DakshinaChitra, the living-history museum and a project of Madras Craft Foundation, is set to unveil its 19th addition — a meticulously restored 1852 Kodava house from Coorg (Kodagu).
Located at DakshinaChitra Museum on East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chengalpet district, Tamil Nadu, the house will officially open on Oct. 23 at 11.30 am, with Ju Seong Kyu, the Managing Director of Mobis India Foundation (the CSR arm of Hyundai Mobis) presiding over the event.
The Kodavas, a unique community known for their distinct customs, heritage, attire and cuisine, will have these aspects vividly showcased within the house.
Kodagu, nestled in the Western Ghats, is renowned for its rich, forested, mountainous terrain, and the Kodavas have long been its protectors, safeguarding its wildlife and biodiversity for centuries.
A dedicated exhibition on the Western Ghats will highlight the global importance of conserving these biodiversity hotspots. Kodava music and dance, a cherished part of the community’s culture, will also be showcased.
A Kodava troupe from Kodagu will perform on both Oct. 23 and 24 to celebrate the house’s inauguration.
The Kodava House exhibition has been curated by Gigi Scaria, while the Western Ghats exhibition has been curated by Shekar Dattatri and Saravana Kumar.
Contributions from Sandooka: The Living Museum of Kodava Culture, founded by retired IAS Officer Rathi Vinay Jha of the Codanda family, enrich the display with images, content and videos. She is also the Life Trustee of the Madras Craft Foundation.
The construction of the Kodava house and the exhibition has been entirely supported by Mobis India Foundation. The opening ceremony will conclude with a traditional Kodava folk performance.
Rathi Vinay Jha and Founder of Madras Craft Foundation and DakshinaChitra Museum Dr. Deborah Thiagarajan will address the gathering. Head of CSV Strategy Team, HQ Mobis Lee Chang Jun and Kim Kyung Jin from the CSV Strategy Team, HQ Mobis will be present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 20th, 2024
Whenever a soldier of my country died in war or peace, I always felt a tad diminished as a citizen of this country. That was how I felt this morning on hearing the news of passing away of Maj. Gen. C.K. Karumbaya SM, (retd.) in city. He belonged to Kodava community of Codanda family and was known by his pet name Keshu. I knew him from my College days in Madikeri, Kodagu, where he was three years senior to me and was in NCC. He was aged 87 when he faded away from amongst us. It is truly said, ‘A soldier never dies, he simply fades away.’
As for me, his memory will linger in my mind for the reason that I was in close and constant touch with him when he came to Mysuru to settle down after retirement in early 90s. In his personality, manner of conduct and character, he was a man cut out by destiny to serve the country where the utmost sacrifice is required — ready to give life, like a true patriot.
As with his men in uniform wherever he was posted, so also after his retirement, he remained a people’s guide and leader with so much of human feelings and concern in his thought and heart. As for courage and selflessness, he was like Julius Caesar of the dim past known for his bravery. Caesar’s military prowess was known when he conquered Gaul (now France) and his selflessness at the time he fought and won the Civil War in Rome against his rival Pompey.
It may sound pompous and improper to compare Gen. C.K. Karumbaya aka Keshu to the legendary Julius Caesar. But I was just drawing a parallel in respect of certain higher qualities by which a man must live by and lead a life not only for oneself but also for others. Let me illustrate these qualities of a braveheart that Gen. Karumbaya was by giving examples.
While he was in the Army, during the Bangladesh War of 1971, then Maj. Karumbaya took over the command of 5th Maratha LI (5th Royals Battalion) when the Commanding Officer of the 5th Royals was wounded in the Battle of Elangi. Maj. Karumbaya acquitted himself so well under challenging circumstances that his Divisional Commander promised to present him with a bottle of Scotch if Maj. Karumbaya succeeded in capturing Magura in the South of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Writing in Star of Mysore, dated 16th December, 2014, about the Victory Day of Bangladesh War, Karumbaya mentions about this episode and how he also won the bottle of Scotch his Commanding Officer Maj. Gen. K.S. Brar had promised. Apparently, the bottle was never emptied and Karumbaya wrote: ‘This bottle of premium Scotch continues to be displayed with much pride in the Officers’ Mess till today.’
Let us hope the bottle remains there when Gen. Karumbaya will not be there to see it anymore. This incident is indeed a testimony to his courage and the confidence his superiors had in his military competence. Except for impairment of hearing due to a blast injury he suffered during Bangladesh War, he lived a healthy life till some months before his end came today.
Gen. Karumbaya was in Kargil, J&K, where he introduced sporting activities for local youths, himself participating. He told me the youths were good and very friendly. About politicians of his days there, he had a different take. Politicians were Janus-faced, he said. One senior politician who ruled J&K during a visit to his camp had whispered to his ears to mix Vodka to the soft drink Fanta at lunch!
Though he could have lived in city in greater comfort, he chose to live in a village farm on Bogadi Road in the midst of a coconut grove. However, his concern for the common man and the common cause of the community did not diminish unlike many inactive social activists who issue press statements using photo-ops, like arm-chair NGOs. He always led a protest movement or public demonstration for a public cause from the front which was why in the 90s and even later we could see Maj. Gen. Karumbaya standing tall among the groups of protestors. He was a member of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), Mysore Lok Swaraj Andolan (MLSA), Elder Citizens Council, a member of Mysore Sports Club, JW Golf Club and Mysore Kodava Samaja.
Understandably, the presence of the General in these organisations and clubs made a difference. He was not the one who would countenance any wrong doing in the administration of these organisations and clubs nor would he compromise on principles. Such people often become thorns in the soles of those who have a different agenda. No wonder he dragged an office-bearer of Mysore Lok Swaraj Andolan (also a senior Defence Officer) as a Convenor of MLSA to Court and won the case.
He was taking active part in MGP, headed by Bhamy V. Shenoy. It was around 1993-94 and the MGP had taken up the cause of protecting the People’s Park where the Government and the MCC had decided to construct a public library (which has now become a fait accompli) in a sinister barter deal with a builder who offered to construct the library pro bono in exchange for land facing the main road for him to construct shopping complexes.
This proposal had the blessings of Corporation Council and the matter had gone to the Court as PIL by MGP. Much heat was generated as a result between the contending parties. One day Bhamy Shenoy, the Convenor of MGP, received a letter from the then Mayor’s Office of the City Corporation stating if the matter was pursued he would be murdered. When Shenoy mentioned this to Maj. Gen. Karumbaya, he was naturally upset and even angry. According to Shenoy, who shared this information with me this morning, the General put on his army gear and appeared before the Mayor in full army uniform taking him to task. Since the Mayor did not deny the charge, it was assumed the intimidating letter was indeed sent.
Bhamy Shenoy said that he had no prior information about the General’s decision to confront the Mayor in this manner. All that I can say is that Maj. Gen. C.K. Karumbaya, SM (retd.) was indeed a braveheart as much as a kind human being that one should always be in one’s life. After all, one cannot be a hero always in life but one can always be a good human being. And he was one.
RIP Keshu
e-mail: voice@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra…Abracadabra> Columns> Top Stories / by K B Ganapathy / January 04th, 2024
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