Less than a month after meeting the President of India over its demands for autonomous status for Kodagu, the Codava National Council (CNC) is apparently planning to take its cause to the international domain.
During celebrations of the 23rd Codava National Day on Sunday, CNC president N U Nachappa said the organisation would take the matter to the United Nations if the Central and State governments did not act on their demands by November 2014. At the celebrations at Gandhi Maidan here, Nachappa recalled the growth of the movement for a Codava Autonomous Region (CAR) over the past 22 years.
Nachappa declared the movement abided by the provisions of the Constitution as it was sociopolitical in nature and only sought recognition for a distinct community.
Noting that Kodagu had gone from being a country to a State and finally a district, Nachappa argued the case for CAR had more merit than the demand for a Telangana State.
“The demand for Telangana is solely related to politics whereas Kodagu has got its own unique language and culture with the Codava community being an ethno-linguistic tribal minority,” he said.
As part of celebrations, Nachappa read out the memorandum submitted to the President on November 1 as well as the CNC’s charter of demands.
Urging people to rededicate themselves to the goal of getting a CAR, he asked for their consent by raising of hands.
Earlier in the day, a procession was taken out in the main roads of Madiekri and at Gandhi Maidan with rituals being conducted for ancestors of all Codava clans.
Guns and Codavas
Defending the role of guns in the Codava community, Nachappa compared their importance to the kirpans carried by Sikhs and khukris carried by Gurkhas.
“Whether it’s a puja, births, deaths or festivals, guns should be part of religious ceremonies,” Nachappa said. He added CNC would organise its annual Thok Namme (gun carnival) this December 18 as well. The festival, which falls on World Minority Day, will be held at Napoklu.
Reports Slammed
Nachappa opposed the recent reports on presented by Prof Gadgil and Dr K Kasturirangan report on environmental issues in the Western Ghats, alleging they sought to undermine Kodagu’s development and show the Kodagu community in a bad light.