We have been swamped by reactions to the recently concluded Hockey Finals at Madikeri with a request to provide some sanguine directions for the future. Social media has been rife with mercurial views – good, bad and ugly. CLN has taken time to collate the important views and suggestions that were sent in and presented it to our readers. Some of the points have far reaching consequences for the community to debate and consider an appropriate direction for the future.
The views expressed are readers and spectators comments, which have been collated for the article.
There is absolutely no doubt that every Okka (Family) puts in a lot of effort in organising the event. But going by human behaviour, each succeeding Event is an attempt to make it larger, grander and more expensive. This in itself leads to unwanted pressure on the organisers. One of the most significant issues is the appearance of “fault lines” arising out of commercialisation of a cultural event that has no rules nor boundaries.
Back to basics – when Pandanda Kuttappa in all his Wisdom conceptualised the Annual Hockey Festival in 1997, he reasoned that bringing all the Kodava families together, facilitating the upbringing of Junior Hockey Players in a simple Namme type of atmosphere would further the passion for the game. Accordingly the Kodava Hockey Academy (KHA) was established to govern all aspects and activities related to the Hockey Festival.
Unfortunately, there are no guidelines regarding:
- Raising of Funds and Sources
- Scrutiny of Accounts by the KHA
- What happens to the surplus?
- Should politicians and political speeches be allowed?
- Norms for conduct of the tournament, discipline, venue, advertisement/hoarding association (should it have any relevance for the game of hockey?)
This lack of guidance has resulted in haphazard practices and possibly a major cause for the debacle of political speech making affecting the spirit of the game, lack of consideration for players comfort, patience of spectators and actual conduct of the disappointing turn of events at the Finals.
Taking a leaf out of the manner in which the Kodavaame Balo Nadp was organised, it was completely apolitical, barely any speeches by all and sundry, it was done under the banner of Akhila Kodava Samaja (AKS), accounts were audited and surplus banked for the corpus of AKS – not for individuals nor the Okka conducting the tournament.
Recommendation:
The Hockey Festival is a Kodava Community Event. If the KHA is incapable of providing appropriate guidance, an organisation like AKS should step in for oversight on critical guidelines on conduct, financial transparency and most importantly creating a more permanent infrastructure befitting the stature that the Family Hockey Event has achieved.
Some further observations:
- Preparations for the conduct of the Festival is a massive effort and some families may require guidance and assistance in several areas. The gold standard for this event in terms of “organisation” is probably the Kundyolanda Kodava Hockey Namme. Virtually every member of the family was involved with additional spontaneous assistance from Oorkaras and NalNaad Kodava community. Thakkamme and Kodavamme was evident in every aspect of the conduct of the event (read CLN’s coverage ).
- There should be a compendium of Best Practice prepared by KHA (?) and made available on a public website. We are sure that many families will provide what worked and what didn’t ? The Iychettira, Kundyolanda, Kulletira families amongst others would be delighted to share their experience.
- Any significant contribution by any Government Agency always comes with an agenda. Stick with the policies followed by AKS for the Kodavaame Balo Nadp.
- Exceptional performances by rising stars should be acknowledged publicly and if possible ongoing scholarships should be provided – either by KHA, AKS or relevant Kodava Samajas. The progress of the selected youth should be showcased in subsequent editions till prominence is achieved.
- Consider inviting the Hockey India/Sports Authority of India for at least all the games post Quarter Finals. This will bring much needed focus on the youngsters for selections at the National level. Also given our passion and skills for the game, a case for facilities similar to Patiala in Punjab and Orissa should be made by the District Administration and our beloved political leaders. Surely, our famous Kodava International and National players can exercise their strong and genuine influence in making this a reality.
- Recurrence of avoidable significant expenses on Temporary Structures (around Rs 1 Crore each year) and constant change of venues could pave the way of setting up our own Hockey Stadia. Many ideas have been shared – best that it is evaluated by people with experience in this field. Mercara Downs Golf Club has done exceptional work for instance under the stewardship of Anil Kuttappa.
- Norms for fund raising should be laid down. At the end of the day, money is being raised using the Kodava Community’s Cultural Platform and Passion for Hockey. The IPL is a great example for standardization of bids in select categories with a commitment for 3-5 years at a time. It can cover broadcasting rights especially for local television, Sports Kits, Hospitality and Resorts, Automobiles, Farm Equipment and Agricultural Inputs, Educational Institutions, Coffee Industry related, FMCG, etc. if done properly, there could be immense potential to raise funds to build two Astro-turf stadiums with CSR support from organizations in Kodagu – TATA’s, Evolve Back, Marriott, Mahindras and so on!!
Expect strong readers comments on this event and article.
A heartfelt thanks to all the families and volunteers who put in tremendous effort to make this year’s Kodava Hockey Festival happen. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the final day’s events left many players and spectators disheartened. The priority given to lengthy political speeches over the actual game diluted the spirit of the sport and left little room for the celebration of our young athletes’ hard work.
Going forward, the focus must return to what this festival was originally envisioned for—nurturing hockey talent, fostering unity among Kodava families, and upholding our unique sporting culture. The organisers could consider limiting speeches to a brief opening address, factoring weather forecasts more seriously, and ensuring that the final match and player experience take centre stage.
A permanent structure, transparent financial planning, and standardised best practices shared by previous host families can further elevate the professionalism and consistency of this much-loved festival. Let’s bring back the spirit of “Namme” with hockey at its heart, and ensure the legacy envisioned by Late Pandanda Kuttappa lives on stronger than ever.
It’s encouraging to see sports being given the recognition they deserve. However, political involvement in sports should be minimized. Instead, it would be more beneficial to engage local individuals who are genuinely passionate about sports.
It’s disheartening to see a cherished tradition like the Kodava Hockey Festival facing challenges stemming from political interference and financial opacity. Perhaps it’s time for bodies like the Akhila Kodava Samaja to take a more active role in ensuring the event remains true to its cultural and sporting essence.
Muddanda family did a great job of the 25th Silver Jubilee Family hockey tournament. And the fluency tilted in the Finals making it a total fiasco marring all the good work of one month.
Public memory is very short and selective and invariably people prefer to remember the negatives better than the positives.
Today after such a wonderful TOURNAMENT when you ask anyone about Muddanda Family Hockey, the first thing which comes to mind is the wait of 4 hours of speech resulting in a hugely truncated Game of Hockey – tragic for all the humongous work that went into the tournament.
The Kodava Family Hockey was conceptualised by Pandanda Kuttani to bring Kodava Clans together to promote the game of Hockey and build Unity, Camaraderie, Bonhomie, Friendship and Relationship. Sadly this has turned into a Political affair since about 5 years ever-since Funding started coming from the Government.
Now it’s time for all Kodavas to question themselves as to what is important – FUNDING FROM GOVERNMENT OR PASSION FOR THE GAME OF HOCKEY??? I fully agree that Funding from Government is important considering the quantum of funds coming from them. But at the same time can we sacrifice our core values and principles for the sake of money is the question which I want to ask every Kodava today.
Can we look at alternative sourcing for Private funds to keep the GAME OF HOCKEY ALIVE AND KICKING WITHOUT BEING HIJACKED BY POLITICAL COMPUNCTIONS ???
The grand finals of any Kodava Family Hockey tourney is all about Passion and Love for the GAME of Hockey. Thousands of Kodavas congregate for the finals just only to watch the GAME AND NOT FOR LENGTHY SPEECHES WHICH DEFEATS THE VERY PURPOSE FOR WHICH THE TOURNAMENT IS HELD.
Another very big issue which has been addressed in the article is about how well KODAVA HOCKEY ACADEMY is leveraging the game of Hockey by getting the peers and stars of the game to watch this tournament. What are we doing to promote Kodava Family Hockey at a National level? Why aren’t we getting the People in power who matter for Hockey nationally to watch from the Quarter Final stage of the game. If we don’t do this immediately it will be only a game for fun without our youngsters making any impact nationally, which will be very sad considering the KODAVA NUMBERS IN NATIONAL HOCKEY IS DWINDLING VERY FAST.
TODAY thanks to Kundyolanda Family, the Event has been taken this to International level with the GUINESS WORLD RECORD AS THE LARGEST FIELD HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. The tourney per se is very well recognised but what about our GEN NEXT getting into Big Time Hockey or is it that we are contented to play for fun and time pass???
I am very happy that this article by CLN has raised many important issues and points which we as a community with passion for HOCKEY NEED TO ADDRESS FAST AND QUICK LEST WE LOSE IT.
There was a time when there wasn’t a Kodava Child who hadn’t wielded the Hockey Stick, but the way the game is going and headed I won’t be surprised if we as a community stop wielding the Hockey stick at National and International levels. I personally dread this day because Just like the GUN, KODAVAS AND HOCKEY STICKS ARE INSEPARABLE.
Hailing from Punjab and having played a fair bit of Hockey myself, I can vouch that Hockey Administration has a big role for the development of the game. I know a lot of Kodavas and admire their sense of grit and determination to do well. Hockey is a passion and culture defining game for both communities.
Are there problems with the quality of Hockey Administration in Punjab – the simple answer is YES. Our hockey players of repute however take a very deep interest in the development of the game. A great example is what Dilip Tirkey does for the game – especially in his home state Orissa.
Perhaps there is a lesson here for the Kodavas. I can’t comment on the competence of The Kodava Hockey Academy but the criticism I hear is deafening. How long have the Office Bearers of KHA been in their jobs? Is there proper representation of eminent Hockey players in the KHA?
My best wishes to the Kodava Hockey fraternity.
The Annual Hockey festival should be conducted as part of a larger continuing Kodava Hockey Initiative. However, what was expected to be a grand sporting event turned into a political gathering on the Final day, leaving many spectators frustrated.
Politicians got all the attention and time on stage to promote themselves and their party. Players who were prepared and raring to play the final match hardly got 20 minutes in total, until rain played spoilsport. Political speeches were overly long, testing the patience of the audience, especially as it was unrelated to the event.
The point being made here is that the time for speeches should be limited (say a maximum of 30 minutes), so as not to delay the start of the match. As a consequence the Match result was declared without completing the full playing time because of the ground’s condition.
It has been raining frequently in Madikeri for the past few weeks and the organizers should have taken this into consideration and planned accordingly. Overall a sad day for the players of both the teams and the spectators waiting for hours in the hot sun for the match to begin. What was made worse was that all these guests went on giving long winded speeches, dragging the event endlessly and leaving players and spectators waiting in the sun and rain. We should limit politics from social and sports gatherings and take a leaf out of the Kodava Balo Walkathon.
The Tournament started with the right intention of bringing all clans together and uniting all of us. Can’t wait to see a more streamlined event next time. Hockey fans deserve better. One has to wonder why so much emphasis was placed on Politicians and officials with no direct link to Hockey or sports which unfortunately turned a sporting celebration into an uncontrolled political show.
The Kodava Hockey Academy Office Bearers should ensure that the hockey festival should remain what it was intended to be – a celebration of Kodava excellence, unity and sporting tradition. Not a stage for rhetorical speeches.
While the annual hockey festival has been a huge success with families vying with each other to host it annually, there are certain aspects that could be improved upon, which this article has very lucidly pointed out. It is quite disappointing to see that the Indian hockey team in the recent past does not have any players from Kodagu. It would be pertinent to ask if the Kodava Hockey Academy intends to do anything about this glaring issue that all genuine hockey lovers in Kodagu are concerned about. Developing infrastructure in Kodagu will certainly go a long way to achieve this objective as evident from the examples set by Orissa and Punjab. In addition to developing infrastructure, it would help if young talent identified during this festival are motivated, nurtured and mentored to pursue their dreams of representing the country. This would add immense value to the collective efforts of everyone involved in organising and conducting this grand festival. Otherwise it will merely remain an annual celebration of a popular sport that once brought fame and glory to this district and its people.
I have to compliment CLN Online for the manner in which they have distilled the various views of the readers and put it across in a responsible, action-oriented manner.
Fortunately, I was warned about the invasion by the Politicians and spared myself the agony of the ordeal of listening to speeches.
We must learn from the dignity with which the Kodavaame Balo Walkathon was conducted – totally apolitical and self-funded. Ensures no strings are attached.
This is a thoughtful and well-structured reflection of Kodava Hockey Festival and the broader community efforts surrounding it. The important message is to learn from the Past to make the Future better.
It raises important points regarding the future direction of the event and the need for better organization, transparency, and long-term sustainability. The focus on avoiding commercialization, maintaining the integrity of Kodava culture, and promoting the game of hockey through with proper guidelines is crucial. The mention of involving organizations like AKS for oversight and improving infrastructure, such as the suggestion for dedicated hockey stadiums, presents a clear vision for enhancing the event’s impact on the community and its players.
Additionally, the emphasis on recognizing rising stars and fostering talent through scholarships and national-level opportunities reflects a commitment to nurturing the future of Kodava hockey. This thoughtful approach will hopefully help spark a much-needed conversation about how to make the event more effective, inclusive, and enduring.
One of the best Analysis I have read. Generally I was tracking this through the Kannanda news paper. This is deep insights. Thanks to author for the valuable insights and feedback, Such voices bring about the positive changes. Good luck
Hockey has long been a sport where the country had a dominant hold on the global stage especially from the late 1920s to the 1980s. Kodagu prided itself with many outstanding players who have captained the Indian team in the past include the legendary B.P. Govinda, M.P. Ganesh, M.M.Somaiya, Arjun Halappa, and A.B. Subbaiah. Today, with the resurgence of the Indian men’s and womens’s hockey teams on the international scene, India continues to be a formidable force in the sport – sadly fewer Kodavas feature in the National team. More than 50 players from Kodagu have represented India in international hockey tournaments, including M.D. Muthappa, M.S. Monnappa, K.M. Kusha, B.K. Subramani, A.B.Subbaiah, K.M. Chengappa, K.K. Poonacha, C.S. Poonacha, Len Ayyappa, P.E. Kalaiah, Ammanda Vasu, Vinod Chinnappa, S.K. Uthappa, Amar Aiyamma, Arjun Halappa, Nithin Thimmaiah, S.V.Sunil, V.R. Raghunath and Nikkin Thimmaiah.
Mallamada Narendra Ponnamma was part of Indian women’s hockey team. Anupama Puchimanda is the first ever Indian woman hockey umpire to officiate the junior world cup and Commonwealth Games.
It is a well known fact that with proper infrastructure, the youngsters have a better chance to succeed as demonstrated in Punjab, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The development of cricket due to better infrastructure is a clear testament to this point.
Sadly, of the many impressive hockey stadiums across the country that host important tournaments and symbolize India’s passion for the game, none are in Kodagu. Of the top 15 stadiums 3 each are in Punjab, Orissa and Chhattisgarh, 2 in Delhi and 1 each in Himachal, Assam, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. Notice that only TWO in the South – with none in Kodagu 🤦🏼♂️
Many obvious and telling observations – stepson treatment to the South is unwarranted. If Kodagu had not merged with then Mysore State, we would have had a different story to narrate. This cannot be reversed, but can the people – Kodava Hockey Academy, Akhila Kodava Samaja and other powers that seek every opportunity to voice their speeches put their money where their mouth is?! And our powerful international players who have enough influence with HOCKEY INDIA raise their hands and do something substantial for Kodagu? Look what Dilip Tirkey the President of Hockey India is doing for his State – Orissa!!
I was there at the Stadium. Can I even call it a Stadium?. If it be true that the cost of the temporary spectators’ stands is 1 Crore or so, then it is shocking as it is now 25 Years and we are still asking spectators and fans to sit in a temporary Shamiana covered Stands where people get drenched by the rains.
I was there for the semifinals. And glued to the Shamiana seat. NELLAMAKADA vs MANDEPANDA & CHENDANDA vs KUPPANDA, saw both the matches. Both the matches were excellent and well fought. Knew that the finals between MANDEPANDA vs CHENDANDA would be sight for sore eyes. Came back to watch the finals. Arrived at 10.30 in the morning- Rest is history.
I fully agree with the author. There has to be a permanent structure. Read others views on CLN. All the politicians who graced the function and gave speeches have said that they will recommend the state government to allocate more funds for the Hockey festival. If they do, I hope it goes to develop at least two solid AstroTurf “stadiums” in Coorg. One in Madikeri; One in Ammathi and in the fullness of time one in Gonikoppal. Each one of it will be easily accessible to the Kodavas from East, West, North and South.
If the Kodava stakeholders in this Hockey Festival can’t agree to a common ground, then its better they be Beans to BMW and then BMW to Athavale gaadi . We should stop flaunting more than we are worth, talking big, entitled attitude and have no sense of clear purpose or future.
Very well meaning comments have been forwarded above. All that I would like to share is that Kodavas can generate enough funds for raising a women & men’s separate Teams for participating at national level, separate from the Karnataka Team. Just like at one time Punjab had two Teams and Teams would further be supported by Junior & Sub-junior Teams. I assure you, India will once again be the World champion’s for generations to come.
Muddanda family has done a great job organising such a big event and it’s always a challenge for any to organise such events.
Never has there been so many speeches by the great people in past 25 years. Every family is trying to do better by spending more.
It’s time to innovate to reduce the cost and time.
There could be families not interested in playing – better not to insist them to participate to achieve irrelevant World Records for participation.
Kodava Hockey Academy has to work on acquiring a permanent venue and start a sports academy with all the facilities with the help of philanthropists and taking certain percentage of the government sanctioned funds from each family.
Under 20 age category tournaments has to be the priority to help and give opportunity to the exceptional young talents to pursue their dreams.
The Kodava Hockey Festival is NOT a business opportunity – it is a “privilege” given to specific families who “volunteer” to run the Hockey Festival on behalf of The Kodava Hockey Academy.
By definition, there should be strong probity in conducting such events. Honesty, Accountability and Discipline – in running the process. Any surplus should be handed back to the KHA.
The fact is that this Event has grown from 60 teams in the 1997 Pandanda Cup to 400+. This phenomenal growth requires innovation, proper professional management and effective guidelines on how to nurture and realise the objectives of the Family Hockey Festival.
Sadly the last edition fell short on many counts. It’s time luminaries who’ve represented the country should volunteer to guide the proceedings to its logical objectives.
Good article gives you food for thought. Hope the Kodavas – especially the Kodava Hockey Academy takes cognizance of it …and some things positive come from it. The suggestion especially of astro turf stadiums for both north and south coorg sounds sensible – funded from better management of revenues and cost optimization – especially wasteful major expenditure on substandard temporary spectator stands.
Actually, my family including kids were there to witness the hockey finals….the main mistake was giving politicians more importance and speech went on for 3 hrs. When the finals was played eventually it lasted only for 12 minutes and rain was so heavy That all spectators were drenched..it was a total wash out. Very sad state of affairs.
Completely agree with the suggestion written in the
article,
*Should keep politics away from the game.
*Recognise the young talented players encourage for.
the better future.
*Timing should be fix for final and semi final game’s
25th Year Silver Jubilee of Kodava Hockey – A Reflection.
This year marked a significant milestone – the Silver Jubilee of the Kodava Hockey Festival, a unique celebration that has grown over the past 25 years into far more than just a sporting event. It has become a beacon of Kodava pride, unity, and cultural vibrancy. At its heart, this festival showcases our passion for hockey and the deep-rooted bonds within our community.
The 25th edition was organized by the Muddanda family, who took on the responsibility of hosting this prestigious event. The efforts they undertook to bring the community together and keep the tradition alive deserve recognition. Organizing an event of this scale is no small feat, and the dedication of the Muddanda family and their volunteers was evident throughout.
That said, a milestone as monumental as the 25th anniversary presented an opportunity to elevate the celebration to new heights. Many in the community felt that a grander inauguration – possibly featuring exhibition matches between state or national teams – could have added a more festive and memorable spark to the occasion. While the opening match marked the start of the games, it lacked the energy and fanfare that a silver jubilee truly deserves.
Despite minor setbacks, it is important to look at the larger picture – the enduring spirit of Kodava unity through sport. This festival, born from a shared love for hockey and tradition, continues to bind families, rekindle old friendships, and inspire the younger generation. Kudos to the Muddanda Family.
As we look forward, let the silver jubilee be a moment of learning and growth. The passion remains strong, and with better planning, inclusion, and reverence for our traditions, the future of Kodava Hockey looks brighter than ever. Let us preserve its essence – not just as a tournament, but as a proud and dignified celebration of who we are.
The article has several well-made suggestions. Let me focus on the Kodava Hockey Academy. Do the Office Bearers have any longer-term Plan of Action, Guidelines, Code of. Conduct, encouragement of youth including spotting of exceptional talent and more.
Sadly, the very objectives are being set aside by the families conducting the Hockey Namme – maybe due to lack of clarity and guidance by the Kodava Hockey Academy. If you invite politicians – have the speeches after the game has been played and see how many spectators remain for their marathon speeches.
I have grown up in Kodagu from my childhood and am active sportsperson. The Kodava Family Hockey Tournament is very special and is a major event in every resident of Kodagu’s calendar. The article is well written, and the suggestions should be given serious consideration.
It’s time to rethink our approach to the Hockey festival. When a match is scheduled for 11 A.M., starting it at 2:30 P.M. is simply unacceptable, especially with rain forecasts, spectators waiting in hunger to watch the finals. Why haven’t they prioritized starting on time and finishing match by 12: 30 P.M.
Are the people there to watch Hockey or listen to endless speeches?
Very well written. The rules for the tournament and governance should be well established in order to avoid such controversies in future.
I wholeheartedly endorse all the views expressed in the article. The Kodava Family Hockey Festival has become a major carnival where the focus on the sport – HOCKEY is almost overlooked.
This is entirely a Community affair and MUST BELONG TO THE COMMUNITY. There should be complete TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY and PROFESSIONALISM in the manner in which the Hockey Festival is conducted with proper guidelines. Avoid politicians – else this will become yet another political rally overshadowing the intent and purpose of PLAYING And PROMOTING the GAME OF HOCKEY.