Mysuru: Noting that Appacha Kavi was not only a poet but also a social reformer, President of Akhila Kodava Samaja Mathanda C. Monnappa has said that Appacha Kavi’s works in Kodava language were outstanding.

He was delivering the introductory address at the 150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Haradasa Appaneravanda Appacha Kavi, jointly organised by Akhila Kodava Samaja, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru and Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru at Kodava Samaja premises in Vijayanagar first stage here yesterday.

Pointing out that Appacha Kavi had made great contribution to Kodava Language and Literature and his works are evergreen, Monnappa said that most of his poems and dramas emerged from his experiences and based on the studies     conducted by him on Kodava Community.

Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa, one of the guest speakers, in his address, said that the year-long 150th birth anniversary celebrations of the great poet Appacha Kavi began at his birth place at Napoklu in Kodagu in Sept. 2017 and will conclude in September this year.

Observing that the younger generation of Kodavas had little knowledge of Appacha Kavi, he said that Appacha scripted his first Kodava language work from Kannada play ‘Yayathi’ in 1906 and followed it with ‘Sri Savithri Nataka’ and ‘Subramanya Swamy Nataka’ in 1908 and ‘Sri Kaveri Nataka’ in 1918 to name a few.

Maintaining that Appacha Kavi enriched Kodava language, Kaverappa said that the great poet, born in the 19th century wrote mostly on social issues and rose to be an ‘Amarakavi’.

Just as Shakespeare enriched English language and literature, Appacha Kavi made significant contribution for the development of Kodava language, he added.

Ittira Parvathi Cariappa and Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah too spoke.

Kodava folk artiste Chenanda A. Uthappa spoke on Appacha Kavi’s play ‘Yayathi’, while theatre artiste Addanda C. Cariappa spoke on Appacha Kavi’s poetry.

Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa released a Kannada book titled ‘Kodavara Saavu Paddathi’, published by Akshara Prakashana, Mysuru.

The book is aimed at educating Kodavas residing outside their homeland on the practices and rituals to be adopted while conducting the last rites of dead Kodava persons.

Kodava Samaja Mysuru President B. M. Nanaiah, Vice-President Prof. K.C. Belliappa, Secretary M.M. Ponnappa, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru President M.P. Nanaiah and others were present.