Sagar Ganapathy had recently written an excellent article titled : COORG’S EVENT EXPLOSION – Sports, Social Obligations, and the Silent Economic Crisis in Coorg.
Excerpts: Coorg has always been known for its rich culture, vibrant festivals, and unmatched sports tradition – especially in hockey. But in recent years, a troubling shift has taken place. What began as healthy community engagement has slowly evolved into an industry of events, turning sports and social obligations into a new pathway for money, influence, and visibility.
Sports has become a money-making machine, and people have learned that organizing an event brings quick returns and exposure. This is not sustainable, nor is it genuine development. The district stands at a critical crossroads. If we fail to rethink our priorities, we risk losing the very essence of what Coorg represents as a people, our land and our identity.
If we want Coorg to remain strong, we must shift our mindset. This is the moment for every Kodava, every family, every Samaja to introspect and take responsibility. Our future depends on it. With characteristic impeccable clarity, Sagar highlights that nearly 150 Days a Year is Lost to Social Obligations – Days not spent earning; Days lost in travel; Money spent on contributions and gifts. Not at all a sustainable proposition. Time for introspection and a Call for Real Development and Change in the Community’s Mindset.
Mamatha Subbaiah has taken this discourse to another level of meaningful analysis in her ensuing article – something that the community would do well to sit up and take note. – CLN Newsdesk.
When did celebration turn into competition, and passion into pressure? In today’s Kodagu, nearly every weekend echoes with the noise of tournaments, festivals, and functions. What once followed a natural rhythm of life has slowly become a restless race of generating excitement on the surface, but leaving fatigue and strain beneath it.
Kodagu has long taken pride in its sporting spirit and rich cultural identity. Today, however, both stand at risk, not because they are disappearing, but because they are being overused, commercialized, and increasingly misdirected.
Across the district, sports tournaments have multiplied at an unprecedented pace. Hockey remains a proud tradition; yet new events in kabaddi, throwball, volleyball, tug-of-war, football, badminton, golf, cricket, leather-ball cricket, table tennis, and even shooting is being launched almost every month in the name of festivals (Nammes). Thank goodness playing cards (the most popular of all activities in our community centres alongwith bars, has not reared its head as yet!). Most are promoted as “youth development” initiatives, but the absence of structured under-14 and under-19 training programmes exposes an uncomfortable truth: the emphasis is on events, not on genuine talent development.
Sponsorships, entry fees, prize money and visibility have steadily turned sports into a parallel commercial enterprise. What once built discipline, resilience and opportunity has evolved into a cycle of publicity-driven tournaments with little lasting impact. Young players move from one competition to another, accumulating medals while lacking structured coaching, physical conditioning, and long-term career guidance. True sports development demands patience, planning, and sustained grassroots investment, not a calendar crowded with weekend tournaments.
A similar pattern is evident in Kodagu’s cultural life. Marriages, naming ceremonies, village festivals, engagements, sports events and community functions now occupy nearly every available weekend. Gatherings that were once simple and meaningful have transformed into extravagant, competitive showcases of oneupmanship. Loud music, towering stages, lavish décor, and Social Media–ready moments increasingly overshadow the values of simplicity, restraint, and genuine connection.
Families feel growing pressure to “match the standard” set by others. Savings give way to loans and quiet anxiety settles into many households, particularly among the middle class. Ironically, traditions meant to strengthen community bonds are now becoming sources of financial and social stress.
The environmental cost of this relentless cycle of celebration is another overlooked consequence. Plastic waste, food wastage, traffic congestion, noise pollution, and damage to public spaces have become routine after-effects of frequent large-scale events. In an ecologically sensitive region like Kodagu, this mounting strain is especially troubling and deserves serious reflection.
This is not an argument against sports or culture. Both remain the heartbeat of this land. Kodagu has produced outstanding sportspersons and preserved a dignified cultural identity precisely because of balance, discipline, and purpose. What raises concern today is the steady shift from purpose and performance to yet-another-appearance, from participation to extravaganza.
If sports are truly meant to shape the youth, where are the year-round academies? Where are scientific training, nutritional guidance, mental conditioning, and consistent mentorship? If Nammes are intended to preserve heritage, why is simplicity giving way to spectacle?
These are not rhetorical questions. They demand honest answers. Are we building stronger individuals and healthier communities or merely organising louder, more frequent mindless events?
Kodagu needs fewer calibrated celebrations – the over-indulgence robs the uniqueness of Pandanda Kuttappa (Kuttani) started as a community building endeavour – the hallmark if which was simplicity and affordability, the very foundation of Kodava culture. Without this course correction, the very spirit these events claim to celebrate may slowly but surely get diminished.
A very thoughtful and timely article. It clearly brings out how excess and competition are slowly taking away the meaning and balance that once defined our sports and cultural life. This call for introspection and a return to simplicity is much needed for the future of Kodagu.
Sagar raises a timely and necessary concern. When sports and traditions shift from purpose to excess, we risk economic strain and loss of identity. This is a moment for Kodagu to introspect, simplify, and refocus on real, sustainable development.
Mamatha Subbaiah’s article is very thought provoking and direct. Let’s stay focussed on Hockey…. the original fountainhead of all the ensuing Nammes. There is the wonderful community building and healthy affordable sport at which we Kodavas excel that Pandanda Kuttappa (Kuttani) started. The first few editions were memorable with a great sense of community participation, conducted within a very affordable budget. NO POLITICAL FUNDS NOR PATRONAGE – pure community affair.
Convivial participation – not played for Guinness or other irrelevant awards – pure community spirit. Speeches we’re from eminent sportspersons or icons from within the community – no political speeches (an entitlement which is attached with funds).
Now add to that the Inter Kodava Samaja tournament, recent IPL type bidding and related tamasha, KAIG Cup hosted by Coorg Challengers, miscellaneous other tournaments organised by “prominent” families and from what one hears a Chamion of Champions Cup! This is pure indulgence and Kodava Hockey Association should take necessary steps to reinforce the original “ideals” of Kuttani’s vision.
If “Talent Spotting” is the intent, it should be undertaken in conjunction with SAI and we must have at least two astro turf facilities of good standing. At present, it is not at all clear as to what happens to the “surplus” of Family run tournaments – which rightfully KHA should be accumulating to create world class facilities for this sport and hopefully a multi-sport complex to reduce the indulgence in out of control Nammes.
The Kodavas that I know are highly educated, upright and very good human beings. But very few of them actually are involved in entrepreneurship activity and that comes as a surprise to me.
All successful communities “circulate” the money that they earn – the hallmark of success by people from our community. As far as I know, “outsiders” from neighbouring Kerala control business in every aspect in Kodagu – trading in Coffee and Pepper, normal running of shops in every field, dealerships, construction, providing service of plumbing, mechanical, electrical, catering, event management, even the setting up of spectator stands at the Much acclaimed Hockey Festival. Almost every new resort of substance is by an outsider.
This is a major drawback in the pursuit of financial success by the community at large.
It’s true that All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. The converse however is terrifying – All Play and Less Work makes one Bankrupt!
What Mamatha Subbaiah and Sagar Ganapathy have expressed is deep concern for the lack of financial focus by the community – a wake-up call.
Very relevant topic as always by Mamatha. While cultural programs add colour to an event, another excess of hem often dilutes the core purpose and leaves little space for reflection on the real message meant to be conveyed.
A very well written article – meaningful and relevant for the times we live in.
Talk to the authorities of SAI and they will lament that the boys hardly get time for training as they keep asking for holidays wanting to play back at home. Too many tournaments – not ideal for the sportsmen nor the man-days wasted in “senseless indulgence”.
In a world when the young are not moving out of their private bedrooms and mobile phone glued to their palms, sports is a good reason to step out for a good mental and physical health. Competitions and preparations for it, takes the zeal to next level.
For a spectator, it may look like an overdose of events. But, we fail to recognise that the participants are from a wide spectrum of age group and other physical factors making them choose a game or an event.
Today, we see an engaging event covering a larger population.
Its not only limited to the players, but also their extended families. Not every player can reach up to national and international level.
When a thousand play and compete, few gems will standout for next level.
Not every one can afford competitive sports training, these smaller events give them a platform to be recognized for their raw talent. Even sponsorships are a possibility.
These events also keep a large population involved in agriculture, occupied in healthier habit and hobbies. Most of the mid-size agriculture community, they have a lot of free time in the year. We have witnessed a lot of negative addictions, which need not be mentioned.
I send my kid for a paid sports training. What I observed was that 80% of the children there are not participating to play the sport. Parents have enrolled their kids because of obesity, short height for their age and to steal 2 hour of the daily time from digital addiction.
A generation back, kids had the motivation to step out and late evening parents has to search them in the locality. Sports trainers were providing free service towards youth development.
Today, parents have to push the kids out to play and pay the coaches(they need to make an living too).
My take : Let the game go on, its money well spent. Not everyone needs to be in the path of professional sports.
We have to assess the effectiveness of these ennui inducing tournaments by the number of national level players that they have been able to produce. Our tiny district produced three Indian hockey captains without all this hooha and shosha.
Then why are these events cropping up regularly? It is because, our kids are happy to become local ‘champions’ and have no ambitions at the national or global level.
A fraction of all the money and efforts expended on these pointless extravaganzas could be utilized to promote Olympic medal sports like shooting that has 36 Olympic medals on offer.
A few modern shooting ranges could be set up to promote shooting where our kids are bound to do well. Even archery, which again requires sharp eyesight and steady hands – standard kodava attributes, could be promoted.
These sports disciplines suit our natural abilities. A few medals in Olympics, Asiads, Commonwealth games or even at national level would mean much to us and provide employment opportunities to our kids.