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 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.
If the Kodava Samaja continues to dip its finger in politics and religion, the day is probably not too far when an administrator will have to take over the administration of the Kodava Samaja Bangalore, for deviating from the object for which it was established.
This blinkered outlook is not in consonance with what the Kodava community requires to grow. There is no harm in enjoying a musical recital in the Kodava Samaja. The politicians are the elected representatives of the people and the people and community leaders must maintain a cordial relationship with the elected representative and find ways to engage with them for the community benefit. What is the need to make an issue out of “political ambitions” of the President? If he has been elected by the community , let him do his job and if he has the capacity to get elected to higher office, then wish him luck. Members of our community who have been blessed with the gift of being articulate and enjoy wide readership, should offer balanced and thought provoking insights, rather than engage in personal attacks.
The MP (BJP) and both MLAs (both Congress) were invited for the private event which was the book launch of a book Coorg..the Land of Warriors.
The Bangalore South MP (BJP) and his singer wife were personal invitees of the event host.
The comments seem to be pointing to a political bias which is incorrect.