Asutosh

I am a 31 year young PhD graduate who has decided to travel the length and breadth of India on my cycle, to document the journey of meeting a vast array of people. In my journey, I intend to understand the characteristic features of the people of this nation and categorize them based on their demographics, age, profession, gender, traditions, and cultural differences.

Facts about Kodagu district

7 Interesting facts about Kodagu/coorg district nobody knows about

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

The first thing that crosses the mind of people when they speak about the Kodagu district is the tourist locations one can visit. Located just 250 Km away from Bangalore, Madikeri is a weekend getaway place for many Bangaloreans. The place where parents take kids during summer holidays and people from all over the country come to soak in the beautiful view of the mountains and enjoy the cool weather.

Apart from being a tourist location, did you know that the Kodagu district (formerly called Coorg state until 1956 before merging with the Mysore state) was an independent state until 1956? Did you know that the district has the least population amongst all districts in Karnataka? Did you know that Coorgis are majorly agriculturalists but also belong to the warrior clan?

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Hakki Pikki tribals

Who are the Hakki Pikki tribals of India? How is life of the hakki pikki tribals?

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

Of the large number of tribals relocated from forests to main lands by the government, the Hakki Pikki tribals are one of them, who have settled in southern parts of India. These people are specialists at catching birds and have honed in on the art for ages.

They speak in a language of their own called the Adivasi language. The language is close to Gujarati but does not have a script of its own. Neither do these people know where they descended from. Right now, there are about 20 colonies of roughly 100 families each, located around southern parts of India, especially Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

Who are the Hakki Pikki tribals of India? How is life of the hakki pikki tribals? Read More »

Commercial cropping in Karnataka

Why are farmers turning to commercial cropping and forgetting local crops in south Karnataka?

2 Comments / Karnataka, People /

Traditional cropping has been followed for ages in India, providing a wide variety of crops and yields that are endemic to specific regions of the state. Most of these crops do not have much commercial value but serve as nutritious food to the locals.

Maize, pulses, oil seeds, and a wide variety of millets, are the traditional crops of Karnataka. If you happen to go to a village, you get to have local cuisines prepared using the above. Jowar muddhe (Smushed local corn dish), uchellu pudi (Niger seed powder), and pulse sambar, are some of them.

Why are farmers turning to commercial cropping and forgetting local crops in south Karnataka? Read More »

Life of scheduled tribe person in Karnataka

How is the life and mindset of a scheduled tribe in Karanataka?

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

The first thing that comes across our mind when we speak about scheduled tribes is a reservation category. Bred and reared in cities, most of us are hardly aware of how the life or the mindset of a scheduled tribe person is.

Most of the scheduled tribe people are allocated in pockets close to the villages. The reason they tend to stay outside of the mainstream areas is that they are looked down at. Our culture has quite a bit of casteism making it hard for the lives of people who belong to these lower categories.

What exactly is the mentality of these people who are looked down upon and made to reside outside the village premise?

How is the life and mindset of a scheduled tribe in Karanataka? Read More »

Issues of caste-based system

The issue of caste based system in Karnataka seen from four different perspectives

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

Caste-based demarkation and hierarchy are long-standing issues passed on over the ages. As city dwellers, we are hardly aware of how much impact it has on the life of people in remote locations.

There have been innumerable arguments from both sides, defending and attacking one another. Both sides, however, can not be completely right or wrong.

On my all-India cycle tour journey starting from Karnataka, I got asked multiple times what caste I belong to. This stirred up some thoughts in my mind. I want to ask why people still thrive forward with the caste-based system.

I was offered perspectives from an 8th-standard category-based kid, a Bhraman, and a mixed group of people sitting together on the caste-based system of the society.

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Importance of culture

What is the importance of culture? Is it necessary to follow your culture?

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

When it comes to following culture and age-old traditions, the first thing that younger generations say is “it is a thing of the past”. Cultures hardly exist in cities that raise a mixed breed of people.

In such communities, people are negligent and ‘culture-less’. It isn’t surprising at all that the newer generations deny culture. It is not their fault. They just don’t understand its meaning because of their upbringing.

On my all-India cycle tour, it took me only 5 and a half days to understand the importance of culture. To go from ‘culture-less’ to ‘want to be cultured’. So, why is it necessary to follow your culture? And what is the importance of culture?

What is the importance of culture? Is it necessary to follow your culture? Read More »

13th Century copper plate from the Wadiyar dynasty depicting the tradition

Age old traditions of Wadiyar dynasty you will be surprised to hear exists to date

1 Comment / Karnataka, People /

Some cultures and traditions are followed over centuries together, passed on from generation to generation that exists to date. The Wadiyar dynasty were the kings of Mysore who ruled the kingdom from the late 1300s until 1950. Some of the traditions they must have followed in the past must seem obsolete today. However, that is not the case!

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Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring?

Cycle /

Why couchsurfing events are the best platform for all-India cycle touring? If you are planning on an all-India cycle tour, you must have already heard of couchsurfing by now. Couchsurfing is an app-based platform where hosts across the country accept travellers as guests. It is a purely service-based platform requiring no money to be paid

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