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“KODAVAS THROUGH THE AGES”
By Maj Gen Codanda K Karumbaya
Kodagu
• Kodagu is known for its coffee cultivation.
• Indigenous people (Kodavas)
• The chief languages presently spoken in Kodagu are Kodava, Are Bhashe, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Malayalam and Urdu.
• Kodagu is home to the native speakers of the Kodava language.
• The highest peak, Tadiandamol – 1,750 metres
• Pushpagiri, the second highest, at 1,715 metres
• The main river in Kodagu is the Kaveri (Cauvery), which originates at Talakaveri, located on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, and with its tributaries, drains the greater part of Kodagu.
Kodavas originally hail from the Kurdish area of present Turkey, Iran and Iraq, which is a
hilly region like Kodagu.
They entered India during 320 BC in the preIslamic era, as a part of the Iranian contingent
which had joined Emperor Alexander’s invading army.
• Kodavas, are demanding a ‘minority religion’ status. Minority communities in India includes Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains.
• On Wednesday (21.3.2018) M.M. Bansy and Vijay Muthappa, both Kodavas, had submitted a memorandum to the State Minorities Department on behalf of the Kodava
community demanding ‘minority religion’ status as given to Lingayats. They hope Siddharamaiah will be accommodating to the request of Kodavas as he did to Lingayats
Kodava’s side of the story
Kodavas ancestors have not been able to leave behind, a record of their history or an explanation of their religious faith.
ü Kodavas have always been ruled by others. These rulers with the connivance of the priestly class who had the ability to write, distorted their history and undermined their true faith, to serve their own interests.
ü Kodavas are neither Hindus, nor is their language a dialect of Kannada
ü Their language is of Indo-Iranian origin and not Dravidian. They are the only tribe in India without the scheduled status which are accorded to other tribes in India.
Kodava’s side of the story
ü Their customs, traditions, religious beliefs, dress and food habits are different from their neighbouring communities.
ü As their number is small and dwindling, they need to be given the minority status
under Article 29 of the Constitution, even more deservedly than Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis and Jains.
• Their population is minuscule with 1.5 lakh
• Their food habit is different from others as they consume alcohol and eat pork and meat.
• They consider Nature as their God. It is more important for them to understand Nature and its manifestations such as the sun, moon, earth, water, flora, fauna and fellow human beings
• They do not have a Holy Book of our own like the Geetha, Bible or Koran. There is no such need for us, as Nature itself is our greatest book.
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• It is a Fundamental Duty, of every citizen of the Country, under the Article 51A(f) of the Constitution ‘ to preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture’.
• To brand them as Hindus, when they do not even practice their caste system, concept of God and form of worship, has been unjust and unconstitutional.
• Kodagu is considered sacred to Kodavas
• All of their Ain Manes (ancestral houses), Kaimadas (shrines dedicated to our elders) and Jamma Lands are in Kodagu.
• The word Kodagu, derived from our own Kodava language, ‘Kodi’ meaning ‘high’ and ‘Adagu’ meaning ‘settlement’ The popular belief derived from Kannada literature that the word Kodagu was derived from the words ‘Kroda Desha’, is incorrect.
Kodagu, then was an inhospitable hilly region lashed with torrential rain during the monsoons . Kodagu ancestors were agriculturists and soldiers knew the use of wrought iron implements. With the help of the Poleyas and the Yeruvas, in the neighbourhood, who did not have a basic knowledge of agriculture and lived off the forest, our ancestors gradually moved inland, divided the land between the growing number of families and started the unique Okka system which is quite a different way of life to that of the Hindus.
Each Okka (family) had their own Ain Mane (ancestral house) and Kaimada (shrine dedicated to our ancestors).
Braving all hardships, Kodavas gradually converted Kodagu into a prosperous region with terraced paddy fields and cultivated much sought after condiments like pepper and cardamom. They traded their produce through the sea faring Maphillas of Malabar who became their trusted partners. As the region prospered and security improved with the presence of Kodavas, Kodagu attracted many labourers, artisans, traders, holy-men and other communities from the neighbourhood, among whom the Gowdas were prominent.
They therefore believe that a special provision needs to be made for Kodagu under Part XXI of the Constitution, just as made for J&K, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim and some parts of Mahrashtra, Gujurat and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, to preserve and protect our
composite culture.
They have mainly two festivals viz Kailpod (end of sowing and beginning of hunting season) and Puthari (Harvest Festival), which are related to seasons and paddy cultivation cycles.
Kavery Purana
The river Kavery as we know today had existed from time immemorial as a natural geographical phenomena. The Kodavas originally called it as ‘Thayoor Pole’ meaning ‘Mother Land River’, originating and flowing across our land. Being Nature worshippers we venerated this prominent life sustaining river. During the month of October, when the monsoon fury is over and the water is in its purest form, it has been customary for Kodavas to collect water from its highest spring and use it for all our rituals.
Agastya Rishi, who is one among the thirty five Agastyas known to history came to Kodagu much later, in 5 Century AD to learn Ayurvedha from Kavera Muni who had an ashram near the present Bhagamandala. It was a well known Ayurvedic Centre of those days, where the locals who had many ailments used to go for their treatment. Agastya married Kavery, the eldest of three orphaned Brahmin sisters, who had taken shelter at the Ashram. After marriage, Agastya took his wife, Kavery to his Ashram at Tala Kavery where there was always a mountain spring (now known as Kundige) with a small bathing pond (Kere) next to it. Little while later, Kavery died under mysterious circumstances followed by her sisters, when Agastya was away. Agastya left soon after. The Kavery Purana, which is a part of Skanda Purana was written a century later, in 6 Century AD, where it is claimed that Kavery was a Goddess who turned into a river to serve mankind!
he original name of the river was changed to ‘Kavery’. A Chola ruler, who wanted to reinforce this story, built temples at Bhagamandala and Tala Kavery.
This mythological story saying Agastya’s wife Kavery had turned into a river to serve the mankind, however interesting and convincing it may seem to some, directly impinges on the Kodava belief in Nature. The river had existed centuries earlier as Nature’s creation before Agastya, or Kodavas set their feet in Kodagu. Without this river, how could the copious
monsoon water which the land received, drain out of Kodagu?! Kodavas must believe in truth and not continue to be fooled.
Historically
• The first recorded instance of the community dates back to 1174 CE during the Hoysala dynasty.
• Achu Naika’s Failed Rebellion and Consolidation of the Rule of Haleri Dynesty During 1728 AD, Kodavas in South Kodagu, under the leadership f Achu Naika rebelled against the then ruler, Siribai Veerappa of the Haleri dynasty, whch had gained ascendency in North Kodagu by playing one Kodava against the other.
Historically
Haleri kings then appointed ‘Deva Thakkas’ from Kodava families to construct and run these temples to impose Hindu beliefs on the Kodavas. This step resulted in undermining Kodava faith he practices of Kodavas consulting astrologers, performing poojas through Brahmin priests and classification of time as Rahu Kala and Gulige Kala etc are some of the Hindu customs which were imposed on Kodavas from this period, i.e. 18th Century onwards.
Historically
Haleri kings then appointed ‘Deva Thakkas’ from Kodava familiesto construct and run these temples to impose Hindu beliefs on the Kodavas. This step resulted in undermining Kodava faith The practices of Kodavas consulting astrologers, performing poojas through Brahmin priests and classification of time as Rahu Kala and Gulige Kala etc are some of the Hindu customs which were imposed on Kodavas from this period, i.e. 18th Century onwards.
Historically
The said Raja, also appointed Desha Thakkas, Seeme Thakkas, Nad Thakkas and Oor Thakkas from loyal Kodava families to administer Kodagu.
The Thakkas served the interest of the Rajas and not of Kodavas. When thousands of Kodavas were killed by the last three Rajas in cold blood, these Thakkas wereconspicuous by their silence.
Historically
Rule of Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan (1780 to 1791AD)
Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan, wrested Kodagu by deceit. By their desire to carve out an empire and Islamise the whole population, they exterminated many families of Kodavas in cold blood, who had resisted and many more including women were taken as prisoners again by deceit to forcibly convert them to Islamic faith. This was the biggest setback for Kodavas and the darkest period of our history.
The depleted number of Kodavas were so infuriated that they not only rescued Vira Raja from captivity; but rallied under him to drive Tippu’s Army out of Kodagu on their own. It was only later that they invited the British and rendered all help to them, in order to eliminate Tippu Sultan once and for all.
To make up their numbers, Kodavas took into their fold, like minded families from other communities in Kodagu.
End of Haleri Rajas Rule (1834 AD)
Having made use of Kodavas to regain and retain their throne, the last three Rajas became increasingly cruel and autocratic. The bulk of Kodavas led by Cheppudira Ponappa and Diwan and Apparanda Bopu helped the British to overthrow the last ruler viz Chikka Viraraja and bring in British rule.
British Rule(1834 to 1947)
The British were more humane and better administrators. Even though, they
treated people of all communities equally as per their merit, they trusted the
Kodavas more.
Many schools were started and Kodavas, who showed greater interest, got
better jobs and prospered.
The justice system was strengthened and there was rule of the law.
Kodavas entered All India services and distinguished themselves in different
fields like the military, police, medicine, forest, revenue and the true merit of
Kodavas became known.
The British introduced coffee cultivation in a big way, which became a major
cash crop.
It remained an independent ‘C’ state till 1956 when it was merged into the larger
Mysore State (later Karnataka) following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956.
The decline of Kodagu and Kodavas has been steady, since its merger with Karnataka.
The majority communities like Vokkaligas and Lingayats have assumed political
power by sheer numbers and benefitted themselves at the cost of others.
The bulk of the rest have been classified variously as Minorities, OBCs and SC/STs
enjoying special unchecked benefits.
Kodavas are left out in a lurch not being included in any of these privileged classes.
The State’s reservation policy has hit their Community hard.
Kannada is being imposed on Kodavas , English is discouraged.
• The UNESCO Atlas of World’s Languages in Danger 2010 lists round 2,500 endangered languages around the world. India tops the list with 197 endangered languages, followed by the US (191) and Brazil (190).
• According to UNESCO, 197 languages in India are reported to be endangered of which 81 are vulnerable followed by definitely endangered (63), severely endangered (6), critically endangered (42) and already extinct (5). Andaman and Nicobar tops the list with 11 critically endangered languages, mainly tribal dialects.
Feb 2018 – UNESCO Report
More than 40 languages or dialects in India are considered to be endangered and are believed to be heading towards extinction as only a few thousand people speak them
These 42 languages are spoken by fewer than 10,000 people.
These are considered endangered and heading towards extinction Karnataka – Koraga and Kuruba Kodavas asking for Autonomous Status similar to Gorkhaland?
Problem
Political Move – No Numbers
More religions good or bad ?
They might not be eligible for Scheduled Tribal status because of
their comparatively better education and economic state, but
they believe that they are more eligible than others to earn the
Minority status.
The Karnataka State Minorities Commission has said that for
any sect to demand a minority tag or a separate religion status,
they would have to have a holy book and a prophet of their
own.
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