History
Education is the base for knowledge and enlightenment – for knowledge is light in life. It is also said “Amruththanthu vidya”, meaning knowledge is Nectar and hence the motto of Coorg Education Fund is “Inspiring Young Minds“.
Coorg, Land of Kodavas or Coorgs has a history of British rule. During their stay in Coorg, the British vested unique privileges for the community and strove hard to promote education which gave the Kodavas a head start in education.
Coorg Delegation to meet Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India in Bangalore on matters of education for Coorgs, circa 1892
(Standing, left to right): Codanda Kuttia, Apparanda Boppanna, Corvanda Nanjappa, Coluvanda Appanna and Kullatria Chengappa
(Seated, left to right): Cheppudira Thimayya, Apparanda Mandana, Manayapanda Belliappa (Asst. Commissioner, Coorg), Biddanda Bopanna and Mukatiera Mandanna.
The noble thought of providing good education to boys and girls of Coorg was the primary objective of Rev. G. Richter, the first Principal of Mercara High School which was founded in 1855. The Reverend, in his wisdom and vision, realised that the best way to kindle young minds for education was to provide financial support to needy and deserving students. He was instrumental in persuading the erstwhile British authorities for a grant of land.
Consequently the authorities, considering the general enthusiasm of the Coorgs for education, gifted 317 acres of land in Kannangala and Guyya Village. A coffee plantation, started in 150 acres of this land, was aptly named, ‘SCHOOL ESTATE’. The revenue from the plantation was used to give scholarships and in the year 1863 the MERCARA HIGH SCHOOL ENDOWMENT EDUCATION FUND was established.
Rev. Richter must be remembered forever for his noble deed. The name ‘School Estate’ continues and the owners are the Kanjithanda and Kelapanda families.
In the same year of 1863, a group of renowned Kodavas with insight, came together and collected a princely sum of Rs 7,305/-to set up a fund for scholarships to Kodava children . They were: Cheppudira Subbaiah, Buttiyanda Kariappa, Koluvanda Kariappa, Mathanda Appachanna, Kodanda Appachanna, Chowrira Aiyappa, Biddanda Muddaiah, Koruvanda Ponnappa, Appaneravanda Achaiah and Konganda Appaiah. The Fund was named, Kodava Education Endowment Fund. Over the years, a group of eminent leaders of the Kodava Community formed an auxiliary Fund for scholarships to school and college students.
‘It speaks well for the Coorgs, that no sooner were they brought under the English rule, than they expressed an anxiety for the education of their children.’
—‘Gazetteer of Coorg’, by Rev. G. Richter
Kodava Education Fund is constituted
Subsequently, the two Funds were merged in 1916 and named as Kodava Education Fund with Rao Bhahadur Kodimaniyanda Subbaiah as the first President.
On 22 May,1917, a group of prominent Kodavas sought to reconstitute and overhaul the functioning of the Fund with Maneyapanda Muthanna as Chairman.It is historically recorded that on the same day, the first scholarships of the Fund were officially given to Boverianda Muthanna, Mundanda Muthanna and Kolera Kuttappa. The Fund’s largesse continued, thanks to it’s patrons, and the year 1918 saw seven more recipients – Pattamada Pooviah, Pemmanda Monnappa, Pattada Uthappa, Kotera Muthanna, Kolera Kuttappa, Biddanda Kushalappa and Nellamakkada Subayya.
In the years that followed, many young bright Kodavas launched their careers, thanks to the Fund. A fair number of them redeemed themselves by donating sums or by becoming life members.
Government resolves reconstitution – Coorg Education Fund is born.
Until 1954, the Fund was administered by the Commissioner of Coorg together with an eminent Committee of Kodavas. In the same year, the Ministry of the then Coorg Government, under a Govt. of India Directive,handed over the corpus of the Fund to a committee of Kodavas.
The first President of the newly named ‘Coorg Education Fund’ was Kodira Uthappa, with Kongetira Appaiah as Secretary and Pandanda Nanjappa, Treasurer.
The Committee was constituted by Kodavas who rallied from all around Coorg, with the principle objective of mobilizing funds.
Kodava families and individuals donated generously. In 1920, the first contribution of Rs. 5000/- was made by Rao Bahadur Codanda Madaiah to institute the “Codanda Bollavva Madaiah Scholarship”.
More donations by others followed.
The Corpus grows
In the centenary year of 1963, the Coorg Education Fund stood at Rs. 4 lakhs. By 1988, it was Rs. 29 lakhs. In the 150th anniversary in 2013, the corpus had crossed Rs. 2 crores.
It is to the credit of past Presidents and Governing Body members, that the corpus grew steadily.
Mr. Koothanda P. Uthappa served as President of the Fund from 2000 to September 2022. The President and the Members of the Governing Body who have made persistent efforts, oftentimes herculean, in mobilizing funds from across the country and abroad.
The Fund looks to a corpus of Rupees Fifteen crores in the near future.
Vision
To inspire young minds to acquire quality education for their socio–economic empowerment, thus becoming noble citizenry.
Objectives
- To promote and encourage Secondary, Collegiate and Professional education by affording financial assistance, considering both need and merit, to deserving young Kodavas.
- To encourage those appearing for administrative and defence services with financial support and guidance.
- To donate to educational institutions in Kodagu for their development where students of all communites study. This is one of the general objectives of Coorg Education Fund.
Other activities of the Fund
The Coorg Education Fund honours Kodavas who have excelled in varying fields of life – Community Service, Defence and Administrative Services, Education and the Judiciary, among others.
- These distinguished Kodavas, men and women are invited on the day of the Annual General Meeting. They are honoured with a memento and requested to address the gathering with words of inspiration, particularly for the younger members of the audience.
- The last few years has seen the Fund, together with Rotary Madikeri, conducting Career Counseling & Guidance to Class 10 and PUC students. Around 18 schools and junior colleges around Madikeri, covering over 450 students from different communities attend these sessions, voted to be very useful to students.
- The Fund prepares students with special coaching for the entrance tests to Jawahar Navodaya and Sainik Schools.
- Donations by the Fund to schools and colleges for their development is also actively considered.
Statutory Compliance
The Coorg Education Fund was registered under Section 10 of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 on 26 July, 1967 (Regd. C.No. 673/BAR/11/67-68 dated 26/07/1967). Copies of the Annual General Meeting along with Balance Sheet and other relevant details are submitted to the Registrar as legal stipulations.
- Bye-laws of the Fund approved by the General Body with amendments are in place.
- Income Tax Exemption u/s 197(1) of the Income tax act, 1961 is obtained annually for non deduction of TDS from Banks.
- Tax exemption for Donors u/s 80G (5) (iv) of Income tax Act 1961.
- PAN : AAATC5846J.
- Demat Account has been opened with BgSE Financial Ltd, Bangalore.
- Audit of Financial transactions of the Fund by a Chartered Accountant,
appointed by the members at the AGM. The Balance Sheet and Income
and Expenditure account are presented for ratification by the General Body. - The Annual General Meeting of each year is held with 21 days of notice to members. Meetings are convened with the prescribed quorum.
