India’s oldest genocide site, Valient Codavas offer tributes

Madikeri: Much before the Jalianwala Bagh massacre by the British headed by general Dyer in Punjab, on December 12, 1785, Tipu the marauder had killed over 20,000 Codava by colluding with the French Leggionaire general Lawly by deceit at a place called Devattparamb. On the eve of 238th anniversary of the Devaattparamb Codava genocide, the Codava National Council (CNC) members offered prayers and floral tributes to the valient Codava people on Tuesday, December 12, at the site of the genocide.

Exactly 238 years ago, on this specific day, December 12, 1785, this tragedy occurred. Hyder Ali and Tipu were friends of Keladi rulers for over 20 years, but later they became enemies. When their inter-alia continued and when they were friendly, Codava Race were used as Samaritans. When their inter- alia broke because of Paaleri Raja's treacherous act, they became arch rivals, and to guard their throne from the aggression of British, Tipu, and French, the Keladi rulers used Codava Race as mercenaries of their kingdom against Tipu. Codava Tribal warriors saved the throne of Keladi from the 32 failed aggressions of Tipu- Hyder and many Codava warriors lost their lives. The Codavas were valiant, and there were no British, French, or treacherous armies of Tipu and Hyder. NU Nachappa Codava, the chairman of the Codava National Council, told Hans India on the sidelines of the 238th anniversary of Codava halocaust in the misty mountains of Kodagu.

Tipu, known for his deceitful rule and treachery, used the Devattparamb incident to avenge the Keladi rulers, who had a powerful army. For being friendly with Codavas, Tipu, who was also known for his inadept diplomatic methods, tied up with Lawly’s mercenery army and lured Codavas by offering a truce and a permanent hand of friendship; his only condition was that the Codavas must come unarmed and also partake in a party that was arranged by both him and Lawly. The innocent Codavas were trapped in the hills of Devatparamb and were massacred by the joint armies of Tipu and Lawly. This incident also paved the way for Tipu to capture the port at Mangaluru and take over 20,000 Mangalurean Christians as prisoners. Most of the men were either killed or made slaves, and women were converted and offered to the brutal soldiers of Ahmediya army of Tipu in his capital, Srirangapatna, near Mysuru ”

These Devaattparamb tragedies and political assassinations of the Codava tribal race at Naalnaad Aramane and Madikeri Fort in the Palace conspiracy are unforgettable traumatic chapters in the historyof thef Codavaracee. This is a wound that can never heal, Codavas says.

Codavas have demanded many times that the government of Karnataka try to heal the wounds of Codavas by erecting Memorial Monuments for departed hapless souls under Article 7 of Venice Charter 1964 of the UNO and Article 49 of Indian Constitution. “But the political masters sitting in Vidhana Soudha are still romancing Tipu’s legacy. Secondly, Film makers, Youtube anchors, plagiarists, web designers, history writers, and politicians who never visited Devaattparamb neither supported nor acknowledged the demand for the International Codava Holocaust Memorial Monument,” Nachappa told in a bitter tone.

On this occasion (283 years since the Devattparamb massacre), the CNC has made a charter of nine resolutions that include:

Carve Codavaland Geo - Political Autonomy with Internal Political Self Determination Rights.

Demand for International Codava Genocide Memorial Monument at Devaattparamb, Cenotaph.

UNO and Govt of India should jointly condemn the Devaattparamb tragedy and Political Assassinations of Codava Tribal Race at Madikeri Fort and Naalnaad Aramane in the Palace conspiracy for nearly 201 years.

to include both tragedies in the International Holocaust Remembrance list of UNO.

The present French government and custodians of Keladhi Royals, Hyder, and Tipu should ask for forgiveness from Codava Tribal Race.

As an act of repentance for the crimes committed by predecessors in office, the French government should contribute towards the establishment of International Codava Genocide Memorial Monument. The custodians of Tipu Keladhi/Paaleri royals who are helming the State craft should also contribute.

Demanding War Memorials at Mullusoge

Constitutionally safeguard the age old customary practise of Codava "Sacrament Gun."

Assign the ST tag for holistic empowerment of Codava Race to compensate for the greatest human loss in both the tragedies, the political assassinations in the Palace conspiracy and the Devaattparamb tragedy.