The new Directors of Kodagu Sahakara Sangha, Jayalakshmipuram, were elected yesterday.
Among the total of 13 directors, two were reserved for women for which Nanjamma and Nirmala were elected unopposed.
For the remaining 11 posts, a total of 14 candidates had contested. Among them, K.G. Sudhir and A.A. Pemmaiah secured 88 votes each. Finally, K.G. Sudhir was elected through draw of lottery.
Others who were elected are M.K. Prakash (127 votes), Lovely Appaiah (119 votes), P.U. Girish (118 votes), M.G. Devaiah (108 votes), Byretira K. Ganapathy (108 votes), K.P. Pemmaiah (105 votes), P.K. Biddappa (96 votes), K.K. Bollamma (95 votes), K. Kavya Kuttappa (95 votes) and M.P. Belliappa (94 votes).
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 23rd, 2025
Kodagu Sahakara Sangha, Mysuru, will be holding its election to Managing Committee for a five-year term at its premises in Jayalakshmipuram on Feb. 22 from 9 am to 4 pm, according to Returning Officer K.L. Savitha.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / February 17th, 2025
Kodavas and the Arebhashe Gowdas are two prominent communities in Kodagu, Karnataka.
On February 2, thousands of Kodava men and women in traditional attire took out ‘Kodavaame Baalo’, an 82km, six-day peace march led by the Akhila Kodava Samaja (AKS) in Kodagu, Karnataka. They did so to reassert their distinct identity and to draw attention to the social, religious and political challenges their community faces.
The trigger for the march was a temple entry row that has pitted two prominent communities in Kodagu―the Kodavas and the Arebhashe Gowdas―against each other.
The newly built Sri Mrutyunjaya (Shiva) temple, in Kattemadu village near Madikeri town, is the epicentre of the dispute. On December 27, when some Kodavas turned up for the annual festival in their traditional attire, some Arebhashe Gowdas stopped them from entering the temple. The “common dress code” as per the bylaw did not allow Kodava attire.
The situation escalated with both sides sticking to their guns. They filed separate complaints and announced massive jaathras (marches) in protest, forcing the district administration to intervene and impose prohibitory orders around the temple. The Arebhashe Gowdas held a massive rally in Madikeri, which the Kodavas followed up with their march from Kutta to Madikeri. The run-up to the two marches was marked by a social media war with both sides uploading provocative videos and posts.
“The Kodava community will not take part in any peace process initiated by the district administration till the police identify and arrest those who attacked Kodavas and attempted to restrict their cultural attire at the temple,” said the memorandum submitted by the AKS to Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja.
Said AKS member J. Ganesh Aiyanna: “A few years before the Mrutyunjaya temple incident, we were prevented from entering Talacauvery during ‘Teerthodbhava’ (annual sacred event at the place where the Cauvery is believed to originate) for wearing our traditional attire. We will not tolerate the assault on our tradition and cultural identity.”
Harsha Kodagana, member of the Arebhashe Samaja, said they were just following the rules. “The temple was built at a cost of around 06 crore, which was collected from devotees belonging to all communities. The 43-member temple committee (which includes nine Kodava members) passed a bylaw with 13 points, including the common dress code. This is meant to build a sense of equality among all communities. Some committee members stopped those wearing the Kodava attire as it violated the bylaw. The temple priest was attacked. We want the police to take suo motu action against people posting derogatory posts on social media and making casteist slurs.”
The Kodavas, however, claim that this is not an isolated case. “Some people from a particular community have belittled our icons Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya, who are India’s war heroes,” said Aiyanna. “The Kodava community has a long tradition of serving the Indian armed forces. People have also petitioned the courts to curb our gun rights but the court has restored it till 2029. The gun is revered in a Kodava family as it is an integral part of all our customs. We announce the birth of a baby boy with gunshots, and baby girl by beating brass plates. We have never used these weapons for violent purposes. We are nature and ancestor worshippers and are not involved in any politics. But the assault on our culture is growing.”
The memorandum submitted to the deputy commissioner said that the government must ensure a safe atmosphere for Kodavas to practise their traditions on their own land. It also urged the government to take steps to facilitate Kodava community participation in the Talacauvery rituals, extend constitutional protection for Kodava land, culture, traditions, religious practices and social security, and to curb “political oppression” by dominant communities.
The district administration has sought a report from the temple committee, but notably, the elected representatives―Congress MLAs A.S. Ponnanna (Virajpet) and Mantar Gowda (Madikeri), and BJP MP from Mysore-Kodagu Yaduveer Wadiyar―have kept a safe distance from the controversy.
Interestingly, when it comes to elections, the two communities have supported candidates without caste considerations. Previously, BJP leader Appachu Ranjan, a Kodava, had won the Gowda-dominated Madikeri assembly seat three times, while fellow party member K.G. Bopaiah, a Gowda, had won the Kodava-dominated Virajpet assembly seat thrice.
The temple entry episode is the latest incident that could galvanise the Kodavas, who for long have feared losing their identity. The 1.5 lakh-strong population has been dwindling; there has been fragmentation of families because of migration for education and employment, and inter-caste marriages. The community, under the banner of the Codava National Council, has been resisting the change in demography, loss of land and the alienation of the younger Kodavas from their language and culture. The long list of the council’s demands includes geo-political autonomy, inclusion in the scheduled tribe list, exemption from the Arms Act, inclusion of Kodava language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, recognition of river Cauvery as a living entity, UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage tag, inner line permit system to prevent demographic changes, and greater representation of Kodavas in Parliament.
The influx of people from outside, commercial exploitation of forests for tourism and massive infrastructure projects have resulted in water scarcity, landslides and floods, say locals. The people of Kodagu include Kodava, Arebhashe Gowda and 21 other Kodava-speaking communities who have lived in harmony despite the many challenges.
“After the backlash by Kodavas over Tipu Jayanti celebrations, the Congress government was forced to stop it,” said a local leader who did not want to be named. “But now, some vested interest groups are playing mischief to divide the Hindu community.”
source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> The Week / by Prathima Nandakumar / February 16th, 2025
This ‘journey by foot’ (kaal nadp) was called ‘Kodavaame Balo’ (‘May the Kodava way of living live on’). The participants walked through several towns over six days (from February 2 to 7).
Thousands of people at the march in Madikeri. / DH Photo by Rangaswamy / Credit: Special Arrangement
In the hills of Kodagu, a six-day walk was conducted, by Kodavas and other native Kodava speakers (Bhashikas), spanning 82 kilometres. Kodava is an endonym used by the natives of Kodagu, who were otherwise called ‘Kodaga’ in Kannada or ‘Coorg’ in English, and has two usages. One is for the language and culture followed by Kodagu’s indigenes and the other is for the most populous community among these people. Twenty one different communities speak the Kodava language.
People dressed in colourful attire walked from the southernmost town of Kodagu (Kutta) to the district headquarters (Madikeri). The men wore kuppya chele (a wraparound kurta and cummerbund) and mande vastra (head dresses). The women wore kodavathi podiya, sarees draped in the Kodava fashion. An incident at the Kattemad temple, where Kodavas in traditional dresses were denied entry, was the catalyst for the event.
This ‘journey by foot’ (kaal nadp) was called ‘Kodavaame Balo’ (‘May the Kodava way of living live on’). The participants walked through several towns over six days (from February 2 to 7). Lunch was provided by samajas (associations) along the route. At each village, the Kodavas and Kodava speakers such as the Ammas, Heggades, Kembattis and others, joined the procession from their homes. The Kodagu Muslims came out to greet and support the procession during the march.
The crowd was the largest on the final day. The main procession from South Kodagu covered 8.5 km from Kaggod until the Mand ground in Madikeri. Among those who walked from Kaggod was 82-year-old Maha Vir Chakra awardee Lt Col Puttichanda S Ganapathi.
Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah, president of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Akademi, walked along with me during the last day. He said, “A worldwide message has been sent that a community’s culture is their right which should not be hindered or opposed by others. An awareness has been created and this march will be remembered for years to come by our children and their generation.”
Historical and current significance
Even before the reign of the Haleri rajas (1600-1834), Kodava paddy agriculturists were living in Kodavu, now called Kodagu. They were employed in the army and the government. Some other castes employed in different professions also lived in Kodagu under the rajas. They spoke the same language and more or less followed the same culture.
During the 18th-century Anglo-Mysore Wars, Kodagu’s population was decimated. Many either died during the warfare or were deported as prisoners.
In 1834, the British took over Kodagu, renamed it Coorg, and made it a province. In 1947, it became part of independent India and, in 1950, it was one of the 28 states of the Indian Union. In 1956, Kodagu (Coorg) was merged with Karnataka.
The Kodavas speak a distinct Dravidian language. They worship their ancestors, nature, weapons and village deities such as Mahadeva, Povvadi and Ayyappa.
Kodagu lies between Kannada, Tulu, Tamil and Malayalam-speaking regions. Hence, along with the Kodagu distinctness, we see influences from these communities and cultures.
Key Demands
Bollajira Aiyappa, President of Codava Makkada Coota, who walked for two days, said, “This is the first time in history that all the Kodava and Kodava-speaking organisations came together. In the future as well, everybody should come together like this to solve problems.”
The event culminated with the President of the Akhila Kodava Samaja presenting the memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, followed by lunch. On the final day, the organisers counted more than 30,000 lunch plates.
The main demand of the marchers was for the government to protect the Kodava identity, culture and constitutional rights.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by Mookanda Kushalappa / February 13th, 2025
The third day of the ‘Kodavame Baalo Padayatra,’ a peace march from Kutta to Madikeri advocating for the Constitutional rights and unique cultural identity of the Kodava community, began from Ponnampet Kodava Samaja this morning.
By joining the march, participants are setting new records for a foot march, as Kodavas and Kodava language speakers set aside social, organisational and political differences to march towards Madikeri.
The march, which commenced on Feb. 2 from Kutta, reached T. Shettigeri on the first day. On Feb. 3, it continued from T. Shettigeri to Ponnampet. Today, participants paid homage at Ponnampet, garlanding the statues of the town’s founder, Diwan Cheppudira Ponnappa, and Mahatma Gandhi before proceeding to Gonikoppa. After lunch at Gonikoppa, the marchers are scheduled to reach Bittangala by evening.
The massive foot march to protest the oppression of Kodavas will culminate on Feb. 7 at the district headquarters in Madikeri, where over 40,000 people are expected to attend. The overwhelming response from Kodavas and Kodava speakers indicates a massive gathering on the final day.
Throughout the march, Kodavas are showcasing their pride in their culture and identity. Despite the scorching heat, men, women and children — some in traditional attire and others in plain clothes — are marching silently, seeking to safeguard their cultural identity and community rights as enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Traditional welcome
The march stands against political and administrative neglect, unchecked migration, cultural and geographical loss and the denial of Kodavas’ right to practice their customs and traditions in their homeland. The camaraderie within the community has been evident, with local elders, women, family Thakkas and village elders, and community heads wholeheartedly supporting the cause.
Hospitality, an inherent trait of the Kodavas, was on full display over the past two days, as participants were spontaneously offered food and shelter all along the route. They were traditionally welcomed at various points where heads of families and aged women blessed the walkers.
A key highlight of Day-2 was the red-carpet welcome at Thuppanani and Biloor Junction leading to Hudikeri, where lunch was served at Kodava Samaja. The marchers also received warm support from Theethira family.
At Mapillethod, Kodava Muslim Alira family extended a hearty welcome, with Muslim community members gathering in large numbers to express their support. They provided snacks, buttermilk, tea and coffee, to marchers in a show of solidarity.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 04th, 2025
On the 126th birth anniversary of Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, tributes poured in from across the nation this morning, honouring the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army.
The Indian Army took to ‘X’ on January 28, writing, “Remembering the Legend…On his 126th Birth Anniversary, the Indian Army pays homage to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, OBE.”
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also shared his respect, posting, “Remembering First Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army Field Marshal Sir Kodandera ‘Kipper’ Madappa Cariappa.”
In Mysuru, as part of the celebrations, floral tributes were offered to the statue of the Field Marshal at the Circle named after him on JLB Road.
Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda emphasised that the name of Field Marshal Cariappa, whose contributions to the country’s defence are immeasurable, should be honoured as long as the Sun and Moon exist.
Stating that the annual commemoration of the Field Marshal’s birth anniversary is a fitting tribute, he highlighted that Field Marshal Cariappa was known for his discipline, dedication and determination.
The MLA also mentioned that the Mysuru Kodava Samaja had previously proposed the installation of a statue of another Kodagu warrior, General K.S. Thimayya. He announced that work has now begun on the statue, which will be installed at the Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar, with funds allocated from his Legislator’s fund.
Kodagu’s contributions recalled
Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa pointed out that Kodagu is likely the only district in the country where almost every household has at least one member serving in the country’s defence forces. He also lauded Field Marshal Cariappa for his pivotal role in shaping the post-independence Indian Army, as well as his involvement in Iran’s army structure. Srivatsa added that Cariappa also had a deep love for sports and music.
MLC C.N. Manjegowda stressed the importance of celebrating the Field Marshal’s birth anniversary, encouraging youths to draw inspiration from his legacy and consider joining the army.
Manjegowda, an ex-serviceman, urged the Government to ensure that Field Marshal Cariappa’s birth anniversary is celebrated as prominently as those of other great personalities.
City BJP President and former MLA L. Nagendra highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates Deepavali every year with the Armed Forces at the country’s borders. He noted the renaming of Metropole Circle as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle in recognition of the late Commander’s accomplishments and called for it to be referred to by its new name.
Former Mayor M.J. Ravikumar suggested that the busy junction at the Circle be made safer by constructing a shelter that covers the entire area to prevent accidents from speeding vehicles. He also called for further development of the Circle.
Former Mayor Srikantaiah, former Corporators Maletira U. Subbaiah and Prameela Bharath, Kodava Samaja President Ponjanda A. Ganapathy, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club President Mukkatira C. Ashok, Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Abhimaani Balaga President Nayakanda Thimmaiah and community leaders were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / January 28th, 2025
Sri Kaveri Kodava Association- Mysuru East hosted its annual get-together for 2024 at the Association’s Kodagu Model School premises in Vidyashanshankar Layout in city recently.
Association President Kademada M. Belliappa presided.
Dean and Managing Trustee of the Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences, Virajpet, Dr. Kanjithanda A. Sunil Muddaiah was the chief guest, accompanied by his wife Urvashi Muddaiah.
Mysuru Kodava Samaja President Ponjanda Ganapathy was the special invitee. Dr. Sunil Muddaiah was honoured at the event for his contribution towards education in Virajpet.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Sunil Muddaiah lauded the Association’s efforts in advancing education and infrastructure. He praised the school’s facilities and suggested introducing training programmes for competitive exams like KAS and IAS to benefit the Kodava community youths.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 10th, 2024
The 24th annual get-together of N.R. Mohalla Sri Kavery Kodava Okkoota was held recently at Kodagu Sahakara Sangha in Jayalakshmipuram.
The day-long meet comprised Bolakaat, Kodavaat, sports and cultural programmes.
Chottemanda Geetha Ashok conducted sports while Bolakaat and cultural events were performed under the guidance of Chottemanda Lalu, Deekshitha, Kotera Kushalappa, Kodira Pushpa and Kotera Revathi Kushalappa. Okkoota President Kodira Prakash Nanaiah, Secretary Madetira Sunil Somanna.
Committee Members Bachiranayanda Prasanna, Narapanda Sannu Mandappa, Kotera Suresh Kushalappa, Atrangada Praveen Poovanna, Choteyanda Smitha Poonacha, Balyatanda Sarasu Kushalappa, Chottemanda Lalu Mohan and Ajjinikanda Chittiappa were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 13th, 2024
The 24th Annual Get-together and Annual Meeting of Ramakrishnanagar I-Block Kodava Welfare Association, Mysuru, was held recently under the Chairmanship of Kodandera Puspha Machaiah at Kodagu Sahakara Sangha in Jayalakshmiopuram.
The Meeting began with invocation by Mundiyolanda Nanda.
Secretary of the Association Kenjangada Kariappa welcomed.
On the occasion, the Association felicitated Kotrangada Jaji Aiyamma for the service she rendered to the community; Deyanda Ganesh Kariappa for the service rendered in the Indian Army and also for the community.
Top scorers in Class 10 CBSE 2024 exams and Degree students were also feted with cash prize.
Annual Report of the Association was presented by Treasurer Kotrangada Appanna. Maletira Ganapathy, Vice President, proposed the vote of thanks.
Kattera A. Nanaiah, Advisor, Codanda Swagath, Joint Secretary and all other Committee Members were present.
The entire programme was compered by Kotrangada Shruthy Ashwath.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 26th, 2024
Kodava Samaja, Mysuru, will be celebrating Cauvery (Kaveri) Sankramana Festival at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar 1st Stage on Oct. 18.
Kani Puja will be performed at 10 am.
Holy water (Theertha) will be distributed to all the devotees present in the celebration.
All the devotees of Goddess Kaveri are requested to participate in Kani Puja, Festival celebration and also receive Theertha brought from Talacauvery, according to a release from K.A. Belliappa, Hon. Secretary of the Samaja.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 15th, 2024
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