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TELEVISION DEBUT: MY DOORDARSHAN INTERVIEW CREATES RIPPLES IN KODAGU (COORG)

By P.T. Bopanna

My Doordarshan interview has created ripples and helped me to reach people who are not on social media. Though I had avoided facing the camera all these years, my interview in the Sodara Siri programme on Doordarshan Chandana, has brought me in touch with people in my native Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka.

I was recently interviewed by Puliyanda Anu Chengappa. No sooner the programme went on air, I started getting telephone calls from Kodagu, from friends, relatives and total strangers, congratulating me on the “insightful” conversation.

The Sodara Siri segment of Doordarshan Bangalore was started in the 1990s to give a boost to three regional languages in Karnataka – Kodava, Tulu and Konkani. The spirit behind the Sodara Siri segment was Usha Kini, former programme director, who had put her heart and soul into making each episode in the segment, unique.

Much before I was slotted in the programme, a reference was made to my books by Preeth Ganapathy (in picture), an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), ministry of finance, government of India, when she was interviewed for Sodara Siri programme.

Preeth graduated in Computer Science and Engineering from Vishveshwaraiah Technological University with first rank and was awarded two gold medals. She is also an India Infineon Scholar.

In the interview, Preeth had mentioned about my books Rise and Fall of the Coorg State and Dateline Coorg, which she says came in handy for her in her preparation for UPSC final interview, where they ask questions about the native place of the candidate. I am sincerely thankful to her.

Her father Mookonda K. Ganapathy retired as a superintendent of police in Bangalore. She is married to Devanira family.

Sharing link to Preeth’s interview on Doordarshan: