Kodava Family Hockey Festival

A lot has been written and circulated on Social Media about the recently concluded Kodava Family Hockey Namme. CLN has been besieged with strong views, especially regarding the events as they unfolded in the Finals on 27 April. At the outset, CLN would like to acknowledge, endorse and appreciate the exceptional efforts that every Family endures to conduct this memorable event – the Muddanda Family is no exception. I was deputed by the Pattedara of the Iychetira Family in 2012 to conduct the Hockey Event and KNOW what it takes to make it happen.

Many important points have been raised by the Hockey loving Kodavas that need attention and remedial action. The more important ones are listed below:

1. Kodava Hockey Academy(KHA) needs to reinvent themselves. I have personally interacted with Pandanda Kuttani to understand the philosophy behind this endeavour. Promotion of the game of hockey and spotting/nurturing Junior talent – with all the elements of Kodavaame enveloping all aspects of the game – discipline, courtesy, kindred fellowship, mutual respect, hospitality and so on, which was the objective of the Hockey Festival.

The dire need of the hour is permanent infrastructure. The Muddanda Cup is the 25th Anniversary and sadly we don’t have at least two all weather stadiums, let alone one. Instead of seeking political donations (the money is supposedly ours anyway!), we should create enduring facilities on a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) model.

2. On a rough and ready basis it requires about ₹ 1.5 Crs to conduct such an event. Ironically, ₹ 1.0 Crs is incurred in setting up temporary stands and related structures, every year. This is avoidable expenditure. Surely, this money can be saved if we had more permanent infrastructure and facilities. The moot point is the absence of a world class stadium in Kodagu. The South has only TWO – one in Chennai and the other in Bangalore – both built over three decades ago. Is it therefore surprising that the lack of representation from Kodagu and the South at the National level is a mere coincidence?!

3. The commitment and success of the soul-stirring passion with which the Kodavaame Balo Nadp was conducted is an outstanding example to highlight what happens when an event belongs to the Community. The Kodava Hockey Festival is a movement that belongs to the Community – not any individual Family nor people. That was the vision of Pandanda Kuttanni. It would be futile for me to write down what needs to be done.

However, first and foremost, KHA needs to “reinvent” themselves as an organisation and become “relevant”. Proper guidance and rules of how the Festival has to be conducted needs to be laid down. A TRUST needs to be established, like IPL and a similar model can be replicated to raise funds in a responsible and transparent manner.

The role of the “selected” families should be treated as a privilege and not an entitlement. It was announced that the conduct of the Namme for the next 10 years has already been granted by KHA. Better thought processes need to be put in place. We have many luminaries who have Captained and played for the National Team – KHA should involve them for starters and use their influence to bring attention to Kodava players and the love for the game of Hockey.

The Kodava Hockey Festival has grown from 60 participating families in 1997 to 400+ in the Silver Jubilee Anniversary. As a closing comment we have young and dynamic MLAs and MP representing the District in the State Assembly and Parliament. Is it possible to motivate them to hear the voices of the people they represent, beyond the narrow confines of party lines and create something that the people will be proud in times to come, of their representation.

The Ball and the Hockey Stick is in their Field!!