Kodava Heritage, Language and Identity Placed Before Parliamentary Panel by Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy

Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy team along with members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture in Mangaluru. Photo: The Kodagu Express

Mangaluru: A high-level meeting on the preservation and promotion of Kodava indigenous heritage and intangible cultural traditions of the Western Ghats brought national attention to the concerns of the Kodava community, as representatives of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy made a detailed presentation before a Parliamentary Standing Committee in Mangaluru on May 2, 2026.

The interaction, organised with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), brought together delegates of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, officials from the Department of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka, and members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The committee is chaired by Sanjay Kumar Jha and comprises 31 members from both Houses of Parliament.

Leading the Kodava delegation, Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah, President of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, outlined the Academy’s initiatives to preserve and promote the Kodava language and culture. He emphasised the urgent need for inclusion of the Kodava language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and reiterated the demand for granting tribal status to the Kodava community.

A five-member team led by Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah, President of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, along with Dr Chotteyandamada Sowmya Dechamma, Dr Neravanda Veena Poonacha, Dr Nuchimaniyanda Sujatha Muthanna, Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, and Ballachanda Darshan Devaiah in Mangaluru. Photo: The Kodagu Express

A five-member team — Dr Chotteyandamada Sowmya Dechamma, Dr Neravanda Veena Poonacha, Dr Nuchimaniyanda Sujatha Muthanna, Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, and Ballachanda Darshan Devaiah delivered a comprehensive presentation highlighting multiple aspects of Kodava identity. These included social organisation, cultural practices, intangible heritage, socio-economic and environmental contributions, and the challenges faced by the community.

The presentation also underscored the community’s contributions to the nation across sectors such as defence, sports, and agriculture, particularly coffee cultivation in Kodagu. It further outlined proposed safeguards by local leadership and made a strong case for formal recognition.

“As a microscopic minority, the Kodavas face cultural erosion due to migration and modernisation. Safeguarding Kodava oral traditions, attire, jewellery, and ancestral homes is vital,” the team noted in its submission. It stressed that protecting Kodagu was not merely about conserving land, but about preserving a distinct tribe, its memory, and way of life. Recognition as an indigenous tribe, the team argued, is both a matter of justice and a strategic step to safeguard India’s intangible heritage.

Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah, President of the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, with Sudha Murty in Mangaluru. Photo: The Kodagu Express

The delegation reiterated that recognising the Kodavas as an indigenous community would also contribute to conserving the ecological diversity of the Western Ghats region.

Members of the Parliamentary panel responded positively to the presentation. Mr. Jha engaged with the delegation, posing questions and expressing appreciation for the depth of the submission. He also took note of the traditional Kodava attire worn by the Mr Nachaiah and delegation, including the distinctive mande thuni (headdress), and requested that one be sent to him.

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty, also member of the committee, lauded the presentation and highlighted the Kodava community’s service to the nation. She elaborated on their contributions across professions and later held a separate interaction with the delegation.

Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, Lok Sabha MP from Uttara Kannada and a committee member, remarked that the Kodava community has excelled in multiple fields, from national service and sports to coffee production. He noted that the community’s distinct culture and close relationship with the land make it imperative to ensure its protection.

Speaking to The Kodagu Express, Mr Nachaiah said, "the meeting marked a significant step in placing Kodava concerns before national policymakers, with hopes that sustained engagement will lead to concrete measures for safeguarding the community’s linguistic, cultural, and ecological heritage."

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