By P.T. Bopanna
The recent classical musical recital by Sivasri Skandaprasad (in picture), wife of Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya has led to a social media storm in the Kodava (Coorg) community in Bangalore.
Sivasri had accompanied her husband for a book release function at the Bangalore Kodava Samaja in Vasanthnagar. The book release was followed by a classical musical recital by Sivasri.
I am a fan of Sivasri, a widely admired vocalist known for her soulful rendition of Carnatic music.
Though the gathering of Kodavas enjoyed the music recital, the programme was faulted for two reasons.
The Kodava Samaja is considered as the torch bearer of Kodava culture and the place is considered as the ainmane (ancestral home) of all Kodavas living in Bangalore. Every Kodava clan hailing from Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka, has an ainmane in their native village where sacred worships of ancestors are performed.
In the circumstances, a section of the Kodavas questioned the appropriateness of holding a Carnatic recital in the Samaja premises. More than the recital which was enjoyed by audience, what angered members of the community was men and women in their Kodava traditional dress, dancing to the bhajan in the Samaja premises which deviated from the tribal faith of the community.
In social media posts and conversations, members of the community feel that the present president of Bangalore Kodavas Samaja has political ambitions and he tries to curry favour with politicians of all hues, thereby demeaning his post.
I have been in the past written on the need for office-bearers of the Samaja to stay away from politics and confine their role to serving the community for which they have been elected.
