Kodagu Gowda Samaja® Bangalore (KGSB) was first started by a handful of community members who migrated from Kodagu to Bangalore in search of Jobs. Many landed working in several Govt. Departments including DRDO, B.E.L, H.A.L, B.E.M.L, H.M.T, State & Reserve Police, State Govt.Departments, Educational Institutions, Indian Defence and also in other Private Organizations.Few of them even started their own companies serving local bangalore people and made a name for themselves.

Inception and Evolution:

In February 1965 under the guidance of Sri. Kedambadi P Mudappa, Sri. Thotambailu Belliappa, Sri. Cheriamane Ponnappa, Sri. Ame Shivaroy, Sri. Nadubetti Seetharam, Sri. kedambadi Vasudeva, Sri. Chettimada Chinappa , Sri. Nidube Chinnappa and a few others conducted the 1st meeting of kodagu gowda samaja® bangalore at new krishna bhavan restaurant, Malleshwaram. Further In the Year 1966 Sri. Kedambadi P Muddappa was made as the 1st president of the kodagu gowda samaja® bangalore and first celebrated kail murtha habba in bangalore with the local arebhase gowda’s.

Infrastructure Development:

During 1985 Sri. Padichettira Mandanna, then president of KGSB and also ex-SBI Officers Association President, was one of the main active samaja member who was responsible for purchasing the Kaval Byrasandra, RT Nagar revenue site for the samaja and started the construction of the building.Unfortunately he expired in the middle of the construction period and this was later completed by Sri. Thotambailu Belliappa.This helped the community people meet each other often on various festival occasions,supporting the upliftment of our kodagu arebhase gowda community in bangalore and also to help the community students who came to bangalore for higher education.

Later with the community base increasing over the years, Sri. Thotambailu Belliappa and Sri. Ammavana Vasu, visualized of having a bigger & spacious samaja building. They approached the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Sri. Kombarana G Bopaiah, then Hon’ble Speaker, Govt. of Karnataka for a Civic Amenity (C.A) site. Sri. Ammavana Vasu, who has served as Samaja President for 17 years, relentlessly strived to get sanction of a suitable C.A site from BDA. Further with the help of Sri. K G Bopaiah and then Karnataka Chief Minister Sri. B S Yedurappa, a C.A Site No 6, in vishweshwaraiah layout 5th block, Ullala, measuring around 3227 Sq.Meter (nearly 1 acre plot) was allotted to the samaja on 30 year lease basis.

The Foundation laying ceremony was held on dated : 23rd February 2013 under the leadership of Sri. Ammavana Vasu, then President, Kodagu Gowda Samaja® Bangalore. Sri. K.G. Bopaiah, Hon’ble Speaker, Govt. of Karnataka and Sri. R. Ashok, Deputy Chief Minister, Govt. of Karnataka graced the occasion as chief guests.

Ullala Facility: A New Chapter:

The Samaja’s construction team conceived the project requirement and completed it in 4 years. Sri. Kekada Nanda was one of the initial community member who voluntarily reached the site and kick-started the construction with digging the borewell and getting the motor and other equipment’s installed with his own personal money.The initial phase of the construction would not have been possible without the timely monetary support through donations from Smt. Vijayalakshmi (USA) daughter of Late kedambadi Muddappa, Sri. Kekada A Nanda, Karnataka State Government and several individual community members who whole heartedly donated in several thousands to lakhs of rupees.

50th Year Golden Jubilee Celebration:

On 03rd November 2019, under the presidentship of Sri. Ame Sitaram, kodagu gowda samaja® bangalore celebrated its 50th Year Golden Jubilee Function at our ullala facility. This was graced by Sri Sri Sri Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, the 72nd Pontiff of Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math and Sri. D.V Sadanada Gowda, Sri. K.G Bopaiah.

Today the building houses 2 floor community halls which can house around 1000+ person floating capacity with 15 fully furnished guest rooms, beautiful Lawn and a parking lot. The halls and rooms are supported by a kitchen with dining hall which can accommodate around 400 persons at a time.

Current Facilities and Leadership:

Sri. Kekada Nanaiah, Retd. DySP is the current president of kodagu gowda samaja® bangalore since 2020 and is actively involved in completing the current amenities and expansion of the ullala samaja building. He is also actively following with B.D.A to get the shortage land allotted to the samaja.Under his leadership several community related activities and events are regularly held at the samaja. For the 1st time in samaja history Sri. Kekada Nanaiah has started new initiatives such as Online Huttari cultural programs during COVID time, Vidya Yojane, Career Counselling, Death Relief Fund, COVID Warriors Felicitation, Bhombat Bojana, Online Quiz etc…

Community Engagement:

The samaja also helps needy people with donations for their children’s education, medical help like cancer treatment & other major surgeries. Under Sri. Kekada Nanaiah guidance the samaja’s Mahila Ghataka and Youth Wing operates and supports all cultural events.

The samaja conducts all our community festivals and cultural events throughout the year with the help of our administrative team. Further the samaja also helps in letting out the community halls at affordable prices to others for Engagement, Marriage, Beegara Oota, Thithi Functions, Birthday parties and Family / Community Get Together.

Acknowledgments:

On behalf of the entire kodagu arebhase gowda community, we would like to Whole Heartedly THANK our Donor’s who have generously helped us build this samaja, with special reference to Sri. Kekada A Nanda (highest donor), Smt. Vijayalakshmi (USA) daughter of Late Kedambadi Muddappa , Sri. Bittera Prabakar, Dr. Bytadka Bojamma Joyappa and Sri. Cheriamane Ratnakumar, Karnataka State Government and individual community members who whole heartedly donated in thousands to lakhs of rupees.