Sir,

I should consider it treason on my part if I don’t respond now to KBG’s Abracadabra titled “Will Kodagu, heaven on earth, cease to exist ?” (SOM dated June 23). Yes,  I consider Kodagu my second homeland, if KBG calls Mysuru his homeland.

Ever since KBG advised me to go to Tadiyandamol in 1984 to enjoy a good trekking experience, my tryst with the land has been, probably, more significant than that of anybody else living outside Kodagu.  During the first six years thereon (1984), one could find me wandering around seldom tread remotest and wildest paths of the district, along with my students. During 1990 and 1995 people could very regularly find me around Talacauvery, measuring rainfall and monitoring flows in small streams, including Cauvery and Kannike at their origin, and developing theories on ‘Pipeflow’ for my Ph.D.

Later, for about a decade, one could find my students working on data we collected from the region and me coming out with significant publications telling the world about the thrills of my work in the Western Ghats. Ever since I was awarded a Funded Project by ISRO in 2006, my association with Kodagu started expanding in multiples. Innumerable number of our (NIE) students started getting benefited from the project, and enjoyed working in the wet areas of the Watershed of Kumaradhara, which originates on the eastern slopes of Pushpagiri.

We instrumented streams, installed rain gauges and collected precious data. The project culminated in me setting up a very unique “Field Hydrological Laboratory” which now caters to teaching  PG students of NIE practical Hydrology. The Annual Survey Camp for UG students was also being held for a few years in Garwale, exposing students to real-life problems.

Recently, I have got funds to the tune of Rs. 30 lakh from MoES, for continuing my work in Kodagu — this means I can work with freedom in the Ghats till my retirement from service at NIE. I hope, people will understand how formidable my emotional attachment with Kodagu is.

For this very reason, I oppose all forces working towards the fall of Kodagu. I assure you that my ‘alilu seve’ continues to be available for purposes that will do good to Kodagu. To add to my earlier write-ups, I now have a point to emphasise on.

During the over seven decades of independence and democratic rule in the country, very sadly, Kodagu has had the opportunity of sending only one of its own sons to the Parliament. People of Kodagu have cast votes 16 times and have seen their representative (C.M. Poonacha) becoming an MP only once. During the last four decades, which I have seen, no MP has ever done anything favourable to Kodagu, except for shedding crocodile tears. Hence, I strongly feel that the people of Kodagu take up the challenge of installing their own representative.

A true representative of the people is of utmost importance in shaping political decisions and a strong lobby which alone can bear fruits. No doubt that a long-lasting battle is required to achieve this goal.

– Prof. Yadupathi Putty, Krishnamurthypuram, 1.7.2018

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