The Blood Bath Of Kodavas

Tall, well built, brave, beautiful and courageous are just few words commonly used to describe Kodava race. Kodava tribe has come a long way to earn the title warrior popularly known in Indian army as Kodava Warriors. The history of Kodavas is definitely one of the most fascinating and the bloodiest among any other civilization in India. My article is based on facts that are documented by historians and based on books which have highlighted the bloodbath of Kodava warriors, The article concentrates on Tippu and his cold blooded killings.

If Kodava today is one of the second least populated race in this world, it’s because of a barbaric character from the history known to people as Tippu Sultan. There were repeated attempts to capture Kodagu by Tippu and his father Hyder Ali before him. Tippus barbarism reached its peak from 1760 to 1790 and this period is considered as one of the most gruesome era in the history of Kodavas. Tippu’s closest commander Mir Kirmani on his book reveals the incidence pertaining to Tippu’s brutality and religious conversion. During the year 1760 - 1780 Tippu destroyed more than 600 temples across Kodagu. His cruelty and self-obsession had reached its peak when his closest left him in the final war with British where Tippu died in stampede, He was not shot by Brits. When Tippu first invaded Kodagu with his well-equipped 15000 army men carrying French Cannon with a intention of conquering Kodagu overnight Kandanda Doddaiah and Appachira Mandanna with their troop of 5000 Kodavas retaliated against Tippu’s army near Suntikoppa only to defeat Tippu’s army and chase them out of Kodagu . This war with Tippu is documented in Hunsoor literature which states “Kari Kupasu totha Kodavaru Kari Dumbhi anthe tippuvinatha nugi, hodedhodisidharu” Historians say this was a war of bravery verse strength and by the time Tippu realized the courage of Kodava’s he was defeated. Tippu popularly known and projected today as Tiger of Mysore and pride of Karnataka was defeated by Kodava 31 times during 25 years of war and this humiliation forced Tippu to seek revenge on Kodava. Kodavas were the master of the guerrilla warfare hence they succeeded every time in ambushing Tippu.

In the year 1771, Tippu with a large army attacked Madikeri fort post which he captured Bhagamandala and converted the entire Bhagandeshwara temple and its premises to a fort. He had also chopped the elephants belonging to the temple, documents for the same is available in the temple even today. After capturing Bhagamandala as a tribute to himself Tippu placed a stone titled "Salam Kallu” which can be seen on the way to Talacavery, A evidence which even today tells the stories of brutality and bloodbath. After 15 years of war and retaliation with Kodavas, Tippu had understood he would not be able to capture the entire Kodagu which would provide him easy access to Mangalore port hence he wanted to try something different. Something, which resulted in one of the biggest genocide of human race.

Tippu sent a message to naal naad Kodavas inviting them for a negotiation stating his main enemies were Marathas and  British hence he would want to end the war with Kodava and head back to Srirangapatana. Learning about the invite Kodavas from naal naad gathered with their family on 13^th of December 1785 at Devatiparambu located on banks of the river Cavery to negotiate and bid bye to the decade long war. As Sun set behind the mountains of Kodagu, Kodava came to Devatiparambu unarmed mean while half of Tippu’s army was deployed inside the forest waiting for Kodavas to gather as a part of his cowardly plan, once Tippu was sure he had unarmed men trapped he ordered his army to massacre all Kodava present at Devatiparambu, troops hiding behind the bushes pounded on unarmed men, women and kids slaughtering more than 70,000 and capturing about 90,000 Kodavas and were deported to Seringapatam. The captured women and children’s were subjected to immense physical and mental torture the young men were all forcibly circumcised and incorporated into the Ahmedy Corps (name of Tippu’s army). The captured were subjected to forcible conversions to Islam, death, and torture. It’s said scale of massacre was so huge that the water in the Cavery river turned red due to blood oozing out of the dead bodies and continued to flow red in color for 12 consecutive days. Many who were captured were converted to Islam and sent back to Kodagu called themselves as Kodava Mapilas. There are about 60 Kodava Mapilas family residing in Kodagu. They share same family names as that of Kodavas. in Devanageri village,  Puliyanda Kodava mapilas resides and in the regions surrounding Virajpet, there are Muslim family names like Kuvalera, Italtanda, Mitaltanda, Kuppodanda, Kappanjeera. Similarly, in the Madikeri taluk, there are Kalera, Chekkera, Charmakaranda, Maniyanda, Balasojikaranda, and Mandeyanda in the Hoddur village in Madikeri taluk.

Kodava mapilas also use Kodava Ornaments, Mandamada Kodava mapilas still use tookbolcha in their home, at the temples in Bshettigeri and Hudikeri,  Karthura and Mandamada Kodava mapilas are priests. At yemmemadu dargah festival even to this date Kodava mapilas start the festival proceedings by offering prayers and flinging rice, Chekkera and Kalera Kodava mapilas are takkanga at yemmemadu.

The existence of these Kodava Mapilas are another living evidence reflecting the barbarism of Tippu on Kodavas. Tippu believed in destroying temples in Kodagu, during his course of destruction he happened to destroy a bhagavadhi temple near Kotakeri and burnt Biddatanda ainmane where he captured 48 innocent people and took them along to Seringapatam among these 40 people Appanna managed to escape and returned to his village in Kodagu however Appanna was out casted since villagers thought he was converted to Islam. Appanna lived alone till death near a pond which is called Appannajjanda Kere. The pond can be found even today. The remains of the Biddatanda Ain-Mane which was burnt with people inside shouting for help tells the horrific mindset of Tippu and his brigade.

Tippu after capturing Madikeri fort set his eyes on removing Kalasa from the Omkareshwara temple and replaced it with the domb which is another architectural evidence for destruction Tippu carried out during his rule. Tippu also wanted to abolish Kannada completely and hence he introduced Persian language into his administration . The persian words like “Dhapan, Barcas and Jammabandi  ”still used in  our land documents at Kodagu shows Tippu at any cost wanted to eliminate Kannada from Karnataka. Its irony that government wants to celebrate Tippu’s birthday across Karnataka. The evidence not only indicates that he was not a conqueror but a religious fanatic and a dictator who believed in ethical cleansing of Kodavas and other community in south India.

The evidence for the bloodiest history of Kodagu and Kodava exist even today and is documented.  A history which is filled with inhumanness, violence and genocide a history which is today rewritten by politicians to lionize a mass murderer and efforts to project him as a hero is not only hurting the sentiments of Kodava but it’s also sending out a wrong message about our history to the future generation of this country. A man who lost the battle 31 times and killed the brave Kodava warriors by infidelity can never be a Hero. Tippu was an invader, a dictator a coward and a Murderer of human race and glorifying such inhuman personality is absolute shame and disgrace to humanity. The real history needs to be told to the next generation for them to know who the real warriors of the Kodava Land were.
Mukkatira Mac Thimmaiah
Contact : m2thimmaiah@gmail.com

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

Bothe Kuthevo (ಬೊತ್ತ್ ಬೆಪ್ಪಾಂಡ ಸಂಕೇತ)

Bothe Kuthevo (ಬೊತ್ತ್ ಬೆಪ್ಪಾಂಡ ಸಂಕೇತ)

As time evolved and generations passed by we have adapted ourselves for an easier way of living life, courtesy new technologies. However life wasn’t same centuries back, Our ancestors have fought enough and more battle to save Kodavaame, when I refer to centuries I am actually talking about Dwaparyuga. In my previous post where I tried proving Kodava are the original inhabitants of Kodava land, here is another chapter from the history which would link our existence to goddess Cavery and Dwaparyuga which would add more value to my claim about the original inhabitants of Kodava land. Another evidence to prove we existed in Kodava land from time immemorial.

  

In Dwaparyuga during pandava’s 12 years of Vanvas and 1 year of Agyatvas they happened to visit Kodagu desha, Pandavas visited Kodagu desha during their Agyatvas, they were mesmerized by the beauty of this land and its rich natural habitat and they decided to settle down in Kodagu. Eventually Pandavas realized that most land in Kodagu was owned by Kodava tribe were they practiced agriculture and this was a matter of concern to pandavas. Since cavery was the goddess of Kodava desha pandavas decided to meet cavery and seek her permission to own large part of Kodava land for them to settle down, When Pandavas approached goddess cavery requesting her to give them a larger share in kodava desha goddess cavery advised pandavas to visit tala cavery during teerthaudbava on the day of cavery changrandi and she would decide on granting land. Post pandavas left talacavery after being advised to return on the day of cavery changrandi, goddess cavery called the Kodava tribe of Kodava desha and advised kodavas to mark their territory with Bothe before goddess cavery in the form of divine water flows out of talacavery on the auspicious day of cavery changrandi. Kodava tribe just had one night before goddess cavery flows in the form of divine water and that means the deadline to mark their territory would be over, as the night shaded away and a new day begun pandavas approached goddess cavery as advised, goddess cavery appeared before pandavas and told pandavas to occupy lands which didn't have bothe planted. As pandavas left talacavery in search of lands which didn't have bothe to their surprise the entire Kodava land were planted with bothe and a clear message sent out to pandavas that Kodava tribe owns almost every part of Kodava land and hence pandavas have to leave Kodagu desha. Goddess cavery had advised kodava tribe to never give away their land to any invaders and she would bless the piece of land which had bothe planted. hence every year hours before kaveri changrandi Kodava plant bothe in their field, front of their house, cattle shed, estates and every place that they own and seek blessings of Goddess Cavery.

My write ups are an effort to document our rich culture and preach it to the next generation of Kodava community. Your feedback are always welcome. 

Long Live Kodavaame.

Mac Thimmaiah

Unknown Facts Of Kodagu

Facts of Kodagu

This is just a effort to put together few facts of Kodagu.

      1.   Kodagu has the least number of people below poverty line  
2. Average highest tax payers in Karnataka are from Kodagu 
3. Kodagu is the second highest revenue generator for Karnataka
4. Kodagu is the most desirable tourist spot in south India
5. Kodagu homes the most notorious timber and sand mafia 
6. Since 2012 Kodagu is generating highest revenue for government of Karnataka from tourism 
7. Kodagu is one of the most sensitive ecological zone of Western Ghats
8. Kodagu before 2013 was one of the least polluted districts of this country
9. Most unexplored spots of Karnataka is in Kodagu
10. Kodagu tops the chart of Liquor consumption district, especially at the Kodagu - Kerala border it's highest 
11. Kodagu is the only district in this country to have had a regiment in Indian army to be named after it - Kodagu regiment 
12. Kodagu has the least illiteracy rate in Karnataka post 2009
13. Kodagu was once a state before it merged with Karnataka to mark its downfall both economically and culturally 
14. Kodagu Will have highest number of resorts in Karnataka by 2018 
15. Kodagu is the only district which produces 70% + revenue profit to the state government
16. British admired Kodagu the most and had plans of making Kodagu as their headquarters to rule than Mysore (today's Karnataka). This sketch of their plan is available with archeological department of India
17. The purest underground water is available in only few parts of India and Kodagu is one among those places 
18. It's believed that Kodagu has many unearthed treasure which was hidden by British and kings 
19. Kodavatakk and Kodava race is one of most endangered language and race as declared by UNESCO 
20. Indian Army had plans of setting up their biggest training camp in Kodagu in late1970 but was later dissolved
21. On an average Kodagu receives highest rainfall in south India
22. Kodagu has more number of water falls in Karnataka 
23. If Kodagu is made a separate state, it can still survive and develop itself to be one of the best place to live on earth considering the fact that kodagu generates highest revenue and tax
24. According to top real estate analysts the land value of Kodagu would go up 40 times of the current value by 2020
25. Kodagu is the only district in Karnataka to not have train connectivity however people of Kodagu prefer not to have one
26. 70% of Kodagu is still either forest, coffee plantation or paddy field

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. The owner of this blog makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site.

The owner will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. Mac Thimmaiah

Kodavas - The Original Inhabitants of Kodava Land

Kodavas, A race that’s known for the bravery, apperance and culture. A race that has a historical and geographical evidence which is claiming their exhistance from time immemorial. A race that’s dated back to a era where many religions didn’t even exhist. Every indian incuding Kodavas themselves have their own version to explain the origin of this beautiful and brave community.

Same claimed Kodavas maybe the descendants of the brachycephalic stock who entered into the Indus Valley during the Mohenjodaro period before the Aryans and later migrated to the Coorg region (Hutton, as quoted by Balakrishnan in 1976).

Another theory says Kodava culture resembles the culture of the ancient trading stock of Arabia (Moeling 1855).

Few others claim Kodavas are descendants of Scythians (Connor 1870, Rice 1878). According to yet another but similar view, the Kodavas belong to the Indo-Scythian race.

And the most advertised and newly preached theory states uring the conquest of Alexander the Great, many of his Indo-Greek soldiers, the Yavanas, stayed back in India. They migrated as warriors down south, married the natives and settled down in the hilly areas of the Western Ghats.

Above said theories don’t have any stronge evidence to claim they are true. They are just speculations and imaginary stories.

The Hindu ancient literature (Kaveri Purana of Skanda Purana) state that Chandra Varma, a Chandravanshi Kshatriya (lunar dynasty warrior) and son of the Emperor of Matsya Desha (the Fish Country), was the ancestor of the Kodavas.

Kodava’s are the original inhabitants of the Kodava Land, The Kaveri Purana clearly states the reason, why kodava women’s tradition way of wearing saree is different from the entire south india.

The existence of Igguthappa temple dates back to 1153 and the History itself claims Kodavas existed well before this temple was built. The Bhagandeshwara temple at Bhagamandala belonged to Pattamada family even before Tippu attacked the temple. Tala cavery also belonged to 2 Kodava family.

Kodagu was named after its original inhabitants that’s Kodavas. The physical appearance of Kodavas are unique and appealing because of the life style and the kind of food intake. Kodavas are meat lovers, their ancestors survived fighting the wild and the nature in dense forest for centuries, the food habits like meat, honey, shoots, leaves and fruits are definitely one of the main reason to be well build and this is proved medically you really don’t have to be from Greek.

I believe when history itself claims and proves that existence of Kodavas dates back to the Vedic period the imaginary theories which is spread across clearly indicates a larger conspiracy to prove Kodavas are invaders. The younger generation of Kodavas needs to understand the history well and it becomes the duty of the community, particularly the elder folks to preach the right message so that next generation of kodavas know the truth and adore the efforts of their ancestors. Kodavas are and will always be the original Inhabitants of Kodava Land