As Karnataka celebrates Rajyotsava today, marking the formation of the unified Kannada-speaking state under the States Reorganisation Act on November 1, 1956, it is interesting to see a few Kodavas on social media lamenting the loss of the erstwhile Coorg State.
While the sentiment may be understandable, what purpose does it serve to keep crying over spilt milk? The merger of Coorg with the newly reorganised Mysore State was a historical event that took place seven decades ago.
Have those who nostalgically remember Kodagu’s lost statehood ever paused to ponder this uncomfortable question?
Who Betrayed the Trust?
When Coorg (Kodagu) State was merged with Mysore State in 1956, it had its own elected Legislative Assembly, a majority of whose members were Coorgs (Kodavas), and a Kodava Chief Minister at the helm. Yet, the overwhelming majority of its legislators voted in favour of the merger.
Even Pandiyanda Belliappa, one of the most vociferous opponents of the merger, ultimately voted in its favour.
Why did they not do more to preserve Kodagu’s separate statehood? Was the loss of its political identity inevitable, or did its own elected representatives fail to defend it with sufficient determination? Where was the effective leadership? What became of the so-called educated aristocracy that was expected to safeguard Kodagu’s political future?
Before lamenting the loss of statehood today, perhaps we should critically examine the decisions of those who were entrusted with preserving it then.
Repeatedly revisiting that decision will not change the present reality. Perhaps it is time to move beyond nostalgia and focus on the issues that genuinely threaten the future of Kodagu and its people.
Successive Karnataka governments have not fundamentally altered the cultural character of Kodagu. In fact, the region has retained much of its distinctive identity, traditions and customs. The argument that Kodagu has been neglected in terms of development also deserves closer scrutiny. Several native legislators have represented the district over the decades. Have we, as voters, consistently held them accountable for their promises and performance? Development is not merely the responsibility of the government; elected representatives must be questioned, and the public must demand results.
More importantly, there are far more pressing concerns that deserve the attention of the Kodava community. The protection of Jamma lands, rivers & foresssts, the preservation of our language, customs, traditions and cultural institutions, and the transmission of our heritage to the next generation should be at the forefront of our concerns.
What good is lamenting the loss of a state when we are unable to safeguard the very cultural and ancestral foundations that define our identity? Jamma land ownership and its associated rights, the gradual erosion of traditional practices, the declining use of the Kodava language among younger generations, and, perhaps most importantly, the lack of sustained efforts to practise and uphold our ancestral way of life are challenges that cannot be postponed. Culture cannot survive merely through festivals, ceremonial displays or occasional expressions of pride and oneupmanship. It must be lived, practised and passed on to the next generation, as our ancestors did, through customs, values and traditions.
Instead of spending our energies debating a political arrangement that cannot be reversed, perhaps we should ask ourselves a more uncomfortable question: What are we doing today to ensure that Kodagu’s identity, culture, language and heritage survive for generations to come?
A community’s strength is not measured by whether it has a state of its own, but by its ability to preserve its identity, protect its heritage and pass on its legacy.
This Karnataka Rajyotsava, perhaps it is time for the Kodavas to look forward rather than continually look back.
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This is a balanced article written with a practical way forward. Some of Kodagu’s leaders indulge in questioning the merger when it is a lost cause. Also, there will be too many skeletons that will come out of the cupboard that will not make pleasant reading and not serving any practical purpose. Field Marshal Cariappa Ajja always advised against this move but his ability to politically influence the dispensation at that point in time was limited.
I endorse Machaiah’s views in advising the people to look ahead. There are many serious issues that confront the future of Kodagu and the identity of Kodavas – address this with collective thought and determined action.
The demographic change in the past two decades should be of utmost concern; so also unregulated and irresponsible tourism with the environment simply not able to cope with the uncontrolled volumes. Look at what has happened in Wayanad, Ooty and Coonoor – waiting to happen in Kodagu.
Woefully inadequate infrastructure, lack of entrepreneurial support to add value to primary crops, rampant desecration of the environment, facilities for higher education and much improved healthcare facilities, incentives for wetland cultivation (critical for maintaining the water table), longer term resolution of human animal conflict by management the forests in a more transparent and effective manner…. These are some of the obvious high priority actionable items that need to be addressed.
Is there a common ground of priorities for our political and community leaders; also, the district administration? Is there a transparent periodic review (and not a manifesto of achievements for political gain) of “objectives vs execution” with accountability?
The time to act is NOW.
Very true, Kodavas themselves ignore our traditions and cry saying we are losing our culture. Also, Please write an article on the reasons why kodagu decided to merge with the mysuru state.
Lekhan, there is a book written on it, which has a lot of information on that period.
Rise and Fall of the Coorg State. – By: P T Bopanna. You should read it.
https://www.amazon.in/Rise-Fall-Coorg-State-Karnatakas/dp/9385741071