Monthly Archives: April 2025

Codava Community Seeks Exclusive Constituencies and ST Status Amid Concerns Over Delimitation

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HIGHLIGHTS

The Codava National Council (CNC) organised a human chain demonstration in Birunani on Monday, urging the Union Government to address their long-standing demands.

Madikeri :

The Codava National Council (CNC) organised a human chain demonstration in Birunani on Monday, urging the Union Government to address their long-standing demands. The primary demand is the creation of exclusive Codava constituencies for the Assembly and Parliament to ensure adequate representation of the community within their traditional homeland.

The CNC expressed concerns that the ongoing delimitation process may overlook the interests of the Codava community. Leaders fear that political influences could result in the merging of Codavaland with neighbouring areas, undermining the representation of the indigenous Codavas.

The CNC has put forward two proposals: carving out dedicated Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in Codavaland and creating exclusive representative bodies for the Codava community, similar to the Sangha Constituency for the Buddhist monastic community in Sikkim.

The CNC also reiterated its demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status under the Indian Constitution, highlighting the community’s distinct identity, culture, and history. The demand is anchored in Articles 244 and 371, along with provisions in the Sixth and Eighth Schedules, which recognise and protect tribal communities and languages.

The CNC argues that this misrepresentation has led to a gradual erosion of the community’s identity, describing it as a violation of international conventions on indigenous rights.

A writ petition filed by former Member of Parliament Dr. Subramanian Swamy in the Karnataka High Court seeks adjudication of the Codavas’ demands. The CNC is also advocating for recognition of Codavas under international frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The CNC has called for the restitution of ancestral lands that were taken over by various rulers, including the Keladi dynasty, British authorities, and subsequent governments.

The CNC remains firm in its demand for recognition as a distinct indigenous community and continues to engage with constitutional and legal avenues to secure their rights. The human chain event at Birunani marked the latest step in the community’s long-standing struggle for recognition and justice.

Is Sullia being pitched to be an assembly segment of Mysuru-Kodagu LS constituency?

In another development, DV Sadananda Gowda (former MP) and Shobha Karandlaje, representing Bengaluru North LS constituency, have been alleged to have brought pressure on the central government to annexe Sullia Assembly constituency, which is currently one of the eight assembly segments in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, to be a part of the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency. The Codavas point out that this move will further strengthen the Vokkaliga dominance in the Kodagu district and will worsen the Codava community’s representation in the Karnataka assembly. “This is in a preliminary stage, and in the coming days we will further investigate the effects of the inclusion of the Sullia Assembly constituency into the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency.”

source: http://www/thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by The Hans India, Hans News Service / March 31t, 2025

‘Kodava Ballya Namme’ festival celebrates community’s culture, rituals, language

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Virajpet MLA AS Ponanna said, on Kodava’s gun rights, that they do not need a license to possess guns as the gun culture has been passed on from generations.

Awards were honoured to several achievers from the community and the fest witnessed participation from several dignitaries. Photo | Express

Madikeri :

The two-day ‘Kodava Ballya Namme’ festival organised by the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy at the Ammathi Kodava Samaja highlighted the need to protect Kodava culture and rituals. The event emphasised the need to protect the Kodava language, rights and livelihood.

The Kodava Samaja wore a festive look as hundreds from the community, dressed in the traditional Kodava attire, took part in the event. The programme began with a ritualistic procession.

The formal function was inaugurated by Virajpet MLA AS Ponanna. “It is commendable that the Kodava Sahitya Academy has contributed to the development of Kodava language and literature by organising the ‘Ballya Namme’. Efforts will be made to provide government support to promote the Academy. The contribution made by the Kodava community to the country is immense. In this regard, it is imperative to work hard for the survival of the community and everyone should be responsible for the protection of the language, country and race,” opined Ponanna.

He explained that using a gun as part of the festivities is the community’s culture. “We do not need a license to possess guns as the gun culture has been passed on from generations,” he added. He called on the community to promote the culture without hating other communities or cultures.

The need to promote the Kodava language for the preservation of the community’s culture was highlighted by K Subramani, the president of the Federation of the Kodava Samajas.

During the cultural seminar hosted as part of the fest, speaker M Rekha Prakash said that the increased influence from the west is affecting the culture of the community. She called on the parents to instill respect for the culture and language among the children.

The close relation between Kodava culture and agriculture was explained by progressive farmer S Ganesh Thimmaiah. He urged the growers and farmers to implement organic farming and avoid chemical fertilisers to help lead a healthy living. He highlighted the need to take up animal husbandry, bee keeping and fishery to earn good profits. He urged the parents to take children to the farmlands and introduce paddy cultivation to them.

Several programmes that promoted the community’s culture were hosted as part of the event. Awards were honoured to several achievers from the community and the fest witnessed participation from several dignitaries.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / March 31st, 2025