Featured image: Iromi Perera
A genetic study has traced the origins of the Kodava (Coorg) community to nearly 3,000 years ago, shedding new light on the ancestry of the Kodavas.
This is the first scientific effort to examine the genetic makeup of the Kodavas—an ethnically and culturally distinct community known for its martial heritage, unique customs, and strong clan-based identity.
Researchers from the University of Delhi (South Campus) and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, conducted an in-depth genomic analysis of 144 individuals from the Kodava community. The study aimed to map their genetic relationships and divergence from other populations.
The research revealed that the Kodavas comprise three distinct genetic lineages, designated as Coorg-1, Coorg-2, and Coorg-3:
- Coorg-3 is the most ancient group, with origins dating back approximately 98 generations—nearly 3,000 years.
- Coorg-1 diverged around 64 generations ago, or roughly 1,920 years.
- Coorg-2 is a more recent admixture group that emerged about 11 generations ago—approximately 330 years ago—resulting from intermixing between Coorg-1 and Coorg-3.
Of these, Coorg-3 is particularly notable for its genetic uniqueness. However, the study could not conclusively identify the ancestral population from which Coorg-3 emerged. Interestingly, the analysis did indicate a more recent admixture between Coorg-3 and populations from northwest India approximately 23 generations ago (around 690 years ago).
Published in Communications Biology, the study further established that Coorg-1 and Coorg-2 are genetically distinct from other major ethnolinguistic groups in Karnataka, such as Kannadigas, Konkanis, and Tuluvas. Notably, Coorg-1 exhibits the highest genetic similarity to the Palliyars, a hunter-gatherer tribal group residing in the southern Western Ghats.
The persistence of these distinct lineages over centuries may be attributed to community practices such as family exogamy (marriage outside one’s family) combined with caste endogamy (marriage within the community), the researchers suggest. The study was led by geneticist Dr. B.K. Thelma, along with co-authors Dr. K. Thangaraj, Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Loumos Kumar, and Kiran Sran.
Previous genetic studies have indicated that most contemporary Indian populations emerged from a fusion of two ancestral sources—Ancestral North Indians and Ancestral South Indians—between 1,900 and 4,200 years ago. However, the Kodava lineage has remained enigmatic.
Over the years, scholars have posited multiple theories about their origins. Some have speculated that the Kodavas are descendants of soldiers from Alexander the Great’s 4th-century BCE campaign in northwestern India. Others suggest links to the Indo-Scythians or Sakas, Central Asian tribes who migrated into India during the 2nd century BCE. Still others believe the Kodavas may be descendants of prehistoric inhabitants of the southern Western Ghats.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis—tracing maternal ancestry—indicates that about 40% of Kodava maternal lineages are indigenous to South Asia. In contrast, Y-chromosome data, which reflects paternal lineage, shows signatures associated with Eurasian, Middle Eastern, and Indian-specific genetic markers. These findings suggest male-dominated migrations from Eurasian and Middle Eastern regions, followed by assimilation with local South Asian women.
This study represents a major step forward in unraveling the complex ancestry of the Kodava people, while also reinforcing the distinctiveness of their genetic and cultural heritage.
