Traditional Kodava Ain Mane built in 1852 by Kodira family restored at DakshinaChitra Museum

A traditional Kodava Ain Mane (ancestral house) has been restored and inaugurated at the DakshinaChitra Museum, a living-history project by the Madras Craft Foundation. This initiative aims to preserve and showcase the rich heritage of the Kodava community. The house originally belonged to the Kodira Kodava family from Arapattu village in Kodagu, dating back to 1852. While the main Kodira Ain Mane remains well-maintained, a second ancestral house built in Koppa, Arapattu, was demolished and replaced by the family.

The wooden components from this demolished house have been re-purposed and incorporated into the new Kodava house at DakshinaChitra Museum, located on East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Chengalpet  district, Tamil Nadu.

Original character preserved

The project, which began in 2022, focused on preserving the original structure and character of the ancestral house without alterations. The actual reconstruction at DakshinaChitra commenced in June 2023 and was officially opened to the public on Oct. 23.

The house is now an exhibit at the sprawling museum, adorned with displays showcasing the vibrant Kodava culture. This house highlights the rich Kodava culture, including the community’s customs, traditions, rituals, folk practices, unique attire, cuisine and their deep connection with nature and wildlife. The Kodava House is the latest addition to the living heritage space at DakshinaChitra, showcasing the lifestyle of the Kodava community from the Western Ghats of Karnataka. This marks the 19th ancestral house at the museum, adding to the existing 18 structures that celebrate diverse traditions.

Rathi Vinay Jha, from Codanda family, former Secretary of Union Tourism Department, Founder-Member of the Sandooka Museum Trust and Life Trustee of DaskhinaChitra Museum (Madras Craft Foundation) headed the Kodava Ain Mane project.

She is the sister of Codanda G. Somiah, who served as the eighth Comptroller and Auditor General of India and was known for his honesty and impeccable career record.

Documented in detail

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Rathi Vinay Jha said that with a deep connection to the land, the wooden parts of the Kodira Kodava House were meticulously documented. “Every part was numbered, photographed, and drawn to scale before being carefully dismantled by local experts who understand the materials and construction techniques. The pieces were then transported and reassembled at DakshinaChitra in the same precise manner,” she added.

Kodagu lies nestled in the Western Ghats, renowned for its lush, forested landscapes and mountainous terrain and the Kodavas have been long-time guardians of the region, preserving its wildlife and biodiversity for centuries. In recognition of this heritage, a dedicated Western Ghats exhibition inside the Ain Mane emphasises the global importance of conserving these vital biodiversity hotspots, she noted.

Rathi Vinay Jha further added, “The Sandooka Living Museum served as a knowledge bank for this exhibit. All photos, videos, and edited texts were sourced from https://sandookamuseum.org/. This allowed us to save considerable time and resources in the construction, design and other key aspects of the Ain Mane, thanks to the readily available materials from Sandooka.” The Kodava Ain Mane at the DakshinaChitra Museum has been meticulously curated by Gigi Scaria, while the accompanying Western Ghats exhibition was curated by Shekar Dattatri and Saravana Kumar. The construction and exhibition of the Kodava house has been fully supported by the Mobis India Foundation, the CSR arm of Hyundai Mobis.

Cultural show

Following the Ain Mane inauguration, visitors enjoyed a tour of the museum, concluding with vibrant Kodava dance performances by teams from Bengaluru Kodava Samaja and Connecting Kodavas. Over 60 members of Kodava Samaja, Chennai, were in attendance, along with about 15 members of the Kodira family who travelled from Kodagu for the event.

Prominent speakers, including Rathi Vinay Jha, Palengada Amit and Kelappanda Praveen Aiyanna, addressed the audience, sharing insights into Kodava customs, practices and the community’s nature-loving traditions. Deborah Thiagarajan, President of the Madras Craft Foundation, also spoke.

Ju Seong Kyu, Managing Director of Mobis India Foundation, presided over the inaugural event, accompanied by Lee Chang Jun, Head of the CSV Strategy Team from Mobis HQ, and Kim Kyung Jin from the CSV Strategy Team. Also present were Sharath Nambiar, Director of DakshinaChitra Museum and other guests from the Mobis team.