Booktalk: ‘Coorg Stories and Essays’ released

Title: Coorg Stories and Essays
Author: C.P. Belliappa
Pages: 264
Price: Rs. 395
Publisher: Rupa Publications Pvt., Ltd.

Mysore/Mysuru: C.P. Belliappa’s latest book ‘Coorg Stories and Essays,’ published by Rupa Publications, was released recently.

The blurb on the back cover summarises the contents of the book: A 360-degree perspective of history of the enchanting land of Coorg.

In this deeply researched and evocative collection, C.P. Belliappa tracks the heartbeat of Coorg (Kodagu), portraying the present with the past, offering timeless portrait of a quiet coffee growing district.

Through essays and stories, this book traces the progress of Coorg and its people, starting with prehistoric relics; rule of the Haleri rajas; the British annexation and their administration of the territory; and the events that culminated in Coorg becoming a part of the Kannada-speaking State of Karnataka.

The essays and stories then offer the fascinating illustrated story of Princess Victoria Gowramma, the lost Princess of Coorg. With several lucky turn of events after the book on Victoria Gowramma, Belliappa was able to connect with her descendants; meet a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria; interact with the direct descendants of the last Raja of Coorg; and collaborate with a great-great-granddaughter of Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell (Victoria Gowramma’s husband).

Merging public with private, ‘Coorg Stories and Essays’ covers the freedom movement in Coorg and the significant role played by the author’s father, C.M. Poonacha, with essays on the events that transpired before and after Independence.

Speaking to SOM about the book, Belliappa said, “I have appended an important document, verbatim, namely the Coorg Assembly Debates that was held on 6 December 1955, to pass a resolution regarding amalgamation of Coorg with other Kannada speaking areas to form Karnataka State.”