PATTOLE PALAME Kodava Culture, Folksongs and Traditions by Nadikerianda Chinnappa Translation by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa   Introduction The Pattole Palame is a collection of Kodava folksongs and traditions compiled in the early 1900's by Nadikerianda Chinnappa. It was first published in 1924 and is said to be one of the earliest, if not the earliest, collection of the folklore of a community in an Indian language. The fourth edition of the Pattole Palame was published in 2002 by the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy. We Kodavas are a people with martial traditions, a unique culture and an immensely practical outlook on life. Many of our customs and traditions are distinctive and quite different from that of the people in the neighbouring districts of Kerala and Karnataka. Nearly two thirds of the book consists of folksongs that were handed down orally through generations. Many of these songs are sung even today during our marriage and death ceremonies, during our festivals relating to the seasons and during festivals in honour of local deities and heroes. Traditionally known as Balo Pat, these songs are sung by four men who beat dudis as they sing. The songs have haunting melodies and evoke memories of times long past. Kodava folk dances are performed to the beat of many of these songs. The 515 pages of the Pattole Palame (718 pages in translation) cover a broad range of topics on our culture, in six chapters: 1. A description of Kodagu and its history. 2. Kodava customs. 3. Kodava festivals. 4. Songs of gods and goddesses. 5. Songs of heroes. 6. Proverbs, Sayings and Riddles. The Pattole Palame contains hilarious stories and plays, many in verse form. These are recited or acted during Puttari. It also contains enchanting ballads about local deities and heroes. The more than 700 proverbs in the Pattole Palame provide a fascinating insight into our heritage and traditional wit. These songs, stories, plays and proverbs are rich in detail and give a picturesque account of the geography and topography of our land and of our way of life. The Pattole Palame was written using the Kannada script, which was the official language of Kodagu since the time of the Lingayat Rajas, who ruled Kodagu from the early 1600's till 1834 when the British took over. The Pattole Palame has been translated into English by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa, grandchildren of Nadikerianda Chinnappa, and has been published by Rupa & Co., New Delhi.     This translation is primarily meant for Kodavas, many of whom are not aware of or have forgotten the glorious heritage that is ours. Those who have not read the Pattole Palame or have not listened carefully to the songs sung on various occasions in Kodagu have certainly missed the wealth of information in them and the sheer beauty of our folksongs. Many young Kodavas, especially those living outside Kodagu either do not know our language or cannot read Kannada or both and therefore are generally not aware of our customs and traditions and our folksongs. The Pattole Palame is a precious collection of our heritage. It is our fervent hope that this translation will help Kodavas in appreciating and preserving that heritage.     Copies of (i) the 4th edition of the Pattole Palame by Nadikerianda Chinnappa (1924) in the Kannada script (with the text in Kannada and songs & proverbs etc., in Kodava language) as well as (ii) its English translation by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa (2003), in both paperback and hardbound editions, are available in Kodagu at the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, Scouts & Guides Building, near Mann's Compound, Madikeri 571201 (Tel: 229074) and in Bangalore with Sri Palanganda Chengappa, Sree Cauvery PU College & School, Indiranagar, Bangalore 560 038 (Tel:2525 0894 (O) / after 6.30 PM at 2351 4968 (R). Copies of the English translation of the Pattole Palame are also available in bookstores in Bangalore (Premier, Gangarams, Sapna, Shankars).