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.
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. The underline theme is “Kodava Culture is not for sale.”
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.
25th Year Silver Jubilee of Kodava Hockey – A Reflection
This year marked the 25th anniversary – the silver jubilee – of the prestigious Kodava Hockey Festival. Over the years, this event has evolved beyond just a sporting tournament; it has become a vibrant celebration of Kodava culture and unity. For the past 25 years, Kodavas have embraced this hockey tournament as a cultural festival – a proud tradition passed through generations.
However, this year’s inauguration by the Muddanda family fell short of expectations. A silver jubilee should have been marked with grandeur, possibly featuring exhibition matches between national or state hockey teams to elevate the occasion. Unfortunately, the inaugural match was underwhelming and lacked the energy such a milestone deserved. Am not blaming the Vakka (family) for this. From the quarter-finals onward, had the Kodava Hockey Academy organized matches featuring national teams, it could have drawn massive crowds and added tremendous excitement to the event.
One deeply disappointing aspect was the inclusion of a sacred Kodava wedding ritual – the banana plant cutting – during the inauguration. This ritual is traditionally reserved for marriages and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance. It was disheartening to witness such a respected ritual being performed out of context. It raises concerns about the casual treatment of our traditions. When we begin to treat our sacred customs as decorative or entertaining, we risk making them a subject of mockery by others. This ritual also caused unnecessary delays in the inaugural proceedings.
The finale, too, was far from the grand spectacle it should have been. Everyone was aware of the seasonal rains during this time of year, yet the final match was scheduled in the afternoon despite the high likelihood of rain. This turned out to be a poor decision, leading to disruption and disappointment. Moreover, the finale event felt more like a political platform, with numerous speeches by political leaders delaying the game further.
The conclusion of the final match was unclear, and even a well-known Kodava hockey legend I spoke to expressed uncertainty about the final result. Adding to the disappointment was the poor treatment of our hockey legends seated on the dais. Basic hospitality was lacking – no tea, coffee, or snacks were offered. Elderly spectators also struggled, many of them left hungry and uncomfortable.
While we celebrate the silver jubilee of this proud tradition, it’s important to reflect on these shortcomings. Kodava Hockey is not just a game; it is a celebration of our identity. Let us ensure that in future editions, we uphold the spirit, dignity, and hospitality that define our community.
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.