A huge silent protest was recently held in Madikeri by Arebhashe Gowda community demanding strict legal action against those who are making derogatory statements against the Gowda community of Kodagu district and creating unnecessary problems in the district.
Under the leadership of various Gowda organizations including Kodagu Gowda Yuva Vedike, Gowda Yuvaka Sangha, Gowda Youth Association of Kushalanagar and Kodagu Gowda Mahila Okkoota, began their protest by offering floral tributes to the statues of Subedar Guddemane Appayya Gowda, Field Marshal K M Cariappa and the picture of Rashtra Kavi Kuvempu while coming to the procession.
The protesters marched silently towards the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner’s office without shouting any slogans but displayed posters which had the slogan ‘Gowda Community’s Walk of Pride’.
Men and women dressed in traditional attire led the procession. Thousands of Gowda people drew the attention of the district administration. Representatives of most of the Gowda communities of the district including members, representatives of Bangalore, Mysore, Priyapatna, Hunsur, Sulya Gowda Samaj and Chembu area of the district took part in the silent procession. The procession, which went in line, stretched for a distance of about one and a half km.
They drew attention through various messages including “Kodagu is not the property of one community, but the precious wealth of the whole community”, “We are the answer to ethnic agriculture”, “Our heritage is not just from clothes, it is from heredity and culture”. ‘We belong to the community that first sacrificed for the country’s independence’, ‘Kempe Gowda for Bengaluru, Rame Gowda for Mangaluru, Appayya Gowda for Madikeri’, and ‘Ban the organisation disrupting the unity of Kodagu’s people’.
The leaders of the Gowda organizations submitted a letter of appeal to the Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Dr Venkat Raja who came to the venue where protesters gathered at Gandhi Maidan and demanded to ban the CNC organisation.
Speaking on the occasion Kodagu Gowda Samajas Union President SurtaleSomanna said that CNC President N.U.Nachappa and his associates are spreading false rumors and making provocative and offensive abusive statements that Gowda people are immigrants. Action should be taken to stop this, Nachappa should be arrested and CNC should be banned.
Surthale Somanna further said that the protest was not against any caste or community. It is only against the organisation and the individual, who insulted the semi-linguistic Gowda community. Those who insulted us must be immediately arrested, and the organization causing unrest should be banned, he demanded.
He also demanded that a case should be registered, arrested and action taken against the supporters of CNC who had made statements insulting the semi-linguistic Gowda community in Ponnampet.
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Dr Venkat Raja, who received the petition, said that appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the law regarding the demands submitted by them.
Kodagu Gowda Youth Forum President Panattale Jagadish Mandappa, Secretary Pudianeravana Rishit Madaiah, Legal Advisor Kombarana Roshan Ganapathy, Kushalanagar Gowda Youth Association President Kodagana Harsha, Kodagu Gowda Silver Women Federation President Ame Damayanti, Vice President BaithadakaJanakiyappa, office bearers of district and outer district Gowda societies, members participated in protest.
