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LABOUR OF LOVE: BOOK UPDATE ON KODAGU (COORG) RESEARCHER NANJAMMA CHINNAPPA

By P.T. Bopanna

I have put together the biography of Nanjamma Chinnappa. The book is my tribute to Kodagu (Coorg) researcher and author, Boverianda Nanjamma Chinnappa who passed away early this year. I have sent the manuscript to the publisher and the book should be out in a week or so.

Though I was working on another book ‘Kodava Religion at Crossroads’, I decided to publish the Nanjamma book first because I was deeply indebted to Nanjamma and her late husband, Chinnappa, who were associated with my book and websites project for over 15 years.

Moreover, the Chinnappas influenced me to a large extent in the pursuit of my career as an author.

Basically, politics is the core area of my interest. Being a rationalist, I lacked interest in rituals and customs. It was my interest in politics which made me to write the book ‘Rise and Fall of the Coorg State’, that dealt with how the Coorg State was wiped out from the map of India, due to the machinations of a few power hungry politicians.

My interest in Kodava culture was aroused by the Chinnappas, who wrote extensively on Kodavame (Kodava way of life) at a time when the Kodava community was increasingly drawn to the Hindutva ideology.

My bestselling book, ‘Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus?’ was influenced by my interest in politics, combined with my understanding of Kodavame, inspired by the works of the Chinnappas.

Since the subject of the book was multi-disciplinary in nature, I had to bring together some of the finest minds in Kodagu to work on my project.

In their foreword to the book, the Chinnappas wrote: “We commend P.T.Bopanna for his initiative in selecting the theme for this book and bringing together well-known writers to contribute to it – a book whose time has come. This book may well be the catalyst that will help Kodavas understand and appreciate their way of life and take steps to preserve it.

“The title of this book ‘Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus?’ is undoubtedly thought-provoking. It is an important question for today’s Kodavas to ponder upon – a question that may not even occur to most of them. While seeking to answer it, this book attempts to understand the question, discusses it from various points of view, and introspects on ‘Kodavame’, the way of life of the Kodava community.”

The highlight of the book on Nanjamma, is the interview of Nanjamma by Dr Nervanda Veena Poonacha, eminent sociologist and women’s studies scholar. In the interview, Nanjamma has spoken about her life journey. More about Dr Veena Poonacha’s interview in forthcoming articles I plan to write, in the run-up to the publication of the book.