For those from Coorg [Kodagu], particularly belonging to the Kodava community, there are many comments and information that might interest them.
C. G. Somiah was born on March 11, 1931, in Karkala, South Canara district which was then under the Madras Presidency. Kodava by birth, he belongs to one of the well - known families of Kodagu, Codanda family. He writes: "Every Kodava, male or female, carries a family name and that acts as a gotra [Lineage or clan assigned to a Hindu at birth] to prevent marriage between men and women with the same family name." [To prevent marriage within the same blood group – Editor].
"The Kodavas are a small community and it is estimated that the total population of Kodavas living in Coorg and also outside it, is not more than two lakh. This small number is distributed among 700 - odd family names."
Somiah comes from Kottoli village near Virajpet. Coorgs per se are known for their handsome personality and height. C. G. Somiah himself is a six - footer. They are also known for their honesty, fairness in dealings and courage even under adverse circumstances. Examples of this trait can be found in many places in the book.
Speaking of honesty, Somiah mentions two instances of his father's sense of righteousness and honesty. When it was found that Somiah was under - aged for admission to St. Aloysius College in Mangalore after completing his SSLC, his father, Ganapati, was advised by the Principal of the college to file an affidavit changing the date of birth of Somiah. The Coorg that he was, he simply turned down the suggestion and asked his son to spend his time for one year in the library and sports field.
On another occasion, Somiah was riding a bicycle in Madras where he was a student, without lights at night. He was caught by a Policeman on beat. Since he had no money to tip the Policeman and save himself, he had to go to the Court. He, as per his experienced friend's advice, pleaded guilty, paid the fine and came out.
Years later when he was applying to the UPSC to appear for the civil services competitive examination [IAS], there was a query in the application form whether the applicant had at any time been convicted by a Court. Somiah thought it would prejudice his application if he answered truthfully. As always he consulted his father who was clear in his mind that honesty is the best policy and advised his son to fill up the form truthfully. Those were the early days of Independence and Somiah's honesty in replying to the question was appreciated when he later appeared for the interview.
In contrast, let me narrate a similar incident I came to know of, when I was a junior advocate in Bangalore in the year 1961. One evening an elderly man came to my senior Rego's office with his son aged about 20, seeking advice and help. His problem was that his son, who had received an appointment letter from HMT in Bangalore, was denied the job on the ground that he was convicted by a City Court about 10 years back. What was the offence? When he was returning from school walking across Cubbon Park, he plucked a flower and was caught by the beat Police. He was taken to the Kasturba Road Police Station and then to the Juvenile Court and found guilty. My senior drafted a letter like a mercy petition to the authorities, but unfortunately, the authorities thought that the “law was law”, and unlike Somiah, the poor boy was unlucky.
Somiah tells us of his meeting with the legendary Gen. K. M. Cariappa, later Field Marshall, who had settled in Mercara after retirement in March, 1957. Attired in his long - sleeved silk shirt, Somiah walked the distance to the General's house and knocked on his door at 12 noon sharp.
Let me quote Somiah himself:
"The General himself opened the door and on seeing me attired informally, he asked me to wait outside. A minute later he opened the door with a tie in his hand and ordered me to wear it. I donned the tie and went inside and found him fully attired in a three - piece suit to receive me!" Somiah was served a three - course lunch with a butler in attendance.
Somiah had visited Pakistan on official work and taking the opportunity, spent a day sight - seeing in and around Lahore. He and his friends drove down to Taxila [Takshashila] to see the famous ruins of the oldest library in the world built during Emperor Harsha's time. That was also the place where a Greek colony with Seleucus Nicator as the Greek Governor was left behind by Alexander the Great before retreating from India.
Somiah says the origin of the Kodavas of Coorg is a mystery as our customs, manners and physical features are entirely different as compared to the people living in South India. He says there is a belief among the Kodavas that a breakaway group of Greek soldiers wandered down to the South and settled in Coorg, cohabited with local women and became our ancestors. Somiah does not forget to infuse a bit of sentiment to his visit, when he says, "Wandering around the ruins of the Greek colony at Taxila, I imagined I had come to the home of my ancestors."
It was the time when people from Kerala residing in Coorg and also in the neighbouring Kerala were demanding withdrawal of the concession granted to Kodavas under the Indian Arms Act to own guns without a licence.
The provocation for this unexpected demand was a stray incident of communal disharmony in Kodagu following a case of eve - teasing of a Coorg girl by a youth belonging to the Moplah community. This led to violence and arson. In the market area of Virajpet, a wayside temple was also desecrated. During the clashes that followed, two Moplahs died, one of them having suffered gunshot wounds. The situation was soon brought under control but a month later, the Home Ministry at the Centre received a surprise letter from the Chief Minister of Kerala, addressed to the Home Minister. The letter narrated the incident and suggested that the gun culture in Coorg had to be curbed by withdrawing the concession.
Here is what the Home Secretary C.G. Somiah writes in his book: "The Section dealing with the Arms Act was in charge of a Malayali Section Officer and he gleefully supported the proposal with endorsements from senior officers, when the file landed on my desk. In the Arms Act enacted by the British government in India, the Indian Princes and the Kodavas of Coorg owning jamma lands were both exempted from the provision of the Arms Act. Indira Gandhi, while abolishing the payment of Privy Purses to the Princes, also got the concession of exemption under the Arms Act enjoyed by them abolished. This fact was also mentioned in the letter of the Chief Minister of Kerala who wanted the similar exemption granted to Kodavas abolished.
"I recorded an appropriate note in the file explaining the rationale behind this concession granted to Kodavas in the first place and also the fact that possession of a gun [which is worshipped] is as sacred to the Kodava inhabitants of Coorg as it was sacred for a Sikh to possess a Kirpan [sword]. Buta Singh [Home Minister] readily agreed with me and a suitable reply was sent to the Chief Minister of Kerala. The age - old custom and the right of the Kodavas were thus safeguarded."
As the Chairman of the United Nations Board of Audit, Somiah visited Cyprus. The Prime Minister of Cyprus asked Somiah which place in India he came from. When he replied, "from Karnataka, a native of Coorg," the Prime Minister smiled, called his Ministers and introduced Somiah to them saying that Somiah was from the same place as the legendary General K. S. Thimayya, the former Chief of the Indian Army who headed the first UN Peace - keeping Force deputed to Cyprus.
Reading the book, I got the feeling that the author C. G. Somiah was not only a precocious child but also a mature person in the manner the word maturity is defined by some wag: "Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even." In all these three tests, Somiah seems to have passed with distinction.
This book has some more gems hidden between its covers which you may discover as you read it. The book, well - written and beautifully produced using art paper, is a must read for all politicians and bureaucrats. The book's value - addition is the pictures that embellish it. However, the book's value - addition would have been further enhanced if there was an index to help the research scholars and those who need instant references. At a cover price of Rs. 395, the book with its invaluable content is worth possessing.
