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CNC holds 17th human chain awareness campaign in Srimangala Madikeri, Oct. 27: Kodavaland geo-political self-governance, Indigenous Peoples' Rights of the World Organization for Kodavare, classification in the ST list, special representation in Parliament and Assembly for Kodavare like the "Sangh" constituency of Sikkim, if the ancestral land rights of Kodavare and the right to the Kodavare religious ritual Tok-Gan are to continue forever, the process of registering the separate identity of Kodavare is possible only if it is recorded in the national census, said CNC President N.U. Nachappa. Speaking at the 17th Human Chain organized by CNC in Srimangala, he said that in the national census conducted from 1871-72 to 1931, the Kodavas were recorded as a non-religious and non-caste race, thus recognizing their separate existence and independent personality and making our identity etched in the national records. Later, in the national census conducted every decade till 2021, the Kodavas were merged with the religious and caste groups, destroying our existence and identity, thereby destroying the identity and essence of the Kodavas. Later, it became so weak that even the voice of the Kodavas’ right to self-determination and constitutional rights could not be asserted.
Kodava people worship Goddess Bhudevi's birthplace Kodavaland, Goddess Kaveri, Vanadevi/Devakad, Paramarthika Mand, religious rituals, Tok-Gan, Gazjethand, Sun-Moon, Goddess Parvata, Guru-Karona, heavenly divine spirits, Tuttamgala-Kyakola (burial place) with reverence. There is a unique tradition of tying a sacred 'pathak' around the neck of the bride's mother on the night before a marriage without Saptapadi, a marriage without Mangala Sutra system. In all auspicious and inauspicious events of Kodava, alcohol worship and a rich meal are mandatory. We use Tok-Gan as a worship tool in all activities. This type of ritual has been recognized by the World Health Organization as an animistic belief system. For example, the “Yazidi” tribe of the Sinjar mountain in the Middle East, and the “Kalash” tribe of the Chitral mountain in the Hindu Kush valley bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan have been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Similarly, the Kodavas should be guaranteed statehood, he said.
The 18th Kodava Human Chain will be held on Wednesday, November 5 at 10.30 am in Bittangala, and the 19th Kodava Human Chain will be held on November 10 at 10.30 am in Pudikeri (Hudikeri) in Anjigerinad, N.U. Nachappa said.
Ajjamada Savitri, Ajjamada Akkamma, Bacharanyanda Chippanna, Ajjamada Mohan, Chotteyandamada Udaya, Ajjikutteera Lokesh, Bottangada Girish, Kiriamada Sherin, Ittira Raju, Ajjamada Ranji, Appengada Male Poonach, Bollajira Ashok, Ajjamada Bopanna, Manira Sampat, Ayyamada Chittu, Boliyangada Nishanth, Madreera Vishnu, Changulada Rajappa, Macchamada Medappa, Chotteyandama Satish, Chotteyandama Jappu, Chiriyapanda Bopanna, Kakhangada Vithal, Ajjamada Vithal, Chotteyandama Deepak, Bottangada Naveen, Kunhaagada Bose, Kotrangada Ponnana, Ayyamada Somesh, Manira Muttappa, Kahlagada Sharanu, Changulada Suresh, Nallapattira Bolliyappa, Bottangada Sarath, Bachangada Muddu, Kakhanda Ponnana, Kalimada Harish Annaiah, Appanderada Suresh, Machhamada Karumbaiah, Badumanda Katti, Ajjamada Ayyanna, Mannera Monnappa, Dekamada Bolliyappa, Teethira Sabu Motaiah, Ajjamada Vishwanath, Kattera Udaya, Kallangada Kittu Bolliyappa, Bachangada Bhavi Kumar, Nayakanda Raja, Ajjamada Jagadish Bopanna were present.
