Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 15: The state government, through Karnataka Koragas (Prohibition of Ajalu Practice) Act 2000, had placed a ban on Ajalu practice, holding that it is derogatory to the self esteem of Koragas. Even after 11 years since, the practice has not died down, although it has perceivably come down.

Alleging that ‘Ajalu’ was practiced during the holding of rural sport, ‘Kambala’ at Voddmbettu in Kokkarne in the district on Tuesday, Koragas held a protest on Wednesday December 14. Pointing out that this is clear violation of the above act, a large number of people belonging to Koraga community held dharna in front of the office of the district deputy commissioner here. The protest was led by Union of Koraga Development Organizations, Karnataka-Kerala. The protestors, who demanded legal action against the violators, handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

The protestors, who alleged that the provisions of the said act were violated during the Voddambettu Kambala in Kudi village and Nadoor Kambala held some days ago at Kenjur, accused the government officials of allowing the practice to continue, without taking action against the culprits. They said that repeated violations of the act with the backing of vested interests had been brought to the notice of the concerned, but that inertia on their part had been coming as a boost to the flagrant violators of law.

Dinesh Koraga, president of Kokkarne Zone Koraga Abhivriddhi Sangha, said that tahsildar of the taluk, who happens to be the president of taluk level Ajalu Practice Prohibition Committee, had been requested by Kokkarna Koraga Sangha on December 1 through a petition, to ensure that the services of Koragas are not availed for this practice at Kenjur and Voddambettu Kambalas held on December 6 and 13 respectively. He revealed that the organizers of these two Kambalas had committed in writing in front of the station house officer of Brahmavar police station on December 5, that the provisions of the above act would not be violated. “In spite of this commitment, Ajalu was practiced by using members of Koraga community at these Kambalas. These also happen to be incidents of violation of human rights,” Dinesh Kenjur explained.

He said that because of widespread awareness created by the Koraga organizations in the region against participating in the practiced cited above, no Koraga is interested in it. He however, charged the Kambala organizers of availing of the services of Koragas from Barkur region, by offering monetary lure.  He said that about 12 Koragas including women and children had been appointed to play the Dolu (percussion instrument), and to guard the Kambala field the entire previous night, which is called ‘Pani Koorunu’. Dinesh Kenjur also said that at the Kambala held in Nadoor, services of Nalke community were used for donning the ‘Chunna Vesha’, a procedure which is believed to ward off ill effects of the evil eyes of the people which are thought to be ominous for Kambala field and the buffaloes participating in the sport, as no Koraga was willing to do it.