The 22nd Annual get-together of Kuvempunagar Kodava Residents Association, Mysuru was held on July 16 at Kodava Samaja’s Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in Vijayanagar 1st Stage here.
On the occasion, Association directory was released.
Seen in the picture are from left:
Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah, President, Shri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha; Byretira Ganapathy, Association Past Secretary; Mukkatira B. Jeevan, Kodava Samaja Hon. Secretary; Machanda Raja Muthappa, Association Secretary; Voterira B. Medappa (Vittal), Association President; Mechanda Shashi Ponnappa, Samaja President; Madapanda Lala Appachu, Association Vice-President; Balyamanda Nanaiah, Past President; Moovera Kuttappa, Past President and Ithichanda Kalappa, Association Past President.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Gallery> PhotoNews / July 23rd, 2023
Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games.
From left) Vidwath Kaverappa, Vijayakumar Vyshak and V Koushik at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
There was a ’90s vibe about South Zone’s 75-run victory over West Zone in Sunday’s Duleep Trophy final in Bengaluru. The bowling backbone, as it was for the country for most of the 1990s and early 2000s, largely comprised those from Karnataka.
Like Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi, the pace trio of Vidwath Kaverappa, Vasuki Koushik and Vijaykumar Vyshak scythed through a star-studded batting line-up of Cheteshwar Pujara, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan and Priyank Panchal. They picked up 16 of the 20 South Zone scalps, a performance that held the promise of another wave of bowlers from the Southern powerhouse.
Between them, the three bowlers have featured in only 33 first-class games. Pujara alone has 103 Tests to his name. Shaw and Yadav, too, are Test cricketers while Panchal and Khan, both domestic stalwarts, have been knocking on the doors for a long time. But the gulf in experience hardly mattered.
Of the three, Kaverappa and Koushik are not widely known. Vyshak, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore , is a more familiar name. The head-turner was Kaverappa, who snared eight wickets in the game and was adjudged man of the series for 15 wickets in two games. Like most youngsters from Madikeri in Coorg, one of India’s hockey hubs, he used to play hockey until he fell in love with fast bowling. A product of Karnataka State Cricket Association’s talent hunt programme, the 24-year-old can move the ball both ways, thanks to his wrists. In just eight Ranji games, he grabbed 30 wickets. Hailing from a humble background, he attended the trials in Mangalore when he was 16 and impressed coaches and selectors right away. Noted coach Samuel Jayaraj, the man credited with mentoring K L Rahul, asked him to stay back. Kaverappa had second thoughts but Jayaraj eventually convinced him.
Possessing a smooth action and accuracy, he was more than a handful in the first innings, where he nabbed seven wickets including those of Pujara, Yadav and Khan. He swings the new ball and gets reverse swing when the ball gets old and ragged. “He is a natural athlete, and if he could add a few yards of pace, with the seam movement he has, he can go a long way,” Srinath Aravind, who worked with the trio as bowling coach of Karnataka last season, told The Indian Express.
His partner-in-crime is Vyshak, a selfless workhorse who ties up one end so others can reap the rewards of his labour. He conceded just 72 runs in 32 overs for three wickets in the game, suffocating the batters into mistakes and using the old ball to good effect with his leg-stump line.
Not that he is any less skilful. Vyshak could be as good as Kaverappa with his movement, but he has the heart and muscle to bowl long spells even if the pitch provides little assistance.
In his teens, he wanted to be a wicketkeeper but could not because he was overweight. He was a batsman in age-group cricket before becoming a spinner and then eventually a fast bowler. Pursuing his father’s dream to play cricket, Vyshak led Karnataka’s wicket charts in Ranji with 31 scalps in 8 matches last season, the state unearthing a mainstay after the heyday of Aravind, R Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun. He was lethal with short balls too, twice on Day Four, he struck Khan, one on his helmet and the other on his left shoulder.
Koushik’s journey to the state has been different too. A mechanical engineer who worked with Amazon as a content executive, he took the sport seriously only when he was 17.
At 30, he found the break he had long yearned for. “I lost my prime years between 22-26, because there was no place (with Vinay, Mithun & Aravind around). Even though I did well in club cricket, I could not even get a chance in Thimmaiah Cup squads from where Karnataka players are picked. But last season, I finally got an opening and from there on, it has been an enjoyable ride,” said Koushik, who possesses immaculate control with the old ball. He pocketed four wickets in the second innings, including those of Pujara and Yadav in the same over.
It’s the perfect combination, said Aravind. “All three are gifted in their own way and that is what makes them a perfect combination. When we gave them the opportunity last season, they showed hunger and that drive.”
Captain Hamuna Vihari, too, praised them effusively. “Quality bowlers will make the captain’s job really easy and these three did that for me,” he said. Like in the ’90s, Karnataka’s bowling is rocking again.
source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> News> Sports> Cricket / by Venkata Krishna , Bengaluru / July 17th, 2023
Helps Forest Officers effectively plan operationsand drive pachyderms back into jungle.
Amid the rise in the human-elephant conflict in some forested pockets of Kodagu along the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, the Forest Department has deployed a hi-tech thermal drone to keep track of daytime and nocturnal movements of wild elephants inside forest ranges and human habitats.
The drone technology was first used in Nagarahole to control forest fires and now, there are three such drones there. However, a need was felt to acquire a thermal drone due to the increasing human-elephant conflict.
Sources said while managing the human-elephant conflict, the safety of elephants and also humans has been a major concern for the Forest Department and the wildlife activists as deaths of animals are being frequently reported from various parts of the district as they come into contact with live electricity wires.
Due to the need, one thermal drone was brought to Nagarahole in January this year at a cost of Rs. 25 lakh. Monitoring the movement of the elephants has always been a challenge for the Department amid several limitations.
“Now we have been using a thermal drone and it detects live objects through their body temperature and those get flashed on the computer screen. It gives us a proper count of a herd and the number of calves,” Nagarahole Tiger Reserve Director Harshakumar Chikkanaragund told Star of Mysore.
The drone can also be used to drive the elephant herd away from a potential danger area as its location can be pinpointed. The drones are not only helping the staff determine the herd composition and drive them in a desirable direction but also prevent casualties.
Heat signatures of living species
Unlike drones with normal cameras that rely on light signals to capture images, thermal drone cameras pick up heat signatures of living species in motion. This makes thermal drones ideal for deployment after sunset, complementing the use of normal drones during daylight hours.
“By accurately detecting herd movements, determining their composition and tracking elephant directions, objective decisions can be made for deploying elephant squads. Thermal drone cameras have become an invaluable asset for night-time operations. They enhance situational awareness, ensuring efficient management of wild elephant movements and mitigating potential conflicts,” Harshakumar added.
According to Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Yogeshwari Desai, who has been trained to use the thermal drone, the machine has a 2-km range and can fly 400 metres above the surface. It has a powerful thermal sensor and night vision ‘positive image’ technology cameras. It is convenient to use and the exact location can be ascertained. If one has to do physical combing even for a 2-km range, a lot of manpower and equipment is needed,” she explained.
Easy navigation inside woods
The camera on the drone operates based on the location information obtained via GPS, enabling easy navigation of the elephants’ whereabouts. Additionally, the drones produce minimal noise, allowing the staff to monitor animals such as elephants, tigers and other wildlife without causing any disturbance
During the night, the thermal drones conduct operations using radar, ensuring that local residents are not inconvenienced. Once the specific location of the elephants is identified, the information is sent to the Task Force and the teams proceed to drive the elephants back into the forest.
It also becomes easy to spot the origin of forest fire and extinguishers can be rushed to the place, she said. The drone has a backup of 40 minutes and after that, the battery must be charged. The drone has three batteries.
The team that has been trained to operate thermal drone at Nagarahole.
Trained team
Before the drone was deployed, a New Delhi-based team trained eight operators at Nagarahole. They are DRFO Jyothi Kumar and Forest Guard Sunil Nellebidu (Antharasanthe), DRFO B.B. Mahesh Kumar (D.B. Kuppe), DRFO Chethan Kumar Kolur (Nagarahole), DRFO Yogeshwari Desai (Anechowkur), DRFOs K.K. Arpitha and H.N. Madhuprasad (Hunsur) and Forest Guard Basavaraju (Veeranahosahalli).
The operators were trained for six days at Dammanakatte, Veeranahosahalli and Moorkal ranges that abut human habitats. The Nagarahole Director further said that they will seek aid from wildlife-related organisations, NGOs and firms to sponsor more such thermal drones for effective management of conflict zones.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles, Top Stories /July 18th, 2023
Among the multiple famed tourist attractions in the hill station of Kodagu — a captivating destination for travellers from far and wide throughout the year — is a new must-visit place, a brand-new glass skywalk bridge.
It is made of tempered glass panels or flooring that provide visitors with a thrilling experience of walking above ground level, often offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape
The glass skywalk bridge in the district is the second such attraction in South India, the first one being at Wayanad in Kerala at 900 Kandi Eco Park. This remarkable Glass Skywalk Bridge of Kodagu is nestled amidst the forests and hills of the Western Ghats, attracting tourists like a magnet.
The bridge, standing approximately 78 feet tall, with a length of about 32 metres and a width of 2 metres, has been attracting tourists to the ‘Pappy’s Bridge of Coorg’ at Udoth Motte near Madikeri on the Madikeri-Bhagamandala Road. This bridge, with a capacity to support around 5 tonnes, can accommodate up to 40 to 50 individuals at once, providing them with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.
Through its stunning natural beauty, the tourism sector in Kodagu has successfully garnered global attention and the newly added glass skywalk bridge further enhances this tourism initiative.
Situated amidst the lush green hills, the bridge offers a breathtaking view. Standing and gazing from the bridge not only evokes a sense of fear but also provides an exhilarating experience. The surrounding hills seem to reach out and beckon, their peaks adorned with greenery.
Looking down from the top feels as if the sky is within reach and stepping on the glass, while enjoying the beauty of nature, brings joy to the visitors. While the natural beauty of Kodagu with its umpteen viewpoints has enchanted the tourists, the bridge, amidst the greenery of the hills stands this remarkable creation, skilfully erected by engineers.
Walking on the transparent glass surface, amidst the verdant nature, offers a thrilling experience that takes it to the next level. The facility, allowing tourists to indulge in the beauty of nature, was recently inaugurated by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna who also walked along the bridge.
He appreciated the significant contribution of the local community to this tourism initiative and noted that the facility holds significance as a unique attraction in the region, surpassing even the famous glass bridge in Wayanad.
He said that the facility will contribute to the Kodagu district’s development as a nature-friendly tourist destination, without causing any harm to the environment. He also mentioned that the implementation of this unique project will lead to an increase in the number of tourists visiting the district.
Fake image
Yet again an image claiming that cracks had developed on the glass bridge went viral and the video generated panic among tourists. Later it was found to be stable and the photo was confirmed to be fake.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles, Top Stories / July 17th, 2023
The Codava National Council (CNC) delegation met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah yesterday at the CM’s Home Office ‘Krishna’ and the meeting was facilitated by Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnana.
The Chief Minister assured the CNC delegation that he would address the two major ethnic issues raised by the CNC. Firstly, he pledged to change the official nomenclature of the Codava community from ‘Kodagaru’ to ‘Kodava’ in accordance with the recommendations of the Dr. Dwarakanath Commission.
This change would be implemented soon after the Cabinet meeting and the updated name would be included in Government records and published in the State Gazette, the CM assured.
Secondly, the Chief Minister assured the delegation that a comprehensive ethnographic study would be conducted to determine the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Kodava community. The study will be initiated shortly.
The delegation was led by CNC President Nandineravanda U. Nachappa and comprised over 30 members from the community.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home > News / July 16th, 2023
MICA College, Mysuru, had organised a State- level Inter-Collegiate Hockey, Cricket, Basketball and Football tournaments in their campus from June 16 to 27.
Sporting teams from Kodagu, Mandya, Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Mysuru fought for the coveted MI trophies and cash prizes.
In the Hockey MI3s tournament, 29 teams participated and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa (FMKMC) College, Madikeri, defeated St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru to win the trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 15,000. Runners-up were awarded a trophy and cash prize of Rs. 7,000.
In MI Crick, 32 teams participated. In the finals, SBRR Mahajana PG Centre defeated MIT Tandavapura and won a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 with a trophy. Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 5,000 and a trophy.
A total of 14 teams participated in the MI3s Basketball tournament. In Boys category SJCE, Mysuru defeated MICA Mysuru and won Rs. 10,000 cash prize and a trophy. Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 5000 and a trophy. In Girls category, NIE Mysuru defeated Sapient College, Mysuru in the finals.
In the flood light MI7s Football tournament, 32 teams participated. Sacred Heart Mangalore defeated FMKMC College, Madikeri to clinch the trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 20,000. Runners-up were awarded cash prize of Rs. 10,000 and a trophy, according to a press release from MICA Principal.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / July 10th, 2023
Vidwath Kaverappa entered the Karnataka pace bowling landscape in a rather tough period after the departure of stalwarts such as R Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun and S Arvind.
It might have been tough for a 24-year-old to learn the tricks of the trade almost on his own.
But now, Vidwath has established himself as his the state team’s spearhead and a potential candidate to fill an India spot. In the previous Ranji Trophy season (2022-23) Vidwath bagged 30 wickets, and he has already picked up 14 wickets from three innings in the on-going Duleep Trophy.
The numbers give the picture of a young man who is a quick learner and a keen observer. Vidwath emphasised those aspects as his strong points.
The Karnataka right-arm pacer said he has been absorbing lessons from watching the footage of South African legend Dale Steyn and veteran India bowler Mohammed Shami.
“Since I don’t have the express pace, like Prasidh (Krishna) or Vysakh (Vijayakumar), I need to seek other ways to get purchase from the wicket. So, that’s something I’ve watched great bowlers like Dale Steyn or Mohammed Shami do,” he said.
Vidwath said he has been trying to copy the seam position of those two fine bowlers.
“I have seen a lot of moments of their bowling. So, I can see how good the seam presentation is and what the ball does, even in white ball. So, why not do it in the red ball with a prominent seam, and I know I’ll get a lot more help with it,” he said.
Vidwath has shown that trait all along, even from his junior days for Lions Institutions in Gonikoppal, Coorg, and Presidency College in Bengaluru.
Samuel Jayaraj, a KSCA coach who imparted him the first lessons, remembered watching him in Coorg eight years ago during a talent hunt drive by the state association.
Back then he was pleasantly surprised to see the spirited reaction from youngsters to the camp as Coorg is the stronghold of hockey.
“Vidwath had come as an attentive kid. He never gets tired of bowling at nets and wanted to learn as much as he could. He is a natural bowler and athlete.
“Coming from Coorg, he had that natural aptitude for sports. We just have to give him direction once I saw him during that trial. We were convinced that Vidwath would be an asset to the Karnataka team, and if everything goes well, then even at a higher level,” said Jayaraj.
It was not an empty praise as evidenced by future turn of events. In 2022, Vidwath finished as the second highest wicket-taker in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 18 wickets from 8 matches at an impressive economy of 6.36.
The recognition of that effort came when Punjab Kings picked him up for the IPL 2023 from the mini-auction for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.
Though he did not play a game in this edition, Kings bowling coach Charl Langeveldt is convinced of his ward’s potential
“The team combination is such that it is tough for every player to get a chance to be in the 11. In a tournament like IPL, matches come very fast and you really don’t have time to tinker with 11.
“But this kid is talented and bowls at nets with a wonderful seam (position). He, I am sure, will feature in Punjab’s scheme prominently very soon,” Langeveldt told PTI.
Vidwath knew the importance of waiting for his turn patiently after taking those bold initial steps.
“I feel like I’m learning from every game and that is important at this age for me. I knew even if I didn’t get a chance into the big team this transitional period, my time will come.”
“I’ve watched football a lot, so I know how in a great team new players come when old players leave, you need to be patient with them. So, I had to take my time and perform to the best of my abilities,” said Vidwath.
Vidwath indeed did that. He wrecked a power-packed West Zone batting unit with a seven-wicket haul. His victim list included players like Cheteshwar Pujara, Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw.
However, Vidwath, typical of him, did not try to wrap the performance in a magic cloak.
“I’ve always been the kind of guy who likes responsibilities, who likes to take up the heavy load and make the big moments for the team,” he said.
Perhaps, he knows bigger moments are on his way.
source: http://www.rediff.com / rediff.com / Home> Cricket / by PTI / July 14th, 2023
Brahma Kumari (BK) Meenakshiji, a senior Rajyogini of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, who was popularly called as Meenakshi Akka, passed away on July 11 morning at a private hospital in Mangaluru.
A native of Chikkamandur in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, Meenakshiji was the eldest daughter of Kallichanda K. Machaiah and Parvathi couple and is survived by four brothers
The body was kept at the Gonikoppal Branch of Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya yesterday morning for the public to pay their last respects and the mortal remains were shifted to Chikkamandur, where the last rites were performed.
Brahma Kumaris Mysuru Zone Chief Convenor BK Lakshmiji, Kodagu Zone Chief Convenor BK Gayathriji and others have condoled the death of BK Meenakshiji.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 13th, 2023
The list of homestays and resorts in Kodagu, which are run legally getting all the clearances from government agencies, should be made available on tourism-related websites for the benefit of tourists.
This message was conveyed at a meeting of the associations of hotels, restaurants, resorts, and homestays in Madikeri. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja who suggested uploading information on registered homestays and resorts operated in the district.
Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan said the police have kept a close vigil for controlling narcotics and advised resorts not to engage in illegal activities. The police will act tough if they comes across such activities being encouraged on their properties, he cautioned. Problems can be brought to the notice of the police immediately by calling 112, he advised.
Kodagu Homestays’ Association general secretary Monti Ganesh suggested simplifying the registration process for homestays. Kodagu has about 200 registered homestays. If the process is simplified, more homestays will voluntarily register, he felt. He also suggested establishing tourist information centres and more public toilets besides giving importance to hygiene in tourist spots.
Hotel Owners’ Association president Nagendra Prasad said the district administration must consider giving priority to easing parking issues, which aggravate during weekends when tourist footfall goes up. He suggested establishing more facilities in tourist spots in view of the rise in tourism revenue.
Kodagu Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary Ambekallu Naveen said tourists engage in cooking while on visit to Kodagu. There has to be designated places for cooking for tourists, he said. Honey and spices are being faked in the market and this has to be checked for safeguarding the identity of these products.
Somwarpet taluk homestay association president C.K. Rohit said there are no display boards with useful information for tourists on the way to Kote Betta and steps must be taken to install information boards on the route for the benefit of tourists. He sought a ropeway at Mallalli waterfalls and a hanging bridge to Pushpagiri hills.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 11th, 2023
The Cauvery near Betri in Kodagu district brimming with water due to heavy rains on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
All schools and anganwadis in Kodagu will remain closed on Friday as a precautionary measure in view of the incessant rains across the district.
A communique was issued by Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Venkat Raja. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said monsoon was vigorous and active over south interior Karnataka with very heavy rainfall of 120 mm reported in Bhagamandala during the 24-hour period ending 8.30 a.m. on Thursday.
The IMD has forecast heavy rains at isolated places over Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Kodagu district on July 7 and 8.
Though the monsoon progression into Kodagu has been slow, the last 72 hours has shown some traction with moderate to heavy rains in the Cauvery catchment areas.
The cumulative rainfall since the advent of South West Monsoon since June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).
But the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday saw Kodagu registering 58.12 mm of rainfall and this has been the trend since the past few days shoring up hopes of monsoon gaining vigour.
Apart from Bhagamandala (120 mm), heavy rains were also recorded at Sampaje (98.5 mm), Shantalli (100 mm), Madikeri Kasaba (54.20 mm), Napoklu (76.40 mm), Virajpet (68.4 mm), Hudikeri (53.3 mm), Srimangala (59.4 mm), Ponnampet (50 mm), and Ammathi (50 mm). Rains have also lashed other places like Suntikoppa, Kushalnagar, and Kodlipet.
The inflow into the Harangi reservoir was at the rate of 1,557 cusecs and the inflow is expected to increase owing to the current spell of rains in the next few days.
However, the cumulative rainfall since the advent of south west monsoon from June 1 till date is below normal in Kodagu (-79%), Mysuru (-40%), Mandya (-23%), Hassan (-63%), and Chamarajanagar (-32%).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 06th, 2023
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