The credit for organizing this year’s annual Kodava convention in the United States should go to Ballachanda Naina (in picture). The convention is being held at Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA on September 4.
Though the annual Kodava convention was being held since 1986, due to lack of initiative, the convention had not been held since 2011. The convention is vital to keep both immigrants and those who grew up in the US connected. Last year, Naina and her husband Bopanna announced a revival of the convention in Albuquerque.
As the previous day of the convention is Kailpodh, the day will kick off with ayuda puja. The program includes a bollakatt and a play by teenagers about Acchu Nayaka of Anchigeri, as well as a skit about the “Legend behind the single muhurtha”.
For the first time, it is planned to have an all Kodava cuisine at the main convention prepared by a Mexican chef. A friendly hockey match has been planned for which over 50 Kodavas have registered to play or attend, including a women’s team.
EDITORIAL: While complimenting Naina and Bopanna for taking the initiative to revive the convention, there is need for chalking out a road map for the future.
It is a fact that more number of students from Kodagu have been going to the US for higher studies in the recent years. The Convention should set up support groups to help the students to sort out adjustment problems in the initial years. There is need for a dedicated website/Facebook group for interaction among the Kodava community living in the US and Canada. There is also need for reviving the newsletter which was earlier being brought out by the Kodava community in the United States.
Wonderful initiative taken up by Naina and Bopanna to revive the tradition of the US Canada Coorg Annual Convention and taking up other activities to help many students integrate better with the American culture. Do keep us posted on developments.
Far far away from Delhi, I am conveying my best of best wishes for the success of this convention. Of course, I am not a Kodava as such though my grandfather (granduncle Panje Mangesh Rao so to say) was very much attached to this evergreen land of Kodagu. He even composed the verses for the traditional song of Huttari Hadu (Harvest Song) in praise of Kodavas and Kodagu.