Tag Archives: Journalists of Kodagu

Top Indian editor to talk on ’elections and media’ today in Colombo at SLIMFA forum

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India Today Editor  / Raj Chengappa

A top award winning Indian journalist Raj Chengappa will deliver a talk on elections and the media at a forum organised by the Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association (SLIMFA) today at 9.30 a.m. at the Taj Samudra, Colombo.

Chengappa, who is India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) and India Today magazine Editor, will share experiences from the recent Indian elections. 

Given the recently concluded General Elections in India, and the upcoming Presidential Elections in Sri Lanka, the topic for the keynote is ‘Indian Election 2024 and Media’. 

Raj has varied interests and is a specialist in political analysis, foreign affairs, national security, nuclear weapons, the environment and development. He also does a weekly podcast and YouTube show for India Today called Nothing But The Truth. 

His keynote will be followed by panel discussion comprising a Sri Lankan journalist, columnist and an election observer further sharing perspectives on the role of media in elections. 

The panellists are People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (Paffrel) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchie, international award-winning investigative journalist, senior editor, trainer, researcher, and rights advocate Dilrukshi Handunnetti, experienced serial entrepreneur, former corporate senior executive, columnist, and public speaker Saliya Weerakoon. 

The event, first by the newly formed Sri Lanka India Media Friendship Association, is part of the Bharat Sri Lanka Maithri Week from 12-18 August 2024 commemorating India’s 78th Independence Day. Strategic partners of the forum are Taj Samudra, Colombo and SriLankan Airlines.

Raj was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 1991-92, a Stimson Centre Fellow on Security Affairs in Washington DC in 1995 and a Harry Brittain Fellow (partly at London and Oxford University) in 1985. He has won numerous national awards including the Statesman Award for Rural Reporting (1987), the Prem Bhatia Award for Political Analysis (1998), Karnataka’s Rajyotsava Award 2002, National Award for Rural Reporting (2019), the Haldi Ghati Award (2020), Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Feature Writing (2024) and the ENBA and India Audio and Music awards for the Best Show Host for Nothing But the Truth (2024). 

source: http://www.ft.lk / Daily FT / Home / August 17th, 2024

‘SOM’ Report On Kodagu-Born Vet Saving Leopard Wins Award

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Madikeri:

Three journalists have been selected for the Annual Awards given by the Kodagu Press Club.

A.N. Vasu’s report titled ‘Yejentara Mosakke Baliyagi Videshadalli Silukida Mahile’ published in Shakthi Daily has been selected for Best Effective Report Award, instituted in memory of senior journalist  K.B. Mahantesh.

P.V. Akshay’s (AG) report in Star of Mysore (SOM) titled ‘Daredevil Act by Kodagu-born Vet Saves Leopard in Mangaluru’ has been selected for Best Humanitarian Report Award, instituted by Koovarkolli Indresh and family in memory of his father B.V. Chandrashekhar and mother Pushpalatha.

Imanda Gopal Somaiah’s report ‘Madikeriyalli Maragala Maaranahoma,’ telecast on TV9 Kannada, has been selected for Best Environmental Report Award, constituted by M.N. Chandramohan in memory of his father M. Narayana and mother N. Padmavathi.

Each of the three awards includes a cash prize of Rs. 5,000 and a plaque. The awards ceremony will take place in Madikeri on June 2 at 12 noon.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 29th, 2024

Athur Village in Coorg : A Mini Nursery of Kodava Writers in English

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A land known as the nursery of Indian Hockey, Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka State has been a cradle for sports and Army.

However, located down south of Kodagu, Athur village near Gonikoppal town has been a mini nursery for writers! The village is home to four popular writers in English – C.P Belliappa and his sister, Kaveri Nambisan, P.T. Bopanna and his son Devaiah Bopanna.


It does look like Athur village has given birth to these Kodavas with a talent to be ‘pen-tastic’ not just at an amateur level, but at a professional one.


Growing up, I listened to stories of Princess Victoria Gowramma and Narimangala. My childhood days spun into a web of stories from different Kodava writers narrated to me by my mother. Sometimes, with a tale of a tiger’s tail by C.P. Belliappa.


As a teenager, I pondered over P.T Bopanna’s question, “Are Kodavas Hindus?” and sneaked a laugh at (AIB) All India Bakchod’s comic stories whose head writer was Devaiah Bopanna.


Chepudira P. Belliappa or popularly called as C.P Belliappa pursued a career in engineering. However, settling down in Coorg as a planter, he has been promoting technical education in Coorg. He has also penned many articles and is famous for his books, “Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg”, “Nuggets from Coorg History”, “Tale of a Tiger’s Tail and other Yarns from Coorg.”

His sister, Kaveri Nambisan has a unique style of writing. Her popular books like “The Scent of Pepper” can take you on a ride to Scotland of India, Kodagu with vibes of ethnicity. Her other books like “Mango-Coloured Fish” and “The Hills of Angheri” showcase stories derived from personal experiences. She is a doctor by profession. Kaveri started off as a writer for children’s magazines. She was recognized as the Coorg Person of the Year in 2005.


A leading author and a journalist, Palanganda T. Bopanna has been writing books about Kodavas and Kodagu. He has promoted several websites, including coorgnews.in, dedicated to Kodagu news. Bopanna is a recipient of the Gourmand international award for his book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee.’


His son, Devaiah Bopanna, has co-founded a media company called ‘All Things Small’ which concentrates on writing true stories by giving a unique, modern touch to journalism. A Mumbai-based writer, Devaiah adds a tinge of comical approach to his writings.

These writers have touched many hearts with their writings. The root to their writing stems from Athur village and it is my dear hope that more writing talents mushroom from the Kodava land.

source: http://www.medium.com / Medium / Home / by Shrividya Somanna / February 05th, 2021