“Komarpanths’ display of their Secular Kshatriya nature during the Statue Unveiling Event of Henja Naik” - news report

“Komarpanths’ display of their Secular Kshatriya nature during the Statue Unveiling Event of Henja Naik”

The unveiling/installation ceremony of the Statue of Veera Henja Naik at his Samadhi (tomb) near Govt. Boys Model School at Kodibag of Karwar was an event that reflected Patriotism and Secularism, proving that Komarpanths are the real patriotic Kshatriyas, with Nation First in their hearts.

Swami Bhaveshananda-ji of Ramakrishna Mission, Karwar, noted in his Inaugural address that the event was “Society/community building/integrating event”.

Naval Commander Vinaybhushan Naik gave a call to all Karwar youth to follow the footsteps of Veera Henja Naik, and join the Defence Forces to serve the Nation.

The Event was attended by prominent Karwarians, such as Adv Nagaraj Nayak, Maqbool Shaikh, Nazeer Shaikh, P. M. Tandel, Adv Kishore Desai, Ramesh Gowda, man of whom were felicitated on the occasion.

Komarpanth members from Dandeli, Ravi P. Naik, Gajendra Naik, Smt. Anu Kalas, Shankar Majalikar, Prakash Naik, Mohan Shiva Naik, Prabhakar Malsekar, and many more, were present. Shivanand Kalas dressed as Mahatma Gandhi and Vinod Naik as Veera Henja Naik himself were the centre of attention in the event.

Translation  of Karavali Munjavu News dated 19-2-2013

Veera Henja Naik Statue Procession in Karwar on 17-2-2013

Excerpts of the news of the Komarpanth Community Procession dated 17th February 2013

from Karavali Munjavu, Karwar's local Kannada Daily, dated 18th February 2013.

The Procession started from the Flower Chowk of Karwar (Main Rickshaw-stand) and ended at the Samadhi of Veera Henje Naik at Kodibag, Karwar, attended by numerous Samaj members and citizens of Karwar.

 First from the right of the Photograph is Sri. Maruti R Naik of Kadwad

"Kshatriya Komarpath members/people have been known for their valour, and have been active in protecting their Land, for which Veera Henja Naik is the best proof", said Naval Commander Vinaybhushan Naik, who presided as the Chief Guest of the Statue Installation Ceremony. "One soldier should be born in every home of Karnataka, and each house should send a son to join the defence forces of the country", was the call given by Cmdr Vinaybhushan Naik.

Swami Bhaveshananda of Ramakrishna Math, Karwar, said Karwar was the land of Blessed people, and opined that everyone should stand against injustice and corruption in the society.

Sri. Nanda Achari, the sculptor and Ex-servicemen of the community were honoured on the occassion.

Source - Karavali Munjavu News

Play/Drama on Veera Henja Naik

A press conference was held to announce the unveiling of the Play/Drama of Veera Henja Naik, at the Samaj Hall, Karwar.

Unveiling of Veer Henja Naik's Statue - In the News

The local Kannada Daily - Karavali Munjavu, published from Karwar carried the news of the Chief Minister unveiling the Statues of Veera Henja Naik and Chattrapati Shivaji, at Karwar.

Statue of Henja Naik unveiled

The statues of King Shivaji and Henja Naik, a local warrior who fought against the British rulers, were brought to Karwar on Sunday afternoon from Miraj in a truck. Both the statues are made of bonze and have been manufactured in Miraj in Maharashtra.

The statues are being installed by the district administration of Uttara Kannada, the Tourism Department and the Karwar city Municipal Council. The responsibility of installing the statues has been taken up by the Nirmiti Kendra. The cost of making each statue is Rs. 20 lakh, it is said. The sources from Nirmiti Kendra said the statues of Shivaji and Henja Naik were 10 feet and six feet tall respectively. The statue of Shivaji weighed 1.4 tonnes, whereas the statue of Henja Naik weighed four quintals.

Both the statues would be inaugurated by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on December 26 at the Karwar Municipal Garden.

Earlier, the Karwar beach was selected as the venue for the installation of the statues. But following objections by environmentalists it was decided to install the statues at the Municipal Garden.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/statues-of-shivaji-henja-naik-to-be-unveiled-on-december-26/article4233927.ece

 All pictures by Rukumanand Mayekar, Karwar

Source - Karavali Munjavu, Karwar

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/speednewsshow/17731899.cms

Remembering our community's and Karwar's First Freedom Fighter - Sri. "Veera" Henja Naik on Karnataka Rajyotsava 2008

Kannada Rajyotsavada Shubhashayagallu !!!

On the 1st November 2008, Saturday at 7-30AM, Homage was paid to the Matryr Sri. Henja Naik, the first Freedom Fighter/Martyr of Karwar and the Komarpanth Community at his Memorial at Kodibag, Karwar, next to the Government Model Boys School.

People from all classes, sects and creeds participated in this ceremony, organised by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Karwar, the Govt. Model Boys School, Kodibag, Karwar City Municipal President Sri. Ulvekar, and Councillors such as Ranju Malsekar, Devidas Naik. Smt. Divya Naik. 

Sri. Gangadhar Hiregutti Editor of "Karavali Munjavu" newspaper, Sri. Satish Sail of Mallikarjun Shipping were the day's ChiefGuests.

Veteran and septgenerian Sri. Ramdas Krishna Metri spoke about the Matryr Henja Naik, and how valiantly he resisted and fought against the British imperialists, with his Team of supporters, by not allowing the British Ships to enter the Karwar Arabian Sea , and attacking them from the Islands of Devgadh, Anjidiv, Kurumgad and Madhlingad.

The British had to summon their entire Navy from Madras to fight against the Matryr Henja Naik. He was later shot dead at the place where the Memorial is now situated at Kodibag, Karwar.

Only after he was assasinated, the British could move into Karwar and establish their base.

See my earlier Post....

The theme of Sri. Veera Henja Naik was made into a tableau for the Rajyotsava Procession, which starts from the Deputy Commissioner’s office and culminates at the District Police HQ grounds in the Rajyotsava Ceremony. And Guess what… the Prize for the Best Tableau was bagged by this one.  

Google Books - on "Comarapeca" which is "Komarpanth"

A New and Comprehensive Gazetteer By George Newenham Wright - 1835

Link : http://books.google.com/books?id=CCMDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA287&dq=comarapeca&as_brr=1


"The Comarapeca tribe are idle and addicted to robbery."


Universal geography, or A description of all the parts of the world
By Malthe Conrad Bruun - 1822, 1827, 1829

Link : http://books.google.com/books?id=6WQDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA203&dq=comarapeca&as_brr=1


"The Comarapeca, or true Sudras of this division, are both cultivators and soldiers, strongly inclined to robbery, and had acquired an uncommon degree of cruelty during times of anarchy."

A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar... By Francis Hamilton Buchanan

Link : http://books.google.com/books?id=yxYbGRdVEnEC&pg=PA184&dq=comarapeca&as_brr=0&sig=FiSll-iPRbG0PbLnjiljFJ74lA8



"Customs of the Comarapeca

The Comarapeca are a tribe of the Kankana descent, and seem to be Sudras of pure birth, who properly belong to the country; in the same manner as the Nairs are the pure Sudras of Malayala. By birth they are all cultivators and soldiers ; and, as usual with this class of men among the Hindus, are all strongly inclined to be robbers. From the anarchy which has long prevailed in this neighbourhood, they had acquired an extraordinary degree of cruelty, and had even compelled many Brahmins to assume their customs, and adopt their cast. They have hereditary chiefs called Nayakas, who, as usual, with the assistance of a council, can expel from the cast, and settle disputes among their inferiors. A man’s own children are his heirs. They can read poetical legends, and are permitted to eat meat and drink spirituous liquors. Their women are not marriageable after the age of puberty. Widows ought to burn themselves with the bodies of their husbands, but this barbarity is no longer in use. Widows, and women who have been divorced for adultery with a Brahman or Comarapeca, may be taken into a kind of left-hand marriage ; but their children will be despised, and no person of pure descent will marry them. A woman cannot be divorced for any other cause than adultery ; if the crime has been committed with any man but a Brahman, Comarapeca, she loses cast. The men many take as many wives as they please. The Sringagiri Swamalu is their Guru. He receives their Dharma, and bestows on them Upadesa, holy-water, consecrated ashes, and the like. The Panchanga, or astrologer of the village, is their Purohita, and reads prayers (Mantrams) at marriages, Namacurna (the giving a child its name), Tithi, Amavasya, &c. &c. They worship the great gods, Siva and Vishnu, in temples where Kankana Brahmans are Pujaris. They offer bloody sacrifices ; and at the temples of Saktis, or"

{Pages 185-200 are not part of this Book preview}

My Own Comment -

Though I don't agree with the views expressed by the Authors. 
It seems that they had a very bad image of our people/ancestors. 
They have portrayed Komarpanths as rebellious, anti-social, idle, cruel, robbers, anarchists, etc.

However its a fact that Komarpanths were the aboriginal people of North Canara, and were originally soldiers and Agriculturists. Sri Sri Shringeri Jagadguru was their Guru since time immemorial, and they adhered to customs and traditions of the Hindu religion, revered Brahmin and Goud Saraswat priests. That being so, its difficult to believe that Komarpanths were robbers and cruel people. 

I reckon Komarpanths, having the inbred soldier spirit or the fighting spirit in them, never agreed to or subjugated themselves to the Foreign Rulers - the British, and hence the British did not have a good opinion about us. 

Komarpanth Veera Henje Naik born in the year 1736 is a apt example of not only brave soldier but a Patriotic Freedom fighter, who fought against the Britishers and the Sulthans of Mysore. The Britishers later killed him in the year 1801. 

And also See this :- 
http://hindu-kshatriya-komarpanth.blogspot.com/2007/04/history-of-komarpanths.html