Codava National Council

Codava National Council, is a social organisation in the Indian state of Karnataka.[1] Formerly CNC (Codava National Council) was known as KRMM (Kodagu Rajya Mukti Morcha). The KRMM demanded a separate statehood status for Kodagu until the 1990s.[1] Later they scaled down their demand. Ever since they have been demanding a Kodava hill council in Kodagu.[1] The CNC Organisation's President is Nandineravanda U. Nachappa Codava.[2]

Codava National Council
LeaderN. U. Nachappa
Preceded byKodagu Rajya Mukthi Morcha
HeadquartersCapital Village, Madikeri,
Kodagu
Website
[1]
Map of South Indian states prior to the States Reorganisation Act,1956. Kodagu (then called Coorg), home of the Kodavas, is in dark green.

Demands

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The CNC struggle is asking for:

1. Codava land autonomous region under the 6th schedule of the Constitution and constitutional special guarantee for Kodava

2. Jamma land and Jamma malai land (traditional sedentary farming and hill farming lands of Kodavas) under Article 370 and 371 of the Constitution, as has been done in relation to the lands of State of Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states of India (and to some extent in other states also),

3. Ethno linguistic tribal minority nationality status to Codavas under Article 340 and 342 of the Constitution, inclusion of Kodava Thakk in the 8th schedule of the Constitution,

4. Constitution special guarantee for Kodava customary personal laws and heritage, on the lines of Mizos and Nagas.

5. Also exemption to carry weapons (due to martial traditions similar to Sikhs and Nagas) should be guaranteed under the Constitution of India without any hindrance for ever.

The Kodavas compulsorily worship arms (guns and swords) as it is part of their religious traditions. From 1600 they have held guns and swords as they were the militia of Kodagu and every Kodava compulsorily served in the Raja's and the Nayaka's (chieftain's) army. However the Kodavas have traditional rules which strictly forbid even the pointing of a gun or a sword at another person especially a civilian, except for one's defence. Usually the gun's bore is never pointed in the direction of a person.[3][4][5] 6. Also universal recognition for Kodava race and internal political self-determination rights for Kodavas. Until 2000 the name of CNC was Kodagu Rajya Mukti Morcha (KRMM or Kodagu State Liberation Front). The CNC is asking for a Kodava hill council in Kodagu and for the protection of the rights of the Kodavas, an ethnic and linguistic minority in South India. CNC has been demanding an Autonomous Hill Council on the lines of Ladakh and Darjeeling.[6][1]

Caste Reservations

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Around the early 2000's, the Kodava people were included in the Other Backward Classes list of Karnataka. The Kodavas were listed as Kodagaru (a derogatory term)[7] under the Category III A of the Other Backwards Caste (OBC) List of Karnataka State Government.[8] The CNC had appealed to the State Government to correct this and mention them as Kodavas and to include them in the Central Government Other Backward Castes (OBC) List.[9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Bopanna, P. T. The Rise and Fall of the Coorg State, 2009.
  2. ^ "Codava National Council - Leader". Archived from the original on 31 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  3. ^ Kodavas (Coorgs), their customs and culture (B.D.Ganapathy)
  4. ^ Gazetteer of Coorg (Rev.G.Richter,1870)
  5. ^ Muthanna, I. M. Coorg Memoirs, 1971.
  6. ^ "CNC reiterates demand on Kodava language - KARNATAKA - The Hindu". The Hindu.
  7. ^ "Stick to the term 'Kodava': CNC". The Hindu. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  8. ^ "CASTE LIST Government Order No.SWD 225 BCA 2000, Dated:30th March 2002". KPSC. Karnataka Government. Archived from the original on 20 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  9. ^ CHINNAPPA, JEEVAN (30 August 2010). "Will Kodavas be included in Central OBC list?". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  10. ^ Staff Correspondent (22 July 2008). "Plea to accord OBC status to Kodava community". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 September 2014. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)