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FIRST GENETIC STUDY: FOREWORD TO THE BOOK ‘WHO ARE THE KODAVAS (COORGS)?’

Curtain-raiser:  Deepika Cariappa (in picture), Bengaluru bureau chief of The Hindu newspaper, has written the foreword to my book ‘Who are the Kodavas (Coorgs)?’ PTB.

By Deepika Cariappa

There could not have been a better time for journalist P.T. Bopanna to pen his insights on the intriguing origins of the Kodavas. The newest bit of scientific research on the origins of Kodavas or Coorgs, published   in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, speaks of the Coorgs having “stark sociocultural contrast with surrounding populations”, as also the notable deviation from the Hindu way of life. 

The study, ‘Unique demographic history and population substructure among the Coorgs of Southern India’, by genome researchers speaks of how the Y chromosome analysis revealed a predominance of Eurasian, Middle Eastern, and Indian-specific haplogroups, suggesting male-mediated migration and eventual assimilation with native females, with a largely south Asia-specific lineage.  “These insights into ancient and diverse genealogies among Coorgs not only explain their unique status in the Indian diaspora, but also encourage further research to identify unknown migrations to the Indian subcontinent and thus further unravel its unique demography,” it said.

Our origins have been both hotly debated and generated wide curiosity among not just the people of Kodava origin, but others as well. Be it the physical appearance of the Kodavas, our attire, our food or our festivals, it has always been a topic of interest, perhaps due to its uniqueness while also accommodating geographical influences into it. At the same time, some aspects are inimitable. For instance, in Kodava weddings, there is no “priest” from a particular caste, and the elders oversee all rituals. The rituals are rooted in nature and ancestor worship. The same goes for our festivals. We have a handful of them, all pertaining to nature and ancestors. 

‘Are Kodavas (Coorgs) Hindus?’ was one of the first books of Bopanna that I read, as I was constantly intrigued by this question. As more Kodavas embraced more aspects of the Hindu religion in their everyday life, his other book, ‘Kodava Religion at Crossroads,’ has become another important commentary on the topic. 

The current book, which delves into the origins of Kodavas, I feel, is a kind of sequel to this series.It comes at a time when major scientific research is aiming to establish the genetic makeup of the Kodavas, and we will, hopefully, see some of the mystery being lifted through this attempt. 

I would like to end by thanking Bopanna for this opportunity, and express on record my appreciation for his interest and efforts in writing about our small community and its various facets. 

Deepika Cariappa (Mandepanda) has been a journalist for 15 years and goes by the byline K. C. Deepika. She has written extensively on topics ranging from environment and science, to education and tourism. At present, Deepika heads the Bengaluru bureau of a national newspaper. Deepika’s main interests are gardening, reading and writing. She has trained in Kathak for over six years and finished two levels of Nihongo (Japanese) because of her love for Japanese culture and food.