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KATTEMADU ROW: TWEAKING BYLAW TO ALLOW WHITE KUPYA COULD BE A SOLUTION

By P.T. Bopanna

The indigenous communities of Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka have co-existed for centuries. There is no reason why they should not continue to live as brothers.

Differences arose last month during the annual rituals at the Sree Maha Mrithyunjaya Temple at Kattemadu in Madikeri taluk.

A section of the Gowda community felt the Kodava devotees were disregarding the dress code as they were dressed in the traditional attire of Kupya chale. Kupya is a collarless, short-sleeved coat wrap-around that reaches below the knees and worn by Kodava men on formal occasions.

In my over four decades as a journalist, I have tried to work towards the unity of the indigenous communities. At times, I have criticised leaders of various dominant communities for engaging in vote bank politics by creating rift between the Kodavas and the Gowdas.

Being a journalist, I have always fought for the rights of the underdog. In my reports, I supported the Diddalli tribals in Kodagu when there was a move to evict them from the forests.

I was trolled on Facebook when I tried to champion the cause of the tribals. Anonymous articles were written against me accusing me of being a “friend of tribals.”

It is unfortunate that a few vested interests are trying to divide the Kodavas and Gowdas over the dress code at Kattemadu temple.

No community, including the Gowda community, is ready to suffer a loss of face, over the dress code.

Hence the solution would be to allow the Kodavas to wear white kupya, instead of the black one. White kupya is ritually superior and used by Kodava devotees in some of the temple festivities. Both the leaders of the communities should climb down from their rigid stand.

At a time when the future of the indigenous communities are at stake in Kodagu, an amicable solution would go a long way in securing the future of all the residents living in Kodagu. The district administration should step in to resolve the issue.

I wish to recall that 12 years ago, I had carried out a social media campaign for repair of Hunsur-Gonikoppal road. The campaign was backed by all communities in Kodagu. The road got a new lease of life due to the unity showed by all communities. I hope the same spirit will prevail this time.