List of Kodavas
The following is a list of prominent Kodavas (also known as the Coorg or Coorgi community).
Armed forces
- Field Marshal K M Cariappa, OBE, first Indian Commissioned Officer, later became first Indian General and then first Commander-in-Chief of India. High Commissioner (Ambassador in the Commonwealth) of India in Australia and New Zealand, Field Marshal in 1986. Residency Road and a park in Bangalore has been renamed after him.
- General K. S. Thimayya, DSO, secured Ladakh for India during the Kashmir War of 1948, General and Chief of the Indian Army, after retirement he led the UN peacekeeping forces during when he won International acclaim, Chairman of the Repatriation Committee after Korean War, died in Cyprus, his statue was set up in Singapore Wax Museum, the Cyprus Govt. issued stamps in his honour. Richmond Road in Bangalore has been renamed after him.
- Lt General Apparanda Aiyappa (also known as A. C. Iyappa), MBE, as a captain, he saw action in Malyan campaign in 1942 against the Japanese in World War II. He was the first Indian Signal officer in chief. He was made Master General of Ordance. He was the first Indian to be colonel commandant of the corps of signals. He was then deputed to Bharath Electronics Ltd (BEL) where he became chairman and held the post till 1972. Iyappa park has been named after him in Bangalore.
Sports
Hockey
Kodavas in the have a long history of association with the game of field hockey. The district of Kodagu is considered as the cradle of Indian hockey.[2][3] More than 50 Kodavas have represented India in international hockey tournaments, B. P. Govinda, M. P. Ganesh,M.M Somaiah, B. K. Subramani, A. B. Subbaiah, K. K. Poonacha, C. S. Poonacha, Jagadish Ponnappa, M.A.Bopanna, Len Ayyappa, Amar Aiyamma to name a few, out of which 7 have also participated in Olympics.[2] The passion for hockey in Kodagu is so much that more than 200 families participate in an annual Kodava Hockey Festival. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world and has been referred to the Guinness Book of Records.[2] However it has already found a mention in the Limca Book of Records, which is an Indian variant of the Guinness Book.[2]
- M.P. Ganesh, former Indian Hockey team captain, Olympian and coach, 1973 Arjuna Awardee
- B.P. Govinda, Indian Hockey Player, Arjuna Awardee
- Sommayya Maneypande (M M Somaiya) former Indian Hockey team player, captain, Olympian,Arjuna Awardee 1985, Hockey Gold Medalist 1980
Other Sports
- Ashwini Nachappa, Athlete,1988 Arjuna Awardee, National Champion, beat P. T. Usha, was the 'Flo Jo' of India, acted in films.
- Rohan Bopanna, National Tennis player and Champion
- Joshna Chinappa, Ace squash player
- Jagat and Anita Nanjappa, motor racing champions
- C.C. Machaiah, (Chenanda Machiah) former boxer,Olympian and coach, 1978 Arjuna Awardee
- Robin Uthappa,(Aiyuda Robin Venu Uthappa) International cricketer, Karnataka team captain, Royal Challengers batsman, son of Venu Uthappa (International umpire of Kodava ethnicity)
- Reeth Abraham (nee Devaiah; of Kodava parentage), National Athletics Champion, 1997 Arjuna Awardee, married athlete Sunil Abraham.
- Ashwini Ponnappa, national badminton player
- Bopanna Pattada, professional game fish angler
Arts and entertainment
- Nikhil Chinapa, RJ, VJ and popular presenter on MTV India, married DJ Pearl
- Prasad Bidapa, fashion designer, choreographer, model trainer
- Prema, famous Kannada actress
- Nidhi Subbaiah, Kannada actress
- Daisy Bopanna, Kannada actress
- Biddu Appaiah, renowned Music Composer
- N. Ponnappa, renowned cartoonist
- A.T.Raghu, Kannada, Kodava and Malayalam languages Film Director
- Nishan K. P. Nanaiah, Malayalam actor
Literature
- Appanervanda Haridasa Appachcha Kavi, veteran poet who has contributed for Kodava poetry, also a playwright
- Nadikerianda Chinnappa, folklorist, compiled the Pattole Palome book.
- Dr.I M Muthanna, noted writer and translator
- B D Ganapathy, journalist, author of several books on Kodavas and other subjects such as philosophy in Kodava, Kannada and English languages
- Kaveri Nambisan, Author of several books and a professional doctor, of Kodava parentage (daughter of C. M. Poonacha), she married Malayalam poet O. P. Vijayan
Civil Office and Law
- C B Muthamma, first woman IFS officer
- Rao Bahadur IGP P.K.Monnappa, IPS Officer, DGP of Madras, helped suppress the Nizam's rebellion in Hyderabad in 1950 as part of the Police Action led by Sardar Patel, IGP of Hyderabad then of Mysore, also first police chief of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Diwan Bahadur Ketoli Chengappa, last Chief Commissioner of Coorg
Religion
- Swami Shambhavananda, a Hindu monk known for his efforts to promote malaria eradication and beekeeping.
- Sadguru Appayya Swami (1885–1956), founder of Kaveri Ashram, a Hindu monastery in Virajpet, born as Palanganda Appaiah, ordained into Sannyas (monkhood) by Guru Ramgiri
- Swami Narayanananda, founder monk of a Hindu Ashram (monastery) in Denmark
Entrepreneurs and Professionals
- Jagadeesh Moodera, is an American physicist of Indian origin and is a senior research scientist at MIT's Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory.
- M. Gautham Machaiah, well known journalist and corporate professional
Politics
- C M Poonacha, freedom fighter INC, Chief Minister of Coorg State (1952-'56), MP, Union Minister, Governor.
- Prema Cariappa, Former Mayor of Bangalore, Rajya Sabha MP
- C.S. Arun Machaiah, former MLC, 1977 National Karate Champion, 1989 Asian Medalist, 1993 Asian best Fighter Award, Represented the Country in the China, Japan and Maxico World Championships, Asian Championships at Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Nepal
References