Codava National Council Demands Separate Identity in Upcoming Caste Census, Submits Memorandum

Codavas’ unique culture includes nature worship, clan lineage, and reverence for ancestors called “Guru-Kaarona.”

MADIKERI: The Codava National Council (CNC) on Friday has submitted a memorandum to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India demanding the inclusion of a separate “code and column” for the Codava community in the upcoming 2025–26 caste-wise and general census enumeration. The memorandum, submitted through the Kodagu district administration, was received by Additional Deputy Commissioner R. Aishwarya.

Welcoming the Union Government’s decision to conduct a caste-wise census—announced on April 30—the CNC described it as a historic opportunity to correct decades of identity loss and administrative oversight. CNC has argued that such a column is essential for the Codava community’s social engineering process and accurate representation.

“From 1871 to 1931, the Codavas were scientifically and accurately recorded in census enumerations as a mono-ethnic, indigenous warrior clan,” the memorandum states. “However, from 1941 to 2011, we were merged with other communities for administrative convenience. This move has been a death knell for our unique identity.”

The CNC highlighted the Codavas’ distinct cultural traits, including their animistic beliefs, reverence for nature and weaponry, and lineage-based clan system centred around the worship of “Guru-Kaarona,” the community’s spiritual ancestors. They emphasised that the Codavas do not conform to the conventional caste system and have no class or sectarian divisions.

Historical documentation such as the 18th-century “Hukumnama” issued by Coorg ruler Lingaraja, and 19th-century British-era gazetteers, was cited as proof of the community’s longstanding status as an independent and mono-ethnic group.

The CNC’s demands include:

A separate code and column for Codavas in the census

Scheduled Tribe (ST) status

Recognition of Codavas as an indigenous group under UN conventions

Autonomy for Codavaland

Restoration of hereditary land rights

Political representation and constitutional safeguards

Recognition of the Codava language in the Eighth Schedule

The CNC reiterated that Codavas, despite their small numbers, must not be sidelined. “In a diverse country like India, population size should not be the only benchmark. What matters is identity, heritage, and constitutional justice.”

The Council urged the Centre to act promptly, stating that only such recognition can ensure that the Codava community’s cultural legacy and rights are preserved for future generations.

To advertise on The Kodagu Express website, kindly call us at 9108795369 or mail us at thekodaguexpress@gmail.com 

Join The Kodagu Express WhatsApp Group: CLICK HERE 

Follow us on Instagram and X(Twitter)