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COORGS
TIGER
Coorgs Royal Peechekati
Coorg is a small state situated on the Western Mountain region of Southern India. It has an area of 1595 square miles with a population of 350,000. Coorg is four times larger than Hong Kong, and seven times larger than Singapore. The 2500-year-old civilization of Coorgs (or Kodavas as it is locally known) evolved from a synthesis of peoples that lived at around the fifth century BC in the region of today's Oman & Yemen, Scythian Greeks, and local women whom they married. Coorgs are Orthodox Hindus, and as a martial race, belong to the ruling class Kshatriya community. During the British influence, Coorgs became highly westernized. Coorgs are a conservative people. They are the only Indian community that does not observe the dowry system. Coorgs' male births, as well as their death ceremonies, are celebrated with a gun salute. Sir Erskine Perry, a author and anthropologist, wrote of the Coorgs that they "have no resemblance to any races of southern India" and that they are "by far the finest race" he had seen in India, in point of independent bearing, good looks and all the outward signs of well-being." Herbert Risley described the Coorgs as the "finest race without any exception in Southern India" and considered them as "even superior to the Kashmir Brahmins in respect to skin, colour, and stature". The Coorgs marriage ceremony is performed by their own elders and not by Brahmin priests. Coorgs have their own festivals; 1. Puthri, "Thanksgiving Day", and 2. Keil Poldu, the "Festival of Fire Arms", and they do not celebrate any other Indian festivals. The tradition of the "Coorgs Tiger wedding" no longer exists. Sadly, the 50 years old highly decorated "Coorg Regiment" of the Indian army was re-designated as the "Karnataka Regiment" in 1996 by the unstable Prime Minister, who is jealously attempting to eliminate the Coorgs' proud ancestral identity. The Coorgs are a patriotic people of India, and because of their traditional custom, the Indian constitution permits them to carry guns without a license. Book: "Caste and Class in India".
Brahmins are inferior to Coorgs of Coorg. In the region of Coorg, the river Cauvery and its nearby mountains were created millions of years ago by volcanic activities. Unfortunately, the local Brahmin pundits fill the native people with mythical tales about the origins of the river Cauvery. They then profit from the organized yearly 'Cauvery Sankaramana' festival that the people superstitiously attend. Cauvery River Sankaramana is one such myth, and foolish to celebrate such a festival.
Note: For the ancient history of the world, please refer to “National Geographic”, CD collections, where one could find the detailed ancient history of India, Coorgs, Egyptian, Yemen, Roman Empire, European civilization, Greeks, Scythian, Persian, Mesopotamia, native people of American continent, Chinese and other ancient civilization of the world. The first Emperor of Rome, Augustus’s chief of commander of the Roman army was Agrippa and even today, the name Cariapa is common among southern Italians. The ancient history indicates that people from other parts of the world have migrated to southern Italy before the foundation of Roman civilization around 753 BC.
Coorgs Traditional Dress, worn during the special ceremonies
History
The Coorgs have never been conquered
Wedding Guests with their Traditional Dress
Coorgs
Coorgs Style: Dawn of a two day Wedding Ceremony
In their desire to keep their freedom, the Coorgs even beat off invasion from Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, the great Muslim warlords who conquered almost all of southern India in the 18th century. Even these all but invincible warrior-sultans found it impossible to campaign among Coorgs’ tactically valuable mountain routes to the coast. The kannadiga rajas of Coorg and the local Coorgs headmen deliberately kept the hill country devoid of roads, allowing only the narrowest of jungle trails between settlements, thus making the uplands impregnable against anyone unfamiliar with the territory. However, this security eventually resulted in the late 18th-century and early 19th-century rajas becoming corrupt, petty despots, who finally alienated their freedom-loving people. Finally, kannadiga Rajas were captured along with their 20,000 Soldier by Tipu Sultan. This was a clear victory for Coorgs, and Coorg soldiers over thrown the Tipu Sultan’s rule out of Coorg, and restored the local rajas to the power. During the reign of Chikaveera Rajendra in the 1830’s, Coorg suddenly relinquished its long-coveted Independence-giving it up voluntarily to the British. The conditions that brought this were complex but resulted in one of the most unusual episodes of southern Indian 19th-century history.
Coorgs "Thanksgiving Day" Festival, Usually Takes Place, First Week of December. Also Known as Puthri among Coorgs
"Thanksgiving Day" Festival Singers
Three day, "Thanksgiving Day" Festival Dance Team Members
Close up action of the Puthri festival dances
Coorgs Civilization
The British declared Coorg to be a protected state of the empire and asked the Coorgs to choose a governor from among their own people. The council of ministers elected Coorgs Boppana, the minister who had openly defied both Basava and the kannadiga rajas and, when this was cried around the kingdom, none of the Coorgs headmen and nobles raised any objection. From 1834 onwards, Coorgs Boppana and, after him, his descendants administered Coorg. In return for their co-operation, the British allowed the state to retain a nominal independence and English education.
The rule of the kannadiga Rajas was thus never directly applied to the Coorgs and even today the place has a separate state movement. Coorgs cultural flavour is distinct from the rest of India, the Coorgs having never been conquered, even by the British. In Indian history, the Coorg, and its people Coorgs is the only Indian kingdom never to be conquered by a foreign invader, such as Mogul Empire.
Coorg is one of the most unspoiled regions of SouthWest India. Hiking trails run from lowland jungle up through coffee plantations shaded by indigenous jungle trees and finally through wild forest onto high ridges of natural grassland. The Nagarahole wildlife sanctuary in the southern tip Coorg is one of the best places for seeing wild elephants, tiger and leopards. For trekking, many of the wildlife sanctuaries have huts and will supply guides. Visitors will have the breath taking view of the Coorg's landscape and surrounding hills, from the top of the Brahmagiri Mountain, which is about 5100 feet high.
Field Marshal Cariappa K.M
The First Commander-in-Chief of Independence of India
This web page is dedicated to Commander-In-Chief: Field Marshal Cariappa K.M
And the first Indian United Nation Army General in Cyprus - 1970's: Thimmaiah K.S of Coorg
General K. M. Cariappa, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, had dignity, poise and determination. The first Indian to hold the Commander-in-Chief position in free India, his immense contribution to Indian defense has made him immortal in our defense history. Born on January 28, 1900 in Coorg, Kodandera Madappa Cariappa joined the Central High School at Mercara and distinguished himself with his inborn leadership qualities.
Mr. K.M Cariappa later joined the Presidency College in Madras for his higher studies, grew up equally attached to books and plays under the guidance of renowned academicians. He was an active sportsman and played with vigor and brilliance, games like hockey and tennis. General Cariappa served in Iraq, Syria and Iran from 1941-1942 and then in Burma in 1943-1944.
While in Iraq, he served under Major General Slim, who later became General William Slim and commanded the famous Fourteenth Army and was a Field Marshal as Chief of the Imperial General Staff in the UK. General Cariappa later became full General and assumed the appointment of Chief of Army Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Army.
General K.M Cariappa’s association with the Indian Army is spread over an unbroken period of more than 29 years, during which he had wide experience of staff work and command. He took active part in the reorganization of armed forces in many foreign countries. General Cariappa was a much-traveled man. He visited parts of China, Japan, the United States, Great Britain and Canada and most of the European countries.
General K.M Cariappa had great concern for the nation. He saw himself as an Indian first and only then as an officer of high rank, which is one of the reasons why Cariappa is still held in high esteem by his fellow Coorgs and the rest of the country. If there is one man whom Coorgs identify with them with reverence is Field Marshal General K.M Cariappa.
Apart from being a military man, Field Marshal Cariappa had insight about the status of the country. He is quoted as saying "In modern warfare, a large army is not sufficient, it needs industrial potential behind it. If the army is the first line of defense, the industry is the second". General Cariappa said that the soldiers know the facility of wars to solve the internal problems. We ought to be ashamed that today they had more peace in war than peace in peace". A "soldier is above the politics and should not believe in caste or creed", was another firm belief of a great soldier. His career in the Army during which he had the rare distinction of being "first" in many spheres is a continuous tale of upward progress. He was the first Indian cadet to be commissioned from British Daly College, Indore, and the first Indian Officer to enter the British Staff College of Quetta.
He lived and remained, as he said, "an Indian and to the last breath would remain an Indian. The legendary Hero of this great country who professed duty, discipline and loyalty to the nation is now history.
Source: Cadogan Book Plc, London House, Copy Right @ Frank Kusy, British Library
Sincere thanks to Mr. Frank Kusy and John Issac
Note:
Copy @ right: "Coorgs of Coorg" and "Native people of Coorg
PrinceofCoorg
Coorgs Royal Seal
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