Complete Madikeri Fort Renovation By April 18: High Court Tells Archaeology Department

March 11, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Bengaluru/Madikeri:

The Karnataka High Court has directed the Archaeology Department (Archaeological Survey of India) to complete Madikeri Fort Palace renovation works by April 18. A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Ashok passed the order while hearing a PIL filed by J.S. Virupakshaiah, a retired IAS officer from Kodagu.

Archaeology Department officer Shivakant Vajpayee had submitted an affidavit saying that the tender for renovation works of Madikeri Fort Palace has been invited and roof-tile laying and other works will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 53 lakh. However, N. Ravindranath Kamath, the Advocate representing Virupakshaiah took objection saying that though the High Court had directed the Government and the Department to take up renovation works in August last year, the Department has ignored the order.

Arguing that the building is on the verge of collapse, Kamath prayed the Court for issuing directions to start works at the earliest. Following arguments and counter-arguments, the High Court Bench directed the Archaeology Department to complete renovation works by April 18 and submit an affidavit to this effect on April 20.

Fund release

It may be recalled here that the State Government has given administrative approval to repair the historic Madikeri Fort at a cost of Rs. 8.20 crore. Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy submitted a proposal to the Government to restore the landmark structure at an estimated cost of Rs. 8,20,45,674.

All these years, several Government offices functioned from the Fort premises and despite this, no official took interest in repairing the structure which is in a dilapidated state. Finally, following strictures from the Karnataka High Court, the District Administration acted and has even taken steps to shift the Government offices to other buildings to help the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carry out restoration works.

The ASI is in-charge of the Fort. Retired IAS Officer J.S. Virupakshaiah filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) contending that the Fort and Palace premises are heritage sites, dating back to more than three centuries. They are neglected and the exterior walls of the Palace are infected with mold (fungus).

The history of the Old Fort dates back to the 17th century AD. It was built by King Mudduraja of Haleri dynasty. Tipu Sultan rebuilt the Fort with stone. The Palace was built by Lingaraja Wadiyar II in 1812. The Fort was acquired by Dodda Veera Rajendra in 1790 and later came under the rule of British in 1834.

Kodagu DC Annies Kanmani Joy inspecting the Fort renovation works.

DC inspects Fort

Meanwhile, last week, Kodagu DC Annies Kanmani Joy visited the Fort and inspected the renovation work of the Fort and its ceiling being undertaken by the Archaeology Department. She directed the authorities to complete the renovation works in two months.

Speaking to reporters, the DC said that as the first instalment, the Government has released Rs. 40 lakh of the Rs. 54 lakh. The Revenue Department has sanctioned Rs. 8 crore for the renovation project and a request will be sent to the Government to release an additional Rs. 2 crore, she added.

Paltry sum

But in the High Court, Advocate Ravindranath Kamath contended that Rs. 8,20,45,674 was too little an amount to restore the Fort. “Most Government offices in Madikeri functioned from the Fort premises since 1920. As such, the Government has saved more than Rs. 300 crore as rent. The official machinery did not realise this and continued to neglect the Fort without realising the value of the historical structure,” he argued.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 09th, 2020

In Neglect The Warriors Rest

March 11, 2020About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Sad saga of forsaken tombs of British Officers, Soldiers in Madikeri

Madikeri:

Centuries ago, the battlefields of Coorg (Kodagu) thundered with their war cry as they took on marauding armies of the invaders. The British had their own army in Kodagu with thousands of soldiers and officers assisting the Empire to rule the tiny district and also safeguard its borders from marauders.

But the days of the dynasty and the royals are long gone but their remnants — in the form of tombs — are still found in many parts of the district. And unfortunately, these tombs are neglected with no maintenance and weed growth around them.

At Mahadevpet in Madikeri town there is a Gaddige — royal graveyard — built in the Indo-Saracenic style. On the rectangular base, there is a large dome and four turrets. Two Kings of Kodagu (Doddaveera Rajendra and Lingarajendra) and their queens have been buried in the two larger identical structures. The third smaller one has the remains of the Chief Preceptor (Rudrappa) of the Kings.

Beside these three tombs, at a little distance away but within the same enclosure are the tombs of father and son Biddanda Bopanna and Biddanda Somayya. They had served Kodagu and its Kings as Army Generals. While these structures have been maintained (though not very well) by the Kodagu District Archaeology Department, a couple of tombs of British Officers are lying in a pathetic state behind Industrial Training Institute near Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College.

White marble stone tombs

While some of the tombs are made out of white marble stones that were shining years ago with inscriptions and names on them, other tombs are made in the shape of stone pyramids. Some of the tombs have been dug up by treasure-hunters who were hoping to unearth gold or other valuables buried deep under. Also, some of the tombstones have gone under earth with only a small portion showing up.

Unfortunately, some of the white marble slabs of the tombs have been taken away by people and have been used as steps outside their houses after putting cement on the inscriptions and retaining only the outer white marble frame after polishing them.

Years of neglect

Most of the tombstones have been aesthetically carved and many warriors and their Commanders are buried inside. Some of the names inscribed on top of the tombstones have been covered by hardened fungus due to years of neglect and vagaries of weather. The inscriptions include the name of the deceased officer and the person who built the tomb.

Among the tombs, one tomb belongs to a son of a Lieutenant General who died when he was just 18 years old. Another tomb has the names of four members of one family. However, the cause of death is not known — if they died separately or together. But the name of the person who built the tomb has been carved and it says he is from Bengaluru. This shows that special interest was taken to build this tomb and a person was specially summoned from Bengaluru for the purpose.

Cause of death lost forever

These tombs were carved after 1805 AD and sport different years on them. Except names, there are no other details available on the tombs and as such, the reasons behind their deaths have been lost forever.

Records say that these tombs were earlier located at the place where the present Raja’s Seat stands. These tombs were discovered in the pre-independence era and at that time, Raja’s Seat was on the outskirts of Madikeri town and this may be the reason for the tombs to be built in the vicinity of Raja’s Seat.

Originally near Raja’s Seat

After independence when plans were chalked out for Madikeri’s development including the beautification of Raja’s Seat which was at an elevated place, the tombs were shifted behind Industrial Training Institute. Then, Raja’s Seat came within the jurisdiction of Madikeri town and it was developed into a tourist place.

After the tombs were shifted behind Industrial Training Institute, a protective compound wall was built around them. Over the year, the wall has collapsed and treasure seekers have dug up many graves. Wild weeds and green growth have covered the area and they have grown up to almost 20 feet.

There are no records whatsoever regarding the dead officers. Whether they died naturally or whether they were killed by local kings and chieftains is not known and this may be a good subject of research.

If at all the officers were killed during the freedom struggle, a new chapter on Kodagu’s freedom struggle is set to be written in history books.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by Prasad Sampigekatte / March 10th, 2020

Arabica parchment coffee hits record price of Rs 10k per bag

March 5, 2020Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Nature, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Coffee beans spread for drying. DH Photo

Coffee growers are happy as the market rate of Arabica parchment has reached a record rate of Rs 10,000 for a bag of 50kg. The rate has been the highest in the last eight years.

As on Wednesday, a 50kg bag of Arabica Parchment coffee was sold between Rs 10,400 to Rs 10,500, which according to the vendors, is the highest rate for Arabica parchment.

The cost of Robusta Parchment has increased to Rs 7,000 per bag. The last time when Arabica coffee reached the highest rate was in 2014. It was Rs 9,600 to Rs 9,800 per bag then. Later, the price moved downward and had touched Rs 6,000.

Arabica cherry costs Rs 4,000 per bag while the rate of Robusta cherry is Rs 3,200 to Rs 3,400 per bag.

Growers in Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan have expressed their happiness on the improved market rate of coffee, despite problems of shortage of labourers and feasibility issue in the maintenance of the plantation.

The vendors said that the rates of Arabica parchment might increase further. Expecting the same, the growers who have stored coffee in ABC and other curing centres have decided to sell coffee after it hits an all-time high.

The increase in the rate of coffee was due to a significant decrease in production in Brazil and Columbia. There was a plunge in the production of coffee in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Hassan districts as well, owing to floods. This has created an increase in demand.

Even though the market rates have increased, the quantity of coffee production is significantly less compared to previous years. The growers who grew 50 bags of coffee in the past have ended up producing only 10 bags of coffee.

“The coffee plants have been damaged due to the water-logging of the plantation. It might take another four years to restore the coffee plantations to its original condition,” said coffee grower Nanaiah.

Coffee vendor Abdul said that around 60% of coffee growers have sold their coffee. Those who had stored coffee have reaped benefits.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A / Madikeri – March 04th, 2020

Foundation Stone Laid For Old Age Home

March 4, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, Alladmin

Former MLA M.K. Somashekar, yesterday, performed guddali puja to lay the foundation stone for the Home for the Aged (Old age home) being constructed by Sri Cauvery Kodagu Mahila Sangha at Srirampura as Sri Cauvery Kodagu Mahila Sangha Founder-President and Building Committee Member Parvathi Cariappa, former President D. Sarasu Nanaiah, Jt. Secretary K. Bollamma Kuttappa, P. Vimala Poonacha, Organising Secretaries K. Bhavani Belliappa and T. Veena Devaiah, Roopesh, IT Cell City President Neeral and others look on.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / March 02nd, 2020

Karnangeri Betta In Madikeri To Be A Tourist Hub With Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park

March 3, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, Alladmin

Mysore/Mysuru:

In an effort to promote tourism and create an awareness about nature, the Forest Department is developing Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park at Karnangeri Betta in Madikeri at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh.

It may be recalled that former Forest Minister Ramanath Rai in the earlier Government had proposed to set up Tree Parks in each Assembly constituency. And now this project is inching closer to become a reality as construction of a view point, welcome arches and other amenities have already begun.

The said Tree Park is being built on 45 acres of forest area at Karnangeri Betta. Saplings of popular tree species including Tega (teak), Beete (Indian blackwood), Honne (Indian Kino), Rakta Chandan (Red sanders), Silver oak, numerous bamboo species, Hebbevu (Melia dubia), Hunase (Tamarind), Bilva (Indian bael), Ala (Banyan), Tapasi (Indian elm) and others are being planted in the tree park.

There will also be play area for children, butterfly park, watchtowers, seating arrangements, walking paths, separate toilets for men and women, drinking water facilities and other basic amenities for visitors of the park.

Besides, the Tree Park would also include a garden in which flowering plants will be cultivated. Four specially designed Pergolas will be an added attraction here. Also, a viewpoint being built on the top of the hills, will offer spell-binding views of nature’s spectacle around Madikeri city.

The Forest Department has already sent a proposal to the Government for sanctioning Rs. 25 lakh for this project. The visitors have to pay Rs. 10 as an entry fee to the Park, which in all likelihood will open by the end of this month.

The local residents here are a little apprehensive about this project. “Mandalapatti is a popular tourist spot in Madikeri. Environment is at the receiving end in the name of tourism here. Tourists visiting Mandalapatti are polluting this area by throwing plastic bottles and other waste all around. We are worried that Saalumarada Thimmakka Tree Park, being developed at Karnangeri Betta might also face similar issues. Stringent measures should be taken up to prevent tourists from polluting this serene environment,” say some of the residents.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by Prasad Sampigekatte / March 02nd, 2020

‘Subahu e-beat’ launched for better patrolling in Kodagu

March 2, 2020Records, Alladmin

Superintendent of Police Dr Suman D Pennekar launches Subahu e-beat patrolling system in Madikeri on Friday.

Subahu e-beat system was launched by the police department in Kodagu, towards better patrolling.

Launching the e-beat system at police parade ground auditorium in Madikeri on Friday, Superintendent of Police Dr Suman D Pennekar said that in the e-beat system, patrolling will be monitored using ‘Subahu’ mobile phone application.

The system will improve communication between the police officials, the beat personnel and the residents.

Earlier, the details on the night beat were manually entered and signed by the beat police, in the log books. From here on, the personnel will have to scan the QR code from the locations of their beats, using ‘Subahu Beat’ application installed on their smart phones, said the superintendent of police.

Dr Suman further stated that Kodagu being a hilly region, internet connection is not available in some of the locations in the district.

“When the police personnel carry out beat patrolling in such locations, the application will save the information offline and will enable the senior officials to access the information using ‘Subahu Admin’ as soon as the device accesses internet coverage connection,” she said and also advised the general public to instal ‘Subahu Resident’ application on their smart phones to send SOS messages and related information to the nearby police station.

A pilot project has been implemented in Madikeri town, Somwarpet, Virajpet, Shanivarasanthe and Gonikoppa, to observe the efficiency of the software.

The software will now be launched in the jurisdiction of all 16 police stations, added the superintendent of police.

Mahendra, representative from Smart Secure, said that the application offers a user-friendly interface for the senior officials and beat personnel.

Virajpet DySP Jayakumar and Madikeri DySP Dinesh Kumar were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 28th, 2020

Bean-to-cup coffee making in a Coorg plantation

March 1, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)admin

Visitors are encouraged to make their own blends, including weighing, mixing, roasting and grinding.

The plantations offer homestays and resort, perched on stilts. (Photo: The Tamara Coorg)

The lashing rain from the night before had simmered to a soft drizzle this morning. The clouds had parted, and the sundeck of our wooden cottage, perched high on stilts, afforded a resplendent view of coffee country Coorg. The freshly bathed dimpled-green Western Ghat hills rolled away as far as the eyes could see. Acres and acres of coffee and spice plantations dotted the landscape, intermingling with lush forests. The gushing sound of a waterfall drifted in from close by, blending with the rustling of leaves. Below us, as our resort’s plantation was waking up, we set out to witness first-hand the journey of coffee — from bean to cup.

With tall silver oak, teak, rosewood and other trees lending shade to coffee shrubs in the plantations, Coorg offers a gorgeous setting to observe the process of coffee production. Karnataka alone accounts for 70 per cent of the coffee produced in India, with the south-western districts of Coorg (locally Kodagu) and Chikmagalur producing the lion’s share. India, by some accounts, produces the finest shade-grown coffee.

Many of the plantations have homestays and resorts for anyone wanting to sample the plantation life. The deep dive into the coffee culture at our resort, sprawled over a 180-acre estate, begins right at check-in. You’re welcomed with steaming tumblers of delicious bellada coffee (Karnataka-style filter coffee with jaggery). The cottage-style wooden villas, in traditional Kodagu architectural style — sloping roofs, perched high on stilts — are placed at respectful distances from each other, for immersion into a planter’s private yet lavish lifestyle.

Umbrellas in hand, we follow our guide, through thick foliage and unending rows of coffee shrubs. Sharing interesting nuggets about the native flora that grows with wild abandonment, he points out the two main coffee varieties of Coorg — the hardy, disease-resistant Robusta and the better-quality, tastier, smoother and more expensive Arabica. A number of spices are often intercropped with coffee, such as peppercorn, cardamom, clove and nutmeg that help the coffee acquire lovely aromatics while adding a few prized cash crops in the planter’s kitty.

Each year, the life cycle begins with pearly white blossoms in February-March. Natural showers and sprinkler irrigation are crucial for their yield, which determine the amount of coffee harvested the following year. The blossoms turn into green berries and, then, a deep red when ripe, which are handpicked from November to February.

The walk is followed by a coffee-processing experiential programme at the little museum in the resort grounds. The ripe berries are dried and pulped to obtain the seed — aka coffee bean! The beans are sorted, blended and roasted in a traditional roaster. Encouraged to make our own blends, we weighed and mixed different percentages of the varieties according to our taste, put them in the roaster and hand-ground the divinely aromatic roasted beans into a fine powder — to be had as a hot brew right there, or carry back as a souvenir.

Back home, whenever I’d sip on my blend, I’d reminisce about the time I crafted it, and the scrumptious Coorgi lunch that followed, that rainy, misty afternoon.

Satarupa Paul is based in Delhi and writes on food and travel.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Eye / by Satarupa Paul / February 29th, 2020

Status report sought on buildings

February 29, 2020Business & Economy, Records, Alladmin

A report has been sought on the condition of buildings housing schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in Kodagu with only three months left for the onset of monsoon.

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy issued this direction to the authorities at a meeting convened by her in Madikeri on Wednesday to discuss the preparations to be made to counter the monsoon. Kodagu had witnessed its worst floods and landslides in 2018 and 2019.

She said North Kodagu and South Kodagu saw more devastation in 2018 and in 2019 respectively. “We focussed on North Kodagu following the damage in 2018 but the calamity struck most parts of South Kodagu last year. Therefore, we need to focus on all areas this year. In this connection, district-level officers would be deployed at the hobli level to attend to the works.”

The officers at the taluk level including the PDOs would be trained on handling the rescue situations. Funds under NDRF would be released in advance to the ZP CEO, tahsildars and the GPs for attending to the rain havoc.

District Fire Officer P. Chandan sought four more boats for attending to the rescue operations in case of floods.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – February 27th, 2020

‘Kodavas Are Living Like Aliens In Their Own Homeland’

February 29, 2020Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorgadmin

Rangayana Director Addanda Cariappa makes a fervent plea to save Kodava language, culture

New Delhi:

Kendra Sahitya Academy Member and Rangayana Mysuru Director Addanda C. Cariappa has urged the Union Government to give Kodavas geo-political autonomy over their ‘Codava Land’, by including Kodava language under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and granting them the micro-minority community tag for a better future and a secure homeland.

He was presenting a paper at All India Tribal Writers Conference here on Feb. 24. The Conference dwelled ways and means of reviving tribal languages. Speaking at length about Kodavas and tribalism, Cariappa said that it was essential to revive and rejuvenate tribal languages like the Kodava language (Kodava Thakk) that is under threat of extinction, thanks to lack of Government support.

“With the onslaught of modern ways of life, tribal languages are suffering the most. Many tribal languages do not have their own script and the challenge with those languages is that they do not have their indigenous scripts and are not recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Hence, languages like Kodava Thakk and many others which form the cultural connections among a sizeable population face the danger of disappearing as just household native tongues,” he said.

197 languages in India are endangered

Today, Kodavas are feeling insecure and are living like aliens in their own homeland. “Our rich culture and heritage have not been given due recognition owing to many oversights. We have been requesting the Governments to give us the due space in Eighth Schedule. To the United Nations, our plea has been that the UNESCO should include ‘Codavaame’ (Codavaism) as a traditional minuscule micro-minority Kodava tribe in Karnataka, on the list of intangible cultural heritage,” Cariappa opined.

In the past, a UNESCO report had revealed that 197 languages in India are endangered and five languages are almost extinct with a handful of people speaking them in different tribal communities. Once they are gone, the language dies a natural death. And with that, a whole discipline of indigenous culture, knowledge and history is wiped off the face of earth forever, he explained.

Languages dying slow death

“There has been a demand for about 46 languages including Tulu and Kodava Thakk to be included in the Eighth Schedule. But Governments so far have not paid heed to this request and as a result, many tribal languages have died a slow death. According to an estimate, nearly 1,300 tribal languages exist in India alone. They were born in the lush greenery of forests and are constantly disappearing as the forest cover is being plundered in the name of development, urbanisation and progress,” Cariappa regretted.

Highlighting the plight of writers of such languages, he said, “When the language itself gets buried with the passing of time, what would the writers do? A whole community loses its identity when a language disappears. Hence, someone has rightly said “f you want to finish a community, all you need to do is to kill their native tongue.”

Making a fervent plea to include Kodava Thakk in the Eighth Schedule, Cariappa said, “When a nation’s Constitution honours a tribal language with due recognition, they are used as mediums of learning, education and instruction. Languages can be saved from extinction when they use the existing scripts of other languages that are in their ecological surroundings to survive and thrive.”

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 27th, 2020

Red Cross Bhavan to come up at a cost of Rs 1.3 cr in Madikeri

February 28, 2020Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economyadmin

Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, who is also the chairperson of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) district committee, performed the ground-breaking for Red Cross Bhavan at Stewart Hill in the town on Thursday.

Speaking during the formal programme, IRCS State Committee Chairman Naganna said that the IRCS had always assisted in the relief measures, including the floods in Kodagu.

“The Red Cross Bhavan will provide timely assistance to the people affected by calamities”.

Naganna said that a grant of Rs 50 lakh was reserved by the IRCS district committee and Rs 25 lakh by the state committee for the Red Cross Bhavan.

He said another Rs 10 lakh will be provided in the next phase by the IRCS state committee. Making use of the funds provided by elected representatives, a state-of-the-art auditorium, a warehouse and an office will be constructed, he added.

IRCS Kodagu head B K Ravindra Rai stated that the Red Cross Bhavan was planned to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.30 crore on 12.50 cents of land, and the work would be carried out by Nirmithi Kendra.

IRCS Kodagu General Secretary H R Muralidhar said that the branch of the IRCS was commissioned in Kodagu in 1952, with the efforts of the then Chief Minister of Coorg state, C M Poonacha.

Former IRCS State general Secretary Ashok Kumar Shetty, Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Dr Vishal, Nirmithi Kendra Officer Sachin, CMC Commissioner M L Ramesh and IRCS district Vice President H T Anil were present.

source: http://www/deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / Muhammad / by DHNS, Madiker / February 27th, 2020

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a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas