B.K. Thelma, who led the first genetic study of Kodavas, has been chosen as ‘Coorg Person of the Year 2025’ by a news and tourism portal called www.coorgtourisminfo.comThe portal, promoted by journalist and author P.T. Bopanna, annually selects the ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ on the basis of a poll conducted through the portal.“The origin of Kodavas in Karnataka has been a standing riddle for ethnologists all these years. The credit for solving the mystery behind their origin should go to Coorg-born professor Buttiyanda Kuttappa Thelma and her team,” said a statement from the portal.“Carrying out a systematic sampling of the Kodavas from across Kodagu, using the available genetic analytical tools, Thelma and her team have been successful in publishing a scientific paper on the genetic makeup of Kodavas,” the statement further said.Prof. Thelma, aged around 70, belongs to the Kodava community, known for its uniqueness, especially with regard to dress code and cuisine.“She is a recipient of several awards, to name a few — C.N.R. Rao Lifetime Achievement Award from Karnataka S&T academy (2021), Meritorious Service Award from University of Delhi (2021), National Science Chair (2021-2026), J.C. Bose fellowship (2011-2021), S.P. Raychaudhuri Endowment Lecture Award, Indian Society of Cell Biology (2018), Sanghvi Oration Award, Indian Society of Human Genetics (2015), Sunder Lal Hora Medal, Indian National Science Academy (2014),” the statement added.Published - December 29, 2025 07:53 pm IST