Overview

Karnataka boasts palm-fringed beaches, Maharaja’s palaces and ancient sculptured temples, the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet, wildlife sanctuaries, scenic hill ranges, and India’s “Silicon Valley,” Bangalore. Located in the south of the country, Karnataka is surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and the states of Goa, Maharastra, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The state was created in 1956 from the former state of Mysore, a “princely state” of the British India, and renamed in 1976.

The headquarters of Coorg Organisation for Rural Development (CORD), is located in Kushalnagar, a town of 13,000 people in southwestern Karnataka. The Bylakuppe settlement for Tibetan refugees is nearby in Mysore district.

Geography and Climate

Karnataka has distinct regional landscapes: a narrow fertile coastal strip to the west through which several rivers run; the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, with wet slopes and a narrow strip of dense tropical forests; the arid Deccan Plateau to the east; and the southwest hills and valleys of the Kodagu district, where CORD is located. The state claims five national parks and 25 wildlife sanctuaries, and grows coffee along the border with Kerala.

The climate varies from region to region, but October through March is generally pleasant throughout the entire state, except during a few spells of rain affecting the southeastern part of the state from October to December. April and May are hot and very dry, with oppressive weather during June due to intense humidity and high temperature. While still humid, July, August, and September are manageable because of reduced daytime temperatures.

People

The fifty-three million people of Karnataka are as varied as its landscapes. In the north dwell the Lingayats, followers of a twelfth-century Hindu saint; in the south, the rich farming communities of Vokkaligas; along the coast, fishing communities whose ancestors traded with ancient Mesopotamia, Persia, and Greece. The legacy of the Portuguese lingers in the coastal city of Mangalore where Christianity made inroads in the sixteenth century. The tribal communities, or Adivasi, live mostly in the north and west. CORD works mainly with tribal communities living in southern Karnataka. The literacy rate in the state is 66.6% with 76.1% of males and 56.9% of females being literate.

Languages

Kannada, the official and most widely spoken language in Karnataka, has a rich literary tradition. English, the medium of education in many schools, and Hindi are also commonly used. Urdu is spoken by the Muslim population. Other languages in the state are the south Indian languages of Tamil and Telegu as well as Marathi, the state language of bordering Maharastra.

Culture

Successive Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslims rulers controlled the region leaving a legacy of cultural richness and architectural masterpieces. The opulent Mysore Palace, home of the Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore, recalls the midpoint of the British Raj. With its many temples and palaces, the deserted city of Hampi in northern Karnataka offers a glimpse of the extravagant wealth of the spice and cotton trade. Great saints, reformers, poets, and writers have left their deep imprint on the heritage of Karnataka. The traditional arts of dance, classical music, and drama are highly evolved. Exquisite handicrafts including silk weavings, sandalwood, ivory, and stone carvings, metal ware, and red clay tiles of Mangalore attest to the keen aesthetic tradition in the state. South Indian food—dosas (a crepe made from rice and served with side dishes), idlis (steamed black lentil and rice patties served with chutneys or other accompaniments), and thalis (rice, surrounded by several bowls of vegetables and sauces and eaten with wheat flatbread)—are known the world over. Karnatakan specialties such as bisi bele bath, a delicacy of rice seasoned with lentils, spices, and tamarind are sure to pique the palate.

More recent achievements in Karnataka focus on information technology innovation and expansion. The tree-lined boulevards of Bangalore, the capital of the state and India’s “byte basket,” house some of the country’s most prolific and important research and development centers.

Religion

Most Karnatakans are Hindu. Eleven percent of the population is Muslim; four percent are Christian. Small minorities practice Jainism, Buddhism, and an assortment of other religions. The term Hindu covers a number of religious sect ranging from monotheists to polytheists in various degrees. Religion is central to the daily lives and societal expectations of villagers.

Social Issues

Social conditions tend to be better in south India, with women there generally exercising greater freedom in movement and autonomy in household decisions than their counterparts in north India. In addition, Karnataka is one of the most educationally advanced states in India. Yet, the social problems that plague India, including poverty, gender and caste discrimination, early marriages, and domestic violence, are common in Karnataka. Over the last several decades, NGOs, like CORD, have formed and are working to empower women, tribal communities, and other disadvantaged groups in the state. By having access to basic services, such as health care, water, and sanitation, and livelihood and skills training, these groups can take charge of their lives and direct their futures.

The Future of Karnataka

As a state enjoying educational achievement and more progressive attitudes than in other parts of India, Karnataka has great potential to address its social problems. The wealth of Bangalore, which currently does not trickle down to the poor in the city, let alone the state, could be tapped to provide more social services. The efforts of NGOs, like CORD, to equip the disadvantaged with tools to improve the quality of their lives and to encourage their collective organization bodes well for the future of Karnataka.