Opinion | Bengaluru Kodava Samaja Election Tarnishes a Proud Community’s Image

Kodava Samaja in Bengaluru, a cultural hub for the community. Photo courtesy: Bidappa/Google Images

The Kodava community, though small in number, has long been recognised for its discipline, dignity, and devotion to tradition. Known for its historic association with the armed forces, and other disciplined services, the Kodavas take pride in their values of respect—whether it is the practice of worshipping ancestors, adherence to rituals, or the deep sense of unity that has bound them together for generations.

It is against this backdrop that the ongoing election for office bearers of Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru, has become deeply unsettling. What should have been a quiet, respectful, and internal process of choosing leaders has spiralled into an ugly spectacle of mudslinging, police complaints, and the aggressive misuse of technology.

The contest between Cheriyapanda Suresh and Baleyada Karun Kalappa has shocked many people in the community, who openly say they have never seen such intensity in a Kodava Samaja election. WhatsApp groups have become battlegrounds where rival camps circulate mocking memes, audio clips, and video skits. Even worse, so-called “social media influencers” from within the Kodava community are being roped in by candidates to set narratives, distort perceptions, and inflame divisions. Pages and Instagram handles that were once meant to celebrate Kodava culture, food, and festivals are now reduced to partisan platforms amplifying campaign propaganda.

This is more than just a communication problem—it is a moral failure. Technology is meant to connect the younger generation to their roots, but here it is being weaponised for cheap political point-scoring. The very platforms that should showcase unity, culture, and heritage are instead deepening rifts.

The Kodava Samaja in Bengaluru is not just another community hall. It occupies a special place in history. Situated on land originally allotted by the Maharaja of Mysore to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa in 1959, and later donated by him to the Kodava community, the Samaja has been a cultural sanctuary since 1961. The Samaja has hosted countless weddings, festivals, sports meets, cultural evenings, and community gatherings. Its very purpose is to serve as a hub for preserving Kodava identity in an urban setting—especially for those living outside Kodagu. 

For Kodavas living in Bengaluru, the Kodava Samaja has served as their ainmane—a symbolic ancestral home away from home. Just as every ainmane in Kodagu commands respect from its members, the Samaja too deserves to be regarded with the same reverence and dignity.

That this institution is now being dragged through the muck of factionalism is deeply disturbing. Today, the election resembles cut-throat politics, where influence, money power, and digital campaigns take centre stage. This is not what the Samaja was meant to stand for.

As voting day approaches on Sunday, one truth is already clear: the process has scarred the community’s reputation. A proud legacy has been sullied by theatrics that resemble mainstream politics rather than community service.

The Kodava Samaja should be a beacon of unity, not a playground for ambition. The sooner the community reclaims this institution from the clutches of ego and power struggles, the better it will be for the generations to come. Leadership of Kodava Samaja must once again embody the values of humility, service, and integrity that define the Kodava way of life—not the ugly politics we are witnessing today.

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