Why United Kodava Organisations meeting with Kiren Rijiju could be the game changer for Kodava community.

Kodava is the second least populated race in this world, having said this let me also highlight certain hard reality pertaining to our rights both politically and socially. We are denied minorities status despite being one of the endangered race in this world, UNESCO has termed Kodava Takk and Kodava race as the most endangered race. However, Government of India and State government isn’t showing much interest to protect Kodava’s political, social and cultural existence.  With growing intolerance in Kodagu region by certain elements regarding the gun right exemption to kodavas the Kodagu community which was once divided and over ruled by regional parties in the name of religion has today united and have started realizing the mistakes of history. With these development United Kodagu Organisation headed by Kokkalemada Manju Chinnappa who recently completed 414kms of walk from Kodagu to Bangalore to nationalize the issues of Kodagu and Kodava community headed to New Delhi with his delegates a week back.

This visit to New Delhi by a Kodava Organisation is definitely a positive development, at least I look at this as a road of success both politically and socially for the community. In last 3 decades Kodava race had lost its glory and now it’s time for the current generation to demand for their rights based on the sacrifice and service the community has delivered to the independent India.

A couple of days back I happened to see a news on social media about UKO delegates meeting Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs. In the past Kodava have met enough and more officials, government representatives and Ministers explaining them about the concerns of the Kodava race, but for me this meeting with Kiren Rijiju is definitely a game changer, Here is few reason why I think this meeting with Kiren Rijiju will be a boon for Kodava race. Kiren Rijiju a prominent leader from Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the youngest member of Narendra Modi’s cabinet. Mr Rijiju who basically hails from Arunachal has played a vital role in Bharatiya Janata Parties success in north east which was once a dream for the Hindu national party. Mr Modi is said to have a very good impression about this young and dynamic MP, he is often termed as man of his words. Mr  Rijiju is an important member of Modi’s cabinet and has immense respect towards Kodava community, He was also a member of the youth and cultural team which participated in the Festival of India in USSR in 1987 where he was impressed to see couple of representative dressed up in Kodava tradition attire. Rijiju had since then developed interest to know more about Kodava culture and tradition, Rijiju once happened to meet few Kodavas who visited Delhi in traditional attire, He stood by to watch them and later spent enough time talking with these Kodava men to understand our attire, culture and history. His soft corner to Kodava race also has direct relation to Kodava contribution in defense and our origin and our demand for tribal status since Rijiju also hails from a tribal community.

Kiren Rijiju has promised UKO, he would not let government take away our gun exemption rights and would work towards letting the central government know about the issues of Kodava tribe and how to protect our rights. He has also shown immense interest in working towards extending “jiyo parsi” (A financial aid provided to Parsi community) to Kodava community for our social stability. UKO has submitted a list of 17 demand memorandum. Considering his interest and respect towards Kodava race let’s hope this be the game changer for Kodava community and wish United Kodava Organisation - UKO all the very best in their fight to protect Kodava Community and Kodagu