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People & Culture
Kodava Thakk, also known as Coorg Language, is the primary language spoken in Kodagu. Kodagu is home to several other languages, including Kannada, Tulu, and Ravula. All are Dravidian languages.

The Kodavas,also known as coorgs,are of unknown origin.The circumstances in which they came to Coorg, settled and presumably married local women, is still a mystery with ethnologists. Facially the Kodavas look very different from other races in India.

The Kodava people live a rich life due to the economic freedom provided by the coffee market. Kodavas are a warrior race and have zealously hung on to their independence. Kodavas defeated Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultans armies many a times and proved invaluable allies to the British in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, in which the Sultan of Mysore was killed. They have many warrior practices such as carrying a ceremonial knife on their wraparound robes, martial war dances and their marriages are held in a unique way, unlike other Indian marriages. The culture also includes communal gatherings where drink, dance and special meat dishes seasoned with Garcinia are central attractions.

The names of Kodava people are also characteristic and include a clan name. The clan is central to Kodava culture and families trace their lineage through clans. Marriage within a clan is discouraged. The Kodava language or Kodava Thakk has no written tradition, and has approximately over 200,000 people of 18 groups speaking it in and outside the district. Some of these groups are Kodava, Heggade, Iri, Amma Kodava, Koyava, Banna, Madivala, Hajama, Kembatti, and Meda, according to statistics available with Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy. Most speakers are bilingual, speaking Kannada as well, as Kannada is a primary language of other communities in Coorg, excluding the malayaly moplahs and tamilian coffee estate labourers.

The Yerava, or Ravula, live in Kodagu as well as in adjacent Kerala, where they are known as the Adiya. They are primarily Hindu agricultural workers.Among the other tribes or castes of Kodagu are the Heggades, cultivators from Malabar; the Ayiri, who constitute the artisan caste; the Medas, who are basket and mat-makers, and act as drummers at feasts; the Binepatta, originally wandering musicians from Malabar, now agriculturists; and the Kavadi, cultivators from Yedenalknad; all these groups speak Kodava, and conform generally to Kodava costumes and customs. Of the Tulu people, the Gaudas, who live principally along western Kodagu, are the most important; they speak Tulu and wear the Kodava ethnic dress during ceremonies. Other castes and tribes are the Tiyas and Nayars, immigrants from Kerala; the Vellala, who are Tamils; and the Marathi. Of the Muslims the most numerous are the Moplahs and the Shaikhs, both chiefly traders, whose origins are from Kerala.

In all, the most famous son of Kodagu is Field Marshal Kondandera Cariappa, the first Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of free India. He was elevated to the honorary title of Field Marshal at the ripe old age of 83.

 
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Kodagu
 
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