Things what I have noticed and experienced during my sojourn Codagu and Codava hamlets.

Date 10 May 2006

MY VISTATIONS:

CONCLUSION:

            The experience that I have gathered during the two days of my sojourn in Codava hamlets of Codagu district in Karnataka is dispassionately interesting, exotic, aboriginal and I felt living in and rubbing shoulders with those ancient tribes in their nature habitate. They received me well even the women folk without any hesitation shook hands with me they received me with brand and enchanting laughter in their faces and in their traditional dresses. Without any hesitation one can identify Codava especially their women folk differentiate between Codava and other by looking at their structure. They are different. Their culture is entirely different. Their food habits are still more different interesting to note that they relish mushroom, jackfruit seeds, bamboo shooks, honey and of course pandikari, and wild animals. They have a special taste for yam, barks of various variety of trees and green leaves. Codavas have their own almanac eerie judicial system. Customary law, language called Codavathak dress code typical only to Codavas, Namme nal i.e festival, their temple i.e ainmane, Sanctum Sanctorum, i.e Kanni kombare, Nellakki Nadubade, places of worship Thootngala, Kyakola, Mund and Kaimada etc., consequent to what I believe the tyrannical, reckless and rapacious attitude of the Government of Karnataka after the then C state of Coorg became amalgamated with Karnataka as ended up, or near that, in the near elimination of the very notion of the existence of Codavas, Codava culture, Codava tradition, language, their heritage, their traditional ancient administrative divisions called naads and all such things what is distinctively connected with Codavas. There is strong aspersion against Codavas by the ruling sections of Karnataka. I have ample proof that Codavas do certainly fulfill all the criteria i.e required them to be classified as primitive ethnic tribes. (1) They habitate in Codagu, called Codavunad or Codava Land i.e traditional occupation of a definite geographical area the nomenclature of which is a derivative “Codava” or “Codagu” in Kannada ( 2) They have had a distinctive culture which includes the whole spectrum of tribal life, i.e language, customary traditions i.e religious beliefs art and crafts etc (3) Primitive traits depicting occupational pattern etc., and (4) lack of educational and techno economical developments.

            Strangely Codavas do not follow any religion. Codavas are essentially a non religious racial primitive tribes and nothing more than that I am happy to remember that Codavas still stand pasty nurture primitive habits, their ancient culture and are happy with their ancient beliefs and traditions. I am happy that I could watch at least one section of people who still live tribes, but unfortunately they are not recognized so. Unless Codavas are classified and recognized as a primitive ethnic tribe, and given constitutional guarantee to them. I fear that some day very soon this infinitesimally insignificant group of tribes will become a thing of ancient past very soon.

            Throughout my visit Sri. N.U. Nachappa, Secretary General of Codava National Council, Sri. Pullera Kalappa, and Sri. Nandineravanda Achaiah members of Codava Parliament and Smt. Swathi Kalappa and Nisha Achaiah had accompanied me.

STATUS AND STATISTICS OF CODAVA RACE

            Numerically Codavas may not exceed 1.5 lakh persons habituating within Codagu (Codava Land) and elsewhere and gender wise presumably it is 50:50 except perhaps for the codavas residing at Western Ghats terrains Codava population is largely literate, a sizeable percentage for various reasons including financial drawback could not complete secondary education. One other reasons being the Government of Karnataka did not give the needed imputes for establishing primary, higher primary, high schools in the remote villages after amalgamation. One freak reason being good majority of localities situated hilly areas and that also has contributed for the backwardness. It is not a totally undeniable fact that the Govt. of Karnataka fixed standards for establishment of schools, with the population habituating in plain areas of Old Mysore and no special consideration was made for students hailing from hilly region of Codagu.

            During British rule Codavas did attain special importance and naturally the people residing at townships started to imbibe the qualities of Britons the way Mizo’s, Ghurkas, and tribes of Meghalaya i.e Gharo, Jayanthiya and Kashi tribes did change their lifestyle to suit the ruling class. Added to it Codavas are well built and have extraordinary biological features. If we delve deep into the history we find otherwise already marshal race of Codavas we can exploited by a total outside Lingayath Raj who inducted them into his army in order to expand his power. It is an undeniable fact that Codavas wholeheartedly supported the rule of Britishers in order to avoid the tyrannical and rapacious rule of alien Lingayath Raj. Britisher’s did help Codavas attain new height. A negligible percentage of Codavas became rich landowners and many more got themselves educated in schools and colleges. Such people at any stretch of imagination may not exceed 2% of the Codava populace. Britishers did yeomen service to Codava cause by protecting almost all Codava customary personal laws, land rights, religious rights, culture and traditions. After India attaining Independence until Codagu became amalgamated with Mysore now Karnataka Codavas continued to enjoy all those things what Britishers had conferred on them. Unfortunately after amalgamation in the year 1956 every thing connected with Codavas took a U turn and things became bad to worst for Codavas. The Government of Karnataka relied on Codavas of creamy layer for all its responses towards Codavas. Logically the Codavas of creamy layer took upper hand and kept on misinforming and misguiding the Governments and all other Governmental organization regarding the actual status of Codavas. They have avoided mentioning about the prevailing poverty backwardness of a larger chunk of Codavas and total backwardness of Codavas who reside in backward areas completely cut of from media as well as outer world. The inevitable outcome in the Government and all the Governmental departments and Governmental organizations started to consider Codavas to have belong to a richer class totally. In other words this type of treatment as was focused by the negligible percentage of Codavas who on account of their richness misguided the Government has caused havoc to Codavas. To quote an example at random take for instance the entries in the revenue records normally used to be made in the name of the senior most leaving Codava of any given okka. (Khandan or clan) without ever mentioning the names about the other co owners of the land no matter even if such of the clan had members not less than 500 persons. When the large extent of such lands say about 50 to 100 acres, when actually was to be divided between the inheritors of each member was to get hardly 10 to 50 cents each. Without ever carrying to investigating to the real truth the Government authorities blindly considered Codavas to be filthy rich basing their statements on the revenue records which stood in the name of one single individual who used to be the pattedar of respective okkas.

STATUS OF CODAVATHI ON MARRIAGE:

            At the wedding altar a senior member of the bridegroom’s party would opt to undertake all the responsibility of the bride in his family until he dies and such a transaction is called as “Sammandadkuvo” in Codava parlance.

            HER STATUS DURING THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND per chance the husband dies during the life time of the Codavathi it is incumbent on the part of one of the brothers of the dead person and who remained a bachelor at the time to marry the widow. Should there be no such brothers, the widow should be married to one of the persons within the clan. The main idea behind such a scheme is that she would be given protection and respect until she dies as has been undertaken given by the Aruva at the time of the sammandadukovo during the marriage until she dies the “sacred pathak” tied by her mother on the previous night of the wedding should be with her only and it become a sacrilege if she breaks the custom.

            MUYYAL- KOODAL: Codavas mutually help each other in all their respective activities be it is family matters, hunting and agricultural operations. The members of other families or clans “so motu” do join the family which is to celebrate wedding, go for hunting or agricultural operations without expecting any remuneration and in return the such of the families or clans would join all those families in their respective activities. Such a practice is called as Muyyal and Koodalu.

           The main principle of Codavas is that we eat together and we die together and every Codava shall dedicate such a wish even at the start of meal and on completion of the meal, they say “Ungana” (let us eat) and “evana” (let us get up).

To:

21.5.06

            I shall be failing in my duties if I fail to express our gratitude for the pains you took to visit Codagu (Codava Land) on 9 and 10 May in order to find facts regarding the demand of Codavas for being classified as “primitive ethnic tribe”, we appreciate you that you worked as a true social Scientist.

           We are immensely happy that you visited several of Codava racial families in their natural habitate in order to find the veracity of our demands and I am so happy that those Codavas whom you have met have behaved too very much natural in their realistic behaviour with you. If anyone on account of their rustic background had caused you any displeasure please excuse the same.

           Before concluding we hope and expect that your report will certainly uplift the Codava demands and I hope that the entire race will be classified as “primitive ethnic tribe” on the basis of your report.

To:

27.5.2006

            While we appreciate your efforts to alleviate the pains and pangs of the literally lesser known groups of people belonging to most backward ethnic tribes and minorities who hitherto have had no helping hand in the state cabinet, I hereby take this opportunity to inform your that Codava National Council took its birth and has been struggling for the classification of Codavas as “primitive ethnic tribe” during the past over 15 years and I am happy to had that we have been proceeding to the towards intended goal.

           At this point I may inform you that a massive rally of Codavas was held at Delhi on 7th April 2006 in order to attract the attention of the Union Government and National Commission for tribal affairs. After a day long Sathyagraha we met the Hon’ble chairman of the National Commission for Schedule Tribe Sri. Kunwar Singh at Loknayaka Bhavan, New Delhi, presented a detailed memorandum regarding the same and invited the commission to make a visitation to Codagu in Karnataka in order to assess the first hand information and proof regarding our demands.

           On being nominated by the National Commission for ST a single man committee headed by Sri. Buduru Srinivasulu did visit Codagu on 9 and 10 May 2006, needless to add that he toured extensively in Codagu, especially the exclusive Codava hamlets in order to find out the grouse of Codavas and have proof in relation thereto. The gentle man visited and talked to innumerable Codava families and it is heartening to note that the naturally rustic Codavas whom he met and had an opportunity to watch their living style and behavioral aspects from close quarters were to very much enthusiastic to give satisfactory replies to all the grilling questions posed extempore by Sri. Buduru Srinivasulu.

           The Hon’ble member who represented the NCST was immensely happy that he could meet a class of people who by all standards can be classified as a “minority primitive ethnic tribe” with a racial background in their natural habitate. He could know the difference between the things that is the land, physical features, customary law, language, heritage, way of worship, wedding style, and festivals, sanctum sanctorum, etc., what is Codava and others.

            I would like to inform you that we Codavas do certainly fulfill all the criteria i.e. required them to be classified them as “primitive ethnic tribes” (1) They habitate in Codagu i.e they have a traditional occupation of a definitive geographical area (2) distinctive culture which includes whole spectrum of tribal way of life i.e language, customs, traditions, religious beliefs, arts and crafts etc., (3) “primitive tribes depicting occupational pattern, economy etc.,

           Therefore, we hereby request you to be kind enough to make a recommendation to the ministry for tribal affairs, Govt. of India, New Delhi, to the effect that Codavas are the fittest case to be classified as a “minority primitive ethnic tribe” with a racial background and we insists that such a thing is imminently desirable and so be serving. We hereby enclose the papers mentioned hereunder in the manner of positive proof and grounds for our demands as being classified as “minority primitive ethnic tribe” for your kind perusal.

To:

27.5.06

            Please find herein enclosed a Memorandum together with other important papers touching the demand of Codavas for being classified as “minority primitive ethnic tribe” and which calls for your positive recommendation in that regard and I shall be much obliged if you are kind enough to give me an audience in order to explain about the need and necessity of such a thing at your earliest convenient date.

To:

9-8-06

            REF: 1. Covering letter addressed to Sri. Balachandra Jarakihole, Hon’ble Minister for social welfare, Govt. of Karnataka- dated 27.5.06.

2. Postal Acknowledgement evidencing the proof of the above being served on your office dated 29th May, 2006. While inviting your kind notice to the subject cited above, I take this opportunity to register my surprise regarding the noticeably this regard, inefficiency and apathy on the part of your office staff by not placing the memorandum I had addressed to you before you for your kind consideration.

Anyhow I once again place a true replica of the said representation with this letter for your kind perusal and we stick to our ground regarding the demands we made.

Therefore, please consider the matter involved as a thing of urgency presidency basis and see that the needful is done at once.

To:

9.8.06

           I am certain to meet you in order to present a memorandum. Demanding the “primitive ethnic tribal” status for Codavas and I request you to be kind enough to grant an audience to us on 18.8.06 after 4 O’clock in the evening.

To:

9.8.06

           I take this opportunity to inform you that a batch of Codava enthusiast (including women folk) drawn from various places of Codagu would be squatting in a day long Sathyagraha near Gandhi Statue, Bangalore between 9.30 in the morning to 3.30 in the afternoon on 18 Aug 2006 in order to attract the attention of the Government and we have proposal to meet you in an audience at 4 O’clock in the evening immediately after the Sathyagraha.

            We have proposal to present a memorandum in that connection to the Government. I take privilege to inform you that all the delegates in the party would be in the traditional Codava costume when meeting you.

            Therefore we would be much pleased if you are kind enough to grant an audience to us and receive our representation besides listening our grouse.

To:

18.8.06

            I take it as a privilege to make available the statistics of Codava clannish family, Okkas – (Khandan) as we are called in the local parlance, and the number of Codava men (Codava) and Codava women (Codavathi) and the names of each clans (gothra as is otherwise called by Hindus) in order to further substantiate our demands for Codavas being treated as an exclusive primitive ethnic tribe with a racial back ground and I hope that I am able to convince you to the best of my knowledge, belief and information the particulars what I proposed to mention here under are true and believed to be true. I shall not for any single moment try to distract your approach or malign your understanding in any manner. The materials I proposed to supply are as under: