page_title: Kodava people
section_title: Eminent Kodavas
hierarchical_section_title: Kodava people / Eminent Kodavas
caption_attribution_description: English: Ayudha_Katti
context_page_description: The term Kodava has two related usages. Firstly, it is the name of the Kodava language and culture followed by a number of communities from Kodagu. Secondly, within the Kodava - speaking communities and region it describes the dominant Kodav people. The Kodavas, are considered a patrilineal ethno-lingual tribe from the region of Kodagu, who natively speak the Kodava language. Traditionally they are land-owning agriculturists with martial customs. They practice family exogamy and caste endogamy. Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.
context_section_description: The Kodavas have contributed immensely towards the growth of the Indian nation, despite them being in small numbers. Their most significant contributions are in the armed forces and in sports. Originally being land-owning militiamen farmers from Kodagu, hence their traditional twin occupations were as agriculturists and as soldiers. The distinguished among them had been local chieftains, palace officials, officers of the Raja's army and brave battle veterans, therefore invariably having attained fame in either government service or in the local army. The Kodava ancestors grew paddy and plantation crops like bananas and pepper, their descendants are now into coffee cultivation.
caption: Coorg sword, also called Oidekatti or Ayda Katti (Ayudha Katti)
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