According to an estimate, all the discovered inscriptions belong to a timeline of 7th century AD – 18th century AD.
A heroic stone in broken condition, was discovered in Chikka Aluvara village of Kushalnagar taluk. Credit: DH Photo
The Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has discovered 69 new stone slab inscriptions in Madikeri, Kushalnagar and Somwarpet taluks. The work on the transcription of the text is in progress.
Somwarpet tops the list with 34 stone slab inscriptions, followed by Kushalnagar with 18 slabs and Madikeri with 17.
Since these stone slab inscriptions have not been documented to date, they are considered rare.
According to an estimate, all the discovered inscriptions belong to a timeline of 7th century AD – 18th century AD.
During the course of the survey, the department has also found other stone slab inscriptions which have been documented in its publications earlier. Rekha, the curator in the department, has visited 406 villages from 2020 till date, discovering 69 stone slabs in the process.
During the period, apart from the stone slab inscriptions, she found other monuments dating back to the period of the Stone Age.
She said the newly discovered stone slab inscriptions were found during the village-wise survey work. The inscriptions are being studied by scholar H M Nagaraj of Mysuru, with the transcription to be available soon.
She meanwhile stressed the need to preserve the palaces in Kanthuru and Aikola, the Mahavishnu temples in Kaggodlu and Singatturu, Ishwara temple in Kundacheri, Neelyatu Sarthavu temple in Kokeri, Sri Durga Bhagavathi temple in Bavali and Sri Vishnu temple in Kuyyangeri, among the 175 memorials in Kodagu district.
Rekha said the 12 ‘heroic stones’ (Veeragallu), 11 ‘Sati’ stones, 21 ‘kole’ stones are peculiar to the region. She added that five other stone sculptures discovered in Kushalnagar taluk are in need of protection.
As many as 246 ‘kole’ stones are found in Somwarpet taluk. The monuments in the 15 villages of the taluk are vulnerable to danger, she wrote in a report submitted to the government.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by K S Girish / September 14th, 2023
A look into actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha’s Kodava-style wedding in Coorg
Actors Bhuvann Ponnnannaa and Harshika Poonacha at their wedding in Coorg on August 24(Instagram)
Long-time sweethearts, actors Bhuvann Ponnannaa and Harshika Poonacha , tied the knot on August 24 in a traditional Kodava ceremony in Coorg. Since the big day, the couple has been on the move, shares Ponnannaa. “We are in the USA right now, before which we were in Mexico. We had to rush to the States immediately after our wedding because our friend was getting married. Since the night of our wedding, we have been country-hopping and are yet to complete all the rituals, so our parents are mad at us!” he quips.
Talking about the wedding, Ponnannaa recalls the stress that came with planning out the big day. “We got really held up in the last-moment invites as well, so there was literally no time to plan. Our parents and a couple of our friends took up various responsibilities leading to the big day,” he shares, adding that the completion of the construction of his farmhouse in Coorg also had him stressed. “The interiors of our new apartment in Bengaluru were also being done and I was trying to get our new car delivered before the wedding. Along with that, we were trying to manage our work,” the actor exclaims.
Ask him how it was on the big day itself, and the Randhawa (2019) actor tells us, “I reached Coorg from Bengaluru at 7am. I checked all the venue arrangements and by the time I wanted to get some sleep, the festivities had started. So, I meditated for a bit and left. When I reached the venue and saw the whole place all decked up, like a dream wonderland, it made all the hard work just so worth it.”
Telling us about the traditional Kodava-style wedding, the 33-year-old says, “Kodava weddings are very unique, so we could not plan too many extra functions because there already were a lot of rituals to complete from morning until midnight. But we were very particular about the food — it had to be traditional along with a couple of our favourites, like fresh mango curry in jaggery sauce, mutton keema, ghee ragi dosa, noolputtu and koli curry, Coorg-style liver fry, chicken ghee roast and mutton biryani!”
Looking forward to married life, Ponnannaa says nothing much is expected to change in the couple’s equation. “But of course we will work harder together for ourselves. Harshika is also going to be the producer for my next film,” the actor says, adding they are yet to decide on their honeymoon.
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com / Hindustan Times / Home> News> Htcity> Cinema / by Aayushi Parekh / September 12th, 2023
Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna promises to raise the problems of Ex-Servicemen with State Government
Mysore/Mysuru:
A new War Memorial was recently inaugurated at T. Shettigeri village in South Kodagu by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna, who also serves as the Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister. The purpose of this memorial is to honour the martyrs and pay tribute to the soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
One remarkable aspect of this memorial is that it was funded entirely by the T. Shettigeri Ex-Servicemen Association, which comprises 450 retired soldiers. Erecting a War Memorial had long been a cherished dream of this Association. The Association has also made significant contributions to society, including providing financial assistance to those in need and offering aid during natural disasters.
The marble War Memorial was constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh, with a substantial portion of the construction expenses being generously donated by Kaibulira Parvathi Bopaiah. She contributed Rs. 3 lakh for the memorial in memory of her late husband, a former havildar who settled in T. Shettigeri after his service in the Army.
The day of the War Memorial’s inauguration in T. Shettigeri was marked by a festive atmosphere. The event commenced with performances by the Police Band and Kodava Valaga, followed by full honours rendered by the Police and Ex-Servicemen — in their full attire with medals — to the memorial. Many retired officers and personnel participated in the event, offering their salutes to this significant tribute on the Armed Forces’ land.’
Following the unveiling of the memorial, the guests were welcomed in the traditional Kodava manner by colourfully dressed Kodava women at the T. Shettigeri Kodava Samaja. The stage event was presided over by the Association President Kattera Vishwanath.
During his address, MLA Ponnanna emphasised the crucial role of soldiers in safeguarding the nation. He praised their selfless dedication to the country’s well-being and the preservation of peace and harmony. He underscored the importance of the newly established War Memorial as a significant milestone in commemorating the sacrifices and struggles of these brave soldiers.
In response to the Association’s demand that many retired Ex-Servicemen are often denied benefits by successive governments, including land sanction, MLA Ponnanna pledged to advocate for their rights and raise the issue with the Government.
Appachangada P. Motaiah, the Association’s Joint Secretary, shed light on the challenges faced by most Ex-Servicemen, who often lack support from various quarters. He appealed to MLA Ponnanna to stand in solidarity with retired Defence personnel.
As a gesture of appreciation, several retired Defence personnel, donors and individuals who have made notable contributions to society were felicitated on behalf of the Association.
Among those honoured were Kaibulira Parvathi Bopaiah, Chattangada Punyavathi Chinnappa, Veteran Sergeant, advocate and Honorary Advisor to the T. Shettigeri Ex-Servicemen Association Mandetira N. Subramani, Machchamada Madappa, Uluvangada Ganapathy and Changulanda Ashwini Satish.
Special invitees included Kodagu District Sainik Association President Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Bachamanda Cariappa, former Kodagu District Sainik Association Secretary Maj. (Retd.) Odiyanda Chingappa and Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Kuppanda Nanjappa, a Veer Chakra holder, who shared their experiences and daring operations during their service in the Armed Forces.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 10th, 2023
K.B. Appachu remembers his days when he surveyed Indo-China border at the time of Chinese aggression in 1961
While it is common for Kodagu youth to join the Armed Forces and dedicate their lives for their Nation, ready to make the supreme sacrifice, there are some sons of the soil who have earned name and fame through their service in the Survey Department. One such hero is Kalyatanda B. Appachu, son of late Kalyatanda A. Belliappa. Born on 24.6.1935 in Virajpet town, Kodagu District — when it was a ‘C’ State — Appachu retired as Superintending Surveyor, Survey of India, after a long, challenging and fruitful innings.
In this interview to Star of Mysore, he shares his experiences in the Indo-China border at a time when India had to face Chinese aggression and lose many precious lives due to the wrong policies of our then leaders. Excerpts.
K.B. Appachu
Star of Mysore (SOM): I have heard that during your time, it was natural for many youths from Kodagu to join the Armed Forces and yet you seem to have preferred the Survey Department.
K.B. Appachu: Yes. That was the time when Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimmayya were serving the country. As a Kodagu youth, I too had a desire to join the army and become an officer. During my school days, I had joined the Scouts and Guides and NCC and when I was studying in Madikeri Government College (now Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College), I had passed ‘A’, ‘B’ Certificate examinations. I could not take up ‘C’ Certificate examinations as there was no exam centre in Madikeri then in 1957 and due to financial constraints I could not go to Madras. But I am happy that I joined the Survey Department in 1959 that provided me an opportunity to serve my motherland.
SOM: Why do you say so?
Appachu: Identifying the route for National and State Highways, surveying and marking the land for railway lines to pass, surveying India’s borders and enabling the Armed Forces to protect them and by identifying enemy territories – all these were part of my job and I am proud to say that I have served the Nation.
SOM: A soldier’s life is very risky. Does it mean the same for a surveyor?
Appachu: Yes. We too have to risk our lives during the course of our profession. From February 1959 to 1961, I underwent training in surveying for 2 years in Dehra Dun, Hathibarkala Estate. I had practical Topographical Survey Training in Rajpur, Mussoorie.
One ‘Do or Die’ incident I remember during my training. At the end of the training, we were to do a final ‘Survey Scheme’ independently for which I was given a survey scheme in Herbertpur, UP. I took my equipment and went up the hill station for observation in Shivalik ranges. The approach to the hill station was along a slope but I took a short-cut route along a cliff.
The squad could not follow me but I started climbing along the cliff without my shoes. It was only four feet to the top and I stood there with the support of a small protruding stone and I also held a root of a plant. However, I realised that I could neither climb up nor get down from this position and I was hanging precariously. People by the side of the road were watching and shouting.
At that moment I just remembered my parents whose photo was inside my haversack. I felt that I was destined to roll down the cliff and embrace death. I prayed and closed my eyes. Suddenly I heard some voices from the top and I believe that they were like divine intervention. I remember that they said, in Hindi, “Officer what happened? Don’t fear. We will save you”.
Another batch of survey squad had come there for observation. They saw my plight and used signal poles and asked me to hold them tight. I followed their instructions and they were able to pull me up inch-by-inch to the top and saved my life. I thanked God for giving me a new lease of life. The report I had submitted about the survey work was considered one of the best reports. I was later deputed to NEFA (North-East Frontier Agency), now Arunachal Pradesh on the Indo-China border.
Local tribals – Tagins of Subansiri Frontier Division-NEFA.
SOM: Did you encounter any life-threatening situation in NEFA?
Appachu: When I was in NEFA (1961-62) there was tension between India and China. India had declared the McMahon Line as the International border between India and China. This was not acceptable to Chinese who considered NEFA as Aksai-Chin and claimed it as their own. In this difficult situation, we had to carry out the survey amidst Chinese threat. Moreover, there was no earlier map that could give us a model or some direction. It was a daunting task. My area of work was in Subansiri Frontier Division in NEFA. I collected documents and equipment and proceeded for field work. I left Shillong headquarters to Jorhat by truck. From Jorhat, we were air-lifted by Kalinga Airlines to Daporijo in Subansiri Frontier Division.
My area of work was to March for 12 days from the base camp Daporijo and my squad comprised 50 Nepali porters, 12 Bhihari Khalasis (peons) from Survey of India, three escorts from Assam Rifles and one local Tribal interpreter. We collected the rations and after marching for 12 days, we reached the area of work. One batch of 12 porters used to be with me and the other batches used to bring rations from the base camp to our subsidiary camps. As we moved further with our survey work, we had 2-3 zones where Dakota planes from Kalinga Airlines used to drop bags of rice, dal, oil tins, onions, potatoes. Parachutes were used to drop supplies like oil tins and goat (for meat).
SOM: Tell us more about the terrain, nature of work and risky situations.
Appachu: The terrain was steep and was 10,000 ft above the sea level, covered with snow. Our nature of work was to establish survey stations on hill tops. Once in a month we used to get only two to three days of clear blue sky. But sometimes as the sun rose, clouds used to form and settle on the mountain top itself, preventing us from carrying out observations even on a clear day.
Another risky situation was crossing the rivers. We had to use only the cane-suspended hanging bridges that were unsystematically laid down with wooden pieces. While crossing, if you look at the flowing water you feel as if your bridge is flowing in the opposite direction – due to relative motion – as fast as the river flowed.
I camped for a month on top of one hill waiting for a clear day. Mostly I used to be with books and as I was not talking much, my tongue grew thick and I could not talk properly. When you handle the theodolite instrument to survey, you used to get an acute pain in the hand due to freezing temperatures and you cannot fold your fingers.
Porters erect signal for observation.
In such situations I used hot-water bags to keep my fingers warm. In the evening, after food, Nepali porters used to sing songs and the water-carrying drums doubled up as music instruments. This field season of 1961-62 was quite successful and I was in the field for about eight months eating the same air-dropped ration and staying in Arctic tents and enjoying the company of Nepali porters.
To reach the top of the mountain, we used to pass through interior areas where we came across primitive tribes (Tagins). We used to talk to them with the help of an interpreter. In each outpost, men from Assam Rifles, CRPF and Army were posted and they had the task of collecting secret information and pass it on to their respective headquarters. Whenever we returned from the hill top and reached the outpost we were treated as VVIPs just to gather information from us on the latest developments in the area and about Chinese spy groups4
The NCC and Scouts and Guides training which I obtained during my school and college days was very useful to be a leader. Porters used to carry about 30 kg load on their back and used to walk with me. After the survey work, I returned safely to Shillong. Glad to say that I was given Honorarium from the Survey Department. I could enjoy tough field work only because I took up challenge in each step.
Son Of Kodagu Leaves His Footprint On Snow-Clad Mountains -2
While it is common for Kodagu youth to join the Armed Forces and dedicate their lives for their Nation, ready to make the supreme sacrifice, there are some sons of the soil who have earned name and fame through their service in the Survey Department. One such hero is Kalyatanda B. Appachu, son of late Kalyatanda A. Belliappa. Born on 24.6.1935 in Virajpet town, Kodagu District — when it was a ‘C’ State — Appachu retired as Superintending Surveyor, Survey of India, after a long, challenging and fruitful innings.
In this interview to Star of Mysore, he shares his experiences in the Indo-China border at a time when India had to face Chinese aggression and lose many precious lives due to the wrong policies of our then leaders. Excerpts.
SOM: Did you face a situation when you had to stay hungry but still work?
Appachu: At NEFA, there was heavy snowfall and the weather was bad, cloudy and raining. As such there was no airdrop of rations for 2-3 months. For survival, I had to approach CRPF and Army units and borrow food. Meanwhile there was Chinese aggression from Longju side. Immediately we started retreating and reached our base camp at Daporijo after 16 days of marching. At night, we used to hear gunshots and early in the morning, the moment we could see footpaths, we used to start marching. Once at Daporijo, people had gathered from all the other outposts for evacuation by air-lifting. The same night, there was a wireless message that Chinese troops will be surrounding Daporijo any moment. All the ladies, children of officials started crying. The Kalinga Dakota aircraft meant for Survey of India personnel landed at Daporijo. Officers approached me and requested me to evacuate ladies, children and aged persons in the sortie meant for us. On seeing their plight, I obliged.
Later I got a message from our headquarters asking me to immediately destroy all the survey records etc. including cash and prevent Chinese from laying their hands on them. I had Rs. 40,000 cash in my trunk and I did not want to burn it. I went inside my tent, packed the bundle of notes in a leather bag, and wrapped it in a blanket and put it in my haversack. With my parent’s photo and a few glucose packets, I started off marching towards Jorhat, which took 10 days.
There was nothing to eat. On the way there were a number of burnt down Tusker unit camps. (Tusker units are deployed to make roads in hilly areas). We searched and could get tinned fruit or potatoes. During night I used to have the money bag as my pillow. If anyone had a clue that I was carrying so much money, they would have murdered me for it. The last two days I went to villages and begged for food. Immediately after reaching the base camp at Jorhat, I handed over the Rs. 40,000 to my superior officer (Col. S.R. Kishore). I am proud of this act.
SOM: What actually triggered Chinese aggression
Appachu: We had started off our technical work. From tribals and local officials we came to know that India under the Prime Ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon as Defence Minister (with the ill advice of Mallik) had opened a number of outposts along the McMahon Line in 1961, keeping some soldiers in each outpost. This irritated the Chinese their soldiers simply walked inside our area with Tibetans as guides since they knew the route to NEFA. In the encounter most of the Tibetans died. Gelansiniyak, where I used to camp, was the place the Chinese camped too. And wherever I had chiselled ‘SURVEY OF INDIA’ on the bark of trees, they wrote something in Chinese language. I feel that it was a wrong decision on the part of Jawaharlal Nehru and we lost many soldiers.
One more incident worth mentioning is that seven of us went to a mountain top north of Taksing in Namkachu Valley. It took us two days to reach the top. I set up my theodolite instrument and started observing the Chinese area and I could find a little bit of smoke and could see Chinese soldiers moving around. I showed it to my men and I made them stand in a line and shouted “Bolo Bharat Mathaaki Jai” and run down the mountain. By evening we reached an outpost and narrated the incident to our Government officials. In turn, they flashed the message to New Delhi and at 8 pm news, we heard that ‘Chinese Soldiers were sighted in Namkachu Valley’. I worked for about 8 months in Subansiri Frontier Division successfully. Later on for all the sincere and hardwork, I was awarded a Commendation Certificate by the Governor of Assam.
A tribal woman from the hill station at NEFA.
SOM: What other incidents come to your mind at NEFA?
Appachu: A lot of virgin area near the McMahon Line was unexplored. As such, it was planned to carry out exploratory survey to the north of Anini outpost. Seven technical hands were selected and our officer in-charge Major L.P. Sharma was our team leader. We reached Jorhat and were waiting for the airlift and at that point, Major L.P. Sharma received a message that he was promoted and had to join duty immediately.
He left and Capt. Prithviraj was made the team leader. We collected our squad, ration, etc., and after seven days of marching, we established our base camp at Bruni. We were preparing to start exploratory survey and Capt. Prithviraj received a message saying that he was promoted as a Major and he was asked to report immediately in Shillong. He left and I became the team leader.
I wanted to establish a survey station at an altitude of about16,000 feet. With the help of aerial photographs, I studied the area and with my team scaled the mountains. In some places we used rope climbing also and by evening we reached a small lake and we camped there itself. My Arctic tent was set on a flat boulder. The entire area was full of boulders. The next day 3-4 men and I went to the peak to set our signal (pole and cross) and instrument. It started snowing heavily. So we left the instrument on top and came down to the camp. At night after dinner, I went inside the sleeping bag and porters were sitting by the side of fire. We heard a gunshot and a loud cry of a porter (Angphuri Sherpa). My cook and escort were cleaning the rifle and by mistake one of them pressed the trigger and the bullet pierced through the porter’s stomach and the bullet went out from back. He was shouting and crying due to pain. I tried to console him by saying that he would be airlifted the next day. But at night his brother gave him some water and he died.
Next morning on the other side of the lake, we removed a few small boulders and buried him by covering the body with small boulders and performed the last rites. The snowfall continued. I pursued 2-3 best porters to climb up to bring the instrument back from the top. I was reading the abridged Bhagavad Gita for their safe return. They returned safe but snowfall continued and the entire area was covered with snow. There was no ration even as the ration squad could not reach us.
We made a bed by spreading small stones and pebbles and spread grass on top of them and spread the blanket for all of us to sleep. I was putting my hand into a small hot spring throughout the night. We had nothing to eat but took one or two pieces of Muskdeer fried meat and two tea-spoons of glucose each. The next day our Nepali porters with their ‘Kokari’ (bill hook) tried to cut down pine trees and make it fall across the stream. It was a failure a couple of times, but one tree fell across the stream and got struck between two boulders and it was shaky due to the water flow. It was a ‘Do or Die’ situation
Training in plane – Tabling in foot-hills area in NEFA
As a last resort, we crossed the stream one by one walking over the wobbly log. We walked along a small valley and reached a point from where we could not walk due to darkness. We sat with a blanket by the side of a big boulder and somehow spent the night. Due to severe hunger, I was getting stomach and spinal cord pain. In the morning, I could not stand up due to stiff knees. Immediately, 3-4 good porters encouraged me by saying that I would be lifted to base camp. It was bad luck that our search party with ration could not reach us again. They later came to us and started preparing rice. Two porters massaged my knees continuously for one hour with mustard oil. I could stand up slowly. The rice was cooked and we ate it with some mustard oil. It was so tasty and it was like Godly food. It usually takes two hours for us to reach our base camp but it took six hours for us as I could walk very slowly.
Son Of Kodagu Leaves His Footprint On Snow-Clad Mountains -3
While it is common for Kodagu youth to join the Armed Forces and dedicate their lives for their Nation, ready to make the supreme sacrifice, there are some sons of the soil who have earned name and fame through their service in the Survey Department. One such hero is Kalyatanda B. Appachu, son of late Kalyatanda A. Belliappa. Born on 24.6.1935 in Virajpet town, Kodagu District — when it was a ‘C’ State — Appachu retired as Superintending Surveyor, Survey of India, after a long, challenging and fruitful innings.
In this interview to Star of Mysore, he shares his experiences in the Indo-China border at a time when India had to face Chinese aggression and lose many precious lives due to the wrong policies of our then leaders. Excerpts.
SOM: Any bitter experience that haunts you?
Appachu: At the base camp, we took rest for 3 days. After some time we found that one porter was missing. In order to bring instruments we had left behind as well as to search that missing porter, we began tracking back again and on reaching the spot where we had crossed the stream, we could see some footprints deviated towards a small cave. We went there and could find the missing porter lying inside the cave. He was dead. All of us passed mud to cover the body. Then we went to the previous camp where we had left the instruments, collected them and returned to our base camp.
Meanwhile another team which had gone to other peak started returning. On their way, they were thrown down by an avalanche and all escaped except for one peon Rameshwar. He was carrying the instrument on his back and was buried deep in snow due to weight. Our search party could not find him but next the summer, an Assam Rifles search party could find his dead body and performed the last rites. After this bitter experience of exploratory survey, all of us returned to the party headquarters in Shillong.
SOM: Any incident you still regret?
Appachu: In 1966-67 Sultan Batheri (Karnataka-Kerala border), I was asked to carry out Model Control work for photogrammetric work for the Defence Department around Ooty area. Before proceeding for field work, when I was in the party HQ in Bangalore, I got an intimation from Survey General’s Office, Dehra Dun that I had been awarded Silver Medal by the Governor of Assam for meritorious service in NEFA. It was communicated to me orally by my Officer In-charge. I was asked to go to Shillong to receive the award on Republic Day in 1967 from the Governor of Assam. I was very keen to go but my Officer In-charge told me that they cannot send me as I was doing a top priority work for Defence. No matter how much I pleaded, the final reply was ‘No’.
I still regret that I could not receive the award in person. However, the medal and the citation were sent to me later.
SOM: How was the survey work at Sultan Batheri? Any incident you want to recall?
Appachu: One day we were to go to the top of a hill in an area that was infested by wild elephants. I took one of the mahouts from the camp as he knew how to scare elephants. On the way he sensed the presence of elephants as we could see freshly cut plants. As we neared an uneven area, suddenly one wild elephant ran towards us trumpeting and kicking up dust. I wanted to follow the mahout but he suddenly, like a monkey, climbed a tree and I saw the elephant approaching me. I started running fast but from the opposite direction I saw three more elephants running towards me. I lost my senses and when I regained composure, I found I had climbed a tree. Due to reflex action, I had run about 10-12 meters inside the forest and climbed up a tree.
This incident happened at about 9am and by about 11am there were about 3-4 elephants gathered at the spot. It was a mother elephant with her baby and mother elephants are normally more ferocious than a rouge elephant. By about 1 pm due to hot sun, the elephants walked away. All the people who had climbed trees got down. Thank God, all were safe.
Cautiously we collected the equipment and returned to our camp. We were in no mood to eat or even to talk. I informed my officer about the incident and after two days he came down to Ooty and conducted an enquiry. He said I should have taken more precautions by taking Police escort to the area of work. I told him that it was not possible to go to Police station daily as it was far away. Then I told him that I was not scared of elephants and if he sends me the blueprint of the area I would complete the work. He went back to Bangalore and sent the blue print and equipment. I worked hard for two months and completed the assignment successfully despite encountering wild elephants twice.
A human chain on ice slate lake to save oneself if the ice cracks due to weight
What is McMahon Line?
McMahon Line is a line proposed by McMahon in the Simla Accord which was considered invalid by both Tibetans and Chinese government. It is the effective boundary between China and India although its legal status is disputed by the Chinese.
The line is named after Sir Henry McMahon, foreign secretary of the British-run Government of India and the chief negotiator of the convention at Simla. It extends for 550 miles (890 km) from Bhutan in the west to 160 miles (260 km) east of the great bend of the Brahmaputra River in the east, largely along the crest of the Himalayas. Simla (along with the McMahon Line) was initially rejected by the Government of India as incompatible with the 1907 Anglo-Russian Convention. This convention was denounced in 1921. After Simla, the McMahon Line was forgotten until 1935, when British civil service officer Olaf Caroe convinced the government to publish the Simla Convention and use the McMahon Line on official maps.
The McMahon Line is regarded by India as the legal national border. It is disputed by China. As recently as 2003, the Dalai Lama said that the disputed region was part of Tibet, in 2008, he said that “Arunachal Pradesh was a part of India under the agreement signed by Tibetan and British representatives.”
Rice with elephant urine !
Early in 1965, the Survey Department had recruited a few trainees and I was given the responsibility of training them in all aspects of topographical survey. In the field, I was designated as the Camp Officer and we established our camp at Changlang in the foothills of NEFA.
One incident comes to my mind here. At the base of the hill top, we had pitched the tent just to spend the night. Our people took water from a ditch and cooked rice and my cook served it to me. The moment I put it into my mouth, I had widespread burning sensation and I vomited the rice. I washed my mouth with bottled water and slept off. At night an elephant had passed by the side of our tent but caused us no harm. The next day morning when we checked the so called water in the ditch, we found that it was actually elephant’s urine! And without realising it, the cook had prepared rice out of it.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Honorarium received from Survey of India.
Commendation Certificate received from the Governor of Assam for meritorious service in NEFA (North East Frontier Agency), now Arunachal Pradesh.
Silver Medal received from the Governor of Assam for meritorious service for 5 years in NEFA.
Appreciation letter from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs in recognition of meritorious services in the Indo-Pakistan boundary demarcation in Kutch in Gujarat.
A memento – Gold-coated replica of Pashupathinath Temple was presented by trainees and staff of Survey Training Centre, Kathmandu,Nepal.
Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the association of Engineering and Surveying Consultants for exceptional contribution in the field of surveying.
[Concluded]
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by K.B. Appachu / May 04th, 05th and 06th, 2017 / in 3 Parts
Remembering an extraordinary teacherof Kodagu, Devanira K. Appayya.
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” — Henry Brooks Adams, Historian.
In 1909, under the Imperialist Empire of Edward VII, an illustrious son was born in Napoklu, Kodagu, who would later be known for his colossal contribution to education. Little did Dr. Devanira Kunjappa know that this son, Devanira K. Appayya would one day be the recipient of India’s highest medal of honour bestowed on a citizen for teaching excellence.
By the age of 20, in 1929, Devanira Appayya or Appayya Master, as he was lovingly called, put himself through various schools in Kodagu and then went on to graduate from the prestigious Madras Presidency College, an almost unheard of feat at that time.
Presidency College was one of the oldest and the most prestigious institutions in India, boasting of an envious line of alumna including a Nobel Laureate C.V. Raman, freedom fighter C. Rajagopalachari and philosopher Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who later became the President of India.
Granny would regale us with stories of how Thatha, as we grand kids called him, got to Madras, now Chennai. “He walked, rode bullock carts, took multiple buses and then a train,” she said. It had apparently taken him weeks to travel from Coorg to Chennai, a distance covered in a few hours today.
Financial constraints prevented him from pursuing a higher education, at which point, he returned and joined the Secondary Grade Teachers Training College in Bangalore. This was the start of his memorable teaching career.
Thatha was a born teacher and taught with a sense of compassion and empathy. He held the Head Master’s job at Ammathi Middle School for over 22 years. Known for his impeccable British sense of style, sans the stiff upper lip, one would never find him in soiled clothes (from having spent his evenings picking coffee in his estate) or unpolished shoes.
He stood tall, towering over his colleagues, at 6’0”, but Thatha was modest at heart. It was said that he was a treat to watch as an eloquent speaker. He was also the only Head Master from the State to be selected as a member of the State Prescription Textbook Committee.
In 1962, Government of India presented Devanira Appayya, aged 53, with the prestigious National President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. An honour bestowed by the then President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, also a fellow alumnus of Madras Presidency College.
Never had a Kodava walked the history-laden, post-British Raj corridors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, dressed in the traditional Kodava attire of Kupya (black collarless, short-sleeved, knee length coat) with the ceremonial Mande Thuni (head gear) and Chale (maroon gold-embroidered silk waist belt), striking quite the intellectual, handsome figure.
Devanira K. Appayya with wife Dharani.
To be awarded this highest recognition was a matter of huge prestige, not just for him, but for the then small State of Kodagu and even smaller community of Kodavas. We were no longer tucked away in a silo of the Western Ghat. He had thus put the tiny State of Kodagu on the National stage.
The State of Mysore, considering his accomplishment as a teacher, extended his retirement by three years. “We pray to God to spare you for a full span of Vedic life and let God Almighty be with you and your family to enjoy your well-earned rest at Ammathi,” wrote the Siddapur Teachers’ Association on the day of his retirement on May 18, 1967.
Thatha died eleven years later at the age of 70. For his family, he was and is a larger-than-life figure, a trailblazer, a legend who touched the hearts of many and left a legacy which gets talked about even to this day.
Appayya Master was known for his unwavering dedication to his family and his craft serving as an inspiration. His ability to impart knowledge while being compassionate will be remembered for generations to come.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Pallavi Joyappa, USA / September 05th, 2023
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
Pink, white, and red roses stood with pride outside his house in Konnankatte, a place located in the Southernmost part of Kodagu. A plot is full of rose plants and manicured buffalo grass for the lawn. Gradually, a small figure walks in. Once standing at a height of 5’8” with a sturdy build, Dr. M.P Ganesh has still not lost his wheatish complexion and spirited energy. He still wears a sacred thread which he sought from the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara believing in constant strength. The only transformation of this hockey legend from the 60’s to now was in his hair, from jet black to pristine white. He is an active person with an eye for detail.
He said, “You and I are the first ones to sit in this newly-made garden.” Dr. Ganesh kept two chairs in the middle of the lawn. I looked above me as I sat in one of the chairs, to see an old mango tree leaning to block enough sunlight. Around me, there were roses, of gold, silver, and bronze sparkling as the golden hues of the sun hit them. I was in awe, for I was only thinking … why is he taking so much pride in a rose garden, he who has seen the world with his hockey stick and having lived in different, beautiful places across the globe. He broke the silence as he read my mind. “This garden means so much to me because my wife takes pride in this. She loves flowers as much as I love playing hockey. So this is my accomplishment post-retirement. All my life, I have not been able to dedicate as much time to my family because of my professional life. My family was the sport itself. I used to eat, drink, and sleep hockey.”
Then he continued narrating his life story to me…
Sitting quietly in his chair and sipping the hot lemon tea, Dr. Mollera Poovaiah Ganesh was reminiscing the good old days. A man in his 70’s, he must be so proud of his achievements, but he was so proud of the rose garden and the lawn in front of his house in Kodagu. That showed his modesty. His age beckons him to set into an Autumn-Winter phase but his spirit and energy were like the Summer and Spring, still full of beans! Little did he know, having been born in a country at the time of its independence, that his life would be roses. But roses with thorns!
I was here to write his autobiography. My first book and that too first time, risking it all on this genre. At first, I often pondered as to how I would go about this because personally speaking, I swim in a sea of emotions. My writing reflects emotion and description. This is not so for Dr. Ganesh. He is a man of logic with an analytical mind and left-brained. However, I was only given the task of writing the book in his words and not his emotions. Often, simply, I had to imagine playing Field Hockey and winning medals at the Olympics and World Cups. Time and again, I could sense a patriarchal point of view from his side as opposed to my ‘girly’ world of thoughts, a war inside my head which I reluctantly put on paper.
It was my first day, my first time interacting with the narrator’s family. And this day became my Dear Diary Day because at first, I felt like I drove down to Wuthering Heights to meet Mr. Heathcliff after hearing so much about him. And the first thought that swept my mind in there, was that their life was all roses with thorns. There were perspectives and musings, all pertaining to pre-independence India from his end that was in war with the post independence world of thoughts from my end. Probably, I would have been able to write better if I could watch him play for real.
Dr. M. P Ganesh in action at the II Second World Cup (India vs. Netherlands)
Inside his country house, two photo frames caught my eye. One, a black and white frame of a young, ambitious Forward playing in Amsterdam at the World Cup.
You can see the playing style of young Ganesh. A footballer playing hockey, having sprint strides, playing long handle, bending his back lesser to hold the stick, often with a right leg forward and the ball on the right side. This angle provided a wrong view of the ball for the goalkeeper when Dr.Ganesh scored.
Mrs. and Mr. Ganesh with their late son, Ayyappa
The other, a bubbly young child, in all smiles… a photo of his only son who succumbed to a deadly disease at 20 years of age. I was often told by many that the son, Ayyappa was a born sprinter, very talented.
“I always imagine that my son, Ayyappa is looking and smiling from above. My son like a twinkling star in the night sky. If I ever come across a sports talent, especially amongst the workers, I quickly make sure that they reach the right training body because I became a hero from being a zero. I know that I scripted my story and Lady luck was always with me but what is luck without a little tarnishing and hard work, ” he quips.
The wife, Mrs. Prema Ganesh is truly a strong woman, devoid completely of any emotions there is, very rhetoric and straightforward in her talk. An avid reader, she loves History and Sociology. At 19, she was sent with her newly married husband to Italy soon after exams and marriage. Her world was quite like the solitary reaper, with language becoming a barrier. Her husband would travel often for the Games and that’s when the books became her best friends. The flowers outside her house today were like children to Mrs. Ganesh. She nurtured, cared for, and admired them. She used to be an athlete in her school days.
The world called Dr. M.P Ganesh the Indian Tiger of Hockey. The tiger himself had something to tell about this…“Grace, strength, agility, and enormous power. A tiger has all these qualities and is, therefore, our national animal. People thought that I was the “king of hockey” like the tiger was the king of the jungle. And to think of it, my life would have been different if I had not run away to the army. A tiger takes risks, chases behind its goals, is all alone yet determined. A tiger is a royal animal. I was chasing behind money, but money did not make royal. My passion did. So, I started chasing my passion. I’ve had many setbacks in life, but I believe life’s a game and we must play it until its end. Everyone who makes it to the end with something to give to society is a winner. It need not be big; it can be little yet significant.
I wish to relive those days because those were the days. Days like roses. But roses with thorns.”
Living the Dream: An Autobiography of Dr. M.P Ganesh is available in Notion Press store, Amazon, Kindle, iBooks, Google Books, and Kobo. Check the link below!
“When you cannot find the sunshine, be the sunshine!” says a cheerful 50-year-old, Guddanda Kavitha Chittiappa (married to Kodira) who hails from Maharashtra. Today, the world is rising of waters, dark and deep or so we think. Living in a perfectly Utopian world is Kavitha who is a former national level Diver and a Swimmer.
As light is to darkness, Guddanda Kavitha Chittiappa has been the light of hope to the young and old. She says, “I worked for a corporate for 29 years, then quit because I thought it was time to give back. I had reached a point in life where there was nothing to look forward to. I wanted to make a difference in my life and the lives of the people around me. That was when I decided to start, “Aqualiners” which is a swimming academy. This academy teaches swimming, Aqua Therapy, Aqua Rehabilitation, and Aqua Fitness to children and adults, differently-abled kids and adults, senior citizens.” Kavitha has been training the intermediate as well as the competitive-level swimmers in Bengaluru.
Always sporting a natural smile, Kavitha has been quick to change her stride post-pandemic. Most parents of the specially-abled children had fewer options on their plate. Thanks to Kavitha, these children could attend online classes for their physical exercises.
She has an international certification on ‘active aging’ and works with senior citizens on age-related ailments on land and water. During this lockdown, she has started an online exercise session for family and friends to ensure that they keep themselves physically fit and active. She has started land-based exercises (movement therapy) as the pools have shut post-Covid-19.
It all started with Kavitha helping her aunt with online physical exercises. What started as a “family workout hour” with her aunt became popular! “Soon, I was not just helping my aunt but her friends too,” she says. The word spread that Kavitha was helping with physical exercises. Many joined because it was not just a workout group that Kavitha had started but a therapeutic group where the participants could vent out their feelings and share their activities during the lockdown phase. “If each of us can make a difference in one person’s life, we could bring positivity to so many people. If I could get 12 ladies every day, on the line and I look at their health… If one of them misses my sessions, I can ask him or her what happened. So, I know everyone is safe for the day,” says Kavitha.
Also, a yoga teacher and a Pranik healer, she works selflessly to enable the specially-abled children with a power of positivity in the mind, in the body. Commenting on how she was coping with classes post Covid-19, she adds, “I couldn’t meet my students and I missed those hugs and smiles, the real connect. But the fact that we could still be there for each other was amazing.”
Her aura of positivity blooms in her own words, “Whatever I do, I always give my 100%. I smile because it brings out the best in me. I believe in my students’ potential, that everyone is unique and different and the best can be brought out of each student. I receive what I give. I give or receive love, hope, and power.” Kavitha has changed so many lives, especially the lives of the young and the old. This world definitely needs more Kavithas!
source: http://www.medium.com / Medium / Home / by Shrividya Somanna / February 07th, 2022
Annual get-together event honours two accomplished authors, student achievers from the community
Mysore/Mysuru:
The 18th annual get-together of the Jayalakshmi Kodava Association was held recently at the Kodagu Sahakara Sangha, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysuru. Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna was the chief guest.
MLA Ponnanna was honoured with a custom-made marquetry art piece depicting Talacauvery, the birthplace of River Cauvery. Accepting the felicitation, Ponnanna spoke at length about the challenges in Kodagu and his plans for resolving them through active intervention and cooperation from all Kodavas and the people of his Constituency.
The event began with an invocation by Pandiyanda Anil Cariappa. President Ballyanda Uthappa extended a warm welcome to all attendees and presided over the event. During the ceremony, the Association paid their respects to two departed members. They also introduced new members who joined the Association between Aug. 14, 2022 and Aug. 27, 2023.
In a significant decision, the previous year’s committee will continue to function for the years 2023-2024, with Ballyanda P. Uthappa as President, Pandiyanda Girish as Vice-President, Jammada Ganesh Ayanna as Secretary and Mukkatira A. Somaiah as Treasurer.
Two accomplished authors within the community were honoured. Dr. Latha Muthanna received recognition for her third book, ‘The Jail and Other Tales,’ while Dr. Geetha Cariappa Chonira was applauded for her second English storybook ‘Girl with the Diary’ (A Tale from Kodagu).
The achievements of young members were also celebrated. Mukkatira Dia Ponnappa, daughter of Dr. Avinash Ponnappa and Nisha, an 8th-grade student, was acknowledged for her selection to participate in a week-long international debate workshop at Cornell University, New York. The workshop aims to refine oratory skills.
Another young talent, M.J. Devanshi, daughter of Mallangada N. Jayprakash and Swetha, a 7th-grade student, was recognised for her accomplishments in air rifle shooting competitions.
President Ballyanda Uthappa discussed various issues for the betterment of the Association and encouraged members to actively participate, both during good and challenging times. Treasurer Mukkatira Somaiah presented the accounts for the year 2022-2023, which were approved by the general body.
Jammada Ganesh Ayanna introduced the MLA. The event was conducted by Mukkatira Somaiah, with assistance from Codanda Chitra Medappa. A vote of thanks was proposed by Pandiyanda U. Girish. The programme ended with a sumptuous Kodava traditional dinner, fostering wonderful fellowship among all attendees.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 03rd, 2023
The Annual Kodava Convention in North America is scheduled to take place on Sept. 2 and 3, 2023, in the San Francisco Bay Area, famously known as Silicon Valley. The convention will culminate on Sept. 3, coinciding with the Kodava community’s Kailpoldh festival. The inaugural day’s events will start at 5 pm.
This convention is a tradition spanning approximately 15 years. This time, over 500 Kodavas and their families from across the United States have registered to participate in the event, which is jointly organised by around 40 Kodava families.
According to the organisers, the two-day event will see the participation of Kodava guests from around the world. They have received well-wishes from notable Kodavas, including individuals from the military, sports, and the entertainment industry.
Registration had to be closed due to limited seating capacity. Local families will come together to showcase the cultural events that reflect the deep-rooted Kodava heritage and their unique talents, as stated by the organisers.
The programme will feature a blend of traditional and cultural events, including Baalo Paat performances, Kailpodh Ayudha Puja, Kodava cultural dances, Kodava Koota updates, an entrepreneurial mixer, a Kodava cultural skit, and the traditional Bolakaat.
This convention serves as a gathering for Kodava brethren from across North America, providing an opportunity to meet, learn and celebrate the rich Kodava culture. This year’s convention is aptly named ‘namme-by-the-bay’ and promises to offer attendees a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the world of Kodava tradition, unique attire, art, cuisine, culture and the deities.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / September 02nd, 2023
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
