The inspiration for this blog came fro this : http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/bal-thackeray-takes-potshot-at-raj-for-opposing-bihar-cms-mumbai-visit-276237.html
In the last para, there is a statement attributed to Balsaheb Thackeray, speaking on the issue of Marathi pride, he said “no one was more aggressive than Shiv Sena in opposing “atrocities” on Marathi-speakers in Belgaum by the Kannada people."
For starters, I am from Belgaum. Born in a village in that district, had my major education there, including the cultural types. I read, write & speak both Kannada & Marathi. That gave me the advantage of watching & enjoying Kannada movies & Marathi Dramas. Reading Kannada books in Devnagari & vice-versa. Reading PuLa who spent some years in Belgaum. One should listen to his ‘Raosaheb’ which reflects the uniqueness of this region & D.R. Bendre the great poet Kannada was a Marathi .
The common thread that runs in this region, That starts from the Kolhapur Distirct to Dharwad & runs up to Solhapur are many, recounting a few here:
1. The 'Adhidivata' of Maharashtra i.e Vithoba of Pandharpur happens to be form Karnataka http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vithoba. Vitthala was the Kuladivata of the Hoysala Kings & the Vijaya Vitthala Temple symbolizes this. It was these rulers who also built the Pandharpur Temple.
2. The man who brought Vithoba to Pandharpur, Pundalika was also a Karnataka. Remember the abhang 'Kanadau Vitthalu karanataki' & ‘Kanada Raja Pandharicha”... & many others that confirm this?
3. ShahajiRaje Bhonsle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahaji was in Bijapur & his son Venkoji from his 2nd wife was in Bengalore...
4. Worshipping of the Datta Sampradaya, Renuka (Yellamma), Jamadagni, Parahuram in his various forms are unique to this region, till date.
The region has given enormous talent in the field of Art & Culture, names that have not been restricted to one language or the other. To name a few:
5. The Man who revolutionised Marathi Theater Annasaheb Kirloskar was from Gurlhosur a village in Karnatakahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annasaheb_Kirloskar
6. Savai Gandharva of Kundgol, Bhimsen Joshi of Gadag, Kumar Gandharva of Sulebhavi are a few more names that can be spoken of
Words like Appa, Anna, Mai & many more things from Karnataka contributed to what Maharashtra & Marathi is.
A unique coexistence happens here. Krisna & Bhima's shores are the joining points. Please let it leave that way.. If possible try to contribute positively.
This region represents composite culture - a meeting of minds, of music, of harmony of co-existence for centuries. let us not politicise our composite culture and divide people held together by centuries of culture & sanskriti
Kannada too heavily uses Marathi words like, taas, traas etc. and it is used even in southern parts of Karnataka!
ReplyDeleteOur tailors are Marathis, Mysore being a princely state, due to royal patronage, we have a sizeable population of eminent Marathis whose families have settled here, that includes doctors, professors, artistes, painters and many more.
Shivaji too spent his childhood in Bangalore, IIRC, he may have born in Bangalore.
Marathas maintained an army which was offered to various provinces for a fee, Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur and Golkonda(also Moghul and British?) used it extensively.
But failure to pay the fee meant the conquered region would be kept with Marathas, that's how Bijapur acquired Bangalore, which was also briefly under the control of Marathas, and places like Bellary & Mudhol which came under Maratha rule(Ghorpades).
Very rightly put. The bond is very intrinsic & has been mutually strengthening. The attempt to break this is what is disturbing.
DeleteCame via Ratnakar sadasyula's tweets.
ReplyDeleteSir, your last paragraph is a gem. This fact is the case with most part of the country. Let us cherish them , and not divide.
Namste.
Hi Kesh
ReplyDeleteLets not politicize is really apt...well written...thoroughly enjoyed going through...keep blogging...I will enjoy reading
Lots of good wishes
Ushy
Thanks Ushy :)
ReplyDeleteDada, Great news of the day is that you have started a blog. A blog in the cause of Unity & Harmoney of our great country.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the history of Marathas and Kannadigas as narrated by you, realised how venal our politicians are , fighting for Belgaum. Not only precious lives have been lost but the bad blood created between two great communities, sowing seeds of enmity and hatred.
Dada, dil mange more! Hope you shall keep the Blog ticking by blogging!
Regards and Best Wishes.
Thank you so much for your encouraging word! We try to meet your expectation.
DeleteSo much to know , so much to learn and respect in our diversity ; all of which cements us togehter further . Thanks Keshda - keep writing , keep weaving the threads that bind us together
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Viji! Those are very heart warming words. Hope I will be able to write more.
ReplyDeleteVery nice Keshav sir! I would like to mention a lot of similarities between Kannada and Marathi. In fact the subject is so vast that it is apt for Ph.D. and Post Doctoral studies.
ReplyDeleteMarathis and Kannadigas are brothers and sisters (so are all Indians and the entire mankind).
So many surnames are common to both Kannadigas and Marathis. Ex. Hazare.
1. Anna Hazare (Anna stands for elder brother in Kannada).
We should highlight points which indicate common past.
2. Brahmins of Karnataka and Maharashtra have common surnames and culture. ex: Deshpande, Deshmukh (Deshastha Brahmins), Kulkarni, Joshi, Deekshit (Dixit), their food habits, etc.,
3. Veer Savarkar's pet dog's name was Kariya (Black in Kannada).
4. Maharashtra village names are Kannada in origin.
5. tup (Marathi) - tuppa (Kannada) for Ghee
tat - tatte for Plate
other Old Kannada words in Marathi like - amunku, kuttu, sendu, etc.,
Sham. baa. Joshi's book provides a lot of details.
6. Village names with Chikhli or Chikhali through out Maharashtra refer to Chikka Halli (small village) in Kannada.
Chinchwada means village of chinch (tamarind in Kannada) trees.
7. Food habits of north Karnataka and Maharashtra are same - Jowar rotis, chapatis form the staple food.
The Lunar Hindu new year festival - Ugadi or Gudi Padva : same food delicacies prepared which indicates common past : Puran Poli (Purana Polige in Old Kannada)
8. History :
Chalukyas of Badami, Rashtrakutas and even Sevunas of Devagiri were great Kannada Emperors who ruled whole of Deccan and even upto Kannauj sometimes. Later Sevuna kings (though they were Kannadigas) encouraged Marathi and it flourished.
9. Rani Chennamma of Keladi offered refuge to Maratha Chatrapati Rajaram and fought bravely Aurangzeb and his vast Mughal army being a woman and thus helped protect the Maratha empire from a possible early end!
10. Chalukya Kannada emperor Pulikesin II defended Thane, Bharuch and Gujarat coasts, defeated and drove away the invading Arab navies in 634 AD.
Rashtrakuta emperors Vikramaditya also defended India's west coast and Deccan from Muslim invasion by Arabs of Sind since 711AD. Refer Battle of Rajasthan. Else, the chances were high that Gujarat, Maharashtra and other places could have ended up now being in Pakistan with Muslim majority population.
So both Kannadigas and Marathis should be grateful to each other for protecting their cultures and tradition.
I have so many common culture details to mention.
Thanks
Patil is one of the most common surnames for Kannadigas and Marathis alike. Other examples : Chogle, Kore, Solanke, etc.,
DeletePatil is one of the most common surnames for Kannadigas and Marathis alike. Other examples : Chogle, Kore, Solanke, etc.,
DeleteVery well put Nithin. We sadly tend to use these facts to divide rather than unite.
DeleteKeshdaji Thank u very much for sharing your rich experience.there are many like us who are born on borders and share same lineage but get confused in life.what are we kannadiga or marathi...No we are the unique Sangam of both.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your views. I am obliged.
DeleteKulkarni sir, you realise that you have the best of both worlds.
DeleteThere are lots of vested interests who are are working hard to destroy the concept of Bharata.
Exaggerating small incidents from our past, fabricating stories, wiping out history, creating hostility between every group or individual is their sole primary motive.
The benefits vary from buisness to political to religious and many more. People should be wise and realise thar beauty of Bharata is acceptance.
Dhanyavada Dixit sir.
Kulkarni sir, you realise that you have the best of both worlds.
DeleteThere are lots of vested interests who are are working hard to destroy the concept of Bharata.
Exaggerating small incidents from our past, fabricating stories, wiping out history, creating hostility between every group or individual is their sole primary motive.
The benefits vary from buisness to political to religious and many more. People should be wise and realise thar beauty of Bharata is acceptance.
Dhanyavada Dixit sir.
Kanada means difficult to understand
ReplyDeleteSorry to say its not "difficult" its leela of Krishna we cannot understand just like Vedas which without guru cannot understand.
DeleteIf Kannada was difficult, crores of people would not have been able to learn. So is any language. Its all about will and not skill. I have learnt marathi, gujrati and telugu apart from kannada ,sanskrit and english. Give it a try.
ReplyDelete