Some Kodagu Facts

Though Coorg (Kodagu) is close to Kozhikode, I’ve never visited the place. My only ‘connection’ must be the fact that Sruthi’s cousin is married to a native of Coorg. Last week, on a visit to Patna, I got to know that one of my teammates working there hailed from Coorg. In the short chat, I learnt some startling facts about the place.

The Kodavas of Coorg are exempt from the Arms License. Apparently, the British granted them this exemption in 1861 as a mark of recognition of their loyalty during the Great Mutiny. This means that the community can own and operate a gun with no government oversight!  

While reading up on this online, I discovered that we have an online community called Indians for Guns! One of the posts mentions:

Indira Gandhi, while abolishing the payment of Privy Purses to the Princes, also got the concession of exemption under the Arms Act enjoyed by them abolished. This fact was also mentioned in the letter of the Chief Minister of Kerala who wanted the similar exemption granted to Kodavas abolished.

Home Secretary C.G. Somiah’s response: “I recorded an appropriate note in the file explaining the rationale behind this concession granted to Kodavas in the first place and also the fact that possession of a gun [which is worshipped] is as sacred to the Kodava inhabitants of Coorg as it was sacred for a Sikh to possess a Kirpan [sword]. Buta Singh [Home Minister] readily agreed with me and a suitable reply was sent to the Chief Minister of Kerala. The age – old custom and the right of the Kodavas were thus safeguarded.”

The Kodavas also have trademarked their traditional symbol comprising a  ‘Peeche Kathi’, ‘Odi Kathi’ and a gun. My colleague had the sticker on her mobile!

When I watched Rifle Club earlier this year, I assumed that the association of guns with the hill-dwellers was a stereotype/movie trope. I stand corrected now. There’s a geographic and cultural connection, too. It probably has to do with the plantation economies of these hilly tracts, the need for protecting the lone Sahibs, and of course, the whole pastime of hunting. Even today, these regions report frequent Human-Wildlife Conflicts. In Kerala, the problem is so chronic that the HWC is now categorized as a local disaster. (This allows the Govt to provide compensation and remedial measures from the Disaster Management Funds).

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