The month-long Kodava hockey festival held during April is the largest ever hockey event to be organised in any part of the world at one stretch, says P T Bopanna.   Ever heard of a game of hockey being used as a catalyst for the development of infrastructure in a rural town? That is precisely what is happening to the small town of Ponnampet, in southern Kodagu. Ponnampet had always remained a satellite town of Gonikoppal, a major trading town. With Ponnampet being selected as the venue for the latest edition of ‘family hockey’, finally the town is going to emerge out of the shadows. For those not familiar with the concept of family hockey, it is a game played on the lines similar to highland games played by various clans in Scotland. Only Kodava families (clans) are permitted to play. There is no gender or age bar for participation in the tournament. Some of the participants have played at the international level. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Kodagu (Coorg) is a nursery of Indian hockey. For the last several decades, hockey players from Kodagu have found a representation in the Indian team to the Olympics. Arjun Halappa and Len Aiyappa have now kept up the tradition. Those from Kodagu who have captained the Indian team in the past include the legendary B P Govinda, M P Ganesh and M M Somaiya. In recent years, the game of hockey which had been overshadowed by cricket, received a new lease of life. Pandanda Kuttappa, popularly known as Kuttani, a retired State Bank of India official and a hockey enthusiast, started the family hockey tournament exclusively for the Kodavas in 1997. Of the over 700 Kodava families, more than 200 families have been sending their teams for the tournament which is played in the month of April. More than a sport, the month-long family hockey tournament has become a sort of social event, with family members cheering up their teams with gusto. There is a festive atmosphere in the air with stalls coming up near the match venues, serving delicious Kodava dishes. The hockey festival has already found its name in the Limca Book of Records for the largest ever hockey event to be organised in any part of the world at one stretch. In the past, the host family entrusted with conducting the family hockey tournament, used to develop the sports infrastructure around the venue. With more than 200 families participating, the hosts used to develop extra play grounds, which later became a permanent field for the benefit of local sport enthusiasts. However, the latest 10th edition of the Kodava Hockey Festival being hosted by the Kallichanda family at Ponnampet from the middle of April is going to be different from the previous tournaments held across Kodagu in the past. It is not just the playgrounds that are getting a face-lift as in the past. The hosts are planning to develop the infrastructure around the Junior College at Ponnampet with a view to upgrade the Junior College into a first grade college. What is unique this time is that the government agencies are chipping in with funds to improve infrastructure in a big way. While the Kallichanda family members are planning to spend around Rs 10 lakh, the district and state administrations have chalked out plans for developmental schemes amounting to nearly Rs 40 lakh. This includes the building of a retaining wall along the newly laid out ground by the district administration at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh, improving the garden by the social forestry department, and provision for drinking water by the Zilla Panchayat. Besides, various departments of the government have extended financial grants for repair of the existing pavilion, construction of new toilets and whitewash of the building, etc. Asked what prompted them to take up the comprehensive development of the entire Junior College campus, Kallichanda K Kariappa, President of the Hockey Cup Committee said: “We want to leave behind something for posterity besides hosting the festival.” Kallichanda S Kashi, Chairman, and Kallichanda M Bopaiah, Secretary, have been toiling day and night not only for the success of the festival, but working sincerely towards starting a first grade college at Ponnampet, a town which definitely deserves a better deal. The Kodava Hockey Academy is the apex body which has the final word on matters related to the tournament. Sixty families participated in the first tournament organised by the Pandanda family in 1997 at Karada which was won by the Kaliyanda family. The Kodira Cup in the following year played at Kadanga had 116 teams vying for the cup which was finally clinched by the Kullettira family. Both Koothanda family and Kullettira family were declared joint winners of the Ballachanda Cup held in 1999 which attracted participation of 140 teams. The Cheppudira Cup held at Ponnompet in 2000 saw the participation of 170 teams and the Nallamakkada Cup held at Ammathi in 2001 had 220 families. The Koothanda family emerged the winners on both the occasions. The Kullettira family bagged the Chekkera Cup tournament held at Hudikeri in 2002 which witnessed participation from 252 teams. The Kaliyanda Cup played at Napoklu in 2003 drew a record 280 teams and the Nallamakkada family won the tournament. The Koothanda family established their supremacy in family hockey by winning for the fourth time when they clinched the Maleyanda Cup in 2004 which saw 235 teams in action. The Biddanda Family Cup held in 2005 was won by the Nallamakkada family. It is of interest to note that the concept of family hockey has brought unity among the Kodava families scattered on account of the break-up of the joint family system. It has become an occasion when family members can get together and sort out their problems in a spirit of bonding. It also gives an opportunity for Kodavas living outside the district to return to their roots and renew their acquaintance with the other family members.