‘Federation of Kodava Samajas belies promise’: KBG
Mysuru :
Sri Kaveri Kodava Association Mysuru-East, located at Vidyashankara Nagar, Mysuru, celebrated its annual get-together on Nov.23, 2014 at the premises of Kodagu Model School here in a grand manner.
Over 500 members attended this annual get-together function presided over by Pudiyokkada B. Madappa, President of the Association. Biddatanda S. Thammaiah, President of Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu, was the chief guest while Biddatanda T. Pradeep, President of Kodagu District Congress Party was the special invitee.
Speaking on the occasion, B.S. Thammaiah, the chief guest, appreciated the efforts of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association in running a school for the benefit of the people residing in and around Vidyashankara Nagar and also its members. He urged the members to preserve the rich culture of Kodava community despite the changes taking place in this modern world in one’s lifestyle.
B. T. Pradeep, President of Kodagu District Congress Party, who also spoke, regretted the lack of unity among Kodavas and said this situation had affected the progress of Kodava community in their own land, district. He expressed concern about Kodavas losing political influence and power in Kodagu and said it was mainly due to the acknowledged, successful Kodava politicians not encouraging the bright and dynamic youngsters to shine in politics of Kodagu. He expressed apprehension that in the days to come, the political influence of Kodagu as a district and of Kodavas in politics would further diminish. And as an example, he mentioned that in the beginning, for many years Kodagu district had three MLAs which has now come down to two.
There was also a surprise speaker Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa, District Convenor of United Kodava Organisation (UKO), who suggested that Kodavas residing outside Kodagu would do well to register their names for voting in their respective villages in Kodagu itself and exercise their vote either by making a patriotic visit to Kodagu or by post. He also said that his organisation was making all efforts to revive the time honoured tradition of assembling at the ‘Mandh’ (the common meeting place of villagers), where during the time of harvest festival known as ‘Huthri’, villagers would hold their traditional dances and related cultural activities. He said a number of such ‘Mandhs’ have been either encroached upon or simply abandoned giving up the tradition. He said his organisation would strive to restore this tradition in order to preserve the identity of Kodavas in their own land.
Another senior member of the Association, K.B. Ganapathy, who was requested by the President to speak on the occasion, made a plea to the chief guests to use their good offices to get the By-law of the Federation of Kodava Samajas established at Balugodu in Kodagu as an apex body of all Kodava Samajas either reviewed or suitably amended to enable it to serve the Kodava community more purposefully than it is doing now.
Ganapathy said this Federation should not end up as a ‘Super Kodava Samaja’ of all Samajas which would serve no purpose in fulfilling its avowed object of enabling the Kodavas to survive in their own homeland called Kodagu with honour and dignity under the present democratic political dispensation where political representatives are elected on the basis of majoritarianism.
Since in Kodagu district, the population of Kodavas is about 1,20,000, it has become a Herculean task for a Kodava candidate (assuming he gets a ticket to contest an election) from any political party to win the election. In this context, the Federation has its usefulness and significance. Unfortunately, Ganapathy said, the Federation does not seem to have engaged itself in tackling issues that have a political bearing on the lives and properties of Kodavas in their own homeland — Kodagu.
With a view to circumventing these existential problems of Kodavas, Ganapathy suggested that as in the case of some of the small ethnic communities in other parts of the country, the President of the Federation should always be a well-known person either in the country or someone who has held very high position in the Government service. As I know there are many Kodavas who have held such high offices. The elected office-bearers of the Federation, after identifying such a VIP, should approach that person and invite him to be the President of the Federation. This may be for a fixed period or as may be decided by the General Body. This will help the Federation to take the problems of the Kodava community led by its President directly to the powers-that-be whether in the State or at the Centre. And because of our President’s personal stature and connections, we will be heard. This is the only way today for Kodavas to show their solidarity and make their voice, nay cry, heard by the government.
The very purpose of the Federation will be defeated if it remains an apolitical body refusing to discuss problems related to the lives, properties, roads, forests, water, power, employment, benefits from government schemes etc.
Ganapathy requested the chief guests to consider the suggestion and take it forward with the help of all those so many Kodava organisations that are mushrooming in Kodagu today, sometimes working at cross-purpose.
On the occasion, Neravanda Nanaiah, retired Police officer and a senior member of the Association; Chayaa Nanjappa, Managing Partner, Nectar Fresh Foods and Kundranda Bhageerathi Thimmaiah, National Athlete, were felicitated.
The meeting was followed by luncheon and thereafter sports events were held for children. On the occasion, prizes were given to academic toppers in the examinations held last year. The prizes were sponsored by the munificent members of Sri Kaveri Kodava Association.
Association Vice-President Puliyanda Devaiah welcomed. Alamengada Greeshma Appaji and Kechettira Likitha Appaiah rendered innovation. Hon. Secretary Appachangada P. Motaiah proposed a vote of thanks.
Association Treasurer Koppira Ponnappa, Joint Secretary Mollera Kavitha, former President of the Association and Chairman of Building Committee Kanjithanda K. Aiyappa and Kodagu District Convenor of the Committee on Kasturi Rangan Report on Eco-sensitive Zone Theethira Dharmaja Uthappa were among those present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Tuesday , November 25th, 2014
