By P.T. Bopanna
My Facebook post on the beheading of a Kodava girl Udiyanda Meena (16 years old) two years ago by Monnanda Prakash (32) because the girl’s family refused to solemnize the marriage as the girl was a minor, has received around 25,000 views, which is sort of a record.
The beheading had occurred in the 7-Naad area bordering Somwarpet and Madikeri taluks in Kodagu district of Karnataka. Because of thick forest and lack of access to towns, the area has remained backward. Most of the inhabitants belong to Kodava community and they live in primitive conditions for want of education.
I have made appeals in the past to affluent Kodavas to set up educational institutions in the area, to provide opportunities for the less fortunate Kodavas.
Poornima Mottera, belonging to Arebashe Gowda community wrote to me: “I read your article about 7 Naad and the beheading story of Meena, it is heart breaking to hear this. I was wondering to help or uplift 7 Naad through CSR. Would you mind providing me details on whom to contact. If you are not the right person, that’s okay.”
It is a well-known fact that a majority of Kodavas lack helping nature to their own community members, unlike Mallus from Kerala. Or Telugus who help their own in the US.
In my case, I have received and sought help only from Kodavas. Having studied in a makeshift classroom at Gonikoppal town in Kodagu, whatever little I achieved in my life is only because of the help received from well-placed Kodavas. As a result, I have been promoting Kodavame (Kodava way of life).
I have many Arebashe Gowda Facebook friends. Though I have good rapport with them, they are not active on Facebook. I am told that they want to stay away following rift between Kodavas and Arebashe Gowdas, arising out of the Kattemadu temple dress code.
Though the two communities have co-existed for centuries, in recent years due to the misunderstanding created by trolls on social media, the two communities have fallen apart.
I have always supported cordial relationship between two communities because I am convinced that an Arebashe Gowda politician was behind the misunderstanding due to vote bank politics.
During the Kodava march a few years ago to oppose the dress code, I had written that I would oppose the march if it was intended against Arebashe Gowdas. I received threatening messages to “confront” me. I did not pay heed to them. Fortunately, the march was a tremendous success because the organisers ensured that it was a march to promote unity in the community.
Finally, my appeal is for rich Kodavas to pool in their resources to promote education in 7-Naad, and to the two prominent communities in the district to live peacefully.