bold, shrewd and relentless pursuit led by Gen. Thimayya, explained Nanjappa.

Nanjappa then requested Belliappa to hand over certain items that belonged to General Thimayya that is in possession of the family to be kept in the museum.

Art works featuring the valour of Indian soldiers on the battlefield will occupy the centre stage at ‘Sunny Side.’ Other main attractions of the museum will be the articles used by Gen. Thimayya, military uniforms, books and information on Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.

Apart from an Army Tank, weapons that were used by the soldiers of Indian Army in the past during many operations have been donated to the museum.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 20th, 2019

Metro People: Aviva Bidapa turns a designer

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, World Opinion
Aviva Bidapa
Aviva Bidapa

Actor-turned-designer Aviva Bidapa, Director, India of Prasad Bidapa Associates, was always high on creativity. She knew that there was so much more talent within her that was waiting to be unlocked.

Aviva recently launched her swimwear collection. Talking about her collection, she says “I have two separate collections this season. One is inspired by the Japanese Carp/Koi fish and the other is deconstructed polka dots, which I think is a classic”. She says that she wanted to cater to both the moods she has as a woman. “My collection has a neat mix. I have added a hint of red solids to the polka dots and a yellow solid to carp. The collection is bright and colourful,” adds Aviva.

Who was her inspiration to turn a designer? “I never really wanted to be a designer but I knew I wanted to be creative. When I met Linea Aqua, the company that makes my swimsuits, I saw an opportunity to combine both my passions — business and creativity. I love swimwear and I am a passionate customer,” explains Aviva.

Her next collection is sequins and snake skins. “I want to stay true to my taste and also work on something that is in fashion. It will be out in June or July. I intend to first showcase it at the Colombo Swim Week and then bring it to India,” she concludes.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Metrolife> Metrolife Cityscape / by Nina C. George / DH News Service, Bengaluru / April 16th, 2019