A well-known short story writer, leading feminist and freedom fighter, who met her tragic end at the young age of 27  

By C.P. Belliappa

Ramaiah couple in Madikeri, Kodagu, welcomed their youngest girl child Gowramma, on 5th March 1912 (not to be mistaken with Victoria Gowramma of Coorg, who was born in 1841).  The little bundle of joy immediately became the family favourite, what with elder sisters too playing mother to the baby.

Pampered by the family, Gowramma soon displayed a mind of her own and would not stop until she got what she demanded.  What was striking was her intelligence.  She surprised everyone with her precocious self-confidence, which in her adult life led to Gowramma emerging as a well-known short story writer with strong emphasis on feminine issues.

When Gowramma was six years old, her parents decided to make the arduous pilgrimage to Kashi. Arrangements were made for Gowramma to stay with her sisters since the journey to Kashi and back would take more than a month.  When Gowramma got wind of her parent’s plan, she threw a massive tantrum.  She insisted on being taken to Kashi. All the cajoling failed and her doting father had to relent.

However, this pilgrimage turned out to be a huge tragedy. Gowramma’s mother, Nanjakka, took ill during the train journey and by the time they reached Kashi she was critical. There was very little Ramaiah could do and within days, his wife died. Grief-stricken Ramaiah  performed the last rites on the banks of the Ganges. 

He now had the sole responsibility of looking after Gowramma who did not grasp the full import of the event. Ramaiah took the little girl for shanti pujas at various temples. In the hustle and bustle of Kashi, Gowramma got separated from her father. Ramaiah was despondent searching for the little girl. 

The sun was about to set and as a last resort, Ramaiah located the Police Station to seek their help. When he stepped into the Police Station, he was aghast to find Gowramma seated on the table chatting with the Constables. Relieved, he took her to Kashi Viswanath Temple to thank the Lord.

Several months passed before Ramaiah could come to terms with the tragedy. It was time for him to start planning Gowramma’s education. When Ramaiah mentioned a government school, Gowramma vehemently insisted on being admitted to the elite St. Joseph’s  Convent in Madikeri. 

Ramaiah, as a vakil, had good earnings and he agreed to Gowramma’s preference.   Once in school, Gowramma blossomed.  As her education progressed, she became increasingly inquisitive and bombarded her teachers and elders with queries.  Soon, she took to books and was a voracious reader. She knew far beyond her age and developed an independent intellect of her own.

However, society functioned differently. By the time Gowramma was 12 years old, her father and the rest of the family started looking for a suitable groom. They identified a young man named G.T. Gopalakrishna. She still had another year to complete her matriculation.  While accepting the man chosen for her, Gowramma told her father that she would move to her future husband’s home only after completing matriculation. Knowing how recalcitrant she could be, Ramaiah accepted her decision.

Gowramma’s wedding at young age of 13

Thirteen-year-old Gowramma tied the knot with Gopalakrishna in 1925 and moved to Sunticoppa where Gopalakrishna worked as a manager in the estate of a prominent and progressive coffee planter — Gundukutti Manjunathayya. 

They had comfortable accommodation in the plantation and had access to several facilities including a tennis court and a natural swimming pool in the stream that flowed through the coffee estate. Gowramma took to playing tennis and learnt swimming much to the consternation of members of her conservative family.

The Navodaya Movement in Kannada literature was at its peak at the time.  The movement initiated around the 1900s by B.M. Srikantaiah (BM Sri) encouraged original thoughts in Kannada literature and motivated writers to integrate the essence of English literature in exposing social evils in society. 

This renaissance in Kannada literature gave Karnataka brilliant litterateurs such as Shivram Karanth, Da. Ra. Bendre, Panje Mangesh Rao, Kuvempu,  D.V. Gundappa, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar and many others.  Gowramma immersed herself in reading books, short stories, poetry and essays by these eminent writers. 

Gowramma felt strongly about women getting raw deals at every level of society.  She was troubled by the fact that women were not protesting, rather, were helpless, in the blatant patriarchy, discrimination, caste rigidity, and atrocities against them.

What bothered her the most was the plight of widows.  She questioned child marriage, the dowry system, denying widow remarriage and treating them as outcastes; and lack of education for girls.

Gowramma’s very first short story written in 1931, when she was nineteen years old, was titled ‘Punarvivaha’ (Remarriage).  It’s a powerful story about a 35-year-old widower wanting to marry an attractive 15-year-old girl not knowing the girl was a child widow. When the girl reveals this to him, he is angry and disgusted. 

After a long dialogue, she holds up the mirror to the man of the double standards in society.  Finally, ashamed of himself he falls at the feet of the young widow and dedicates his life fighting misogyny in society.

In another story ‘Aparadi Yaru?’ (Who is Guilty?), Gowramma portrays the sad story of a young widow with a child who is excommunicated and is helpless and destitute. She had no recourse but to convert to another faith. In some of her stories, young widows, betrayed women, jilted lovers and abandoned women are driven to extreme despair and suicide.  

There are also stories by Gowramma, such as ‘Paapana Maduve’, ‘Kausalanandana’, ‘Sanyasi Ratna’, that are playful and have happy endings.

Mahatma Gandhi in Kodagu and freedom movement

Gowramma was an ardent admirer of Gandhiji and actively supported the freedom movement.  During a brief sojourn of Mahatma Gandhi in Kodagu in 1934, Manjunathayya drove the Mahatma in his car to various places in Kodagu. Gandhiji visited Manjunathayya’s estate for a break and met leading freedom fighters. 

Many women in Kodagu came forward to donate their jewellery to Gandhiji towards his charitable deeds. Gowramma decided to part with all her jewellery but wanted Gandhiji to personally visit her house. However, she was told to meet the Mahatma at Manjunathayya’s residence. Gowramma vehemently insisted Gandhiji visit her humble abode and went on a hunger strike! 

When Gandhiji heard about this he sent word for Gowramma to first come to Manjunathayya’s bungalow to break her fast and promised to visit her house.

Gowramma received an orange from Gandhiji who then accompanied her to her home. Gowramma gave away all her valuables except for her mangalsutra, earrings and nose stud. Gandhiji was most touched by this noble gesture.

By 1939, Gowramma had written 21 short stories, and these were published in periodicals such as ‘Prajamatha’, ‘Jaya Karnataka’, ‘Rastrabhandu’ and ‘Jayantha’.  Her writings were well-received by the public and were appreciated by well-known writers of the time such as Da.Ra. Bendre, Shivram Karanth, D.V. Gundappa, Muliya Thimmappaya et al.  

Interaction with eminent writers

Gundukutti Manjunathayya’s estate attracted these eminent writers, and this allowed Gowramma to interact with them. Gowramma received support and encouragement from contemporary feminist writers such as Nanjangudu Tirumalamba and R. Kalyanamma.  

Da. Ra. Bendre mentored Gowramma and advised her to publish an anthology of her stories.  Gowramma selected 12 of her stories and titled the book ‘Chiguru’ (tender shoot).  She requested Bendre to write a foreword for the collection, which he readily agreed. 

A month before the manuscript was to be sent to the publishers, Gowramma, for reasons unknown, changed the title of the book from ‘Chiguru’ to ‘Kambani’ (tears). Bendre was intrigued and was to make a few changes in his foreword.

It was a salubrious sunny day on April 13, 1939.  Gowramma, her husband Gopalakrishna and a nephew were to accompany Manjunathayya for a swim in the stream. Gopalakrishna had urgent work and was to join them later.  Gowramma walked to the stream where Manjunathayya and her nephew were already in the water. 

As usual, she climbed onto a branch overhanging the stream and dived into the deep end of the natural pool. When Gowramma did not resurface, Manjunathayya and her nephew were concerned and raised an alarm. Estate workers rushed to the spot to help but to no avail.  

Divers retrieve her body later in the day. It was the most tragic day for her husband and eight-year-old son Vasanthrao, as well as the world of Kannada literature. 

The literary world lost one of its most promising writers. Bendre, who used to refer to Gowramma as ‘nanna thangi Gowramma’ was heartbroken. He not only wrote a touching foreword for ‘Kambani’ but also penned a tearful poem eulogising Gowramma. She has left a lasting legacy as a writer, a leading feminist and a freedom fighter.

An English translation by Deepa Bhasthi, of Gowramma’s 21 stories, titled ‘Fate’s Game and Other Stories’ has been published recently.

I am thankful to Advocate S.R. Jagadeesh, a grand nephew of Gowramma, for sharing details of Gowramma’s life and for gifting her biography ‘Kodagina Gowramma’ by H. Nagaveni.

The post Kodagina Gowramma appeared first on Star of Mysore.

• Title:  Coorg Stories and Essays
• Author:  C.P. Belliappa
• Pages: 264
• Price: Rs. 395
• Publisher:  Rupa Publications Pvt., Ltd.

Mysore/Mysuru: C.P. Belliappa’s latest book ‘Coorg Stories and Essays,’ published by Rupa Publications, was released recently.

The blurb on the back cover summarises the contents of the book: A 360-degree perspective of history of the enchanting land of Coorg.

In this deeply researched and evocative collection, C.P. Belliappa tracks the heartbeat of Coorg (Kodagu), portraying the present with the past, offering timeless portrait of a quiet coffee growing district.

Through essays and stories, this book traces the progress of Coorg and its people, starting with prehistoric relics; rule of the Haleri rajas; the British annexation and their administration of the territory; and the events that culminated in Coorg becoming a part of the Kannada-speaking State of Karnataka.

The essays and stories then offer the fascinating illustrated story of Princess Victoria Gowramma, the lost Princess of Coorg. With several lucky turn of events after the book on Victoria Gowramma, Belliappa was able to connect with her descendants; meet a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria; interact with the direct descendants of the last Raja of Coorg; and collaborate with a great-great-granddaughter of Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell (Victoria Gowramma’s husband).

Merging public with private, ‘Coorg Stories and Essays’ covers the freedom movement in Coorg and the significant role played by the author’s father, C.M. Poonacha, with essays on the events that transpired before and after Independence.

Speaking to SOM about the book, Belliappa said, “I have appended an important document, verbatim, namely the Coorg Assembly Debates that was held on 6 December 1955, to pass a resolution regarding amalgamation of Coorg with other Kannada speaking areas to form Karnataka State.”

This book is stocked in all leading bookstores. Copies are also available on www.amazon.in

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• Title: Dakshin: South Indian Myths And Fables Retold
• Author: Nitin Kushalappa
• Pages: 252
• Price: Rs.206
• Publisher: Puffin Books

By C.P. Belliappa

Reading the compendium of fifteen South Indian fables retold by Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa will transport the reader to a wonderous world of fairy tales full of angels, demigods, kings, queens, talking animals, birds, insects and the ubiquitous villains.

Nitin has carefully selected the stories from popular folklore with their origins in Southern India.  He has given the book the title – Dakshin – which is most appropriate. These fables are several centuries old and have been passed from generation to generation by grandparents, parents, and the professional story-tellers of yore.  I am sure, every time a story is narrated it would have undergone some changes, additions and further fantasy added on.  In retelling these stories, Nitin has given them a new flavour with his distinctive writing style. 

Each of the stories takes the reader on a whirlwind of fantasy.  As the story builds up you get drawn into phantasmagoria of the fable. By the time the story peaks the reader is drawn into the vortex of the tale wondering what comes next.  Every story invariably has an unexpected ending. And every story has a moral. The book is targeted at children nine years and older.  It’s a collection that can be enjoyed by young adults, adults, and senior citizens as well. 

The book is richly illustrated by Pari Satarkar.  There are four stories from Nadikerianda Chinnappa’s Pattole Palame, enhanced with the protagonists in Kodava attire, that will warm the hearts of Kodavas. 

I was very happy to read the inclusion of the story of Punyakoti which I am sure will bring childhood memories to those of my generation.  My mother used to sing this ballad to us when we were young.

Dakshin, published by Puffin Books (Penguin Random House), has already topped the charts on several platforms.  There are rave reviews of the book by the young and old.  The book is on its way to becoming a classic.  Hearty congratulations to Nitin.  I am sure he has many more tales to tell.            

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The 107-year-old story of Koothanda M. Somaiah

By C.P. Belliappa

Koothanda M. Somaiah was born around the 1890s. Right from a young age, he displayed a mind of his own.  He was good at his studies and excelled in sports. Somaiah was handsome and a cocky young lad.

His father, Mandanna, was well-to-do and wanted his eldest son to help him manage their paddy fields and newly opened coffee estate. However, young Somaiah was keen on a job and was curious to explore the world beyond Coorg.

After completing high school, which was the highest education available in Coorg in those days, Somaiah got a job at the post office in Pollibetta. His performance was particularly good and by the time he was around twenty years of age, he was made the postmaster of Pollibetta post office.

Pollibetta had a good number of British coffee planters, and the post office was an important department. Snail mail, as we now snidely refer to this facility, was the only mode of communication those days. Somaiah’s efficiency as a postmaster was very much appreciated by the Brits as well as the locals.

Things were progressing well for Somaiah. He hoped this experience would help him move up the ladder in Government service and enable him to realise his dream of seeing the outside world, especially Bombay.

Somaiah’s dream was rudely shaken by a rude British planter who had recently arrived in Pollibetta. This Brit rode to the post office and after securing his steed he barged right into the post office. He expected Somaiah to stand up and be different to him. The peeved Brit started ordering Somaiah around. Somaiah remained seated and told the white man to see the board at the entrance to the post office.

It was: ‘No Admission without Permission’

The Brit ranted and raved. He stormed out of the post office threatening to have Somaiah sacked. Even before any action could be taken, Somaiah mailed his letter of resignation to the Commissioner of Coorg. Despite persuasion from other British planters, Somaiah refused to take back his resignation.

Somaiah’s father now hoped that his son would join him in the cultivation of their land. But young Somaiah had his own plans. He had sufficient savings to travel to his dream city — Bombay.  Before leaving Coorg, he acquired a compact revolver. With the Coorgs and Jamma holders exempted from the Disarmament Act, Somaiah could carry his revolver anywhere in British India.

Somaiah landed in Bombay sometime in early 1913. He got a good job and enjoyed life in the bustling city. However, an incident a couple of years later, marred his happiness.

On the morning of 24th August 1915, Somaiah was travelling in the tram from Dhobi Talao to Cheera Bazaar. The tram conductor checked the tickets of all the passengers including that of Somaiah’s. About half-an-hour later, Somaiah, who was engrossed admiring the changing scenes on the streets, was rudely jostled by the tram conductor.  He crudely demanded to see Somaiah’s ticket. Somaiah told him that his ticket has already been checked. The conductor got aggressive and soon the two were embroiled in serious fracas.

To put an end to the conflict, Somaiah thrust his hand in his trouser pocket to take out the ticket. Suddenly the conductor struck Somaiah. An infuriated Somaiah’s hand grabbed the revolver in his pocket. He hit the conductor with the butt of the revolver. Now the situation became serious. The tram conductor called the Police and Somaiah was taken to the Police Station. His revolver and other possession on his person including his brand-new wristwatch were impounded.

Luckily, Somaiah was not charged for assault but for a lesser misdemeanour of ‘behaving in a disorderly manner in a public place.’

The Magistrate fined Somaiah Rs. 20 for possession of firearms without proper licence. He ordered the weapon and ammunition be confiscated and sent to the Commissioner of Police for disposal.

A shocked Somaiah tried to explain to the Magistrate that he was a Coorg and a Jamma holder, thus exempt from the Arms Act. This made everyone in the Court snigger and none of them had heard of Coorg! The Magistrate was not convinced even after Somaiah produced the exemption certificate issued to him in Coorg on 24th January 1909.

Somaiah pursued the case and appealed for his weapon and wristwatch to be returned to him. He emphasised the point that Arms Exemption to Coorgs entailed them to perform military or Police duties and as a responsible citizen, he had offered his services to the Government on more than one occasion.

The matter finally reached the Office of the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy’s Office acknowledged the exemption to Coorgs but ruled that the privilege of Arms Exemption ceases to extend to Koothanda M. Somaiah considering the offence committed.

This judgement devastated Somaiah. He continued to plead his case but to no avail.

107 years later, we know about this episode from a detailed letter Somaiah wrote to the editor of New India, that was published in their issue dated Saturday, 27th May 1916.

Somaiah explains how this decision to deprive him of his weapon was not only hurtful to him, but also to all the people of Coorg, for whom guns are important in their traditions, festivals and rituals. He sought the return of his revolver and wristwatch since he had already paid the penalty of Rs. 20 for his impulsive action.

Not much is known about Somaiah after this incident. He rarely communicated with his family in Coorg. Unfortunately, no photo of him is available. He apparently remained a bachelor.  Sadly, Somaiah died in Bombay when he was in his late thirties.

The 107-year-old newspaper cutting was recently found by Somaiah’s nephew Koothanda P. Uthappa. The paper is fragile and I managed to take a scan of the document.  Even though the print has faded one can read Somaiah’s spirited letter to the editor. My thanks to K.P. Uthappa for giving me access to this interesting story of ‘A Coorg and His Revolver.’

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By C.P. Belliappa

Title : The Wild Cat’s Compendium

Author : Dr. Nima Poovaya Smith

Year : 2022

Pages :  51

Price : Rs. 449

 (Kindle version)

Publisher: Caracal Publications, United Kingdom

Dr. Nima Poovaya-Smith (parental home Ammanichanda) has just launched a delightful book titled  The Wild Cat’s Compendium, which is a collection of 45 brilliantly crafted verses on 45 species of wild cats as well as few of the domestic ones. 

Composing poems is an art and Nima excels in succinctly portraying the feline species in all its glory. In a few apt words, the 45 poems read as fluidly as the graceful strides of the cats.                                             (Read the sample poem.)

Cats of All Tribes

Cats of all tribes major, middling, minor, inlaid menace and glamour, damascened suits of shadow armour.

Your coats boast such stylish motifs. Spots, dots, rosettes, stripes, flecks, spirals.

Draw breath, there is more, of this feline allure. Marbled, banded, clouded, streaked, stippled, brindled.

Your fur a lush canvas for lavish mark-making. Each unique striation etched with precision. Nature’s artful illusion.

The guile of the design, woven into the dapple of sun and shade, dissolving into air without hint or sign.

Seeing you without knowing we do, even when face-to-face. Our deepest, murkiest selves in plain view to that occult feline gaze.

What is remarkable about this compendium is the in-depth research that has gone into the lives, habitat, behaviour, and appearance of each variety of cat.  Nima has been working on this book for quite a few years and has packed a great deal of information wonderfully crafted using her treasure trove of highly refined vocabulary. In addition, Nima has woven the grave threats these feline species face in the wild and that their primary detractors belong to the human species. In one of the poems, she has given a consciously chilling recipe for preparing tiger bone wine.   Hopefully those who indulge in such shameful practices will realise and shun their superstition-ridden beliefs.

In the Introduction to the book, Nima mentions about her (and mine) maternal grandparents’ home (in Palangala village, Kodagu), where tigers and other wild cats roamed close to human dwellings. During our childhood days we have heard several tiger tales from our shikar-loving uncles. Over the years, those childhood memories have expanded in Nima’s mind to bring out this wonderful collection of poems.

As a bonus, each poem is richly illustrated with paintings by several well-known artists.  One of the artists is Nima’s brother Sunil’s wife Sheila, an alumna of CAVA, Mysuru.

Nima earned her Ph.D in English literature from Mysore University under the guidance of Prof. U.R. Ananthamurthy who used to mention that Nima was one of his best students. She went on a scholarship to University of Leeds to pursue her post-doctoral studies. She has been a curator of several museums in the UK.  She was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for her contribution in the field of arts and museums. She was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in 2020, which entails interacting with the British royal family.

Currently Nima is a Senior Visiting Research Fellow, School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, University of Leeds.

Wild Cats’ Compendium was launched at the Ilkley Literature Festival in October 2022. In the accompanying photograph, Nima is in conversation with David Lascelles, 8th Earl of Harewood (and second cousin of King Charles III), during the book launch.

Wild Cat’s Compendium is available on Amazon. However, currently only kindle version of the book is marketed in India: The Wild Cats’ Compendium: Cats of All Tribes eBook: Poovaya-Smith, Nima: Amazon.in: Kindle Store

Reading Wild Cat’s Compendium is an enriching experience. Every time you re-read a poem you learn something more. I rate this book as a Collectors’ Item.

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Call to help preserve memories of a vanishing people

While modernisation has opened many opportunities for the well-qualified, it has also distanced the young from their heritage and culture.  This is even more accentuated amongst Kodavas living outside Kodagu. There is a need to establish a platform where young Kodavas could learn and keep in touch with the community’s heritage, cultural practices, folklore, music, dance, festivals and history, says Mrs. Codanda Rathi Vinay Jha, IAS (Retd.) and Chair, India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), who has initiated establishing a Virtual Museum of Kodava Heritage & Culture named ‘Sandooka,’ a treasure trove of information. —Ed

By C.P. Belliappa

Kodavas are a micro-minority community in India, who live in Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka State. It is estimated that there are about 1,50,000 ethnic Kodavas within and outside Kodagu. 

Kodavas, by virtue of living quite isolated in a densely wooded hilly terrain on the Western Ghats of India since time immemorial, have developed their own unique culture, physical attributes, cuisine, language, attire, religious rituals and practices. 

Over the centuries, Kodavas adapted themselves to the harsh weather conditions, dangers from wild animals and the inhospitable terrain of Kodagu and transformed the land to an idyllic haven it is today.  With the passage of time, they toiled literally with bare hands to cultivate paddy in the valleys.

With the forests providing bountiful supply of wild game, they became expert hunters initially with bows and arrows, and later with firearms which enabled them to emerge as a warrior race.  They transformed the fertile land and were able to grow enough paddy that they could export to neighbouring areas. 

The interactions with immediate neighbours in present day Kerala, Mysuru and Mangaluru, influenced the Kodava language, places of worship, construction of their dwellings and some of the religious practices as well.  However, Kodavas still retain their fundamental philosophy of ancestor and nature worship.  They come under the broad umbrella of Hinduism.

Kodagu was ruled by Kodava Nayakas or Palegars who were basically warlords.  The Haleri dynasty established their rule in Kodagu after cleverly replacing the hopelessly divided Nayakas during the early part of the 17th century.  The Haleri Rajas ruled for over two centuries until the British takeover of the administration in 1834 after deposing the last Raja.  During the rule of the Haleri Rajas and later the British, Kodavas remained the prominent community very much involved in                                       the administration.

During the British rule, education was introduced and this brought about quantum changes in the lifestyle of the Kodavas.  Kodavas found several employment opportunities.  Introduction and scientific cultivation of coffee and spices vastly improved the economy of the region.  Kodava culture and ethos found expression in the writings by the British, European and Kodava authors. 

By the time India got her independence, many Kodavas held important and high-level offices in sectors such as the Defence Forces, Administration, Revenue Department, Forest Department, Police, in the field of Education, Engineering and Medicine. 

Kodavas have several distinctive elements in their social, cultural and religious practices.  One of them is the deferential status given to women. There is no dowry system in the community.  Centuries ago, widow remarriage was permitted. This enlightened attitude is now reflected in well-educated Kodava women shining in a variety of fields.

After India’s independence many Kodavas ventured out of Kodagu seeking better opportunities in education, employment, business and sports.  Kodavas are now spread all over the globe.  The last three decades has seen a large number of Kodavas migrating outside the country. There is now a sizable number of Kodava diaspora in the US, Canada, UK and Australia.  In many cases, there are a couple of generation of Kodavas born and brought up outside Kodagu and outside India as well. 

While modernisation has opened many opportunities for the well-qualified, it has also distanced the young from their heritage and culture.  This is even more accentuated amongst Kodavas living outside Kodagu.  There is a need to establish a platform where young Kodavas could learn and keep in touch with the community’s heritage, cultural practices, folklore, music, dance, festivals and history. 

It is with this aim in mind that Mrs. Codanda Rathi Vinay Jha, IAS (Retd.), as Chair, India Foundation for the Arts (IFA), initiated establishing a Virtual Museum of Kodava Heritage & Culture (VMKHC).  This project is evocatively named — Sandooka — a treasure trove of information.  IFA has successfully supported several path-breaking projects in the field of  art and culture. 

Sandooka will be a living museum that will be interactive and open to receiving relevant new materials from the public.  People, especially the future generations of Kodavas, will have an easily accessible platform to gather details of their heritage.  Weblinks will also be given to some of the websites dealing with Kodava culture.  It is hoped that this treasure trove of information will be of immense help to those who wish to carry out further research on Kodavas. VMKHC will cover the following aspects of Kodagu and Kodavas:

1. Customs and Rituals  

2. Cuisine

3. Architecture                 

4. Clothes and Jewellery

5. Art & Craft                    

6. Landscape

7. Literature and Folklore

8. Community Histories

9. Festivals

The project is generously funded with a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) grant from Recaero India Pvt. Ltd., which is a pioneer in the field of aerospace engineering and is headed by Vinay Jha, IAS (Retd).  A highly professional team has been forged to deal with every aspect of the project.   The team comprises:

Lina Vincent – Project Head; Upasana Nattoji Roy – Designer (Switch Studio); Saurav Roy – Designer (Switch Studio) and Mookanda Nitin Kushalappa – Researcher.

IFA office-bearers are: Arundhati Ghosh (Executive Director) and Darshana Davé (Project Co-ordinator); Advisory Group: Rathi Vinay Jha, C.P. Belliappa and Hemanth Sathyanarayana.

Sandooka invites submission of Kodava artefacts, rare photographs, antiques including jewellery (photos) and anecdotes of yore.  All accepted materials will be given due recognition and credits. Sharing your valuable knowledge and collections will enrich the contents of Sandooka.

For details of submission of materials, please visit: www.sandookamuseum.org

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By C.P. Belliappa

It was in 1961 that I joined Loyola College in Chennai for my PUC.  A couple of days after I joined and settled in my hostel room, there was a knock on the door.  I gingerly opened the door and there stood a senior.  I braced myself for a round of ragging. 

“Hi, I am Somayanda Freddy Subbaiah. I am from Coorg.  Welcome to Loyola,” he extended his hand.  I was relieved. He then took me across to meet the other Kodavas in Loyola including his elder brother Vittal. Freddy and I became good friends and remained good friends. 

Freddy Subbaiah was born in Chettali to Somayanda Appachu and Kongettira Gange in 1944.  His father owned a tea estate in the Nilgiris. Subbaiah had his entire education in Tamil Nadu.  He had made up his mind quite early in life to be an IAS Officer.  He single-mindedly started preparations to crack the tough UPSC exam. He diligently took part in all the activities in the campus and was particularly active in the debating society.

After completing BA in Economics, he continued in Loyola for his MA.  As a post-graduate student, he stood for the Presidentship of the Students’ Union of Loyola College, which was a very keenly contested one. Freddy won the prestigious election and did commendable work during his tenure.  This stint would help him later in the UPSC interview.

After completing his post-graduation, Subbaiah immersed himself in preparing for the UPSC exam; and still found time to attend Madras Law College to earn a degree in Law.  He was very earnest in whatever he did and was extremely hard-working.

Freddy wrote the UPSC examination in 1968 and qualified for the final round which was the interview in New Delhi by a panel of retired senior bureaucrats and officers from the defence services.  My father, C.M. Poonacha, was the Minister for Railways at the time.  I happened to be in New Delhi.  Subbaiah stayed with us a couple of days ahead of the interview. He was quite satisfied with his performance at the interview. 

However, when the results were announced Subbaiah narrowly missed the IAS and qualified for the IPS. The reason why he missed the IAS was the reservation policy.  Though disappointed, he accepted the IPS and opted for Karnataka cadre.  He was the first Kodava IPS Officer post-independence.

After intensive training in National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, and at the National Police Academy, Mount Abu, Subbaiah got his maiden posting as probationary Assistant                        Superintendent of Police at Belgaum, in January 1970. That was the beginning of an illustrious career.

Freddy Subbaiah proved his mettle at every posting he held.  After serving as ASP at Yadgir, he was soon promoted and posted as Superintendent of Police at Kolar Gold Fields (KGF).  At KGF, he endeared himself to the people with his prompt addressing of any issue that cropped up.  When he was transferred to Tumkur as the SP in 1973, there was widespread disappointment at KGF for losing one of the best Police Officers the district had seen. 

After two years in Tumkur, Subbaiah was transferred to Mysore as the SP, which is one of the prestigious postings for young IPS Officers.  His sincere, prompt, dedicated and diplomatic handling of Law and Order issues were highly appreciated, not only by the people, but also by his seniors and political bosses. It was during his tenure at Mysore that Subbaiah tied the knot with Sumathi, daughter of Muckatira Aiyappa from Byrambada village, in 1976.

Subbaiah was highly knowledgeable and very well read.  After joining the IPS, he was keen on contributing to the intelligence and security issues of the nation.  His seniors recognised his treasure trove of knowledge and his abilities and recommended him for a deputation to the Central Government. In 1979, Subbaiah joined as an Officer in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) under the Cabinet Secretariat.  He served the organisation with great distinction for 17 long years. 

Subbaiah surprised his family and colleagues when he earned a doctorate degree in Economics from University of Mysore in 1983. While he was totally involved in his job, he still found the time to pursue his Ph.D. Despite his busy schedule, he made time for his family.  Sumathi ably supported him and together they raised their two sons Bopanna and Mandanna with all parental care.

His dedicated work impressed everyone.  In 1984, Subbaiah was appointed as the First Secretary at the Indian High Commission, Singapore. His next posting in 1988 was a coveted one at Geneva with dual assignment as Consular General of the Indian Mission as well as the Indian Representative to the UN at Geneva.  He served in this position till 1991 and had the opportunity to visit several countries.

On his return to headquarters in New Delhi, he was involved in sensitive assignments such as the Shah Commission, Jain Commission, ISRO spy case and the Bofors probe. While on overseas assignments, he closely followed the activities of the LTTE and gave valuable intelligence inputs to the Government.

Freddy’s achievements and his immense contribution to the nation as an Officer in RAW reached the highest echelons of the administration. In recognition of his yeomen service, he was awarded the President’s Medal for Meritorious Service followed by the Medal for Distinguished Service.  He was the first recipient of the Asadharan Suraksha Seva Praman Patra, the highest award for outstanding contribution within RAW. He received the award from Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao.

In 1996, Subbaiah decided to return to Karnataka, though RAW was reluctant to let go of an outstanding officer in the department.  With his seniority and experience, he was appointed as IGP – Intelligence.  A year later, in February 1997, he was promoted as Additional Director General of Police. Subbaiah was on course to occupy the DGP’s post in the State.

I kept in touch with Subbaiah and met him in Tumkur, Mysore, Bangalore and at Geneva. My wife and I had dropped in at his residence in Indiranagar a few months before tragedy struck on that fateful day, 10th April 1997. Subbaiah went out for his morning walk and suddenly collapsed.  Before any medical aid could be given, he passed away. It was shocking beyond words for his family, colleagues, friends, and the political leadership. He was aged just 52 and had many more milestones to cross in the years ahead.

Several articles appeared in national and local newspapers by those who knew Subbaiah well. Everyone uniformly expressed high accolades for Dr. S.A. Subbaiah as he was officially known.  One of the most succinct and insightful comments was from the Cabinet Secretary while forwarding a note to the Prime Minister on the outstanding work by  Subbaiah to the nation. This was quoted by RAW Officer B. Raman, who retired as Additional Secretary:

“What a pity the nation cannot be told of this Officer’s outstanding achievements.”

Subbaiah was involved in highly sensitive intelligence operations.  He never discussed details of his work even with close family and friends. Undoubtedly, Subbaiah would have taken part in assignments as daring as those carried out by NSA Ajit Doval. 

Subbaiah would have certainly been the DGP of Karnataka and would have eventually headed one of the premier Investigating or Intelligence agencies of the nation. Despite holding high-ranking positions, he remained  simple and unassuming.

Subbaiah’s untimely demise this day 25 years ago was an irreparable loss to his family, the Kodava community and the nation at large.

The post Remembering Dr. Somayanda A. Subbaiah, IPS on his untimely demise 25 years ago appeared first on Star of Mysore.

By C.P. Belliappa

It was the last week of December in 1965. All of us were at home in Gonikoppal during the term break.

My grandmother had taken a parike (vow) to perform Satyanarayana puja at the temple in Peggala. On 31st December we had an early start, since Ganapathi homa preceded the Satyanarayana puja.

Our grandmother insisted we go empty stomach! We had to carry all the provisions for lunch that was to be served to everyone present at the temple after the conclusion of the puja.

It was an elaborate affair and by lunchtime we were famished and were impatient for the delicious vegetarian food the Brahmins had prepared. The aroma of the food was already wafting in the air. However, we had to wait till the priests finished eating first. The food was finger-licking good as expected. By the time we returned home it was late in the afternoon.

My father, C.M. Poonacha, was a Member of the Rajya Sabha (RS) at the time. A ritual that he followed everyday was to listen to the 9 O’clock news on All India Radio (AIR) before we all sat down for dinner. Right from a young age we too got used to this news bulletin. I remember the three beeps before the newsreader started with the headlines. I think it was Melville de Mellow who read the news on that day in his typical baritone voice.

“Finance Minister T.T. Krishnamachari has resigned from the Cabinet.” My father was astonished. He increased the volume and gestured to all the children to keep quiet. “Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri has appointed Sachindra Choudhury as the new Finance Minister.”

What Melville de Mellow said next dumbfounded all of us. “C.M. Poonacha has been appointed as the Minister of State for Revenue and Expenditure.” It was unbelievable. When the news was readout in detail, we realised what we heard was correct.

My grandmother walked in hearing all of us shouting and congratulating our father. My father touched his mother’s feet and gave her the spectacular news.

Minutes later the DC and the SP drove in. They gave my father the official communication received from the Prime Minister’s Office. He was to leave for New Delhi the following day. His transport and air ticket had been arranged. Prime Minister Shastri himself wanted to talk to my father earlier in the day, but those were the days of the most unreliable trunk calls!

The swearing-in was on 2nd January 1966. President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office in the presence of Prime Minister Shastri, the new Finance Minister Sachindra Choudhury, Home Minister Gulzarilal Nanda and a few other Cabinet colleagues.

Prime Minister Shastri had great faith and confidence in my father. It was Lal Bahadur Shastri, who as Minister for Commerce, appointed Poonacha as Chairman of State Trading Corporation (1958-1963).

The second Indo-Pak war had ended in September 1965. Lal Bahadur Shastri left for Tashkent on 4th of January 1966 for a Russian brokered summit meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and the President of Pakistan, Gen. Ayub Khan. The ‘Tashkent Declaration’ was signed on 10th January 1966. It was on 11th January that India and the world heard of Prime Minister Shastri’s sudden demise apparently of a cardiac arrest. My father was devastated.

Indira Gandhi took over as the new Prime Minister. My father continued in her Cabinet but with a different portfolio, namely, Minister of State for Transport, Aviation and Shipping. C.M. Poonacha won the 1971 Lok Sabha election from Mangalore-Kodagu Constituency. He was appointed Cabinet Minister for Railways in Indira Gandhi’s Cabinet.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a friend, philosopher, guide and a role model for my father.

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By C.P. Belliappa

Pocahontas, the beau-tiful daughter of the American Indian chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, was born in 1596 in what is now known as Jamestown, Virginia, in the USA.  Her rank was that of a Princess. 16th and 17th century saw rapid colonisation of the Americas by the European nations.  History is replete with the brave fights the native Americans put-up against the white man who came with superior weapons and technology, and ultimately subdued the original inhabitants.

Chief Powhatan was a formidable opponent of the alien settlers.  One of the British colonisers who encountered chief Powhatan was John Smith.  In a skirmish, the British were outnumbered, and John Smith was taken prisoner.  When Smith was about to be executed, the then 11-year-old Pocahontas intervened and saved his life. John Smith was held captive for a while by                                                                  the Powhatan chief. The young and impressionable Pocahontas was intrigued by the white man.  She used to visit the prisoner frequently and in time learnt a smattering of English from him.  John Smith subtly introduced Pocahontas to Christianity.

Years later, during the first Anglo-Powhatan war in 1613, Pocahontas was taken hostage by the British.  During this period, she was taught English and the scriptures in more detail. Soon her indoctrination was complete. In  1614 Pocahontas was baptised and was given the name Rebecca.

Fast forward to 1852.  The 11-year-old Gowramma, the favourite daughter of the last Raja of Coorg, was taught English and the scriptures by the British during their exile in Benares. The Raja and Princess Gowramma land in Victorian England in 1852.  Presented at Queen Victoria’s court, the queen took the vulnerable Gowramma under her wing as her God-daughter and encouraged her baptism.  Gowramma was given the name Victoria.  Queen Victoria bestowed Gowramma with a rank equivalent to that of an European Princess. 

During her captivity, Rebecca Pocahontas fell in love with John Rolfe, a British tobacco trader and grower. John  Rolfe was a widower. 18-year-old Rebecca married the much older John Rolfe in                       1614.

When Victoria Gowramma was 19 years old, she got romantically involved with a British army officer: Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell, who had served in India.  He was a widower, and 30 years her senior.  They were married in 1860. 

John Rolfe and Rebecca Pocahontas had a son named Thomas Rolfe.  In 1616, John Rolfe brought his wife and infant son to England. Pocahontas was presented at the court of King James I, where she was given a reception with protocol normally extended to a daughter of a king.  

In March 1617 John Rolfe and his family boarded a ship to sail back to America.  Rebecca Pocahontas suddenly took ill and had to be taken  ashore.  Within days Rebecca died, and it is suspected that                                                                             the cause of her death was either pneumonia or tuberculosis.  She was 21 years old.

Victoria Gowramma and John Campbell had a daughter named Edith Victoria.  Gowramma suffered from tuberculosis and succumbed to the disease in 1864 at the age of 23. 

Rebecca and Victoria, separated by nearly 250 years, had uncanny similarities in their lives.

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By C.P. Belliappa

Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir to the throne of United Kingdom (UK), has visited India 10 times till date. One of his visits was in 1980, and one of the States where he was a State Guest was Orissa. My father, C.M. Poonacha, was the Governor of Orissa at the time. Prince Charles stayed in the Raj Bhavan for a couple of days and my parents interacted with him as his hosts. For my father, who was a freedom fighter, this was quite an experience to host the future King of the UK, whose ancestors were his adversaries. 

Prince Charles was a 32-year-old bachelor at the time. Those who have watched ‘The Crown’ on Netflix would recall that before his foreign tour in 1980, he had started dating Diana Spencer. He took her to Balmoral Castle to meet the Queen and other members of the family and was supposedly put through the ‘Balmoral Test’ to assess if she has the right qualities to be a Windsor and a potential Queen of UK. 

Months prior to her marriage, Diana moved to Buckingham Palace to familiarise herself with the protocols to be followed as the future Princess of Wales. My father found Prince Charles to be an amiable, intelligent, and well-read young man. It is commendable that India and UK continue to have cordial relationship despite the dark colonial era. I recently found some of the photographs taken during the 1980 visit.

Had I known as much as I do now about Queen Victoria and her Indian God-daughter Princess Victoria Gowramma of Coorg, I would have visited Bhubaneswar for a chat with Prince Charles! An opportunity missed.

After his visit to Orissa, Prince Charles was the State Guest of Maharashtra. Wherever he went, girls were swooning over him! He was arguably the most eligible bachelor in the world at that point in time. I am sure many would remember the cheeky kiss the then 16-year-old Padmini Kolhapure of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram-fame, stole from the Prince charming!

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married in 1981. Their tumultuous life, divorce and the subsequent horrendous accident that took Diana’s life, are familiar to the world. The person who stole Charles’ heart was Camilla Parker Bowles (née Camilla Shand). There are several speculations about Charles becoming King and Camilla his Queen. One rumour is that Queen Elizabeth II will abdicate later this year after her 95th birthday celebrations and make way for Charles to be coronated. Another scenario is that the Queen will hold on to the crown and make Charles the Regent. Yet another speculation is that the Queen might bypass Charles and name his son Prince William her successor. If Queen Elizabeth II, after 69 years on the throne, continues as the Monarch till her demise, then by normal scheme of things UK will have King Charles and Queen Camilla. 

People in the UK are divided on the issue of continuation of the monarchy with a slight bias towards retaining the royal head of State. In any case, it is more than a couple of centuries since monarchy in the UK ‘reigns but does not rule’.

When Padmini Kolhapure kissed Prince Charles!

Bollywood actress Padmini Kolhapure made a lot of headlines in 1980 when Prince Charles came to India and the teenage actress welcomed him with a warm kiss on his cheeks. The Prince was welcomed by Padmini during a visit to a Bollywood shooting spot and after putting the garland on his neck, she planted a kiss on his cheek. According to reports, Prince Charles was also surprised with the actress’ gesture. This became quite a topic of discussion at that time.

About the author: C.P. Belliappa is a Chemical Engineer. He is based in Coorg (Kodagu). He is known for his writings on issues pertaining to Coorg. He writes humour, history and human-interest stories. Four of his books — Tale of A Tiger’s Tail & other Yarns from Coorg, Nuggets from Coorg History, Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg, and Tongue of the Slip — have been published by Rupa Publications. He presently serves as President, Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT), Ponnampet, South Kodagu.

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