Kodagu district explained

Kodagu district
Other Name:Coorg district, Kodava Naad (Kodava language)
Settlement Type:District of Karnataka
Nicknames:Land of Kodava Language, The Land of Warriors, Coffee Cup of India
Coordinates:12.4208°N 75.7397°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1: Karnataka
Subdivision Type2:Division
Subdivision Name2:Mysuru
Subdivision Type3:Region
Subdivision Name3:Malenadu
Established Title1:Haleri Dynasty
Established Date1:early 17th century
Established Title2:Coorg Province
Established Date2:May 1834
Established Title3:Coorg State
Established Date3:August 15, 1947
Established Title4:Kodagu district
Established Date4:November 1, 1956
Seat Type:Headquarters
Seat:Madikeri
Parts Type:Talukas
Parts:Madikeri, Virajpet, Somwarpet, Ponnampet, Kushalanagar
Leader Title:Deputy Commissioner
Leader Name:Venkat Raja
Leader Title1:MP
Leader Name1:Yaduveer Wadiyar
Leader Title2:MLA
Leader Name2:
  • A.S.Ponnanna (Virajpet)
  • Dr. Mantar Gowda (Madikeri)
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:4102
Area Rank:26th (31 districts)
Elevation Footnotes:(Avg. of 5 taluks)
Elevation M:984
Population Total:554,519
Population Rank:31st (31 districts)
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Kodava, Kodagaru, Coorgi
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:571201 (Madikeri)
Area Code:
  • + 91 (0) 8272 (Madikeri)
  • +91 (0) 8274 (Virajpet)
  • + 91 (0) 8276 (Somwarpet)
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Registration Plate:KA-12
Blank1 Name Sec1:Literacy
Blank1 Info Sec1:82.52%
Blank1 Name Sec2:Climate
Blank1 Info Sec2:Tropical Wet (Köppen)
Demographics1 Info1:Kannada Kodava[2]
Blank2 Name Sec1:Lok Sabha
Blank2 Info Sec1:Mysore Lok Sabha constituency
Blank5 Name Sec1:Karnataka Legislative Assembly constituency
Blank5 Info Sec1:Madikeri, Virajpet
Blank2 Name Sec2:Precipitation
Blank2 Info Sec2:2725.5mm
Blank3 Name Sec2:Avg. summer temperature
Blank3 Info Sec2:28.6°C
Blank4 Name Sec2:Avg. winter temperature
Blank4 Info Sec2:14.2°C

Kodagu district (pronounced as /kfa/) (also known by its former name Coorg) is an administrative district in the Karnataka state of India. Before 1956, it was an administratively separate Coorg State,[3] at which point it was merged into an enlarged Mysore State.[4]

Geography

Kodagu is located on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. It has a geographical area of .[5] The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kasaragod district of Kerala in west and Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. It is a hilly district, the lowest elevation being 50m (160feet) above sea-level near makutta. The highest peak, Tadiandamol, rises to 1750m (5,740feet), with Pushpagiri, the second highest, at 1715m (5,627feet). The main river in Kodagu is the Kaveri (Cauvery), which originates at Talakaveri, located on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, and with its tributaries, drains the greater part of Kodagu.[6]

Rivers (mouth)

Peaks

Rainfall

Kodagu district receives majority of its rainfall from Southwest Monsoon winds. It is the 4th highest average annual rainfall receiving district in Karnataka. The amount of rainfall varies significantly due to the effects of El-nino and La-nina.

In the year 2018, Kodagu received 29% excess rainfall of 3737mm,[7] 3040mm in 2019,[8] 2541mm in 2020,[9] and 2656mm in 2021.[10]

In the year 2022, Kodagu received 11% Above-Normal rainfall of 3036mm.[11]

In the year 2023, it received 38% deficit rainfall of 1690mm.[12]

Forest

Kodagu is known for its dense forest cover and the exotic flora and fauna found there. It has three wildlife sanctuaries; Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talakaveri Wildlife Sanctuary and Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, one National Park; the Nagarahole National Park and the only private sanctuary of India; the SAI Sanctuary.

Kodagu is home for species endemic to the Western Ghats. It has large tiger and elephant populations as well. As per the elephant census of 2023, Kodagu with 1,013 elephants, had nearly one-sixth of total elephant population in Karnataka, second only to Chamarajanagar.

Agriculture

Economy of Kodagu is dependent on agriculture. Major crops grown here are Paddy,[13] [14] Coffee, Rubber, Pepper, Cardamom, Coorg Oranges and Honey production.[15] Tea, Ginger and Cocoa are also grown in smaller quantities.[16]

Coffee and pepper production

Kodagu is the largest Coffee and Pepper producing district in India. Karnataka produces nearly 70% of the total Coffee production in India, out of which 33% is contributed by Kodagu district alone.[17] Also Kodagu produces nearly a quarter of India's Black Pepper.[18] [19]

Representation

Two members of the legislative assembly are elected from Kodagu to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, one each from the Madikeri and Virajpet. Dr. Mantar Gowda represents the Madikeri constituency while A.S Ponnanna represents the Virajpet constituency; they are from the Indian National Congress. Kodagu, formerly part of the Kodagu-Dakshina Kannada (Mangalore) constituency, is now part of the Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency parliamentary constituency. The current MP for this constituency is Shri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The Codava National Council and Kodava Rashtriya Samiti are campaigning for autonomy to Kodagu district which would have made Coorg more prosperous and independent.[20] [21]

History

The Kodavas were the earliest inhabitants and agriculturists in Kodagu, having lived there for centuries. Kodavas being a warrior community as well, they carried arms during times of war and had their own chieftains.[22]

The earliest mention about Coorg can be seen in the works those date back to Sangam period (300 BCE - 300 CE). The Ezhimala dynasty had jurisdiction over two Nadus - The coastal Poozhinadu and the hilly eastern Karkanadu.[23] According to the works of Sangam literature, Poozhinadu consisted much of the coastal belt between Mangalore and Kozhikode.[24] Karkanadu consisted of Wayanad-Gudalur hilly region with parts of Kodagu (Coorg).[25]

The Haleri dynasty, an offshoot of the Keladi Nayakas, ruled Kodagu between 1600 and 1834. Later the British ruled Kodagu from 1834, after the Coorg War, until India's independence in 1947. A separate state (called Coorg State) until then, in 1956 Kodagu was merged with the Mysore State (now Karnataka).[26] [27] [28]

Coorg in British India

In 1834, the East India Company annexed Kodagu into British India, after deposing Chikka Virarajendra of the Kodagu kingdom, as 'Coorg'.[29] British rule led to the establishment of educational institutions, introduction of scientific coffee cultivation, better administration and improvement of the economy.[30] [31] [32] This reference notwithstanding - we should remember that the colonial rule by the British in India was about exploitation of resources and Kodagu provided a lot of scope for economic benefits to a colonising empire.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of India, Kodagu has a population of 554,519,[33] roughly equal to the Solomon Islands[34] or the US state of Wyoming.[35] This ranks it 539 out of 640 districts in India in terms of population. The district has a population density of 135PD/sqkm. Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 1.13%. Kodagu has a sex ratio of 1019 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 82.52%. 14.61% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 13.27% and 10.47% of the population respectively.

Religion

Hindus are the vast majority. They include the Kodava people, other Kodava language speakers, Arebhashe Gowdas, Brahmins, most Yeravas and Kurubas.A huge minority of Muslims dot the Coorg district, especially the towns of Kushalnagar, Virajpet and Mercara. A sizeable of them are the Nawayaths who shifted in the eighties from Bhatkal and Murdeshwar in order to pursue coffee & arecanut plantations and textile business. The numerous mosque dotting the landscape is the testimony of Muslim presence in the district.

A small number of Mangalorean Catholics are also found in Coorg. They are mostly descended from those Konkani Catholics who fled the roundup and, later, captivity by Tippu Sultan. These immigrants were welcomed by Raja Veerarajendra (himself a former captive of Tippu Sultan, having escaped six years of captivity in 1788) who realising their usefulness and expertise as agriculturists, gave them lands and tax breaks and built a church for them.[36]

Language

At the time of the 2011 census, 30.91% of the population spoke Kannada, 20.83% Malayalam, 14.86% Kodava, 8.92% Tulu, 5.81% Are, 4.66% Yerava, 4.23% Tamil, 2.95% Urdu, 1.74% Kurumba, 1.55% Telugu and 1.16% Konkani as their first language.[37]

Are Bhashe, a dialect of Kannada, Tulu and Kodava language are native to Kodagu district. Kodava Language uses the Official Script Invented by Dr IM Muthanna in 1970.[38] [39]

Kodava people and other Kodava language speakers

See main article: Kodava people. According to Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy (Karnataka's Kodava Literary Academy), apart from Kodavas, and their related groups, the Amma Kodavas, the Kodava Peggade (Kodagu Heggade) and the Kodava Maaple (Kodava Muslims), 18 other smaller-numbered ethnic groups speak Kodava Takk in and outside the district including the Iri (Airi, or the carpenters and the village smiths), the Koyava, the Banna, the Kodagu Madivala (washermen), the Kodagu Hajama (barber, also called Nainda), the Kembatti Poleya (household servants and labourers) and the Meda (basket and mat weavers and drummers).[40]

Among other Kodava speaking communities are: the Heggades, cultivators from shimogga; the Kodava Nair, cultivators from Kerala State; the Ayiri, who constitute the artisan caste; the Medas, who are basket and mat-weavers and act as drummers at feasts; the Binepatta, originally wandering musicians from Malabar, now farmers; and the Kavadi, cultivators settled in Yedenalknad (Virajpet). All these groups speak the Kodava language and conform generally to Kodava customs and dress.[39]

Kodagu Aarebashe Gowda

See main article: Kodagu Gowda.

Less frequent are Tulu speakers Billavas, Mogaveeras, Bunts, Goud Saraswat Brahmins.

The Arebhashe gowdas,[41] or Kodagu Gowdas, and Tulu Gowdas, are an ethnic group of Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu. They live in Sulya (in Dakshina Kannada) and in parts of Somwarpet, Kushalanagar, Bhagamandala and Madikeri. They speak a language known as Arebhashe a dialect of Kannada. Guddemane Appaiah Gowda along with many other freedom fighters from different communities revolted against the British in an armed struggle which covered entire Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada. This was one of the earliest freedom movements against the British[42] called "Amara Sulliada Swantantrya Sangraama"[43] (Amara Sulya Dhange[42] formally called the 'Coorg Rebellion' by the British) started in 1837.[44] [45] [46] [47]

Tourism

Kodagu is rated as one of the top hill station destinations in India. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Kodagu include Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Nisargadhama, Abbey Falls, Dubare, Nagarahole National Park, Iruppu Falls, and the Tibetan Buddhist Golden Temple.[48]

Notable people

See main article: List of Kodavas.

Armed Forces

Sports

Politics

Cinema

Civil Services

Religion

Literature

Others

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kodagu district Profile. DSERT. 11 January 2011.
  2. Web site: Kodagu District Population Census 2011-2021, Karnataka literacy sex ratio and density.
  3. Coorg. 7. 91–92.
  4. Book: Kushalappa, Mookonda. Long ago in Coorg. 2013. 9781494282479. USA. 356–365. English.
  5. Web site: Districts of India. Government of India. 11 January 2011.
  6. Web site: Coorg Gazettee 1870. 21 July 2024.
  7. Web site: Annual State Report 2018. 31 July 2024.
  8. Web site: Annual State Report 2019. 31 July 2024.
  9. Web site: Annual State Report 2020. 31 July 2024.
  10. Web site: Annual State Report 2021. 31 July 2024.
  11. Web site: Annual State Report 2022. 30 July 2024.
  12. Web site: Annual State Report 2023. 30 July 2024.
  13. Web site: Kodagu Land Use data. 28 June 2023.
  14. Web site: Paddy in Kodagu. 28 June 2023.
  15. Web site: Beekeeping in Kodagu. 28 June 2023. 30 June 2018 .
  16. Web site: Spices production in India. 28 June 2023.
  17. Web site: Coffee Production in Kodagu. 28 June 2023.
  18. Web site: Kodagu of Karnataka becomes leading Pepper producer. 28 June 2023. 16 October 2017 .
  19. Web site: Indigenous species of Black Pepper native to Kodagu. 28 June 2023.
  20. News: Codava National Council sets up global forum. https://archive.today/20130103054215/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/11/stories/2005021101650300.htm. usurped. 3 January 2013. The Hindu.
  21. News: Dharna staged for Kodagu State. https://archive.today/20130103015923/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020402470300.htm. usurped. 3 January 2013. The Hindu.
  22. Book: Kushalappa, Mookonda. The early Coorgs. Notion Press. 2013. 9789383808274. Chennai. English.
  23. A Shreedhara Menon, A Survey of Kerala history
  24. Book: District Census Handbook, Kasaragod (2011). Directorate of Census Operation, Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram. 9.
  25. Book: Government of India . 2014–15 . District Census Handbook – Wayanad (Part-B) 2011 . Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala .
  26. Web site: 12 August 2020. When Kodagu merged with Mysore: A short political history of the region. The News Minute.
  27. Book: Kushalappa, Mookonda. 1785 Coorg. Codava Makkada Coota. 2018. 9788192914220. Madikeri, Kodagu. English.
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  29. Book: Kushalappa, Mookonda Nitin. Kodagu principality vs British Empire. Codava Makkada Coota. 2018. 9788192914213. Madikeri, Kodagu. 64–81. English.
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  31. Book: Kushalappa, Mookonda Nitin. Kodagu principality vs British Empire. Codava Makkada Coota. 2018. 9788192914213. Madikeri, Kodagu. 81–88. English.
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  39. K S Rajyashree, Kodava speech community : An ethnolinguistic study
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  41. The Mechanism of Adjustment of International Trade Balances. Herbert Feis. The American Economic Review. 16. 4. Dec 1926. 593–609. American Economic Association. 1.
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