In the light of the forthcoming 25th Kodava Hockey Namme, hosted by Muddanda Okka at Madikeri, we thought it would be appropriate to recap the factors leading to the success of the last years event.
A lot has been written about the Kundyolanda Hockey Namme and for good reason. As is well known, TEAM stands for Together Everyone Achieves More! … and the best example is the execution from concept to planning to implementation to closure. That includes all the Family members who have involved themselves wholeheartedly and their ability to get exemplary support from the Hockey loving fraternity…which is literally every Kodava.
It is important to showcase the success, especially those involving community endeavours. Here is a wonderful case study that got recognition within Kodagu, international acclaim with the Guinness World Records being bestowed on the Hockey Festival and the all important recognition by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, thanks in large measure to the understated and committed efforts of Ponnanna, a sportsman and hard working youthful MLA representing the District. Everyone in the District Administration lent their support with the DC Venkat Raja even donning his sports kit to play in the opening Exhibition match. The local Ankur School energetically participated with their school band.
We contacted Dinesh Cariappa, the moving force within the family, to understand what it took to execute this massive effort with panache and he gave the entire credit to everyone, with his name featuring at the end of the list.
Core Senior Kundyolanda Team comprised:
President – Ramesh Muddaiah
Convenor – Dinesh Cariappa
Secretary – Bipin Belliappa
Treasurer – Vishu Poovaiah
In addition, the Family set up various Committees that painstakingly managed The Ground, Food/Catering, Stage, Maintenance, Raffle Tickets, Saree Code for the Ladies, Banners & Flag, Social Media, Promotions & Purchase, Medical, Umpire Negotiation, Printing & Stationery, Technical Matters, Media & Publicity, Reception, Hockey Playing Accessories and Coordinators to keep track of everything. Thamane members supported the initiative wholeheartedly.
A DETAILED LISTING OF ALL THE FAMILY MEMBERS WILL BE FEATURED IN AN ENSUING ARTICLE. In reality, every family member rose to the occasion and played host, worked hard and celebrated the event with unstinted commitment.
Family members sat day and night for securing the Guinness World Record (GWR) from India and the UK along with a staunch well wisher Jammada Ganesh Ayanna.
Special thanks to GWR Dyott London Office Officials working and supporting the endeavour for 3months
– Lucia Sinigagliesi
– Apekshitha Kadam
Alongwith:
GWR Adjudicator – Swapnil Mahesh Dangarikar and their Chartered Accountant – Kiran Mohan
Special Celebrity Witnesses for the tournament:
1. Kalappa KP
2. Devaiah MA
3. BK Uthappa
4. KA Nagesh
5. MG Somanna
6. Subramani KD
7. Nanjappa CA
Stewards:
1. NC Chengappa
2. AW Belliappa
3. KD Thimmaiah
4. KC Thimmaiah
5. KM Kushalappa
6. KP Achappa
Tournament director and umpires headed by: Anjaparavanda Kushalappa.
Needless to mention that Dinesh Cariappa held the entire team – within the family and external agencies together to act in unison for a common cause.
The key takeaways for us at the CLN News Desk is:
– Select and Empower the Younger Generation to occupy leadership roles. Dinesh Cariappa is a glowing example of how leadership with purposeful hard work, integrity, transparency and team work can deliver exceptional results. Too many of our community organizations are headed by people well past their prime who rightfully should occupy mentorship roles rather than holding on to their chair.
– When a task needs to be undertaken within the community, act with one voice and from a single platform. The Family did a brilliant job in eliciting the support and involvement of all members of Kolakeri Village in particular, volunteers from Napoklu and for that matter from Kodavas across the district and the diaspora. This is in sharp contrast to the unfortunate recent and continuing events showcasing fragmented leadership, with individual voices of leaders seeking self aggrandisement. This needs to change if the essence of our culture needs to be preserved for the overall interest and betterment of the Kodagu.
– Learn to work in TEAMS. Involve the District Administration and local political leadership also to ensure that all the gears are working to a common cause.
– The history of Kodagu is replete with responsible inclusive leadership. We spoke a common Language, dressed in a similar manner, shared a cuisine that followed the seasons (much of which was natural produce and healthy vegetarian cuisine), celebrated common festivals and danced together (as we do even now) and must not allow vested divisive interests to upset the strong secular fabric of our existence.
More power to the Family Hockey Festivals, sense of community, younger leadership with a common cause for a better future of Kodagu. Could there also be some rational thought process in limiting the number of such events – Tug-of-War, Cricket in various avataars – huge drain of precious working time that could be put to better use.
It is great knitting – Community with Sports event. Big achievement and hats off to the Family for organising such a mega successful event. Coorgs are especially very attached to their unique culture. We have so much in common – Coorgs and Sikhs – Sports, Agriculture, Defence Services, Integrity and Pride for our Culture.
I really admire the Coorgs a lot🙏
Hailing from NalNad, I am always proud to see such posts. Kundyolanda family is relatively small and yet with the tenacity and obvious cohesive teamwork they have pulled off a most memorable Hockey Festival on a remarkable scale. This was a showcasing of our love for the sport Hockey – equally the reverential display of hospitality, inbuilt discipline, natural flair for sport, zero garbage and most importantly – sense of community, identity and pride!. The Guinness Award was a well earned recognition – an icing on the cake!
The recent Kodavaame Balo Nadp was a further once-in-a-lifetime demonstration and vindication of our quiet resolve and determination to reaffirm our identity and culture in an inclusive manner; which was always the custom, tradition and way of life in Kodagu.
At the cost of repetition:
We spoke a common Language, dressed in a similar manner, shared a cuisine that followed the seasons (much of which was natural produce and healthy vegetarian cuisine), celebrated common festivals and danced together (as we do even now) and must not allow vested divisive interests to upset the strong secular fabric of our existence.
A word of caution though – at some point of time, we have to also ensure that we have adequate time to work! Such Nammes should be limited. The Hockey event itself consumes nearly a month which is a lot. There should be deep introspection before committing to more such time consuming extravaganzas in various avatars – a precious loss of mandays that should be put to more productive use.