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OPEN LETTER TO ALL KODAVAS WHO INSIST UPON LIVING BY THEIR PROUD LEGACY

 
Dear Kodavas,

We keep harping on about our identity and ethnic pride and are arrogant enough to look down on all other forms of human life.

But what have we as a people done to actually achieve it? Our forefathers lived a certain way, we dress and profess our heritage in their style, we have a certain build and our reputation built on that. Today, the world knows us as inhabitants of the Great Western Ghats. We are spoken of as  a beautiful race of martial people with a unique culture. And coffee.

Without a distinct and complete language, which forms the ramparts of any culture, how can we fortify this grand legacy?

We speak kodavathakk and write in Kannada. Others, fascinated foreigners mainly, have tried to form a script on an anglovernacular basis. It was a grand scheme then and a valiant effort - something that came to nothing much more. And it still was not entirely unique.

Since then, we have 'one of our own', a spectacular sculptor, an ambitious artist who has carved out not just sensational pieces of stone, but a great script that can take us forward as a race, with a complete language and identity. His formulation is a unique script that is original and founded on original lettering.
http://www.akssculptures.com/other-achievements

How many of us know of it?

Rather, how many of us WANT to know of it? And what are we going to do about making this see the light of day?

Are we really as proud of ourselves as we make ourselves out to be?

There is a question for you. Its answer lies in what you are going to do with invaluable resources like this post.

With immense pride laced with delightful arrogance,
Tej :)

 

Comments

Kudos Tejaswi, for your perseverance about this matter. Chatting with Kiran Subbaiah yesterday, I casually mentioned that most of the Kodavas actually INTERESTED in developing a script for Kodava Thakk are residing outside of Kodagu and are compu-savvy. Which means that if they intend to converse in Kodava Thakk out of abhimaana for their mother-tongue, they have to do it through the keyboard. So Kiran Subbaiah said that he has further simplified the script and will also work on making it convenient for typing on the keyboard shortly. Hope it happens soon. :)
Tejuthy said…
Hi Suresh,
It is the least anyone of us could have done - sad not many did it sooner.
Making the script more user-friendly would be great and once someone of account actually takes this seriously, further mutations will only make it better. Hopefully one day, soon, we will be able to read and write in Kodavathakk :)
I wish Kiran Subbaiah, the very best.
Thanks for making that call :)
Suresh said…
Thank you Tejaswi, for helping resurrect this issue. One idea to help push this innovation would be to produce a series of short video tutorials, something like the Khan Academy concept (http://www.khanacademy.org/) and upload the videos to Youtube or Itunes.

I tried to see if I could begin to learn that script, but just didn't know where to begin!!

Just my 2cents of input.
Tejuthy said…
That's a very good idea, Suresh. Do take it forward with interested and able parties.
Suresh said…
Hi Tejaswi,
I don't know if you were responding to my (Suresh Ponnappa) message or to Suresh Chengappa's message. If you wanted me to take the idea forward, I need lots of help!! I live outside India and I don't know where to begin to learn the script. I think it would be better if Mr. Kiran Subbaiah would work with some local talent there to put together some introductory tutorial videos.
Tejuthy said…
@ Suresh Ponappa:
Apologies for the oversight and most welcome to the blog :)

Thankyou for showing your interest in the matter and yes, any help will go a long way, considering that impediments outweigh support.

Your suggestion is great and I will put it forward. Thanks again :)
Suresh said…
You are welcome and all the very best for your efforts.
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