Dr. Inanda B. Kaveramma has been promoted as Flight Lieutenant in the Indian Air Force (IAF), probably becoming the only Kodava lady who is serving in the IAF as a doctor.
She had undergone the training as part of her internship in medical education and cleared the Short Service Commission exams while continuing her medical studies at Tadikal Subbaiah Medical and Dental Sciences in Shivamogga where she had secured a merit seat.
She later completed her medical training at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru. Now Kaveramma has been promoted as Flight Lieutenant. She completed her Military training MOBC (Medical Officers’ Basic Course) in Lucknow last July.
MOBC is a foundation course for Army doctors, in the course they are made to do basic drill to get their bearing correct and then taught basic fundamentals of the Army functioning, units, and how they would be required to perform their duties in peace and war.
At present, Kaveramma is serving the nation at Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan. She completed her primary education at Coorg Public School in Gonikoppal and went to Expert PU College in Mangaluru.
Kaveramma is the daughter of businessman and Star of Mysore correspondent Inanda Bopanna and Bharathi at Ponnampet in South Kodagu. She is the granddaughter of Inanda S. Cariappa and Janaki of Chikkamandur and businessman Manippanda Somaiah and Parvathi of Gonikoppal.
source:http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 02nd, 2019
Go to this picturesque coffee-growing region with an appetite for a unique cuisine and distinctive experiences.
From coffee to e-bikes and Victorian-style rosebushes and stately mansions, Coorg has it all (Airbnb)
Driving just five hours down a smooth highway from Bengaluru, I spent a long weekend in Coorg, interacting with some of its local entrepreneurs, signing up for off-beat experiences and enjoying some of the most beautiful roads in the southern peninsula. Far from the tourist throngs, I spent the weekend finding unique things to do.
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Walking through lush green coffee plantations with retired serviceman Ganapathy, I received an articulate explanation on the farm-to-cup process. The swashbuckling Ganapathy’s stately colonial mansion sits plum in the middle of a large family-run coffee estate, supplying beans to a larger chain of wholesalers and producers. For a coffee addict like me, this was a fascinating experience.
Later that morning, over a cup of freshly brewed Coorg filter coffee, I chatted with his daughter, Anjali, who runs the hugely popular Bengaluru-based Pigout Coorg Kitchen.
The swashbuckling Ganapathy’s stately colonial mansion sits plum in the middle of a large family-run coffee estate, supplying beans to a larger chain of wholesalers and producers (Airbnb)
“Kodava cuisine is unique and completely undiscovered in India, right from the ingredients and meat we use to the cooking styles,” Anjali said. “Through my food, our homestay and this coffee estate, we want to put Coorg on the map in the most experiential way possible.”
As Anjali laid out a spread of her famous pandi (pork) curry, pumpkin curry and rice (akki) rotis, I realised that the Ganapathys’ little universe is a destination on the verge of a major tourism revolution.
“Never before has Coorg been trendier,” Anjali said of the beautiful region in the heart of Karnataka, known for its flavourful food, gorgeous people and spectacular landscapes. While Coorg has always been popular among weekend roadtrippers from Bengaluru, it’s only recently that it has witnessed interest from discerning travellers across the country.
There are enough experiences in Coorg to set it apart from other destinations (Airbnb)
E-bikes and homestays
My initial impression of this place was just how stunning the roads are. You can spend hours meandering through coffee plantations, hillside roads and picture perfect villages. For a base, I chose the stylish Acacia Villa just off the main road. This massive three-bedroom villa, listed on Airbnb features an ultra-modern chalet aesthetic, blending perfectly with the forest around it.
After a leisurely morning walk through the woods, I made a quick dash to Madikeri, for an e-bike experience. A homegrown startup, BLive, specialises in e-bike tours across different Indian destinations. After a quick briefing, my friends and I dashed up and down the slopes on our e-bikes, but not without a pit stop at a local coffee producer. The e-bike tour took us to some lovely spots, including a lake and the top of a hill. If you enjoy cycling, this is definitely recommended.
You can spend hours meandering through coffee plantations, hillside roads and picture perfect villages (Airbnb)
After all that physical exertion, it was time to discover one of Coorg’s oldest and most loved spots. The approach to Old Kent Estate was just wide enough for our car to squeeze through, which meant that it was truly cut off (read: no phone network) from the rest of the world.
In the middle of Victorian-style rose bushes, coffee plantations and green slopes, I stepped into a gorgeous colonial mansion dating back to 1800. Once belonging to a British colonel and now family-run by the Thaikappas, the Old Kent bungalow is a treasure trove of antique furniture, centuries-old artefacts and beautiful decor, restored to perfection. Here, the young proprietor of the estate, Sadat, manifests his love for coffee in the form of a high-end coffee bar inside the bungalow.
There’s also a gorgeous colonial mansion dating back to 1800 once belonging to a British colonel and now family-run by the Thaikappas (Airbnb)
One too many freshly-brewed espresso shots down, I strolled around the Airbnb-listed estate and sat in the garden for a quick snack and a couple of pictures while Sadat told me that his clients tend to look for slow luxury, experiencing things like hikes, coffee tastings, village visits and cooking sessions.
Kodava charm
That evening, I hopped into an old open-top Mahindra Commander with some locals and off-roaded (not for the faint of heart) all the way to the top of Mandalpatti, to the panoramic sunset point. While the peak in itself is pretty standard, the trek up and down is definitely worth the trouble.
Coorg is home to large family-run coffee estate that supply beans to a larger chain of wholesalers and producers (Airbnb)
My last night in Coorg was at the stately mansion-cum-estate of Preet and Prem. The two manage their own estate and also run the gorgeous Udaya Homestay about 45 minutes away. “I drive 45 minutes one way every morning to deliver a homemade breakfast to my homestay guests, so it is as authentic as possible,” I was told.
I was introduced to Preet’s mother-in-law, the family matriarch, who regaled us with stories of elephants in her backyard and talked us through the cultural uniqueness of a Kodava wedding as we feasted on some more pork curry, local vegetables, biryani and rotis.
I was charmed by the subtle pleasures of Coorg. Here you find great food experiences, awesome coffee trails and places to sip a brew, trendy locals who are always willing to share stories and food, and hospitality entrepreneurs creating new experiences for travellers. Plan a trip to Coorg if you have a couple of days to spare and are hungry for unique experiences.
Riaan Jacob George
Riaan Jacob George is a luxury content and social media specialist
From HT Brunch, February 20, 2022/Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch / Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch
Palandira Vichal Muthanna has won the Medical Design Excellence Award-2019 with her team. The team stood third in national-level competition “BMEidea-2019” where teams across the United States with new innovative medical technologies participated.
The award ceremony was held at Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre, New York, on June 11. During her research at the University of Michigan, Vichal and her team developed a new device called ‘KalEYEdoscope’ to track the progression of a condition called ‘Age-related Macular Degeneration’
Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the world and currently there is no device in the market to help track its progression on a regular basis. The award was in recognition of their work in the development of this innovative, simple and novel medical device and in support to further develop the same.
Palandira Vichal is an M.Tech in Bio-Medical Signal Processing and Instrumentation from BMS Engineering College in Bengaluru. Earlier, she had invented a device to monitor the vitals of both mother and child during labour. The device invented by Vichal not only monitored the vital parameters of both mother and child, but also raised an alarm in case of any fluctuations so that the doctors and medical staff can rush to the patient’s rescue.
Vichal completed her early education in St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Madikeri and higher secondary education at Vidyaniketan PU College, Gonikoppal. She did her engineering from Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering in Mysuru and M. Tech from BMS College of Engineering in 2015.
Vichal is the daughter of Palandira Jaya Muthanna and Mithuna Dechamma (daughter of Mukkatira Doremani Ponnappa) of Murnad in Kodagu district and grand-daughter of Karnataka Rajyotsava Awardee late Palandira Devaiah.
In her academics, Vichal was the co-ordinator for the Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE) for 4 years from 2009-2013. She was the Branch Association (IMPULSE) Co-ordinator for two years in Vidyavardhaka from 2011-2013. She won the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation Award -2006 from Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) – Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) for her project ‘Device for Intrapartum MaternoFetal Care.’
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 21st, 2019
‘Sambandha,’ the Silver Jubilee celebration programme of Kodagu mattu Dakshina Kannada Jilla Gowda Mahila Samaja, Mysuru, was inaugurated by Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme, Bengaluru, Assistant Director P.S. Leelavathi at the Samaja premises in Vijayanagar this morning.
SAADHYA Trust for Social Development Founder-Head Achuda Arathi Harish was the chief guest. Samaja President Devajana Geetha Montadka presided. Income Tax Department, Bengaluru, Additional Commissioner K.M. Sulochana released the souvenir on the occasion.
Speaking after inaugural function, P.S. Leelavathi said that youths of today must utilise education and job opportunities and achieve in their respective fields. Elders should guide the youngsters, she added.
Samaja President Devajana Geetha Montadka spoke about the establishment of the Samaja and its objectives.
Uluvarana Lalitha Madaiah, T.M. Meenakshi, Paanathale Asha Vasanth and Mukkati Divya were felicitated on the occasion for their achievements in their respective fields. Samaja office-bearers were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / November 06th, 2022
Kodagu Mathu Dakshina Kannada Jilla Gowda Mahila Samaja, Mysuru, will be holding its Silver Jubilee celebration programme at its premises in Vijayanagar tomorrow (Nov. 6) at 10.30 am. Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme, Bengaluru, Assistant Director P.S. Leelavathi will inaugurate while Income Tax Department, Bengaluru, Additional Commissioner K.M. Sulochana will release the souvenir on the occasion.
SAADHYA Trust for Social Development Founder – Head Achuda Arathi Harish will be the chief guest. Samaja President Devajana Geetha Montadka will preside.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / November 05th, 2022
Kavery Nambisan’s new book Cherry Red, Cherry Black details the fascinating story of coffee in India
Kavery Nambisan was born on a coffee estate, grew up among the “twisted branches and dark green leaves of the coffee bushes”; her parents joked that she was among those children who had been “plucked off the coffee bushes.”
It is therefore fitting that the surgeon’s latest book Cherry Red, Cherry Black(Bloomsbury India) is about the history of coffee in India.
Written with anecdotes woven into chronology, this comprehensive look at the coffee industry reveals intriguing nuggets – the origins of the coffee terms ‘Robusta’ and ‘Arabica’; the story of how Southern India became coffee country (it’s more complex than the Baba Budan tale); how coffee made sugar popular… Kavery explores the world of coffee far beyond its cultivation via the journeys of rulers and invaders and the ways of governance and tribute to its current status as one of the most valuable legally-traded commodities in the world. With the pride of a true Kodava, she writes of how coffee cultivation in Coorg (now Kodagu) changed the social, ecological and economic nature of the land and its people, and of the planters clubs that still exist.
A large part of the book details the story of how Tata Coffee, with whom the author has been associated in her medical avatar, came to be, but its scope goes far beyond company history and personalities to showcase coffee’s ability to be the great leveller available to every layer of society, and details the journey of the bean from plant to cup. Readers will be fascinated to know that the coffee served at Starbucks is made with beans from Kodagu, Hassan and Chikmagalur and cured in Kushalnagar.
Excerpts from an interview
You speak of yourself as “almost a child plucked off a coffee plant”. How was the experience of going back with research to discover what is such an integral part of your childhood? How long has this book been in the making? Have there been any surprising learnings?
Yes, coffee has been integral to my being, but I did not consciously think about it until recently when I started to write this book. It has been a pleasure to discover the history behind coffee, and, along with it, to learn more clearly certain aspects of local history. I started to read up sometime after the middle of 2018 and wrote in 2019 but was unable to conduct some important interviews during the period when Covid came and went. After that, everything had to be ‘fast-forward.’
As for surprise learnings, yes, of course. There can be no better way of learning something new than writing about it. I learned much.
You are a proud Kodava and now live and work again in Kodagu. What aspects of life there do you enjoy most, both connected to coffee and otherwise?
I have worked as a surgeon in Kodagu for over 10 years, off and on. My husband and I built a house in a village here and it is surrounded by coffee estates that do not belong to us – so pleasure without responsibility! The tall shade trees that surround us are a blessing – with so much life going on in the branches and the undergrowth. As a doctor, I have a great rapport and a serious commitment to my neighbours, many of them being daily wage earners in the estates. I think we live a good life.
What does your own coffee cache look like? What would we find in there?
You would find a cache of roasted coffee beans (a blend of Arabica and Robusta). I roast the beans every few weeks or so and use about 10% of chicory to enhance its strength.
You’ve detailed a bewildering number of ways to prepare a cup of good coffee. Which is your favourite?
I use three methods, depending on my mood. Filter coffee (in the afternoons); the Moka pot or a rustic brew (adding coffee powder to just boiled water and letting it steep for two to three minutes) in the mornings. Always with a little milk and jaggery.
India Coffee House remains your coffee house of choice in Bengaluru. Tell us what you have there when you visit these days?
It’s a great place to hang around with friends. I always have coffee and, if peckish, an omelette or a cutlet. I have been frequenting this grand old place (although now in a changed location) from my medical college days. Satisfaction guaranteed.
source: http://www.femina.in / Femina / Home> Life> Books / by Primrose Monteiro D’Souza / November 04th, 2022
Hoks B Coorg from India emerged champions of the UTSC Gulf hockey fiesta-2022 that concluded at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex recently.
The two-day fiesta witnessed close and exciting matches between 12 teams with six outfits coming from the region and India.
Besides the main tournament, the event also hosted an inter-school tournament featuring Indian schools.
There was a women’s tournament too with the national women’s team making their competitive debut. The national women’s team played against the visiting Dubai side.
Hoks B Coorg, comprising few internationals, stayed unbeaten in the tournament to be crowned deserving winners.
The inaugural ceremony had Amit Narang, Indian Ambassador to Oman as the chief guest along with Marwan Juma al Juma, the president of the Oman Hockey Association (OHA). Narang lauded the efforts of the UTSC in promoting the national game of India and also offered India’s full support to the Sultanate of Oman as they prepare to host the inaugural edition of FIH Hockey 5s World Cup in January 2024.
On the sidelines of the fiesta, there was a cooking contest and the event attracted lot of families.
source: http://www.timesofoman.com / Times of Oman / Home> Sports / by Times News Service / November 01st, 2022
BP Govinda is very impressed by the Indian Men’s Hockey Team’s attacking unit.
New Delhi :
With less than 100 days to go for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Hockey World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023, the anticipation to witness the world’s best hockey players at one of the world’s most preferred hockey destinations – Odisha, is only increasing by each passing day. While the Indian team carries out their preparations to end the medal drought in the prestigious event, it’s time for the hockey fans to relive the memories from India’s historic World Cup campaigns through Hockey India’s Flashback Series – World Cup Special.
Through these Series of articles leading up to the marquee event in Odisha, Hockey India will bring you thoughts, anecdotes and trivia from Indian Hockey Legends who ruled the world with their wizardry and panache.
Winner of the Silver Medal in the 1973 World Cup held in Amsterdam in Netherlands, and the Gold Medal in the 1975 World Cup held at Kuala Lumpur, the legendary BP Govinda recalls his memories from the years gone by.
One of the most crucial cogs in the system for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team in the 1973 and 1975 World Cups, it was BP Govinda who ensured a berth in the Final at Amsterdam with the winner against Pakistan in the Semi-Final. The former forward terms that semi-final as one the best games in what was a decorated career.
“The Semi-Final against Pakistan is one of the best matches of my life. We won that game by one goal, and I scored the winner. I reverse flicked the ball and the keeper didn’t know where the ball was going and it went and hit the roof of the net. It was regarded widely as one of the best goals, by my teammates and the media,” he recalled.
“People used to love watching India and Pakistan in hockey when we were playing, we had full stadiums.”
Unmissable on the field of play due to his stylish long hair, Govinda said that the Indian Men’s Hockey Team believed that playing as a unit would always yield results. “Our team always had the thought process where we believed, no matter how strong the other team is, if we play as a team, we can achieve anything. Whether it was a practice match or tournament, I always played to win.”
Speaking about his camaraderie with the Captain of the 1973 team, MP Ganesh, the former forward said, “As a Captain, he was very straightforward and he would ask the players to play according to the plan. He wouldn’t scold any one, but he would tell everyone to go all out for the win, all the games. He used to guide all the players.”
Turning his attention to the glorious 1975 World Cup campaign in Kuala Lumpur, Govinda, who was considered to be among the fastest players at the time, recalled the love the team received from the fans.
“We outclassed Pakistan in the Final and the stadium was full with plenty of fans. When we came back to India, people told us that commentators made them feel like they were in the stadium and not listening in another part of the world.”
“I remember landing in New Delhi, and the fans were there with drums and they carried all of us. I don’t know where we finally went and landed, but it was definitely well outside the airport. It was a reception that I will never forget. I remember coming out of the aircraft and then the fans took over, we hadn’t got a chance to get our baggage either.”
‘Indian Men’s Hockey Team Will Not be Easy to Beat’
A former national selector himself, Govinda is quite impressed with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team and noted that they would not make an easy opposition at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. India have been drawn in Group D along with Wales, Spain and England.
“I think the current Indian Men’s Hockey Team is quite fit. And I think our forward line is playing well and I think the strikers have also improved a lot. It was nice to see the team scoring more field goals.”
“In the upcoming FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela, I think the Indian Men’s Hockey Team is not an easy one to beat. They will give a good fight to each and every top team who are taking part in the World Cup,” he signed off.
Link to video of BP Govinda taking us down memory lane –
Chottemanda Monnappa is seen with Kullachanda Kesari – Association President, Nellamada Cariappa – Secretary, Noorera Yeshu Bipin – Joint Secretary, Chendanda Nirmala Subramani, Coluvanda Chengappa, Bachamada Vasanth and other members and their families.
Railway Kodava Association get-together was held recently at Simply Kodavas in Vijayanagar.
On the occasion, Association Member Chottemanda Monnappa, who retired on superannuation, was felicitated.
He is seen with Kullachanda Kesari – Association President, Nellamada Cariappa – Secretary, Noorera Yeshu Bipin – Joint Secretary, Chendanda Nirmala Subramani, Coluvanda Chengappa, Bachamada Vasanth and other members and their families.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / October 29th, 2022
Progressive farmer and Rajyotsava awardee Somengada Ganesh Thimmaiah shares his thoughts
Madikeri:
Kodagu’s progressive farmer Somengada Ganesh Thimmaiah of Nallur village near Ponnampet in the southern part of the district has won the Rajyotsava Award for agriculture.
Though coffee and pepper are the prominent commercial crops in Kodagu, Ganesh Thimmaiah has been growing both agricultural and horticultural crops in integrated farming methods and has scripted success.
He is actively involved in innovative agricultural practices since the last 30 years and had earlier served the Indian Army. After retirement from services, he took up agriculture in his 15-acre land and has grown more than 60 varieties of paddy.
To gain additional income, he has a poultry farm and is also involved in apiculture and pisciculture. Apart from the regular crops of coffee, pepper, ginger, mango, orange and jackfruit, Thimmaiah has cultivated rambutan fruit.
In the integrated method in agriculture, he grows areca, coffee and paddy as main crops and a variety of vegetables and fruits and sub-crops. Thimmaiah has also been growing the ‘Beth’ plants required for honey bees and has implemented a mechanised system in agriculture.
At a time when more and more youths are showing interest in jobs and businesses, Ganesh Thimmaiah has earned name and fame as model farmer and has bagged many awards in the past. He won the National-level Babu Jagjivan Ram Krishi Samman Award. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, conferred the prestigious award on Thimmaiah on the occasion of its 92nd Foundation Day in 2020.
In April this year, he gave comprehensive training in agriculture to the batch of IAS officers at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.
“I am honoured to be conferred with the prestigious Rajyotsava Award and this gives me an opportunity to innovate further. I have been involved in agriculture for three decades and there is a need of attracting more and more youths to agriculture as it is profitable if innovative,” he said.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 31st, 2022
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