Harish Sunkappa Dodamani

This Foundation Project implemented by IFA will engage sixth grade students of Government Model Higher Primary School in Tadasa, Shiggaon taluk, Haveri district with the project titled Korama Samudaya Eduve Kalegala Samudaya. Students will explore the art and culture of the Korama tribal community connecting it to their curriculum in environmental science and languages. Students will engage with the craft practices of the community and train in the Koravanji folk art form. Harish Sunkappa Dodamani will be the Coordinator for this project. 

Harish Sunkappa Dodamani is a theatre practitioner from Ramdurg taluk, Belagavi district. Harish has worked in Rangayana, Dharwad theatre repertory as an actor and director. He has been working with children through art activities and theatre workshops. Harish has worked with Aata-Maata theatre group started by Mahadeva Hadapada in Dharwad, in exploring various theatre narratives. Given his experience, Harish is best placed to be the Project Coordinator of this Foundation Project of IFA.      

The Korama community is found across all the states of South India, with a significant presence in the northern part of Karnataka. This community is considered a nomadic tribal group that has gradually settled down to establish their livelihoods. Although there have been some changes in their current lifestyle, they have managed to preserve their customs, beliefs, art, culture, and craftsmanship. As a result, it is still possible to witness their practices, art forms, and craftsmanship today. This community has been engaged in the age-old art of crafting various household and agricultural tools and utensils since ancient times.

The community crafts household items like baskets, mats, and utensils using reeds and palm leaves, as well as toys for children such as dolls and tops. The men in this community used to hunt by setting traps. Their cultural and traditional art forms, such as Koravanji and the playing of traditional instruments like the dholak serve as evidence of their rich heritage. However, in recent times, their art is fading away due to a lack of proper recognition and platforms. With the availability of cheaper plastic alternatives in the market, the demand for their handmade items has decreased, leading to a gradual decline in the production of these artistic goods. As a result, the artistic heritage of this community is at risk of disappearing. 

This project will work towards capturing the rich art and craft practice of this community by involving sixth grade students and teachers of Government Model Higher Primary School in Tadasa village of Haveri district. Students will be engaged with a series of workshops and activities on handicrafts by selecting topics from their environmental science and language curriculum. Students will learn the Koravanji artform and a few tribal songs from the community. The project coordinator will introduce them to a few artists and scholars working locally with the community and the students will interact and document their learnings in the form of stories. Teachers and students will prepare small hand puppets from their craft items and develop stories around it. 

Students will work closely with the Korama community members with a few field visits to their localities. They will write and document their learnings through paintings and drawings. All these elements of the project will culminate into a performance and an exhibition along with the publication of the all their stories and reflections. 

The outcome of the project will be an exhibition and a performance in the presence of school staff, community members, and a publication. The deliverables to IFA with the final report will include a copy of the publication, still and video documentation of the process, performance, and an exhibition.

This project suitably addresses the framework of IFA’s Arts Education programme in the manner in which it attempts to help students connect their school curriculum to the stories from the regions they inhabit and communities they live with.

IFA will ensure that the implementation of this project happens in a timely manner and funds expended are accounted for. IFA will also review the progress of the project at midterm and document it through an Implementation Memorandum. After the project is finished and all deliverables are submitted, IFA will put together a Final Evaluation to share with Trustees.