Kattemad agitation

Last updated

On 27 December 2024, Kodava devotees belonging to Kattemad village in Madikeri taluk in Kodagu district, Karnataka were stopped from going to the Sree Maha Mrithyunjaya Temple in their village and refused entry to the annual temple festival for wearing their traditional attire - sari for women and kupya chele (kuppiya chele) for men - by Arebhashe community members who claimed to be the temple managers. [1] [2] The main culprit who stopped the Kodavas from entering the temple was local BJP Arebhashe leader (Kodagu district vice-president, Madikeri taluk president) K. Sathish who escaped scot-free. [3] [4] Sathish had taken up the Kodava family name Kangira in order to deceive people and falsely called himself Kangira Sathish. There has been extensive news coverage about the incident and its aftermath ever since. [5]

Contents

Background

The Kattemad Mruthunjaya temple is a renovated one; it was built around a keri Mahadeva linga in the wilderness using funds collected from Kodavas across Kodagu. The first annual temple festival was observed in December 2024. The village Kattemad is called Kattemadu in Kannada. The Nandetira Kodava clan were the hereditary village and temple chieftains. A discriminatory bylaw had been made to bar those wearing the Kodava dress without regard to ancestral practise, by an Arebhashe committee that occupied the temple in the recent past. [1] [6] Members of the Arebhashe community, claiming to be the temple committee, had enforced a dhoti-only dress code, leading to tension between both communities. [7]

Incident

Scores of Kodava community members, including women in traditional attire, were prevented from entering the Mrithyunjaya temple of their village by individuals from the Arebhashe community claiming to represent the temple management. [6] [8] The Kodavas were told by the accused individuals of the Arebhashe community to either remove their traditional dress or leave the premises. [6] [8] The video footage went viral on social media and later drew criticism for the disrespect to the Kodava community. [8] It was claimed that the temple's by-law prohibited the traditional attire, but the Kodava community members vehemently denied it. [8] According to eye-witnesses, a few Kodava devotees outside the shrine chanted, “Maadhe (Mahadeva) Pore Powodhi (Parvathi) E Pore,” (Praise Mahadeva Shiva, Praise Parvathi) invoking God’s name at the shrine, which is an old Mahadeva Shiva temple renovated recently. [9] The trouble actually began when some miscreants, pretending to be Vaishnava, came with saffron flags, chanted 'Govinda, Govinda' and created a ruckus while verbally attacking the Kodava devotees. [9]

Aftermath

The incident sparked an outrage among the Kodava community members who planned a 'Kodavara nade Kattemadu kade' ('Kodavas walk towards Kattemad', protest march) to protest the restrictions to their cultural practises. [6] Virajpet Kodava Samaja's honorary secretary Maletira Srinivas accused politically motivated individuals of attempting to strip the Kodavas of their rights and insulting Kodava women. [8] He had announced a peaceful 'Kattemad Chalo' protest during a press conference on the 28th of December, 2024. [10]

The local MLAs A. S. Ponnanna and Mantar Gowda and the local MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar appealed to the people for peace. [8] [10] [11] Police were deployed as Kodavas gathered to protest. [1]

The Arebhashe Samaja Federation held a meeting to defend the decision to bar those in Kodava attire from the temple. [12] The Arebhashe leaders among them, Surtale Somanna, Periyana Dayananda, and Ambekal Naveen Kushalappa, pretended to represent everybody at the temple but actually spoke only for their Samaja from Madikeri town. [12]

Kodavas protested this discrimination on social media. [1] The district administration imposed Section 163 of BNSS within a 5-km radius of the village temple till 2 January 2025. [13] [12] Many Kodava organisations planned to participate in a procession to Kattemad. [12]

One report says that there were 100 personnel deployed, including Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and District Armed Forces within the temple premises, along with police patrols. [6] Another report stated that around 300 police personnel were deployed around the temple and two KSRP platoons were stationed on the road leading to the temple on the 30th of December, 2024. [14]

Arrests and protests

A peaceful vehicle rally was planned from Ponnampet to Kattemad in the morning without roadblocks, but the police prevented it by arresting and engaging the organisers. [6] Early in the morning of 30 December 2024, members of the Kodava Riders Club and Kodava residents were arrested in Ponnampet as a preventive measure. [2] [14] Ponnampet is around 30 kilometres from Kattemad. Among the arrested were three leaders and at least 20 residents who attempted a rally to Kattemad. [7] The detained Kodava leaders of the peace rally were Ajjikuttira Prithvi Subbaiah, Chammattira Praveen Uthappa and Sannuvanda Darshan Kaverappa. [14]

At least one report claims that hundreds of supporters along with the rally organisers were pre-emptively detained from their houses and villages in Ponnampet taluk and transported in police buses to Kushalnagar and other areas, deported far away from their native villages to prevent the rally. [6] According to the police, about 50 people had been detained by the Ponnampet police. [14]

In response to the whimsical detentions, a total bandh was organised in Hudikeri town in the morning and the police were demanded to release all those arrested. [6] Protests were held by residents in Ponnampet, Hudikeri, Gonikoppa, and Napoklu opposing the arrests that day. [2] Residents in Ponnampet, Hudikeri, Murnad, and Gonikoppa observed partial shutdowns to protest the restrictions on Kodavas. [7] Protesters gathered at the Ponnampet Police Station and were seen arguing with the police to release those detained. [6] As protests erupted across Kodagu district, the Kodava protesters blocked the roads in several locations including Virajpet, Hudikeri, B Shettigeri, Ponnampet, and Napoklu. [11]

The district administration arranged a peace meeting between Kodava and Arebhashe leaders on that evening. [2] [15] The arrested Kodavas were later released that day. [2] The district administration has given 6 January 2025 as the deadline for sorting out the issue. [7]

Individuals from both communities have been arrested for posting derogatory comments on social media. [16] The Akhila Kodava Samaja and the Federation of Kodava Samajas met the temple committee and the Arebhashe leaders but no resolution was arrived at. [6] Meanwhile, the ban orders around the temple was extended until January 7, 2025. [17] [18]

Related Research Articles

The Kodava is a Dravidian language spoken in Kodagu district (Coorg) in Southern Karnataka, India. It is an endangered language. The term Kodava has two related usages. Firstly, it is the name of the Kodava language and culture followed by a number of communities from Kodagu. Secondly, within the Kodava-speaking communities and region (Kodagu), it is a demonym for the dominant Kodava people. Hence, the Kodava language is not only the primary language of the Kodavas but also of many other castes and tribes in Kodagu. The language has two dialects: Mendele and Kiggat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodagu district</span> District of Karnataka in India

Kodagu district is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madikeri</span> City in Karnataka, India

Madikeri is city and headquarters of Kodagu district in the Karnataka state of India. It is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and also one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The city is ranked 1st in India for having cleanest air and best AQI in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Codava National Council</span> Indian political party

Codava National Council, is a social, political and cultural organisation in the Indian state of Karnataka. Formerly CNC was known as KRMM. The KRMM demanded a separate statehood status for Kodagu until the 1990s. Later they scaled down their demand. Ever since they have been demanding a Kodava hill council in Kodagu. The CNC Organisation's President is Nandineravanda U. Nachappa Codava. CNC is the largest political group in the Kodagu district. CNC urges for geo-political autonomy for indigenous Kodavas and their lands and recognition of their cultural heritage and rights.

Arebhashe or Aregannada or Gowda Kannada is a dialect of Kannada mainly by Gowda communities in the region Madikeri, Somwarpet, and Kushalnagar taluks of Kodagu district, Sullia and Puttur taluks of Dakshina Kannada district, As well as Bandadka, Kasaragod District in the Indian state of Kerala. Arebhashe is also called Gowda Kannada. The language was recognized by the Karnataka State government and formed an academy in 2011 to preserve the culture and literature of the Arebhahse Region which is named as Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi mathu Sahitya Academy supported by then Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kodava people</span> Ethnic group in India

The Kodavas also called Coorgs are an endogamous Dravidian ethnolinguistic group from the region of Kodagu in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, who natively speak the Kodava language. Kodavas worship ancestors, nature, and weapons such as swords, bows, arrows, and later guns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulikkal</span> Town in Kerala, India

Ulikkal is a small town in Kannur district of Kerala state, India. It is the HQ of Ulikkal Grama Panchayat in Iritty taluk. Kerala State Hill highway SH 59 passes through Ulikkal town. Ulikkal Panchayat borders Kodagu district of Karnataka in the east, adjacent to Kalanki hill station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonikoppal</span> Town in Karnataka, India

Gonikoppal, also called Gonikoppa is a census town in the Kodagu district of the Indian state of Karnataka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Folk arts of Karnataka</span>

Karnataka has a variety of traditional arts, including folk dance and puppetry.

The clan of Kodavas in the Indian state of Karnataka have a long history of association with the game of field hockey. The district of Kodagu which is the land of the Kodavas is considered as the cradle of Indian hockey. More than 50 Kodavas have represented India in international hockey tournaments, out of which 7 have also participated in Olympics. B P Govinda, M P Ganesh, M M Somaiya, C S Poonacha are some of the prominent Kodavas who have represented India. The passion for hockey in Kodagu is so much that more than 200 families participate in an annual hockey festival. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world and has been referred to the Guinness Book of Records. However it has already found a mention in the Limca Book of Records, which is an Indian variant of the Guinness Book.

Rao Bahadur Pemmanda K. Monnappa was Karnataka's first police chief. He served in three Southern states, Madras, Hyderabad, and Mysore (Karnataka), at different times. However, he is to be best remembered for his contributions towards integrating Hyderabad into the Union. Monnappa had a career in Public Service reflected by his titles and medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ponnampet</span> Village in Karnataka, India

Ponnampet or Ponnampēte is a taluk headquarters in the southern part of the district of Kodagu in the state of Karnataka.Ponnampet taluk came into existence on 29 November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kutta</span> Place in Karnataka, India

Kutta is a small village in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu, in Karnataka state of India. As per census survey 2011, location code number of Kutta is 618078.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appachcha Kavi</span> Indian writer

Appachcha Kavi was an Indian poet and playwright. He belonged to the Kodava community and is known as the first playwright in the Kodava language.

The captivity of Kodavas (Coorgis) at Seringapatam was the period of capture, deportation, and imprisonment of Kodava Takk speaking kodavas who rebelled against Tippu Sultan, the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, they (60,000-70,000) were caught during a number of attempts to suppress their rebellion in the 1780s.

Karnataka is a state in the southern part of India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act. Karnataka is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the north-west, Maharashtra to the north, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the south-east, and Kerala to the south-west. The state covers an area of 74,122 sq mi (191,976 km2), or 5.83% of the total geographical area of India. It comprises 30 districts. Kannada is the official language of Karnataka and as per the 2011 census is the mother tongue of 66.5% of the population. Various ethnic groups with origins in other parts of India have unique customs and use languages at home other than Kannada, adding to the cultural diversity of the state. Significant linguistic minorities in the state in 2011 included speakers of Urdu (10.8%), Telugu (5.8%), Tamil (3.5%), Marathi (3.4%), Hindi (3.2%), Tulu (2.6%), Konkani (1.3%) and Malayalam (1.3%).

Nadikerianda Chinnappa (1875–1931) was an Indian compiler, poet, translator, army man, police officer, cricket player, singer and philanthropist from Kodagu.

Tulu Gowda and Arebhashe Gowda (Gauda) are primarily found in South Canara District, Kodagu District, Indian state of Karnataka and Bandadka village of Kasaragod. They are officially considered a subsect of the Vokkaliga community but are culturally and linguistically different. They speak Tulu and Arebhashe.

Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa are translators and scholars of Kodava studies. Their Pattole Palame was written using the Kannada script originally. It has been translated into English by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa and has been published by Rupa & Co., New Delhi.

Codava Makkada Coota is an organization for the preservation and growth of the Kodava traditions, culture, language, arts, dance, and other practices among the Kodava children. This Coota (organization) works for Kodavame, the Kodava way of life. Codava Makkada Coota also observes and organises the annual Kodava festivals publicly.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Service, Express News (28 December 2024). "Two communities clash over choice of attire during temple festival in Kodagu". The New Indian Express. New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Service, Express News (30 December 2024). "Kodava-Arebhashe temple committee to arrive on decision over traditional attire by January 6". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  3. ↑ "IceCandy Gopala Twitter" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  4. ↑ "kodava tribe twitter" . Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Service, Express News (6 January 2025). "Temple committee yet to decide on traditional Kodava attire in temple premises". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ban orders in Kodagu village over Temple entry dispute". Star of Mysore. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Jan 6 deadline to sort out Kodagu temple dress code row". The Times of India. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tension at Maha Mrithyunjaya Temple, Kattemad: Kodagu MLAs, MP call for community peace, restraint". Star of Mysore. 29 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Kodavas Allegedly Stopped from Entering Temple in Traditional Attire by Saffron-Clad Group in Kodagu". www.kodaguexpress.com. 28 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 "EXPLAINED: Why Prohibitory Orders Were Imposed In Kodagu Over Temple Entry Dress Code Row". The Kodagu Express. Kodagu Express Bureau. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Kodava Protests Erupt in Kodagu Over Temple Dress Code Dispute". The Kodagu Express. Kodagu Express Bureau. 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Restriction around Mrityunjaya temple in Kodagu to maintain peace". The Times of India. 29 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Row over dress code: Ban orders in Kodagu village". The Hindu. The Hindu Bureau. 29 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Heavy police presence at Kattemadu temple after dispute over imposition of dress code - Public TV English". 30 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "Restraint and Mature Leadership - The Need of the Hour". 29 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Two held for posting derogatory content over Kattemadu temple dispute incident in Karnataka". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ban orders around Kodagu temple extended until Jan 7". The Times of India. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "What is happening in Kattemad in Kodagu: Protests, Arrests, and "Calls for Peace"". The Kodagu Express. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.