May 15th – Badaga Day

It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude, we want to place on record our great appreciation to Poramgadu Seemai leaders including the ‘Parpathi’ and Hubbathalai Gowda Mani for celebrating Badaga Day [please see :- http://badaga.wordpress.com/badaga-day-15th-may/] as ARI GOWDER day at Nattakkal, near Kotagiri in memory of one of the greatest leaders of Badaga Community who had done so much to the society.

Rao Bahadur HB ARI Gowder passed away in 1971 but remembered by the grateful community with love, respect and reverence.

Ari Gowder Family

Mrs.Rukmani Bhojraj [daughter in law]

Mrs.Tara Jayaprakash [grand daughter] and Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash [nephew]

Badaga Inspiration

Badaga Inspiration

[from http://e.amritapuri.org/blogs/2007/347/]

I love watching the Badaga dance in Coimabatore. Two years back when Amma last was here, and again during Amma’s 53rd birthday celebrations in Amritapuri, they
also enchanted the crowd – inspiring westerners, students, and Ashramites to join in . The same happened again this year. Young and old, men and women. Their rhythmic movements, graceful flowing hands and bodies, the beating of drums and call and response voices calls to the dancer inside us. It’s so primal, so natural, and so beautiful.

One wonders how long these people have been dancing like this – how far back
in time? How wonderful that India has been able to preserve these
timeless traditions.

For a while, I was content just taking photos, or watching from the sidelines – focusing on their movements. But I found my inner self wanting to join in. I stood there – conflicted – trying to overcome my inhibitions – people would look at me – a westerner in white awkwardly throwing his body around. But then some westerners did join in, the
Badaga happy to show them the movements even as they were ‘throwing a wrench’ into the coordinated movements of those already dancing.

Still, I stood by the sidelines. Then, at the end of the first night, as Darshan ended, and the Badaga still playing, Amma Herself stood up to leave the stage – and made a full circle – turning round with the beat, no inhibition, no concerns. Just dancing…..

The next day, I knew the Badaga would be there again. Would I join in?

Around 2am, they were singing and dancing again. Again, I stood by the sidelines, thinking about how Amma was so natural, innocent when She danced. I recalled how Amma says it’s just not enough to stand at the shore of the ocean and just get your feet wet. You have to dive in. I recalled how I overcame my fears when I used to go firewalking (walking
on hot coals) – I would stand there trying to convince myself that it would be fine. It just takes a leap of faith…

In a moment of surrender, I joined the line. I found myself behind a Badaga man who was more than happy to call out the movements and changes as we made our way around the circle. I loved it. At times, it was awkward, but once I got the jist of it, it seemed so natural, so beautiful. When we were in synch -hands, legs, arms, – it was so nice – like a huge drum circle when they reach that magical moment when all the drummers are connected and the music just flows. So did our bodies-around and around, faster and faster.

I can’t wait till the next time..

Sri Pati, USA

Coimbatore, 23 January 2007

The story of Ari Gowda

The story of Ariya Gowda 

by Sriram V [The Hindu - Chennai, May 1, 2012]

Ari Gowder was President of the Backward Classes League and leaned towards the Justice Party

The chances of anyone travelling down Ariya Gowda Road in West Mambalam, and stopping to wonder about the identity of the man who gave the thoroughfare its name, are slim. For when you are on Ariya Gowda Road, you are focused on getting out of the road alive, given its traffic.

He was not Ariya Gowda. He was HB Ari Gowder, a great visionary and leader of the Badaga community of the Nilgiris. And his life, as gleaned from various sources, including a 1935 Who’s Who and the internet, makes for interesting reading.

Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai J Bellie Gowder, made his fortune in laying the tracks of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which was completed in 1908. His wealth made him a leading member of his community, and his clansmen came to him for advice on several issues. Bellie Gowder founded a free school in his native village, Hubbathalai, an institution that still functions. He passed away in 1935.

Bellie Gowder’s son, Ari, was born in 1893. His father ensured that he was educated in the modern sense and he graduated from Madras Christian College. Though he was to consider himself a contractor and a planter, it was in politics and social uplift that Ari Gowder was to make a mark. In 1923, he became the first Badaga to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council of which he was a member until 1934. In the 1940s, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly. When the Rajaji government introduced Prohibition in 1937, he led the challenge of enforcing it in the Nilgiris, of which area he was also the first non-official to become District Board President. Ari Gowder was also active in the Scouts Movement. Another contribution of his was the establishment of the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society, which eliminated the stranglehold middlemen had over the simple mountain people. He was also a Director of the Badaga Land Mortgage Bank.

While the sympathies of most of his community lay with the Congress, Ari Gowder, given that he was President of the Backward Classes League, leaned more towards the Justice Party, which was active till the 1930s. That probably explains the road in Mambalam being named after him. Neighbouring Theyagaroya Nagar or T Nagar, developed in the 1920s when the Justice Party was in power and most of the roads, parks and streets there are named after its leaders. Legend also has it that a large chunk of land adjoining the Mambalam Railway Station was his, which he donated for developmental work. Like his father, Ari Gowder too received the title of Rao Bahadur from the British Government, in 1943.

In 1946, Ari Gowder was defeated in the Assembly elections. But in 1952 he contested successfully as an independent. He was to remain an independent for the rest of his career. He passed away in 1971.

How did Ari Gowder Road morph into Ariya Gowda Road? And should it not be just Ari Road?

The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : The story of Ariya Gowda.

 

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BADAGA KOLA [CLAN]

Pratheepan Raju posted this info in FB [http://www.facebook.com/groups/badagas/doc/430310926984904/]

This is a work of Late Thyagi. K.P.Raju Gowder of KADASOLAI Village who was Author of the local Nilgiri magazine called “ARAAICH [Araachi?]” in which he had published 13 issues.

The Badaga community, like several communities of India is formed of different Clans(KOLA) affiliated to different Totems.

The various clans and their totems are as follows:

1. Forefathers of Solur Group – NAGA (COBRA)

2. Forefathers of Thoodagur Group – ANEY (ELEPHANT)

3. Forefathers of Doddur Group – MARI (GODDESS MARI)

4. Forefathers of Sinnakunnur – Kethi – Kundha Group – KASTURI (MUSK DEER)

5. Forefathers of Hebbanadu – Halhattane – Thangadu Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Meekeri – Ithalar – Balakola Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Horanally – Porthy Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Bembatti – Belida Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Kasoley-Mandhanai Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Jakkanarai Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

Forefathers of Kateri Ajjur Group – MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)

6. Forefathers of Adhikari Group – KOVERU (WHITE HORSE)

7. Forefathers of Kagguchchi- Jagadala Group – BELLIE (SILVER)

8. Forefathers of Pannemanai-Kenduva Group – SELANDI (SPIDER)

9. Forefathers of Porangadu Group – MADHUVA (HONEY BEE).

Each clan is exogamous, i.e., man belonging to one clan cannot marry the girls of the same clans as they are the descendants from the same ancestors. Men of one clan can marry girls of different clans affiliated to different totem.

Direct words from from his piece -

“It is claimed that the main merkunadu group,viz, the Hebanad-Halatanai-Thangadu group and the Jakkanarai group are descended from the same forefather. The Late A.N. Kadagowder, former Moniagar of Merkunad, Denad Village and the Late.M.Doddayya Gowder of Halattanai informed the author (Late.Thyagi.K.P.Raju Gowder) that the forefather of the Jakkanarai group of the Badagas was uterine brother of Huliajja, Guruajja and Haraajja, the forefathers of the main group of the merkunad people. The Jakkanarai forefather Batti Hettappa joined the Porangadu forefathers at Thalaimalai and accompanied them to Betalada where he married Yelingi Amma, the sister of 7 forefathers of Porangadu people. The above informants asserted that they belong to the MANIKA CLAN.”

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“Eay, Ah How” – Badaga ‘Athikkodhu’

The beauty about Badaga community is not only the unique customs specific to the community but the steadfast belief with which atleast some of them are followed by Badagas with fervour. one of them is the loud chanting of ‘Athikkodhu – saaying of  EAY AH HOW – on certain but specific occasions.

Three occasions come to mind immediately,

1)During “hethay Habba’ – both when from every village the devotees go to Hethay temples at Beragani and Peddhuva as well as when the Hethay deity is taken to ‘Madi Halla -river’ for change into new dress once a year [and also whenever is a temple deity is taken on procession during habbas in hattis],

2)during weddings when the bride and groom are brought to the ‘Madhuvay Mane – wedding house,and the newly weds are taken to the temple and

3)on funerals when the widow is brought for ‘olay Kattodhu’ and the ‘akki eththuva ‘ procession starts from the ‘dhodda Mane’ to ‘saavu hanay ‘ where the corpse/body is kept before being taken for burial.

This loud ‘cry’ is made from the bottom of the stomach by a few leading the procession and repeated by the rest following them.

Listen to ‘Saavu Aathikkodhu’ recorded live in Ketchigatti here

Listen to ‘Maduvay Aathikkodhu’ recorded live in Thambatty here

Badaga Origin – New Facts

Badaga Origin

Is Badaga one of the ancient Dravidian languages and predated ‘halaya’ Kannada? Is it a separate language all by itself? By inference, are Badagas one of the oldest ‘tribes’?

Arunan from Cannada has given some very interesting links which suggest Badaga language existed with old Kannada and equates it with Sangam or purana Tamil period.

“…..Some of the Kanarese too seem to have been called Vadugar. In consequence of the Andhras and the Kanarese having been called by the common name of Vadugar in the days of the Sangam, it has been surmised that they were then one race and that their language too must have been known as Vadugu and that it is only later that Kanarese must have branched off into a separate language. But llam-Ko-Adigal, the great epic-poet of the Sangam age, mentions distinctly those who speak the Kanarese language as Karunadar, and other classical writers make mention separately of the lands where Kanarese and Telugu were respectively spoken. The northern portion of the Mysore state and parts of the districts of Bellary and Anantapur seem to be known even now as Badaga-nadu and the Kanarese of those areas are known as Badaga-varu and Badaga-natti-varu. A poem of the Sangam mentions an Erumai as a ‘Vadugar chief’ in whose land flowed the river Ayiri. This is evidently the Agiri which falls into the Tungabhadra. It is this country which was probably the extreme southern limit of the Asokan empire as is evidenced from inscriptions found in the vicinity.

Badaga months

 

Badaga Months

1) Koodalu, 2) Aalaani 3) Nallaani  4) Aani 5) Aadire  6) Aadi 7) Aavaani  8 ) Perattaadhi 9) Dhodda Devige 10) Kiru Devige 11) Thai 12) Hemmatti

The more I listen to the song ‘Kappu Uttileyu‘, the more fascinated I become. All the 12 Badaga months starting with Koodalu [given in Capital Letters] are beautifully integrated within the song.

The lyrics of the song go like this :-

Kappu huttileyu neppuna sundari,
Oppi hegileyu dhirachiya mundari
Kappu huttile naa hathuna notta dha,
Keppu na huttile ondhuna notta tha

Thatti beetha sileyu nee edhega,
Kottu beetha hennu naa edhaga
Muthu muthu mookathiga sokki hodhane, netti niddane
Sothu pathu neetha endhu kaathundhu endhe dha, matha hegu dha, madhuvaya matha hegudha,

KOODALU thinguvana koodile singarene ,
AALAANI thinguvatha aa aagi varasha mamma ,
NALLANI go kollaandhu hega beda, ,
AANI huttidha mele badhila hegine baa mamma ,

AADHIRE jena nodi bae thumbi maathaadu ,
AADI mudidha mele ododi bannane mamma,
AAVANI thinguvadhoge dhaavani singarava ,
Arattu perattu aara PERATTASI thinguvadha,

DODDA DIVIGEYA dodda kiru edhega ,
KIRU DIVIGEYA siri devi aagi banne ,
THAI mae thalaiga thatti kai yoda aatta paatta.
HEMMATTI ebbaneyu aemaathithindhu hoga beda ,

Thatti beetha sileyu nee edhaga ,
Kottu beetha hennu naa edhega

கப்பு ஹுட்டிலெயு நெப்புன சுந்தரி,
ஓப்பி ஹெகிலெயு திரசிய முந்தரி
கப்பு ஹுட்டிலே நா ஹத்துன நோட்ட த,
கெப்பு ந ஹுட்டிலே ஒந்துன நோட்ட த

தட்டி பீத்த செலெயு நீ எதெக,
கொட்டு பீத்த ஹெண்ணு நா எதக
முத்து முத்து மூக்கத்திக சொக்கி ஹொதனே, நெட்டி நித்தனெ
ஸொத்து பத்து நீத்த எந்து காத்துண்டு இந்தெ த, மாத்த ஹேகு த, மதுவய மத்த ஹேகு த,

கூடலு திங்குவன கூடிலே சிங்காரெனெ ,
ஆலாணி திங்குவத ஆ ஆகி வரஷ மம்ம ,
நல்லானி கொ கொள்ளாந்து ஹேக பேட, ,
ஆணீ ஹுட்டித மேலே பதில ஹெகினே பா மம்ம ,

ஆதிரே ஜென நோடி பே தும்பி மாத்தாடு ,
ஆடி முடித மேலே ஓடோடி பன்னனே மம்ம,
ஆவாணி திங்குவதொகே தாவணி சிங்கரவ ,
அரட்டு பெரட்டு ஆர பெரட்டாதி திங்குவத,

தொட்ட தீவிகியொ தொட்ட கிரு எதெக ,
கிரு தீவிகியொ சிரி தேவி ஆகி பன்னே ,
தை மே தலைக தட்டி கை யோட ஆட்ட பாட்ட.
எம்மாட்டி எப்பனேயு ஏமாத்திண்டு ஹோக பேட ,

தட்டி பீத்த சிலெயு நீ எதக ,
கொட்டு பீத்த ஹெண்ணு  நா எதெக

Go here  and scroll down on the side bar ->to listen to the song

Let us seek the blessings of Elders ‘Doddavakka…

Let us seek the blessings of Elders, ‘Doddavakka Harichili’

One of the wonderful and deeply meaning ful customs of Badagas, is the seeking of the blessings of elders. That is, whenever any person meets/visits an elder, he or she seeks the blessings of the elderly person [elderly does not mean aged/old but only elder by age] by bowing the head and requesting “Harachu (bless me)”. If any headgear like cap/turban is worn, the same is removed. Also, on social occasions, like when the’earmarked’/ selected devotees proceed towards the Hethay mane or at certain festivals the village elders bless the others who prostrate in front of them. Similarly, when the newly weds seek the blessings – ‘adda bubbadhu’, these blessings are given, though at times it is a shorter version that is used.

ondhu, ompaththu aagali,
[ondhu - one, ombaththu - nine, aagali - happen]
ondhu, saavira aagali,
[saavira - thousand]

harachchava kodali, sogava kodali,
[haracha - health, soga - happiness, kodali - given]
baNda hechchali, badhukku hechchali,
[banda - cattle, badhakku - wealth/prosperity, hechchali - increase]
bE hechchali, haalu hechchali, haNNu hechchali,
[bay/be - crops, haalu - milk, hannu - fruits)

manE katti, maaru kattili,
[mane - house, katti - build, maaru - marriage]
ondhu manE, saavira manE aagali,
[ondhu - one, mane - house, saavira - thousand]

beNNE bettu aagali, thuppa theppa aagali,
[benne - butter, betta - mountain, thuppa - ghei, theppa - well]
hulla muttilE hoo aagali, kalla muttilE kaai aagali,
[hullu - grass, hoo - flower, kallu - stone, kaai - (unripened) fruit]
honna muttilE sinna aagali,
[honnu - iron, sinna - gold]

bettadhudhu bandhalEyu, beraluga adangali,
[bettadhadhu - (like a big) mountain/lots, beralu - small finger]
attudhadhu bandhalEyu, aangai adangali,
[attudhadhu - (lile a deep) valley, aangai - palm/fist]

Kattidhadhu karEyali, biththidhadhu bEyali,
[Kattidhadhu - tied (cow), karyali - yield (milk)
aanaiya balava kodali, ariyaa siriyaa  kodali,
[aanai - elephant, bala - strengh, kodali - given, ariya - a lot, siri - happiness]
budhdhi bevarava kodali,
[budhdhi - intelligence, bevara - wisdom]

uri hOgi, siri barali, siri sippaaththi agali,
[uri -envy, hogi -(be) gone, siri - happiness, sippaththi - plenty]
HOppa edE, bappa edE ellaa, oLLiththE barali,
[Hoppa -going/ travel, ede - place, bappa - coming, ella - all, olliththe - only good things]

nooru thumbi, naadu jaradhu, dheera pooraNa aagi,
[nooru - hundred, thumbi - filled, naadu - nation, jaradu - envious, dheera - wise, poorna - full]
OLLiththa Eththi, Hollava ThaLLi, olagodho ellaava Gedhdhu,
[olliththa - good deeds, eththi - taken, holla - bad, thalli - reject, olaga - world, ellava - complete, gedhdhu - win]

sangatta salippu illaadhe,
[Sngatta - illness, salippu - problems/hinderance]
hoppa dhaari, Bappa Dhaari yo, edinjilu iLLaadhe,
[dhaari - path, edinjilu - blockades]
padippEri mundhuga hesareththi,
[paddippu - education, mundhuga - forward, hesaretthi - name and fame]

kumbE kudi haradha engE, angaalu muLLu muriyaadhE,
[Kumba kudi - pumpkin, haradhu - spread, aangaalu - foot/sole, mullu - thorn]
kO endhu korachchi, bO endhu bokki,
[korachi - calling, bokki - overflow]
ManE thumba makka hutti, gOttu thumba sosE kondu,
[ mane - house, makka - children, hutti - born, gottu - corner, sose - daughters in law]

paava pariya nOdi, olagadha hesaru eththi
[paava - dear, paria - near ones, nodi - look after, olagadha -whole world, hesaru - name and fame, eththi - get]
badhukki baa[Badhukki - prosperity].

Go to next page for English Translation

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Dr.Sundaradevan, the First Badaga IAS officer writes….

Dr. Sundaradevan Nanjiah  IAS

I am a regular visitor to your website for more than a year now.  Please accept my congratulations for a splendid job.  I can appreciate the enormous efforts put in by you single-handedly in gathering so much information and in creating such an interesting website.

I have quite a few materials myself, mostly written during the British era, on the Nilgiris and its inhabitants,  from google books and openlibrary.org….. (…keep in mind that Nilgiris was variously spelt as Neilgherries, Neelagiri and Neilgherry Hills during those times).

Regarding Civil Services Coaching, I have made an offer to the Badaga Associations at Chennai, Coimbatore, Ooty and Bangalore and it is the Coimbatore Association which has taken the lead.  I hope others will follow suit.
I will only be too willing to visit all these places and guide our youngsters to the best of my ability, if only a few of them come forward to take the Civil Services Exams seriously, which I am sure is well within the reach of many of them.Yours sincerely,
Sundaradevan Nanjiah+++++++++++++++

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Updates – 2

I know that a lot of posts need updating, or…. rather, more material and info need to be added.

Here is more pictures of Badaga Jewellery from my wife’s collection who went hunting for original Badaga Bangara in Ooty and Kotagiri recently.

The surprise is that you can get Badaga Jewellery with some exclusive designers in Bangalore, also [made to order].

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Kivi Chinna -Ear Ring worn by men

Mookkuthi – Nose Ring

Chinna -ear rings

Kadaga -Bangle

Designs on the Bangles

Bae – Silver

Updates..3

I had mentioned about Jakkanare Sivaji Raman’s book on Badaga Community called ‘Badaga Samudhaayam’. No price is mentioned for this book but you may get it in Kotagiri.

There are a lot of interesting nuggets of new information that many of us are not even aware of. Here is a sample of ‘rare’ pictorial pickings. [All the pictures are from the book]

When a village was [hatti] was formed, a ‘Hethappa [Ancestor] Kallu [Stone]‘ was created and then a ‘Devva Mane [God's House - Temple]‘ was built.

‘Hebbaiyilu’ [First /Big Threshold]‘ is the entrance to a village [Akka Bakka?]. It consists of two vertical stone pillars with a central horizontal stone containing carvings.

Hebbaiyilu

Hethappa Suththukal

Devva Mane

Deepak Shanmugam, 15yrs old, writes….

Hello Uncle,

I am a 15 years old guy . My father’s name is N.SHANMUGAM [ARMY] and my mother’s name is S.CHITRAMALA . We belong to Nanjanad village . Tell you what, I AM REALLY PROUD TO  B E A BADAGA…..

….I am studying in 10th in ARMY SCHOOL AHMEDNAGAR, MAHARASHTRA. My father is posted here only .

Uncle, I want to tell you some thing very interesting, actually your site was the first site I opened on my newly bought laptop with wireless broadband connection. And you know, the first thing I typed in google search engine was BADAGA and after that I got your site.

I was extremely happy after reading about us . I got the information that even my parents don’t know.

Uncle I want to know more about you .

Hello Deepak, so sweet of you to send this info. I am thrilled. I am sending you a separate email telling about me. With love and happy surfing – JP Uncle

Letters

One of the real pleasures of having this website  is the unexpected but highly interesting letters received from visitors. If that letter happens to be from a non Badaga [of 16 yrs of age studying in the 12th standard]  appreciating our language and Hethay, joy knows no bounds.

He feels that it is due to Hethay that he has come in contact with Badaga. He says his only entertainment is listening to Badaga songs.

And the most wonderful thing is that Vignessh, the author of the letter, wants to serve Badagas by qualifying as a doctor

Surely it makes our day.

A Wonderful letter  from Vignessh.A [16yrs]

Hai JP Uncle,

Ningaga enna namaskara ….naa ondhu badaga illay, aana enaga ninga basheya maathu adodhgau apaara ishta. Ninga website-una nodithey, enaga apaara santosha

I’ve never been to the Nilgiris butI really love the Badaga culture, customs, language, songs ,dance and habba, especially “HETHAI AMMA”. I have read Hethai history fully. I have developed a strong faith in Hethai .

I feel  my hairs standing on hearing the bugiri sound in videos on the net. I was having all these in my heart and I could not express them to any one, then atlast I found you [website].

I hope to serve the Badagas by any means. Incidentally, I dream of becoming a doctor and serve the Badaga hattis and I’m studying hard to achieve this dream.

My only entertainment is listening to Badaga songs.

enna history ya nodinadhugaa apaara nanri…

I wish to have Hethe’s showers of blessings to be with me all the time.

Thank you very much, now my heart feels light and it might become lighter on seeing your reply..

Awaiting your reply………………your’s.. Vignessh.A

Dear Vignessh Venky,

What a pleasure to get and read your email. Extremely happy to know that you are able to understand Badaga.

And my great appreciation and thanks for the sentiments expressed.

I am sure Hethai Amma’s blessings are, surely and always, with you.

Yours is one of the ‘sweetest’ letters I have received and thank you once again.

Hethaya Haracha ninaga endhendhu hadadhay.

JP Uncle

Letter from Dr.B.S.Krishnamoorthy

Gavadha JP Sir Avakaga,

Really great effort to save each and every piece of the greatness of our community.

While surfing I found the following article published in a well known journal, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 92, No. 2 (Apr. – Jun., 1972), pp. 276-279 (article consists of 4 pages)

“Nouns of the Badaga Language“  by S. Agesthialingom © 1972 American Oriental Society.

May God bless you with full of strength and freshness to continue this great work.

Gavatha,

Dr. Bellie Sundaram Krishnamoorthy

JP adds : Thank  you Dr.BSK for your kind words. In the above quoted article, S. Agesthialingom says, “Badaga, one of the South Dravidian Languages is spoken in the Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu,… there are many distinct features (in Badaga) which may lead one to claim it as a separate language ….[http://www.jstor.org/pss/600655]“

The [picturesque] Nilgiris

‘Wow, the Nilgiris’

Here are some pix taken by me

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Photos by Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash

click on the pictures for enlargement

Mudumalai Forest

Mudumalai

Today is a clear day with bright sunlight in the hills. The hills, I am referring to is the Nilgiris, my native place. Every time I drive ‘into’ the hills, either from Mysore via Bandipur and Kallatti Ghats or from Mettupalayam via Kotagiri Aravenu and Haakeri or from Karamadai via Mulli and Geddai [Kundah], my heart is filled with happiness and joy. Such beauty is bestowed on these blue hills by the Almighty. Probably, the Nature wants to show off or should I say, show case its glorious exterior in a truly grand fashion.

Read the full ‘story’ here  The Nilgiris – Neela [Blue] Giris [Hills] – literally ‘The blue mountains’ is popularly known to Badagas as ‘Naakku Betta’ –

Let us be FAIR to the fair gender

As I sit down to ponder over the ‘burning issues’ that are bothering the Badaga Community, three issues pop up as very important. The FIRST one is the inequality with which we seem to be treating our women today. Though, this malaise is affecting all the communities in our country, I am concerned that the Badagas who treated their women folk with so much respect and love in the olden days, are slowly but surely pushing them into the second class citizens category.

In earlier days, the girls were married off at a much younger age [Kannu Hoottadha Henga] but with the firm understanding that they [the girls] could seek divorce at any time if there was matrimonial disharmony and that they would be accepted back into the society without any blame and reservation. Getting married again was no big issue. She, always, had the backing of her parents and her brothers as ‘guru mane’ gave unflinching support in all respects mainly financial. This was probably the main reason that the girl children were not given any share in the property.

Read the complete article here

Thambatty Mitchi Hethay

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Thambatty to attend a wedding. After a long time, I saw a Badaga lady, Mitchi Hethay with all the Badaga Jewellery [Kivi Chinna [ear rings], mookkuthi [nose rings], Saradu[necklace-chokker] and Bay [Bangles]. She made a wonderful sight in her spotless white ‘thundu – mundu’ [Badaga traditional dress].

Mitchi Hethai

mlle Sumathi writes : What a pleasant picture ! Thanks for sharing it with all. Mitchi Hethai is reminding of my own grandma who is no more , my grandma used to wear the same type of jewels .
Just a small question, do they make these traditional jewels even today ? In Ooty where can we order them ? Though not for immediate purchase , just gathering information for future use . Also , where can we buy those waist belts with a small bag  in woollen which our hethais wear ? Happy monsoon season to all our site visitors .

Hello Sumathi, we were able to lay our hands on Badaga Jewellery both at Ooty and Kotagiri. Surprise is that you can have Badaga Jewellery made in Bangalore, yes Bangalore. The waist belt – are you talking about the colourful ‘Satta’?  The sattas used to be the first woolen article any Badaga girl would knit when she started learning ‘how to knit – ‘pinnodhu’ in those days. I am not sure about the present – Wg Cdr JP

Bravo, Rajamma of Kethorai

Kethorai Rajamma, who made all  those known her , especially the Badagas, very proud by winning an award from the President of India, recently has written to say,

Dear Mr.JP…,
My earnest greetings..Your efforts for the beautiful bagadas of the the most beautiful Nilgiriis make me elated beyond Doddabetta’s height…May the sway of tall dignified trees, the tinkling water falls, the smiling colourful flowers and the hugging chill breeze shower wonderful and abundant blessings to you by laying a green carpet welcome by the tea plantations. God bless you..
With regards,
Kethorai Rajma

Thank you ever so much for these kind words. If I could achieve a small percentage of what you have achieved [that has been recognised by all], then I am truly blessed. With the warmest of regards, JP

Rajamma of Kethorai village has made us proud once again. She won an award from the President of India.

Santhosh Kumar JB has sent the info and the link in ‘The Hindu’ and we have great pleasure in sharing the same with all Badagas.

It was not before the age of 15 that she was first taught the English alphabet. Now, 35 years later, she is a successful teacher in the same subject and is getting ready to leave for New Delhi to receive the Dr. Radhakrishnan Best Teacher Award from President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The fact that R.Rajammal is the first generation learner from her family may not be uncommon. But that she belongs to the Badagar community from remote Kethorai Village of Kethi Village Panchayat in Nilgiris District and has come thus far is an inspiring story. People travelling on the famous Nilgiri Mountain Railway might have noticed the Kethi railway station Coonoor and Udhagamandalam. Her native village Kethorai is a good five-kilometre trek from there.
Ms. Rajammal teaches English and Science to primary students at Kendriya Vidyalaya (II) at Madambakkam near Tambaram. Recognising her rise from modest backgrounds, her contribution to teaching and the Guides movement, the Ministry of Human Resource Development selected her for the prestigious award.
“I am the eldest among five children. I still remember the hardwork of my parents who toiled through the day in tea plantations and small farms raising vegetables,” Ms. Rajammal recalled her childhood days at Kethorai. Five decades back, education in remote hilly areas was scarce but Rajammal made the best of it, excelling in academics till high school.
Being a first generation learner did come in the way but having imbibed the quality of sheer hard work from her parents M.Ramachandran and R.Saraswathi, she never gave up. “We used to walk eight kilometers to high school and back home. It was not before class nine that we were first taught the English alphabet,” Ms. Rajammal said.
As those were the days of college education immediately after S.S.L.C., they had very little time to master English and when she joined Providence College, Coonoor, she found it even more difficult in the initial days. However, with the help of her teachers and classmates, she finished her B.Sc in Botany in high grades and came to Chennai, where she managed to get the job as a teacher at St. Michael’s Academy in Adyar.
Deputation to Moscow
Seven years later, she joined the Kendriya Vidyalaya. After a nation-wide test, she was selected to go on a three-year deputation to Moscow where she served the KV school there. A compere for programmes at INS Rajali in Arakkonam and also during passing out parades of Central Industrial Security Force establishments, Ms. Rajammal has earned popularity for her motivational speeches and also for her work among the underprivileged sections involving school students.
Her association with welfare homes for the senior citizens, destitute women and children had its origins in her childhood. “I visit my native village at least six times a year and spend a long time during the summer vacation. I insist on the importance of education and encourage young girls never to give up till they succeed in life,” Ms. Rajammal said.
Actively involved in the Girl Guides movement, Ms. Rajammal has received the NCERT Award in 2003 for Innovative Teaching Practices in Environmental Studies and the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan Incentive Award in 2008.
She wants to be a role model for rural women, especially among her Badagar community. Ever indebted to the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghatan for the exposure that she has received, she said that she would be only too glad to serve KVS even after her retirement.
She lives in Madambakkam and can be reached at 2229 2403 and 98413 57720. E-mail: nilgiriraji@yahoo.com.
K. Manikandan

R. NELSON RAJKUMAR writes : 

Dear Sister Rajammal,
These comments are after I called you over phone on 17.08.10. I read all the articles in The Hindu and I really appreciate you on your consistency for greater heights inspite of all the short comings in your early stage and congratulate you on your achievements. As I was born and brought up in Chamraj Estate which is via Kundha Bridge and studied in Kokkalada school till 12th STD (1974) I have my own love and affection on the Badaga Community. I visited my school in the year 1994 and presented a TV to the school. Again I visited the school many times and I took videos of the complete school, students, teachers and their class teachings, which gives me tremndous joy whenever I open my laptop to see them. Now I am settled in Chennai with my family and having my own Shipping and Cargo Clearing Company. Dr. Raman of ex-UPASI is my great admirer. My God bless you and your family more and more in the future.

From the heart

J. RAJENDRAN  (KALLAKORAI), Indian Air Force writes :

Sir, I wont say its a great job,its above all that. Yes, after reading our origin and history I started giving lecture to all my family members including elders and even aged. Sir, since my childhood I tried to know our history and origin but today (05 SEP 2010), yeah, of course, I discovered me and myself,this is because of the only one that’s JP.

Hello Rajendran, first of all I am so happy to receive such a kind letter (from the heart) from a youngster that too from Indian Air Force. As I have often mentioned, if young Badagas have ‘discovered’ themselves by knowing our origin, customs and culture by going through my website, then I have truly achieved something. Feel very happy and as always humbled.- JP

Origin of Badagas – the myth of migration

Nilgiri Hills from atop Doddabetta Peak - wikipedia

I am firmly of the view that our history viz Badaga Origin is much older- may be thousands of years – than what many scholars including Badagas consider and my initial ‘research’ confirms that. The general belief, over a period of time thrust down our throats, is that we migrated from Mysore area mainly due to the simple fact that Badaga means from the north. Ridiculous, it sounds.
In “ Paamé ” – The history and culture of the Badagas of the Nilgiris by B.Balasubramaniam, a highly educated Badaga,  feels that Badagas migrated from Southern Karnataka [then Mysore State] about 700 years back, much before Tipu’s time, around 1311 AD during the plundering raid of Malik Kafir.

Though I am in agreement with Bala that ‘some‘ Badaga migration, if at all, took place much earlier then Tipu’s time [ late 1700s], I am firmly of the view that “It is possible that Badagas have lived in the Nilgiris for thousand of years like the Thodas [Thodhamaru ] or Kothas [Kotharu] and migration theory is an attempt by historians and anthropologists to explain away a ‘historical puzzle“.

Only based on the name ‘Badaga’ or on the so called local legends that are open to many interpretations or on the basis of similarity of Badaga [language] with haliya /mid Kannada, can we conclude that Badagas migrated from Southern Mysore? When there is no definite evidence about the origin of Todhas or Kothas, how can we presume that they predated Badagas as natives of the Nilgiris??

I am sure the mystery of migration is far from over. If you look at the issue as of ‘definitive migration’ then you try to guess about the dates but what happens if we believe that Badagas have always been there in the Nilgiris much before or along with Todhas or Kothas? Uncomfortable questions that are very interesting and worth digging deeper into.

Given the diversity but highly commendable unity and uniformity with minor changes in their customs, it appears that Badaga Migration could have taken place even within the Nilgiris Hills [reverently called ‘Naakku Betta’ by the Badagas].

What we DO NOT know about Badagas is more than what we know about them. Such is the mystery of Badaga Origin.

D.Rajesh writes :

Dear Sir,

I visited Nilgiris recently and was starting to wonder about Badagas and Thodas.

Having seen your website about Badagas, here are my thoughts on their origin.

To start with and to be frank I did not know much about Badaga culture except for the fact that they are unlike general “hill people” that one could see. That is, I was aware that Badagas were much more advanced in culture and civilization (should not misunderstand that hill people are of less culture; I am just trying to contrast two different things and hence nothing is inferior here) than normal tribal population. Now that I am trying to understand the origins of Badagas, my theory will be as below……….
[Read the complete article here]

Badaga KAPP panjayats…?!

In the olden days, Badagas lived a very simple but highly cohesive life. Evey village -hatti, consisted of one or two ‘families or Kudumbas’. Each kudumba, as the name indicates, consisted of brothers and they usually lived in the same street – ‘thara’. The ancestral home was given to the youngest son and, due to space constraints, the elder brothers moved out to build separate houses.

The youngest son  [when married] was expected to take care of the elderly parents. The sister(s) married off to other hattis were always welcome to the parents house and for the children of the these females, their parents house was a source of great safety and security and the brother’s house was a sacred house known as ‘GURU Manay’. Though the property was given ONLY to sons, the married daughters could come back to the parents house anytime in case of any matrimonial discord. The daughters were given all the respect and they never felt neglected. Mind you, this was a time when girls were married off at a very young age and in most of cases, not educated.

Every family lived a contented life with total cooperation. This, of course, was the time when the undivided Hindu family wealth and property was given to only sons in our Country.

But all that changed over time. Material lust took control over conventional matters. The daughters, more often than not, were not welcomed by the brothers (generally due to their wives pressure). This combined with lack of education and absent of other alternatives, forced many daughters to suffer in silence. If they had children and a wayward husband who indulged in wasteful life with drinking being an eternal curse, the life was not only miserable but unbearable. Like in all other communities in our great country, the girls were forced to live a condemned life.

This is the time visionaries and forward looking Badaga leaders like Rao Badahur Ari Gowder insisted that the girl child should be educated and equal rights and property be given as the boys among Badagas. Empowering women. Now, even the laws in our country has been amended wherein the boys and girls have equal rights on the property of the parents.

Sadly, even in this day and time, in many hattis, the property is recommended to be given ONLY to sons by the so called hatti ‘elders’ in what can be termed as ‘kapp’ panjayats to sort out property disputes. As you may be aware KAPP panjayats are popular male dominated forums in Hariyana and wester UP who had given the ‘OK’ for honour killings, acting as extra constitutional authorities and are in trouble as Supreme Court is looking into their actions.

The problem is, in olden days a complaint was made to the common wisdom of hatti elders when the disputes could not be solved within the family – Kudumba. The Badaga proverb – doddaru shloka – ‘manay ya maathaadi, mandaga hogu’ aptly describes this. Also, in olden days, the options of going to the court or seeking remedy through legal channels were not easy. Tthe ‘core committee’ of elders looking into complaints was made up of non partisan, experienced and where available educated people and their rulings were acceptable to all.

These days, in most of the hattis the ‘Gowda’ chosen is the one who does not have a permanent or regular job as he has to attend to a lot social functions both in his as well as in other hattis.  Other members of the ‘problem solving’ group are youngsters selected for collection of tax – wari and to organise temple festivals – habbas etc. By no stretch of imagination, they can can be considered as competent or qualified and least of all experience which is a must.

And, most importantly, when it comes to property allocation to daughters, how can these panjayats go against the law of the land? The feeble argument that only a son can be called a ‘WARISU’ is blatantly brutal, one sided, gender biased and ‘anti-female’ like many other social issues in our society.

A personal note:

We have a son and a daughter. We have educated them in the best of schools like Lawrence School, Lovedale and both have done their Masters from Canada and USA. Our [two] flats in New Delhi and Bangalore along with our property in the Nilgiris and Mettupalayam have been equally divided between these two. Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, the only Badaga leader who is still remembered even after forty years of his death, gave his property equally to his two grand daughters and one grandson along with their mother. Being his nephew and grand daughter, I and my wife would like to follow his footsteps.

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Badaga Language recorded in 1922

Based on an article in the Times of India, I was wondering whether Badaga would form part of the collection of gramophone – audio recordings of languages in India in early 1900s undertaken by Linguistic Survey of India. Sure enough, our great language is there. Recorded in 1922.

 

 

” This presentation of Gramophone Recordings from the Linguistic Survey of India consists of digitized recordings originally collected in South Asia during a period from 1913 until 1929. Intended as a supplement to Sir George A. Grierson’s Linguistic Survey of India published between 1904 and 1927, the recordings of stories, songs and poems were collected by provincial and presidential governments of British-ruled India in cooperation with Grierson and the Gramophone Company, Calcutta. “

You can see the transcript and  listen to the audio here

Badaga Bangara – Jewellery

Do you know that Badagas have an unique set of jewellery ? I have added a lot more pictures here

Mani Maalay

Badaga Hatti [Village] Names

One of the unique traditions of Badagas is the naming of their Villages – called hatti (individual village) or Ooru (can be an individual village or a cluster of villages of a ‘commune’).
Generally, the names are based on a topographical feature. Prof.Paul Hockings has elaborated this aspect in his book ‘Ancient Hindu Refugees – Badaga Social History 1550-1975′.
Some of these interesting names and their meanings as mainly given in the above book. Hope to cover all the 380 odd hattis.

1. Aanayhatti – Aanay + Hatti – Elephant + Village
2. Achinakal – Achuna + Kallu – Achu [well proportioned like 'printed'] + Stone
3. Adikaratti – Athikari + Hatti – Adhigari clan + Village
4. Akasu – Akasu -sky , very high hill
5. Anehatti – Anay + Hatti – Water channel- Bund + Village
6. Aramanehatti – Aranmanay + Hatti – Palace + Village
7. Arebennu – Aray + Bennu – Large flat rock + Upper back [shoulder]
8. Arehatti – Aray + Hatti – Large rock + Village
9. Arekombe – Aray + Kombay – Large rock + Kuruma hamlet [earlier]
10. Asaganathore – Asagana + Thoray – Washerman’s + Riverside

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Badaga Hospitality

‘Bhuvaneshwari R‘ writes : “ I was very pleased to go through this article. I am myself a Badaga and very proud to be one with such unique and distinct features. I have been in northern and western India till my 10th and did my later education in Cordite Factory Higher Secondary School.

I was very pleased to meet so many Badaga people, especially friends, there. Badaga friends were more helpful compared to any. I had visited my friend’s houses and they treated me with so much hospitality. I know about 7 languages but badaga is the one I love the most.

The words I love the most in badaga are : ‘Habba’ and ‘Hatty’. I really miss my badaga friends. Thanks for the website through which I could express my views and thoughts and I am especially thankful to my parents for giving me birth in such a great culture “.

Thank  you Bhuvaneshwari for your email.Such letters are, always, a source of inspiration – Wg Cdr JP

Titbits

Crossword in The Hindu about BADAGA

In ‘The Hindu’ newspaper of June 17, 2008, crossword No.9252 carries the following clue for a six letter word for 5 Across:….. ” SHEEP’s CRY CAPTURES GADABOUT, A TRIBAL (6)”….. Yes. your guess is correct. Sheep’s cry is ‘BA’….. [Of course, as usual the answer to the crossword 9252 was given the next day June 18, 2008 in crossword no.9253]. Info Courtesy – my wife who is more fond of crosswords and sudoku than me – sob sob !! ….. See the crossword here !

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Microsoft on Badaga Language….

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Limerick on Badaga

[found on the net]

In the hills out in Tamil Nadu,

There are many fun things to do,

Like Badaga Scrabble,

But don’t let that rabble

Make a Kannada goose out of you.

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This must be the first book(let) published in 1925 about a very pressing and serious problem that split the Badagas vertically

[Original Cover page in Tamil ]

[English translation interposed]

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I came across this interesting article while searching about Badaga music that goes with the unique dance form,

[H]ethai amma in Kovai [by Sakshi]

Seventy kilometers north of Coimbatore, in the Nilgiris hill town of Ooty, resides a community of people known as the Badaga. The Badaga trace their ancestry back to Ethai Amman, a pious woman from Mysore who fled the city when a Muslim king wanted her as his prize. Theirs is a somewhat cloistered community, stretching across some 500 villages in the Nilgiri Hills, which make the border of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Badaga have their own customs, codes, traditions and language. Dharma, faith, compassion and service—these are the hallmarks of the Badaga. They will proudly tell you that one will not find a single beggar among their “brothers and sisters” and rarely are any of their children born handicapped. (They attribute both of these to their culture, which nurtures service-mindedness.)……

…..A central element of Badaga culture is music and dance. When inspired, the Badaga will spontaneously begin improvising melodies and lyrics. “It is our way of expressing our fondness for someone,” explains Smt. Sivagami, [a Badaga teacher].

Their often-ecstatic music comes in the form of call-and-response, and some say the Badaga even have a form of telepathy, which enables them to improvise cohesively. The words and melodies are ever new, but the dance steps remain the same, regardless of the occasion. The Badaga sing and dance at weddings, births, funerals and nearly all other occasions……..

The music was an onslaught of drums and cymbals. It was an earthy, powerful and glorious ruckus to which the Badaga’s synchronized slow-motion dance served as a stirring and poignant counterpoint……

Read the complete article here

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GANGAMMA

[from the book FOLK-LORE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT]

by James George Frazer – 1918

The Badagas, a tribe of the Neilgherry Hills in Southern India, belieive in a deity named Gangamma, “who is supposed to be present at every stream, and especially so at the Koonde and Pykare rivers, into which it was formerly the practice for every owner of cattle, which had to cross them at their height, to throw a quarter of a rupee, because their cattle used frequently to be carried away by the current and destroyed. It is enumerated amongst the great sins of every deceased Badaga, at his funeral, that he had crossed a stream without paying due adoration to Gangamma.

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No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com

belliejayaprakash©2011

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Click on the link to listen to this Badaga Dance Song

| Badaga Dance Song Kappu Huttileyu

Bella Gowder and Wg cdr JP

There are a few elderly Badagas spread among our Hattis and Cities who are so well informed about the  community. May be due to their age and thus experience or the personal interest and individual atrributes, they know a lot about our origin, customs, culture or anything connected and concerning Badagas. It is a shear blessing to meet them.

Jakkada Bella Gowder is such a wonderful person. Talking to him is an honour and pleasure and needless to say, highly educative. Discussing about [Jakkada] Hethe Amma or about Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder when he was a student of Madras Christian College, Madras in the 1930s, he becomes very exited and emotional.

He is 94 years young and is in good health and does not like to have any artificial help like hearing aids etc. He moves on his own and politely declines when somebody tries to help him climb down the stair case or get into the car.

May God bless  him with many more active years!

Incidentally, Bella Gowder’s second son Bala, a highly qualified engineer by profession with varied interests, is another Badaga Buff, having done a lot of  research on Badagas. He has authored the book “Paamé“, a must read for every Badaga .

“ Paamé ” – The history and culture of the Badagas of the Nilgiris by B.Balasubramaniam, encompasses a comprehensive history of the Badaga Community and showcases to the world the unique aspects of Badaga history and culture and is a treasure trove in ethnology.

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New..news and new year resolution !

Navitha Ramesh writes

I just happened to see your BADAGA weddings blogspot. I am a Badaga too and I should tell you that you have done a great job!! There is a Badaga group on Facebook with 1770 members. One of the latest discussions was about letting the world know about us. It would be great if you could join the group and give us your valuable opinions.

And, the moderator of the group,  Yogesh Ajjan adds :

It’s a very warm welcome to invite you to this group, and more over 90% of the information is take from your site to spread across to all members…It’s a very young badaga group that needs your guidance .

Thank you very much, Nivitha and Yogesh, for your words of true inspiration.

Let us resolve on 1-1-11 :

‘ WE ARE PROUD TO BE INDIANS & PROUD TO BE BADAGAS ‘

and will make

INDIA PROUD OF US

by our acts and deeds.

2010 in review – Thank you for making this happen !

Badaga Hattis(villages) – photo by Bellie jayaprakash

WordPress.com has sent me this email on 2nd Jan 2011 Your 2010 year in blogging

Happy New Year from WordPress.com! To kick off the year, we’d like to share with you data on how your blog has been doing. Here’s a high level summary of your overall blog health:

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads" Wow.Healthy blog!"

Bugiri

Crunchy numbers

About 3 million people visit the Taj Mahal every year. This blog was viewed about 45,000 times in 2010. If it were the Taj Mahal, it would take about 5 days for that many people to see it.

In 2010, there were 43 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 57 posts. There were 160 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 21mb. That’s about 3 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was January 4th with 261 views. The most popular post that day was Song and Dance.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were en.wikipedia.org, badaga-songs.blogspot.com, google.co.in, badaga.org, and orkut.co.in.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for badaga, badaga songs, kannada calendar 2010, hatti, and tea leaves.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Song and Dance March 2007
76 comments

2

Hattis November 2006
117 comments

3

Badaga Songs March 2010
79 comments

4

Rare Photos October 2006
106 comments

5

Badaga Origin October 2006
25 comments

Blog-Health-o-Meter™       We think you did great!

See you in 2011!

Thanks for flying with WordPress.com in 2010.We look forward to serving you again in 2011! Happy New Year!

Andy, Joen, Martin, Zé, and Automattic

Thanks for flying with WordPress

The Good, Bad and the Ugly!

The New Year has just begun. Hosa brashana ollithey barali!

photo posted by Yogesh Ajjan in Facebook – Badaga Group

The Good thing about the Badaga Community is that old traditions are highly valued and to a great extent followed faith fully. The recently celebrated Hethai Habba in traditional white is an example.

Another aspect that calls for appreciation is the initiative taken by Badaga Associations like ‘Coimbatore Association’ who send their ‘Ambulance’ to help out the needy, in times of emergency, from Coimbatore to any hatti. This is a great boon to those who lose their dear ones in the ‘money making’ hospitals in Coimbatore who charge exorbitant rates to transport the dead.

Photos by JP

Now the UGLY. ‘Some self appointed custodians’ of Badagas have locked the gate of the YBA [Young Badaga Association] building in Ooty so that the newly elected FBA [Federation of Badaga Associations] under Mr.Boblie of Madras (Chennai) association, as president, could function.The new body could NOT hold a meeting on the occasion of 25th year of FBA on 2-1-2011. “Though the meeting was held at the hall of the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society with which the former leader of the Badaga community Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder was closely assocaited” [The Hindu dt 3rd Jan, 2011], the matter had to be reported to the police. Shame on us, Badagas.

Kinnakorai visit – worth every minute.

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It has been in my mind for a long time, to visit KINNAKORAY and HIRIYASEEGAY villages. For the simple reason that they are quite far off from the main towns of Ooty and Coonoor and I was sure that the sheer distance from the maddening crowd would help these hattis to retain the old world charm of ORIGINAL BADAGAS. To add to my curiosity, part of the lands – holas and thottas [agricultural fields and tea estates]- of these villages fall under the jurisdiction of Kerala. That too in the forest areas of the stunning silent valley region.

I wondered,’could it be also a point to prove the theory that Badagas are one of the original inhabitants of the Nilgiris massif as Kinnakorai and Hiriyaseegay are  far away from the Mysore plains from which it is generally assumed that Badaga migration started. Imagine, the sheer determination of our ancestors to choose such places to build their villages amidst thick forests that are cut off from the ‘world’ literally.

Some time earlier, Dr.Sudhakar wrote from Dubai to say that Kinnakorai belongs to Porangadu Seemae and not to Kunday Seemae as I had assumed (based on Dr.P.Hockings findings). Recently a young budding engineer Anand wrote to say the same thing. Kinnakorai is part of Porangadu. I could not wait any longer. Availing an opportunity of a visit to Ketchigatti (Manjoor), and unable to resist the ‘open invitation’ of Anand [whom I have not met so far], I visited Kinnakorai on 9th Jan, 2011 along with my better half who shares my passion for and about Badagas.

Kinnakorai is about two hours of  journey from Manjoor via Mel Kunday and Thiasolai [is it THAI SOLAI or THIASOLAI?]. By the way Manjoor itself is about 2 hours journey from Hubbathalai (Coonoor). As Anand had mentioned the climate changes dramatically without any warning. The day we travelled, the winter mist covered the road forcing us to use fog lamps but adding to the mystique and unique experience.

Every minute of the visit was worth it and I feel very happy that I have seen a bit of Badaga heritage and would strongly recommend that every Badaga should visit this wonderful place.

On the way, we had the pleasure of seeing some wild life – Sambar , Kada maanu – [See photo]. The never failing Badaga hospitality was in full force with Anand’s father Ravi, who works in the HPF, Ooty but had come to his hatti on the weekend, called up to say that we have to have lunch in his house.

Only after reaching Kinnakorai and exchanging pleasantries with Anand’s parents and his ever cheerful, warm hearted grand mother, did I realise that Kinnakorai is indeed a cluster of hattis with one hatti being a ‘nattaru’ hatti and hence marriage [among the cluster] is possible. And, Kinnakorai is part of Porangadu. I am convinced after talking to the village elders, especially Bella Gowder.

Kinnakore commune [Ooru] consisits of Kinnakorai, Heria seeege,Hosahatti,Ummattipadige Melur, Bikkatti

The beauty is that both Kinnakorai and Heriaseegay have Hakka- Bakkas.

We had a wonderful session with Anand’s younger grandfather [above] who gave us many insights to Badaga migration at his house. Hope to put this video recording  in youtube.

We could not refuse the fantastic lunch of avaray udakka and special rasam prepared by Anand’s mother Mallika , though we could have it only at 4pm due to my insistance that we visit the hattis first.

How can I forget to put on record my deep gratitude to Anand’s grandmother who, being a ever graceful Badaga lady, would not say goodbye to us without ‘nattu’ [gift] of coffee beans grown in her estate.

Anand has also sent many pix of his village, some of which are given below :

Let me end with my deep appreciation to Anand, his parents and grandma for the wonderful trip!

Mrs.Deepa Raju from USA writes

Ms.Deepa Raju from USA writes in FACEBOOK Badaga Group

“..And I am personally very grateful to Wg.Cdr.Bellie Jayaprakash’s website, as I have discovered a wealth of information there. If one individual can do such a massive compilation, just imagine the output when all like minded souls join for a noble cause”.

Thank you ever so much Deepa for your kind words – JP

Badaga Calendar

Sad but true: I am aware that a lot of our young Badaga  friends copy from my websites and from them many posts and pictures and reproduce them in their blogs or social networking sites as well as submit them for their Ph.D doctorate thesis. Though I have reservation to this ‘unauthorised and illegal’ reproduction, the least that can be done is to acknowledge the source and give credit to the original author. Most importantly – do not distort and give wrong information.

Recently, it has been brought to my notice that a person from Kotagiri has produced a Badaga Calendar 2011 [and now selling it at Rs.125 [and also during Hethay Habba] based on my imputs but has started the first month Koodalu on the [English month] Jan 4th. I do not know how he has chosen that particular date.

Badagas have their own calendar.

Like in any other calendar, there are 12 months and each Badaga month starts on the 10th of English Calendar month but for a few exceptions due to the fact that the month of Feb has 28/29 days [leap year].

I have attempted to make the Badaga Calendars for 2011, keeping in mind that a Badaga month normally starts on the 10^th of an English month as far as possible and also to ensure that the number of days in a month is either 30 or 31 days.

Since Badagas consider ‘Sovara’ (Monday) as the most auspicious and ‘holy’ day, they have attached a lot of importance to that day. Generaly, no non-vegetarian food is taken on Mondays. This is also the weekly holiday and hence shown on top in red colour. No ‘Hola Gelcha’[field work] is usually done on ‘sovara’s.

The biggest festival of Badagas is day-specific and not date-specific. That is to say that this festival – HETHAY HABBA – always falls on a Monday [after twelve full moons and on the first Monday of the thirteenth fullmoon]. By the way,full Moon (‘Pournami’ in Tamil) is ‘HUNNAVE’ [pronounced similar to :- hunnu – wound, awai – mother] and New Moon is ‘MUTTU’ in Badaga.

I must put on record my great appreciation to Mr.Sivaprakash. B.Sc.,B.Ed (Dhavane Village) and ‘Naakku Betta’ magazine [1979 Goodalu issue] for their pioneering effort on this subject. Go to next page…

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Rare pix of Badagas sent by Ravi Balraj

I have mentioned many times that Ravi Chandran Balraj from Manjoor and now in Kuwait is a well wisher of this website and has always shared his thoughts and sent many rare Badaga  pictures. I am greatly indebted to this true and great Badaga for sharing these excellent pictures with us. Thank you a million times,  Ravi

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Badaga Cremation - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Farm - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Farmer - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Kenda Habba (Fire Festival) - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Funeral - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Man - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Priest - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga School Kateri (ketti) - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Temple - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Village - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Village - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Badaga Village - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Ketti Temple and Badaga houses - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

Mahalinga (Badaga) Temple - picture sent by Ravi Balraj

More rare pics sent by Ravi Balraj

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All photos sent by Ravi Balraj

Group of Badagas

A Badaga funeral at Kalhatti

BadagaTemple near Kalhatti

Funeral - Kalhatti

Funeral - Kalhatti

Badaga women

A tiny Badaga hamlet where everyone is a…

A tiny Badaga hamlet where everyone is a non-smoker

Shantha Thiagarajan, TNN, Feb 20, 2011( from THE TIMES OF INDIA)

UDHAGAMANDALAM: A blue mist wraps Melur, a Badaga village near Ooty, but the villagers don’t light up beedis or cigarettes to warm themselves in the cool dawn. For Melur, about 20 km from Ooty in the Nilgiris, has imposed and enforced a complete ban on smoking and chewing tobacco.
At the two entry points to the village, a signboard declares: Smoking is prohibited within the village’. The 600 men in this village of 1,000 people don’t smoke or chew tobacco inside the village. Not one of the seven village shops sells cigarettes or beedis.

“After we imposed the ban, 80% of the villagers have quit smoking. The rest leave the village if they want to smoke,” said village panchayat president MK Krishnan. “We imposed the ban a couple of years ago,” he says, adding that he is not sure of the exact date or year.

There is no penalty for violating the ban, “Till now, nobody has violated it. We just tell people about our ban and they respect it. Since we are all living in the same community and respect one another, there is no need for a penalty,” says Krishnan.

B Shivaraj, a farmer, says they noticed that young people were smoking even in front of their elders. “They had been influenced by TV and movies. Our Badaga way of living has always placed emphasis on values and respect for elders. So we thought we should do something about it and imposed the ban,” he said. Melur is the head village’ of the 33 villages in the merkunadu semai’, There are four prominent ‘semais’ (societies) in the Badaga community in the Nilgiris. “We felt we should set an example for the others,” says another resident MK Ramakrishnan. Most of the villagers are small tea growers or government employees.

Even construction labourers who come to the village for work follow the non-smoking orders. “Till a few years ago, both young people and elders would laze around all day, smoking. The village committee or the mahasabai decided to change people’s attitudes,” says R Balamurugan, the village school teacher. S Janaki, another resident, said, “I’m happy that the men have stopped smoking. Many have started working. In future, I hope the rest also give up.”

Read the article here: A tiny hamlet where everyone is a non-smoker – The Times of India

This is simply superb and showing our unity. One thing I am seriously worried about nowadays, is the  divorce rate in our community, is just like fire. I am very seriously thinking how can we prevent this? Most of our people are educated and working and they are not respecting marriage and marry with other community people. This will  destroy our community. There are a lot of people to lead but nobody has taken care about this. Will you/anybody please think about this? – Bellie Kumar What Bellie Kumar writes – needs our immediate attention. The high DIVORCE RATE has really reached alarming proportions. We need to do something about it . It is high time – Wg Cdr JP

Want to listen to some nice Badaga songs as you browse….

1.Nadukattuna – A love song on a  cheerful note.Your heart will beat faster listening to this love song..ah..ah

2.Moga Nodi – A sad but very melodious song of separated lovers

3.Neneppella – Another beautiful love song

(unfortunately, I do not know the names of the singers who deserve to be quoted. will somebody help please?)

4.Manessella – A beautiful song by Dr.Selvaraj that captures the ‘Badaga’ life now in the blue mountains

Dr. Prakash Krishnan from KURUTHUKULLI writes…

Dear Mr. Jayaprakash, First of all I would like to thank you for gifting such a wonderful and informative BADAGA website on the Internet. I really appreciate your efforts and interest in the era when everybody busy with their own machinery life. The site provides many useful information which is need of the hour. The Badaga culture will be remain in the heart of the young ones when not may elders now convey the message at this juncture. I really thank your efforts to put in all together for the betterment and future of the Baduga community.

…… The purpose of this mail was to thank you and also to tell you that there is a tremendous potential in the agricultural crops, especially the one which our Baduga people work on. I wanted to tell you that I have worked on a few plants (Rubiaceae and Violaceae) collected from my home village, Kuruthukulli. The purpose was to check the potential of the collected plants for its pharmaceutical and other biological activities. What I found and observed was amazing, the plant(s) I collected from crops of Kuruthukulli village got a remarkable bio-control and pharmaceutical property. This I published in various INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL Journals which is now available over the Internet. I am sending you the article/research papers as well for your glance. This I want to inform you that we baduga people are dealing with the Gold back there in our crops.

My efforts are to go ahead and explore more plants from all the baduga villages and extract the potentiality of the plants.

I hope you find my mail and articles published relevant in any manner. You may consider my mail as an information of what we are having in our crops.

Thanking you once again.

Truly yours,
Dr. Prakash Krishnan.
[29 years, working as a Senior Research Fellow in North Maharashtra University]
Dept. of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, North Maharashtra University,
Po.B No.80, Jalgaon, Maharashtra-425 001
[ Phone:- 09823 109 109]

Dr.Prakash, thanks a ton for your kind words about this website and the info on crops. Hope, many of our friends will find it interesting and informative apart from educative. I will be in touch with you – Wg Cdr JP

The breaking marriages….

A sacred institution that is meant to be for life is not even lasting for a few months. I heard the shocking story, recently, that the girl returned home the same evening of the wedding not for ‘marumanay’ [part of a wedding rituals among Badagas where the bride or rather the newly married daughter returns to her parental home for the first time after marriage] but for good. She was forced by her parents and those of the groom’s to go through the wedding ceremony when she refused to get married in the ‘first place’ that a lot was at stake including the ‘pride and honour’ of both the families. Really sad ! What are the reasons?

One is surprised to see so many nice looking, educated and employed boys and girls among Badagas ready for marriage but hesitate to tie the knots since they are not sure for how long the sacred marriage would last?

Is it the ‘old mind set’ of the boys and their parents that the ‘wife – hendaru or daughter in law – sosay’ is expected to be only a second class citizen bringing water, cleaning the house, cooking and bearing children even if she is educated and can be gainfully employed?

Shockingly, it appears, the BPO driven ‘night shift’ non-performing boys, cannot carryout the fundamental principal of a marriage [that proclaims that a marriage is nothing but a public announcement of a private affair] and suffer from erectile dysfunctions and sexual deficiencies and thus cannot face their partners. Then they blame it all on the girl when they are grilled by his parents and relatives with the typical but crude Badaga sense of outrage, ‘ Ennu basaru aapillay’ya? – has she not become pregnant yet??’

Are the educated and employed girls not ready to share and enjoy life but live in a false world that they are ‘more’ than equal in most respects and forget the adage that the fundamental requirement for a successful marriage is nothing but ‘adjustment’? Do they feel being single is better than being singled out for failures??

Seeking a non – Badaga partner seems to be a fashion and passion without differentiating between love and infatuation.

Where is the problem, really?

Are we, the elders, with blinkers firmly in place, not seeing the truth in a broader perspective?

Is the insistence on ‘MORAY’ – that you cannot marry from certain villages as the boys and girls become brother- sister [relationship] – becoming the biggest stumbling block ? While one can understand and appreciate this moray system which was adopted by our ancestors due to medical and ethical reasons when there were few hattis established by brothers in the olden days, what is the ‘true’ picture now??

Are we contributing to the cause in a negative way and condemning our great community to a curse??

Have you visited these badaga websites

here or  here?

 

Gasu Dhotti – Potato Bread, a Badaga delicacy

[Excerpt from] A garden party – K. JESHI in the Hindu [March 10,2011]

…….At Hotel GAD (Gateway All Day -THE GATEWAY HOTEL, UPPER COONOOR) you can choose between a buffet and a la carte from Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. There is the super-soft gass dhotti (rotis), made of maida, mashed potatoes and butter, a regional Badaga speciality. It is melt-in the mouth and goes well with the Nilgiri kaai curry, a traditional preparation of boiled vegetables in a mint and coriander sauce. Other local delights are avarai uthaka, made from locally-available fresh beans, and chicken ball curry (minced chicken dumplings in coconut milk)……

Copy cats don’t care for copyright !
You sweat, struggle, lose sleep and then settle on a post, add an image and put it out on your website or blog with prominent display that the content is copyright and all rights reserved.

But some smart alec ‘COPYCAT‘ could not careless.

You are mortified to see your ‘baby’ appearing in the ruthless web world as somebody else’s.

When is “enough” – not enough?

visit : Enough is Enough

Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder road in Mambalam

Ms.Anushya Padmanabhan writes ;

I am from Ooty and I have been thru your portal on our culture you aer doing a great job. Now I need a favour from you, there is a road in Chennai West Mambalam named after great Ari gowder called arya gowda road… many people have mentioned that it’s named after him. 

However when I have posted it in Face book  few baduga friends needed proof. I dont know how to prove this as you have gathered many info on him, is it possible to get some information on this?

Thank you Anushya for your comments. Yes the road in front of Mambalam Railway Station is indeed named after Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder though the name is misspelt as ‘Arya Gowda’. See below as well as the page “All About Ari Gowder”. I have most of the land documents with me – Wg Cdr JP

From the book ” A BADAGA – ENGLISH DICTIONARY ” by Prof.Paul Hockings and Christiane Pilot-Raichoor

Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder, the first Badaga graduate, first Badaga M.L.C & M.L.A for a long time who had brought many reforms in/to Badaga Community including ‘prohibition’ (no alcohol - kudi) to Nilgiris in British days itself. Ari Gowder lead the Indian contigent (yes, “INDIAN CONTIGENT) to World Scouts Jumboree held in Europe in the 1930s.Being a great philanthrophist he had done a lot for the betterment of Badagas. He was the one who established Nilgiri Co-Op Marketting Society at Ooty, to save the small farmers-especially Badagas- from the exploits of middlemen & traders at Mandis in Mettupalayam. He was the President of NCMS for more than 30 years, till his death and NCMS was considered one of the best co-op societies in India during his days. His statue has been erected in the NCMS compound in appreciation of his great work. He was the Nakku Betta leader till his death after his father Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder. In fact they were the ‘uncrowned kings’ of Nakku Betta for about 80 years continuously.

Since he donated the land, the road in front of Mambalam Railway Station in Chennai (Madras) is named after him (known as Arya Gowder Street). In fact Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder  had bought about 1.13 acres in that area [including the road now] in 1930 and about 80 cents were sold through Appaswamy realtor later.

Gandhiji and Badagas

The more one digs into the ‘history and origin’ of Badagas, there are quite a few interesting and informative episodes. One such incident is when Mahatma Gandhiji spoke to and about Badagas during his historic visit to the Nilgiris in 1934 when he had come to this hill station – our Nakku Betta must have been really beautiful in those days – and stayed at ‘Ram Ashram’ which became Amirthanjan Guest House later [now a private property] Mount Pleasant, Coonoor [ next to Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder's Bungalow 'Panorama' which came up in 1948].

Gandhiji in Coonoor 1934

Gandhiji in Coonoor 1934

[It is surprising that still many, including Badagas, are not able to accept the fact that Badagas are an original tribe of the Nilgiris]

Enna Allie Mutta Beda

A couple of days back I received the following email  from David McCreedy :…..

……. Don’t touch me there! - Enna allie mutta beda! …...என்ன அல்லி முட்ட பேட!

Read the complete story here…

Who are Badagas ?

Surprised at the question?

They are an unique community belonging to one of the original and indigenous tribes – I repeat original and NOT migrated from Mysore area – living in the Nilgiris, a mountainous region in the Southern India with the famous hill station Ooty being its capital.

The original tribes of the Nilgiris, by the way, are Badagas, Todas, Kothas and Kurumas. They have been living in these hills for, for want of a better word, thousands of years. The origin of none of these tribes have been established conclusively. The WHITE lie that Badagas have migrated from Mysore plains deserves to be discarded into the [historical] dust bin. Though, unfortunately, many self appointed ‘native and foreign’ anthropologists and historians seem to believe in this ‘word of mouth’ distortion and blissfully spread this disinformation.

The Badagas  form the largest tribe in the Nilgiris and speak an unique language called ‘BADAGA or BADAGU‘. Again, the disinformation that Badaga is a dialect of Kannada [halia or old Kannada] only shows the disinclination of these so called ‘researchers’ to change their [deformed mental] mind set. Badaga is a rich and separate language with the only minus point of not having an unique script of its own.

There are many sub groups among the Badagas, the main ones being, Gowdas, Thorias and Odeyas and usually they do not marry from one group to another.

There are about 400 + villages [called hattis] belonging to these Badagas and they are spread around the beautiful Blue Mountains, fondly called ‘Nakku Betta’ by Badagas.

Though they form about 80 % of the population of the Badagas, the Gowdas are NOT the only ones referred as Badagas.

Clear now ?

BE PROUD TO BE A BADAGA.

Prof.Frank Heidemann of Akka Bakka fame

I was pleasantly surprised when his ‘student’ Jenus [now at Kotagiri] called up to say that Prof.Frank would like to meet me. Meet, we did, a couple of days back at our residence [Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder bungalow -'Panorama'] in Mount Pleasant, Coonoor. It was indeed a pleasant and educative interaction. More about what we discussed on Akka Bakka and other issues later…

Read the complete story here

Badaga Origin – misconception

Thontai Gowder Samraj writes :

The misconceptions about the origin of the Badugas is really hurting me. We are known as Baduguru by all the other indigenous communities who admire us for our progress and cultural tapestry that we share with them.

Evidences are plenty to show that we are indigenous to the Nilgiris. Deve sole’ (Sacred Groves) are an important aspect of our culture. Who will share their deities and festivals with us if we have come from elsewhere? Who will participate in our rituals if we are not part of this land? We need to reinforce our origin with as much cultural evidence to reverse the misconception that we have migrated from Mysore.

This is basically because of the written evidences created by researchers of Nilgiris.

Learn Badaga

Let us learn Badaga

” Ollenge iddiya ? – How are you ?”

‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? – (Roughly) ‘ How is everything ? ‘

1. Are you a Badaga ? – Nee ondu Badagana?

2. Yes, I am a Badaga – Ha, Na ondu Badaga

3. What is your name ? – Ninna hesaru aena ?

4. My name is Bhoja – Enna hesaru Bhoja

5. Which is your village ? – Ninna Hatti edu ?

[5a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? - Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]

6. My village is Bearhatti – Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti

7. Whose son/daughter are you ? – Nee dara maathi / hennu ?

8. I am Mela thara (top street) Joghi Gowder’s son / daughter – Na Mela thara Joghi gowdaru maathi / hennu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [more in the next page]

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We too can have a DREAM

(Repeated from an earlier article)

I have been ‘dreaming’ of a new but ideal BADAGA HATTI built exclusively BY US & FOR US with the thoughts of those Badagas, living away from their hatti homes but whose hearts are always longing to have some connection with their ROOTS.

There are many big tea estates with vast areas of land that are for sale in the Nilgiris these days. Many of them originally belonged to Badagas.

Some of these are priced in the range of 4 to 5 lacs of Rupees per acre. So, for an area of 500 acres, the cost would be 25 Crores. It needs JUST 100 Badagas  to join together and invest Rs.25 lacs each, that is 62,500 US Dollars, to buy one of these tea estates. Or 200 / 300 Badagas with proportionately reduced investment.

In that land, an ideal Badaga hatti can be built for a 2000 / 3000 families. Each dwelling, with all the modern facilities, but in a typical Badaga ‘Gode Mane’ ( Cluster of apartments) concept  could be built for Rs.10 lacs. That is Rs.100/200/300 crores.

The investors will have the choice of bringing in ten of their friends/relatives, apart from recovering their initial investment, when all the apartments are sold.Depending on the area and other factors, the ‘New Hatti’ could be made to accommodate more families.

With a 10% margin of ‘profit’, the  amount generated can be used for maintenance and upkeep of the NEW HATTI.

Every apartment owner would be a stock holder of this ‘Cooperative Concept’.

There will be only a HETHE GUDI (Suthu Kal). The ‘New Hatti’ will have its own school, play grounds, walking tracks and sports complex cum community hall. A nursing home that would be converted to a ‘super speciality hospital’ in future.

And of course, a shopping complex – preference being given to apartment owners to own the shops on a lease basis.

Importantly, it will have its own – ‘Duvay’ – grave yard and the departed would be given a funeral funded by the entire hatti (as it happens in every hatti now).

The remaining land would be used for cultivation of vegetables – ‘holas’ on a lease basis with enough area earmarked for an environment friendly forest.

A huge IT complex could be built with a tie up with a top IT company, thus providing jobs and security.

And…many more thoughts keep flooding my mind.

Martin Luther King’s famous words, ‘I too have a dream’ echos….Dr.APJ Kalam, ex- President of India said, ‘Unless we DREAM we can achieve nothing’

Calling all Badagas….WE TOO CAN DARE TO DREAM !!

Badaga Proverbs – Doddharu Shloka

Badaga Proverbs – Doddharu SHLOKA

One of the fascinating and interesting aspects of Badaga [both people & language] is the free use of delightful but deep meaning proverbs called “ DODDARU SHLOKA”. When you engage an elderly Badaga into any conversation, you are sure to hear a lot of these proverbs thrown in to make / emphasis a point.

Prof. Paul Hockings, probably the most authentic researcher on and of Badaga lists more than a thousand Badaga proverbs, 1730 to be precise. May be he had extensively borrowed these from the unpublished manuscript of M.K.Bellie Gowder. He feels that 1730 could be a complete figure containing all the proverbs . See his book,’Counsel from the Ancients: Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’. He has given the meaning in English as well thus making it easy to understand in a beautiful manner.

Though I find his collection extremely interesting and educative, I do not agree with some of the conclusions he draws on certain proverbs. For example, on the proverb, ‘Odhidhama Niddhana, Oddidhama Erandina’ [ஓதிதம நித்தன ஓடிதம எரிண்டின] .

Prof.Hockings interpretation is quite different to what I feel is the correct meaning. I think ‘a person who spends time learning and pondering (over a problem) is better than the one who runs away (in a hurry) and thus trips over. [Odhidhama – learned one , Niddhana – stops to ponder over[think] a problem, Oddidhama – one who runs away or is in a hurry, Erandina – trips over.

It is common practice for Badaga mothers to tell their young children ‘Oda beda , Erandiray’ – Donot run, you will trip over (a stone or any obstruction). That is ‘ do not be in a hurry and take a hasty decision’.

Another one is ‘Michidhavaga Morande Kolu Bangara’. The lady who does not listen to her husband /elders (Michidha Hemmathi) is bound to land up as a widow (when ‘Morande Kolu – a small stick of morende tree – replaces her jewellery (bangara) during the Ole Kattuva ritual of husband’s death / funeral ceremony). Prof.Hockings feels Mechidhavaga (see the difference between michidhava [மிச்சி தவ] – – one who does not listen and mechidhava [மெச்சிதவ] -  one who is appreciated by all – even a morende kolu is enough as jewellery.

Actual proverb could have been, ‘Michi Moranday kolu Bangara Beda, Mechi Morenday Kolu Bangara bay-kku’

Is it a case of beautiful wordplay (pun) by our ancestors??

I have listed a few of the proverbs here and hope to add more in future.

Badaga Poetry

One of the enchanting aspects of Badaga Language is its disarming simplicity. But though the sentences are swathed in sweetness of simple words, it can contain deep expressions of emotions conveyed in the proper usage of rhymes [holla – alla] or pair words [huttu – nattu] apart from other attributes. When the sweetness of this language is combined to carry the human expressions in the form of a poetry, it is a great pleasure to indulge oneself in a world of sheer bliss.

When I came across the following poem, my first reaction was, ‘how beautifully the love of a mother has been brought out’. That set me thinking that there may be many other ‘unsung’ poets among ourselves. How nice if their poems in BADAGA could find a wider audience? I am not talking about some KAVITHAI in Tamil or a poetry in English. BUT ONLY BADAGA POEMS. By the way what is the word in Badaga for poem & poetry? I am sure it is not kavithai or kavi . Cannot be kadhe (song) too. Then……..??

This poem titled ‘My Mother’ by Mohan( hope he reads this and sends more of his creations) beautifully describes the filial bond and eternal love a mother has for her son even in very adverse, trying and difficult situations. She could not find any fault nor found anything demeaning, in the one whom she had brought into this world,nurtured, carried on her hips, cared for and brought up even when the rest of world rejected and rediculed him. I have attempted an English translation and hope I have captured the essence of the deep feelings expressed in the poem.The author has really ‘ played’ with the rhyming Badaga words and forcefully brought out not only the sadness and silent suffering of a son but also the uncompromised love of a mother.

Read the complete poem here Enna Awai (My Mother)

40th Death Anniversary

On this day, 40 years ago, the greatest leader in the history of Badagas, Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, departed from this world, after dedicating his life to the upliftment of Badagas and other suppressed people.

Even today, 40 years later, we remember him with gratitude.

[Read all about Ari Gowder here]

From Ooty to Coonoor in “Nilgiri Mountain Railway” for Rs.3

It was a train journey after forty years. On 27/06/2011. First time with my better half. And it was worth it.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway [NMR] – running from  Ooty to Mettupalayam – is an unique UN heritage  railway system built during the British time and with which two greatest Badaga Leaders [Known as Nakku Betta 'Rajas' during their time] Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder and Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, were closely connected – Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder in fact built it [surprisingly no mention about them has been made in many references about NMR - either by default or deliberate design]. They had the great privilege of stopping the train by show of hands. See photos in the ‘rare photos’ page.

And guess what, this ‘toy train’ which is a must travel agenda in every tourist’s itinerary, is so cheap to travel from Ooty to Coonoor or vice versa, that you tend to think that there is some BIG MISTAKE. yes, it costs all of Rs.3. You heard me correct ONLY Rupees THREE. in second class. Fist class costs Rs.76/- But  the reservation charges are much higher. By the way, the fare from Coonoor to Mettupalayam is Rs.4/-.See the pictures [click on them for enlargement].

Less than a cup of ‘chai’ in any roadside  tea shop. Surely this must find a mention in Guinness World Records.

This train is the ‘lifeline’ for many students [living around Lovedale, Ketti, Aravankadu, Wellington and Coonoor] studying in Ooty Govt. Arts College and for those working in Ooty.

My memory goes back to the time when I was a regular of this train from Aravankadu to Ooty [when I did my pre university in Ooty College during 1964-65] and after my Engineering studies in 1971 when I was with the Ooty PWD.

And here are some snaps of the train and Coonoor railway station.

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Mother – may her soul rest in peace

It is with the saddest sense of grief and sorrow I record the passing away of my mother, Mrs.Idyammal Bellie Gowder, on 13-7-2011 at the age of 99. Mom, you gave me everything and what I am today is only due to you.

Thank you friends for the condolence messages.

Dear JP,

I knew that Badaga women were unique in their own ways. They were courageous, well displined and hardworking to the core. They were the incornation of goodness, tolerance and kindness.,embodiment of virtues. Your mother was undoubtedly one such soul. I earnestly pray for her purest soul to rest in peace.

Kethorai.R.Rajma

Thank you Rajma, you have summed it in the most beautiful way. It was mother, who was a true Badaga[thi] who made us hold our head high and to have the courage of conviction – JP

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Thank you, to all those friends who had sent condolence messages on the demise of my mother Mrs.Idyammal. She was born on 02-09-1912 and named Kaaday [Kade] and her pet name was Ida which became Idy.

2-9-1912 —-13-7-2011

Being the youngest, she was the pet of her parents,Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder and Nanji Hethay. She had a big influence with all her brothers and after Rao Badadur Bellie Gowder passed away in 1935, she was the uniting force of the family.

She lived a full life with all its pleasures and pitfalls. Being a woman of great character and courage – she ensured that all her children, eight of us, were sent to schools and colleges.

Education was her topmost priority, probably due to the influence of her elder brother Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder who was 20 years elder to her. Educating all the children was not easy, that too, two of us in professional courses, her fifth child, Balakrishna became a Doctor [though fate played a cruel trick and he passed away in Malaysia in 1975, at the age of 29, just a day before he was leaving for London to do his FRCS, and was the first of her children to pass away which shattered mother beyond description] and me, her sixth child as an Engineer.

She was very strict and did not compromise and had the courage of conviction to carry her decisions through.

There is so much to write about her for she is a phenomena by herself. In her passing away, it was end of an era.

Thank you once again for all the sentiments – Wg Cdr JP

Have you visited www.badaga.name?

Have you visited www.badaga.name?

In this website,  www.badaga.co , you can ‘see and hear’ a lot more ‘media’ as javascript is enabled.

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BADAGAS

 Baarivi, Nodivi, Oridivi & Odhivi!

[Come, See, Listen and Read!]

பாரிவி, நோடிவி, ஓதிவி & ஓரிடிவி

copyright©Bellie Jayaprakash 

JP’s other — ‘Badaga’ websites

One of the complaints I hear from our friends visiting  badaga.in is that it takes ages to fully display all the contents. This is because, there are many multimedia posts like songs, pictures, animations etc.To overcome this drawback I have developed another set of websites  that can load faster. Like for example, what you see in the ‘home’ page of this site can be seen with alot of animation in badaga.co

The most popular page ‘BADAGA SONGS ON THE WEB’ is made into a separate website “Badaga Songs on the web”where you can listen to ‘Badaga Music’ without leaving the page.

A partial list of new weblogs are

Badaga Wedding in pictures

Badagas- General

Badaga Songs on the WEB

Badaga Rare Photos

Badagas who made a difference

Badaga Jewellery

Badaga recipes…..

Badaga Funeral Rites

Badaga Songs

Hethay Amma History

Badaga Language

Badaga Villages

Time to change with changing times?

Narmu  writes : “I am new to this site. I am very proud to be a Badaga girl. Our people are very loving, caring and are with humanity to a great extent except when it comes to inter caste marriage. They even accept when our boy marries a non-Badaga girl, but they really don’t accept when our girl marries with a non-Badaga boy. My view is that the parents ego plays a vital role. In today’s trends both the men and women are matured enough to choose their spouse. Any one who comes across this post, dont mistake me, its just my views”.

 

(Please note:  This website encourages all shades of opinions from viewers. You may agree or NOT agree with the views of some  but  harsh comments/ posts will not be approved/published. Editing or deletion of comments is at the discretion of the author/editor- Wg Cdr JP)

This topic, in my opinion, needs our urgent attention. There is plenty of truth in what Narmu says. Do we, especially the elders in the community, need to change our mind set? Is it not time to change with the ‘changing times’?? – Wg Cdr JP

Badaga Songs On the web

The website that is created for listening to streaming music.

This site contains songs/musical numbers by great Badaga Singers like Kerban Bella Gowder and Thangaadu L Krishna Gowder.

Here is my favourite “Ganjikkay Kukkaiya’ song by Krishana Gowder

Thank you, friends!

It is about five years since the websites on BADAGA, both people and language, is started and maintained by me with the sole [rather soul] purpose of gathering and giving out the correct information about our …unique history, origin, culture, customs, rituals, language and lifestyle!

I am really very happy that the slogan I coined “Proud to be Badaga” gets reflected in many Badaga websites/weblogs and of Badaga groups in social interfaces like Facebook etc.

More than anything else, what is so heartening is the fact that most of the visitors [there are more than 178,000] are youngsters from all over the world and the double ‘damakka’ is that many are repeat visitors.

Needless to add, the motivation and encouragement comes when I receive email comments with words of praise. Given below are a couple of them received recently

Shri [srdv5344@gmail.com] prakash rangapp	Submitted on 2011/11/27 at 11:50 pm Hats off to you. This website will be very informative to the younger generation to know about our precious culture and also about our origin. Thank you very much for maintaining this wonderful website. Submitted on 2011/11/28 at 1:32 am superb information, really proud of this…….

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF BADAGAS – Baarivi, Nodivi, Oridivi & Odhivi! [Come, See, Listen and Read!] பாரிவி, நோடிவி, ஓதிவி & ஓரிடிவி

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder’s Birth Anniversary today (4 Dec)

Once in way, in the history of a community, there comes a leader, who becomes a visionary and leads his people by example.

Such, was a leader who would have been 118 yrs today.

That is Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai Bellie Gowder ARI GOWDER.

Much has been written about this great leader who lead the INDIAN CONTIGENT to world scouts jamboree in Hungary in 1932

and  you can read all about Ari Gowder  here.

Even after 40 years after his death in 1971, Badagas remember him with love and respect.

He made us feel and say ‘Proud to be Badagas’

and because of his insistence that we must educate our children, especially girls,  we are able to hold our heads high today!

Bowing our heads in silent reverence for all that he had done to our community…

Here are some more Rare Photos from Ravi Belliraj

Ravi Belliraj is one of the ‘rare’ persons whose heart is always with his roots in the Nilgiris and Badagas, though he is now in the Middle East.

He has gone out of the way to do a lot for the betterment of Badagas.

Like earlier, he has sent some ‘rare’ photos with a small note :

“Ollanage idhara, alli ninga ella ollange ibbadundu somiya nenasine.Some rare pix for your information & record.”

and it is my pleasure to put these pictures in this website. 

Ravi Belliraju ‘ga ethay ‘thanks’ hegudhu endhu artha appilay!

Ravi, thanks a ton and I am sure the visitors to this website will find these fantastic ‘fotos’ not only interesting but educative.

Hover the mouse over the pix for details/Caption

The above pix is not the Hethay Habba but ‘Madivala’ – the ceremony in honour of the [dead] ancestors, celebrated by Badagas once a few years[decades] in those days – Wg Cdr JP

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Highly Disturbing

There are some highly disturbing reports in ‘The Hindu’ and ‘Dinamalar’ (14 Dec11, issue) titled ” Villagers oppose construction of church ” and mentioning about lorry loads of B.Manihatti villagers staging a demonstration at the Collectorate[Ooty] and submitting a memorandum that the activities of some persons – to construct a church in the village – are threatening the unity of the village.

As correctly pointed out by these villagers, this move to construct a church and the reported forced religious conversion is bound to affect not only the Badaga Culture but the very fabric of this unique community that has striven to safe guard its traditions, customs and rituals for centuries as well as the peaceful atmosphere in every hatti.

We all stand by the Villagers of B.Manihatti and offer our complete cooperation and solidarity and appeal to the authorities to stop this construction.

When will these ‘traitors’  of Badaga Traditions, who are on the pay rolls of some of these Pastors and Impostors learn to respect the great Badaga sensivity ?

Another great Badaga ‘Saavu’ song

Once in a way, we get to hear a song which instantly registers both in mind and heart. The golden voice you hear in this saavu [funeral] song is, beyond any doubt, excellent and haunting.

Indhu Dhodda Maneya by Thangadu L Krishna Gowder

” This song is by -Thangadu L.Krishna Gowder.Produced by Thuneri- Rajkumar and music by Athagrahatti team the album name is : Muthe Mora ! As I mentioned before -Most of the photos in the Group/in this Video are take from http://badaga.wordpress.com/ ,  www.badaga.name . Thanks to Wg Cdr.Bellie Jayaprakash for this Great effort -I request all members to have a View on this site -very informative.Proud to be a Badaga -  Yogesh Ajjan ”

 A great song !!

All is well ?!

A couple of decades ago, there was hardly any info available about BADAGA – both people and language.

Now, On ‘Google’ when ‘badaga’ is typed, what comes out as information is mind boggling.

• Everything – 323,000
• Images – 35,100
• blogs – 4500
• Videos – 3960
• Discussion – 3550
• Books – 452

Of course, on a deeper analysis, whatever is listed is NOT completely BADAGA. That apart, there are many websites, blogs and discussions and [YouTube] Videos that can make you cringe. There are plenty of ‘cut and paste’ jobs or more regrettably  plain copy posts. As you can guess, no credit to the original ‘creators’ given by these copy cats.

Worst, there are many videos in the name of ‘Badaga Dance’ that are downright amateurish,  ’cheap’ and and not Badaga dance at all.

But then, there is plenty of ‘good’ information if you really prepared to spend some time to ‘see what you want – Look beyond what you see!

The biggest satisfaction is that there is interest among youngsters to know all about Badagas…the history, origin, traditions, customs and culture.

Attempts are being made to ‘create a written script’ for Badaga by Anand and others. Badagas themselves are carrying out research to learn about our past history and record them in their books.  J.B.Balasubramaniam is about to bring out a second edition of ‘PAAME’ a highly laudable effort. ‘Badaga Samuthayam’ by Sivaji Raman [of Jakkanarai] is a treasure trove.

Badagas spread all over the world are bringing laurels to Badaga Community with their pioneering work. Vinitha Rajkumar in UK is  running a successful ‘Bharatanatyam’ school.Students like Sumathi Halan, who is doing her higher studies in Canada, is a source of information on India in the local community. Both Vinitha and sumathi are invited to give speeches in the town hall meetings.

Melur Village, a small Badaga hatti, is a ‘smoke free’ hamlet. BMW is not about the high end car or ‘Behen Maya Wati’ but’ Blue Mountain Warriers’  consisting of  Badagas who are concerned about the environment degradation in the Nilgiris and doing their bit to help out the society.

The slogan ‘Proud to be a Badaga’  coined by yours truly has become an universal cry of all Badagas. What started as a hobby but now a passion, this website ‘Badagas of the Blue Mountains’ has become a reference point to many. More than 100 visitors every day. That gives motivation to do more.

Much more is needed to be done on an urgent basis to declare ‘all is well’;

to hold our heads high and declare

‘Proud to be an Indian and Proud to be a Badaga‘.

Happy New Year!

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash

(to my mom who left this world on 13 -7-2011:- without  you or your inspiration, I am nothing. You gave me everything and always blessed me with – ‘ollithay agili’.

Thank you mom, wherever YOU are!)

A thought

Sofia Joghee [Singapore]

Few reasons discussed behind breaking marriages in the previous post, could be because of having no Children.

There are lot of children without parents and parents without children. We would like to know how does our community support in adopting children who are needy. Do we have discrimination on adoption as well as we have for marriages out of caste?

Do we welcome such children as part of our community? Kindly let us know your opinion.

The  thought of Sofiajohee has left me dumbfounded. I cannot think of a  non Badaga child having been adopted by any one known to me, though I am aware  of some ‘sondha kaararu [relatives] kunavay [children] being saakkodu [adopted]‘. Where do we stand ?…..hmmm…a thought that is truly THOUGHT PROVOKING – Wg Cdr JP

Where are we heading to?

  – Badagas taking out a procession in Ooty on Saturday. Photo:M.Sathyamoorthy [The Hindu]

“Rally Against Govt Employee’s ‘Conversion Bid’  [News report in outlookindia.com - Jan 08, 2012]

About 2,000 people today took out a procession here today demanding action against a government polytechnic lecturer accusing him of attempting to convert the locals to Christianity.

The people of B Manihatty village and surrounding localities dominated by Badaga community, a tribal community of the Nilgiris District, submitted a memorandum to the District Collector demanding action against lecturer Moorthy, who had recently converted to Christianity, police said.The villagers had yesterday ransacked the house and burnt the belongings of Moorthy protesting against his plans to build a prayer hall after obtaining permission for constructing a residential premises. More than 100 villagers were arrested in connection with the violence.

The memorandum also demanded a departmental inquiry and transfer of the district Superintendent of Police, accusing him of ‘functioning’ against the villagers.

More than 500 police personnel have been deployed in the town as a precautionary measure in view of the rally taken out today.”

This is a classical example of how one person can vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of a Badaga Village. Is this the fault of the individual who has turned a ‘betrayer’ of the community he was born in or the general trend in every hatti where there is no cooperation and unity among the villagers who are constantly at each other’s throat – like what we have witnessed in Nanjanadu recently?

Our hearts bleed for the ‘brave hearts’ of B.Manihatti .

The first conversion of Badagas to Christianity took place in 1854 when some German missionaries mislead a couple of Badagas in Ketti (Santhoor) with the lure of monetary compensation and false promise of ‘education’ for the children. The seeds of disharmony among these peace loving and innocent people who believed in unity and community living (all the hatti people acted as one) were sown.

Unfortunately, the biggest curse of our people is the disunity combined with jealousy, that is all pervasive. The so called leaders of the community found shelter in politics and corruption with the active support of ‘self appointed Gowdas’ who could be ‘purchased’.

The saddest point is that we do not have a selfless Nakku Betta leader after Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder [who passed away in 1971] who can galvanise our people with true leadership qualities.

This is Hethe Habba time. The ALL Mighty Mother Goddess Hethe has saved us from many a disaster. SHE will save us this time also. Let us be united.

In UNITY lies our STRENGTH.

Mani.B writes : Welcome to my village ( BERAGANI )  HETHAI HABBA

MSK writes : Welcome to my village ( NUNTHALA ) HETHAI HABBA

In UNITY lies our STRENGTH

The following have been taken [cut and pasted from - Facebook - Badaga Group] and reproduced below as I consider the ‘conversion game’ played by the  ‘newly converted Christian Clan’ needs to be analysed and nipped in the ‘bud’ as the situation after what happened in B.Manihatti is very serious.

Bellie Jayaprakash         6:57pm Jan 11
Our hearts bleed for the ‘brave hearts’ of B.Manihatti people.The first conversion of Badagas to Christianity took place in 1854 when some German missionaries mislead a couple of Badagas in Ketti (Santhoor) with the lure of monetary compensation and false promise of ‘education’ for the children. The seeds of disharmony among these peace loving and innocent people who believed in unity and community living (all the hatti people acted as one) were sown.

Unfortunately, the biggest curse of our people is the disunity combined with jealousy, that is all pervasive. The so called leaders of the community found shelter in politics and corruption with the active support of ‘self appointed Gowdas’ who could be ‘purchased’. The saddest point is that we do not have a selfless Nakku Betta leader after Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder [who passed away in 1971] who can galvanise our people with true leadership qualities.

This is Hethe Habba time. The ALL Mighty Mother Goddess Hethe has saved us from many a disaster. SHE will save us this time also.

Let us be united. In UNITY lies our STRENGTH.

Sathish Krishnan

7:02pm Jan 11

IN UNITY LIES OUR STRENGTH !!! I second you Sir.

Padmanabhan Ramachandran        7:50pm Jan 11 It is fair to say, there were excellent community leaders till the 1970s. Along with the father-son duo Bellie Gowder and Ari Gowder, there were also stalwarts like Bygamund Haika-mathi Joghee Gowder, Achanakal M Malka Gowder, and much before all of them there was Thuneri headman Padharaja III. Later there were several leaders who were freedom-fighters and selfless servants of Badaga Community. Unfortunately, although unintentional, all the reforms that the early leaders carried out for the Badagas, resulted in Badagas abandoning their age-old occupation of agriculture and cattle and pursuing greener pastures in urban and faraway places. Resulting in a dearth of leaders amongst our community in our homeland. What we are left with is a bunch of selfish crooks in the garb of leaders. Education certainly was essential but education should have been only complementary and for the enhancement of our own way of life. Like how Shiv Khera says, ‘successful people dont do different things, they do things differently’.

Nagulan Joghee

8:02pm Jan 11

We feel and share your concern JP.. The leadership vacuum is a very big issue.. there is politics everywhere and in everything.. fuelled by unmatched egotism… still hope some good sense prevail and unity will emerge.. let us all try for that.. I heard that the arrested people were released today on conditional bail ( they must stay in Ooty) and they are all staying in ooty ( in one rented place) and plan to continue till the next hearing with hopes.. Collective voice is the need of the hour…

Prawin RamBhojan       8:19pm Jan 12

To add to Bellie Jayaprakash from the archives of TOI

Christian missionary efforts at conversion under the guise of social work do not take place in places, say, like the Brahmin-dominated ward of Mylapore in Chennai. They are conducted in poor, illiterate and innocent tribal areas and in remote jungles far from the prying eyes of authority. Now a reaction seems to have set in. Writing in The Statesman (March 12, 1999), Mr B P Saha made the point that “growing enlightenment has been provoking them (tribals) to dislike conversion and look askance at the foreign missionaries, the so-called benefactors”.

Attempts at conversion should be considered a mortal assault on local cultures and should be totally banned. Conversions are forbidden by law in China. Here we take a lenient view of conversion and Christian bodies have been taking advantage of the Hindu sense of tolerance. According to Mr Jon Stock, New Delhi correspondent of the British paper The Daily Telegraph, “put simply, the Indian subcontinent has become the principal target for a wide range of western Christian missions which are determined to spread the gospel to India’s ‘unreached’ people before the year 2000″.

Writing in The Spectator, Mr Stock says: “There is little doubt that the current communal tension in India would not be serious if foreign-funded missionaries had been content with giving Indians the choice of Christianity and left it at that.”

According to Mr Stock, “hundreds of thousands of dollars are being channelled into India through well-organised, America-based evangelical missions”, the meticulously researched ethnographic data they are compiling on the region ensuring that funds are being directed “with military precision to the right area, even to specific pin codes in remote tribal districts”.

Mr Stock quoted a statement from a Colorado-based Group of World- wide Christian Missions calling itself AD 2000 and Beyond as saying: ” ‘Flashes of light’ seen all around the North India-Hindu belt, particularly among the tribal groups, are encouraging us to believe that the Sum of Righteousness is indeed ready to rise upon these unreached peoples.”

A great Badaga Writer

There is a great Badaga writer whose articles and poems have appeared in many magazines and newspapers all over the world. Her dramas/plays have been aired on BBC. She has written a couple of novels. Unfortunately, in my opinion, her talents and true caliber have not been fully understood and appreciated.

Indu K Mallah

(Photo by bellie jayaprakash)

Ms.Indu K Mallah’s poem ‘Song of the Hill People ‘ written many years ago, reflects the agony of these ‘betta’ people even today…

(((((O)))))

 

[photo from the net]

:::::::::::::::::::

SCAPE GOAT

Yesterday, you were a care-free calf
Tugging teasingly at your mother’s teats.
And gamboling gaily
In an abandon of joy.

Today, you are weighted with garlands, mantras, and the
collective sins of the community.
The pujari extols the benefits of ‘karu puja’.
He compares your eyes to Surya and Chandra.Your ears to Usha and Pratyusha,
Your body to the abode of Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Raudri,
Your horns to Sri Devi and Bhu Devi,’
Your nose to Vaishnavi,
Your forehead to Maheswari,Your feet to the four Vedas
And your teats to Dharman, Jnanam, Aishwaryam and Vairagyam
(Righteousness, Knowledge, Auspiciousness and Detachment)

But…………..no one notices the tears in your eyes.They feed you with rice and sambar, deceit and betrayal,

And wonder that you turn your head away distastefully.

They smear you with kum-kum and manjal,

Chandan and ceremony,

They pay obeisance and lip-service,

They offer incense and incantations,

Oblations and silver coins;

They tie an angavastram, a length of silk

Or noose?

Around your innocent neck;

They deify you and prostrate themselves

In front of your bewildered body.

No one notices your head heavily touching the ground,

Under all these trappings.

What can I do to ease your burden?

I reach out, and try to wipe out that hunted look in your eyes,

And you tremble at my touch.

The puja over,

They rush to restaurants;

Serving their favourite dishes.

The atmosphere rife with irony

And orders for chilled beer and brandy

Mutton biriyani and chilli chicken,

Interspersed with sounds of

“Punya puja and prayaschittam.”

They gorge themselves with food, drink, and self-delusion,

Until they are bloated with complacency and self-righteousness

Before they return to their old ways of

Slothfulness, and sinfulness,

Superstition and self-indulgence, Until the time comes around

To find another scape-goat.

||||||||||||||||||||||||||

A WOMAN’S TEARS(Hengada Kannaneeru)

A daughter’s tears will water the fields,

And wither all the crops,

And cause a famine in the land,

Or so the legend goes. A sister’s sobs will swell the stream

And turn it into a river of blood,

Which will wipe the entire village out,

Or so the folk-tale says.A mother’s heart-break will pace the road

That leads to the ancestral home,

With splinters of her broken heart,

And the men who tread on them

Will be turned to stone,

Or so the elders say.A woman’s curse will turn cows to snakes

And blight the prosperity of the place,

For when the ‘Lakshmi’ of a place is destroyed,

What else can survive?

`

Daughter, sister, mother, woman,

Hurt her he who dares.

“Hennogiri mannogiri” *

The spirit of Hethai still reigns supreme in this land,

And the wheel of Sathyam will turn

Full circle.* – A Badaga woman’s curse will cause the soil to become barren (Since the Badagas have mainly been an agricultural people, this is the worst curse that can befall them).- Hethai is the most important deity of the Badagas.

:::::::::::::::::::

SONG OF THE HILL-PEOPLE

What myth informs you

That your god is greater than ours?

Which fairy tale tells you

That your god is the only one?

Which god gave you the right to brain-wash our vulnerable, guileless people

With a brush dipped in guilt?

And who gave you the right to maul our culture?

You justify your self and say

That religion is different from culture,

But one is the warp, and the other, the weft of the fabric of our credo,

Which has the texture of the trees,

The flow of the mountain – stream

The scent of the earth,

The melody of bird-song,

And is in tune with the music of the cosmos.

It is the age-old story of exploitation,

And it will take ages for us to recover from the wounds

You have inflicted on our souls

In the name of saving them.

But you have reckoned without

Our God of Satyam

We will wait——

Tomorrow is time enough for your exploitation.

  [In the 'Song Of The Hill People', Ms.Indu K Mallah has beautifully brought out the mindless and meaningless (religious) conversion of hill people especially, Badagas. What used to be an unforgivable act a couple of decades ago, has become a routine affair now.

I am yet to meet a 'converted' Badaga who could give me atleast one convincing reason for the change. I know of many Badagas who say 'I am a proud HINDU and have no problems in praying/ keeping pictures of other religious deities also in my puja room'. Hats off to them!! Badagas have been a very closely knit community. Let not"religion" divide them.]

[The  poems of Indu K Mallah are from the net.]

Balamagil Thirige Ebbadu (Wake up turning to your right Side)

Sofia Joghee from Singapore writes :

Our general practice to wake up turning right side has been instructed to us since our babyhood I should say. This is meant to be good. I am not sure if all of us know the real purpose and why this is good. So, I would like to share with you.

Body has 3 Major Nadis – Ida, Pingala and Sushumna

As long Ida and Pingala can be in balance, we can distress and be less egoistic when we encounter people at work or home. Also, if balanced, Sushumna will tend to raise our Kundalini energy. Well, effects of Raising kundalini are huge, beyond someone can imagine. So, let’s restrict our discussion to the technique to get this working.

Ida is cooling like the moon. It has to be active when the sun rises, to keep our body cool.

So, in the morning, before we wake up, lie down on our right side for 10 min and wake up with a small prayer to God for positive things to happen for that day. This will help activate our Ida Nadi, and hence we are ready to start our day.

Pingala is heat like the Sun. It has to be active when the sun sets, to keep our body warm.

So, in the evening, just after the sunsets, as the temperature comes down, we can lie on our left side for 10 min and wake up with a small prayer to heal our stress that we had gone through for that day and have a peaceful evening. This will help activate our pingala Nadi, and hence we are ready to keep ourself active even after a stressful day.

There are many other techniques to do this. But laying down on left side and right side will be the easiest for anyone to do.

So, we have been following our ancestors but  never were instructed of its inner meaning.

(http://sofiajoghee.wordpress.com/)

[Visit badaga.me or badaga.name for better multimedia experience]

Badaga Origin

[Dear JP,You have given only some information regarding the origin , why not a full background of our origin. - Balasubramaniam (balasb1234@yahoo.com) ]

Many mistakenly claim that Badaga Origin is nothing but Badaga migration from Mysore  [now in Karnataka state] about 300 years ago, during Tipu’s time only because of  the name Badaga (meaning northerner). It is very debatable.

Unfortunately many Badagas have believed it in the absence of any convincing and conclusive evidence to the contrary. But the latest revelations and links about the language, especially from the epics and writings during the Tamil Sangam period tell a totally different story (see below).

I am firmly of the view that our history is much older- may be a thousand years or more older – and my initial ‘research’ confirms that.

There is a lot written about the migration from Mysore theory by many anthropologists, researchers  and others. For obvious reasons, most of them are/were ‘outsiders’ – like the early European missionaries and British. The one person who has done a lot to highlight about Badagas, in 1960s, Prof.Paul Hockings has chosen to go along with his predecessors in concluding that since Badaga means north[ner], they have migrated from southern  Mysore  during Tipu Sultan’s rule over Mysore to avoid being forcibly converted to Islam. Also sited in support of migration is the resemblance/similarity of Badaga (language) to Haleya [old] Kannada.

But, B.Balasubramaniam, a highly educated Badaga, [who has done extensive research before writing his book “ Paamé ” – The history and culture of the Badagas of the Nilgiris ] feels that Badagas migrated from Southern Karnataka [then Mysore State] about 700 years back, much before Tipu’s time, around 1311 AD during the plundering raid of Malik Kafir.

Though I am in agreement with Bala that Badaga migration, if at all, took place much earlier then Tipu’s time in late 1700s, I am firmly of the view that “It is possible that Badagas have lived in the Nilgiris for thousands(?) of years like the Thodas [Thodhamaru ] or Kothas [Kotharu]. Migration theory is an attempt by historians and anthropologists to explain away a ‘historical puzzle’. Based on the name ‘Badaga’ or on the so called ‘legends‘ that are open to many interpretations or on the basis of similarity of Badaga [language] with haliya-old Kannada, can we conclude that Badagas migrated from Southern Mysore?

When there is no definite evidence about the origin of Todhas or Kothas, how can we presume that they predated Badagas as natives of the Nilgiris?

I am sure the mystery of migration is far from over. If you look at the issue as of ‘definitive migration’ then you try to guess about the dates but what happens if we believe that Badagas have always been there in the Nilgiris much before or along with Todhas or Kothas? Uncomfortable questions that are very interesting and worth digging deeper into.

But given the diversity but the highly commendable unity and uniformity with minor changes in their customs, Badaga Migration, in all probability, has taken place even within the Nilgiris Hills reverently called ‘Naakku Betta’ by the Badagas.

What we DO NOT know about Badagas is more than what we know about them. Such is the mystery of Badaga Origin.[Read the complete article with what the Tamil epics mention about Badagas that may give a glimpse of  Badaga Origin here]

Traditions….my foot!

Many Badagas prefer to speak in Tamil/English with other Badagas instead of their mother tongue Badagu/Badaga…see Badaga language.

Supposed to be a ‘traditional’ wedding…  which was conducted by a non Badaga pandit…. a ‘haven-fire place’ with the groom and bride chanting ‘mantras’  [more of lip 'service' as prompted by the pandit]…..

More weddings….  with the traditional ‘mandaray- turban’ being given a go by by the groom at the time of tying ‘taali’…[in traditional Badaga weddings the groom is always with a turban at the time of 'taali kattodhu' and that is why, a marriageable youngster is mocked/teased with the question "Eaguva mandaray kattiray? - when are to going to 'wear' a turban'?]….see Badaga weddings

A funeral..where instead of the mundu -vaisty/dhothi being the dress for the men who do the ‘akki eththodhu’, there are men in disgusting lungis….see Badaga funeral

Youngsters, both male and female, not being aware of how to seek blessings [going up to elders and asking 'harachu' with a 'bent' head] even at special occasions like weddings….see Badaga Blessings

Most of the Gowdas, let alone the commoners, in many villages, not being ‘clear’ or sure of ‘morai- correct relationship’  for marriages….see Badaga villages

God save those Badagas who are trying to adhere to traditions and save the community from ‘external’ influence!

I found this information quite amazing…and educative

Nive (Bearhatty) commented on I found this info…

Really this information is much useful to all of us…..
We all just tend to follow what we were taught in our childhood and what all we see in our life from others without knowing reasons and values…. But after reading this I personally feel a peace of mind and meaning of daily rituals and habits…. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.. Please post many article like this in our site…

[ "In Indian Culture why do we" - courtesy and copyright Central Chinamaya Mission Trust" 1. Why do we light a lamp?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness, ignorance. The Lord is the “Knowledge Principle” (chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.
Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditionaloil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostutea
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

Marrying a person with no MORAY

dharshani raj  (dharshani.ds@gmail.com) asks

‘I want to know if it is wrong in marrying a person with no moray’ 

This question, though appears to be simple, is an important one since many of us, including the self – appointed GOWDAS in every village or for that matter, many ‘old people like me’ are not clear and sure about this aspect.

There seems to be a ‘raging‘ discussion going on in  FB Badagas Group.

Let me answer dharshani’s question to the best of my knowledge.

What is Moray (relationship)?

In simple terms, Badagas, [being a very small community], have evolved, over the centuries, a system in which marriages are not ‘fixed’ – call it arranged if you want, between certain hattis (villages) since the ‘blood’ relationship  among them is considered to be very ‘close – anna thamma moray’.

How this could have happened is, like, in olden days, one brother deciding to move away from the hatti he was born in to establish a ‘new’ hatti for various reasons. For example, a brother from Hubbathalay could have moved to Eethoray. Hence, the male children of the elder bro X in Hubbathalay would/could not marry the female children of younger brother Y in Eethorai as they are considered brother and sister (being the children of two brothers).

Hence, Hubbathalay hatti has no moray for marriages with Eethoray.

This brings us to the grouping of various hattis into Ooru [communes] and Seemay.

So,where do we start to check about ‘Moray’?

Since, time immemorial, every Badaga belonged to a village, irrespective of his place of residence. For example, Kada [now, Srivasa Ramachandra] and Kangi [Lokeswari Renuka] are the son and daughter of Bhoja  and Laxmi , living in Ooty [this can be, Bangalore, London or Boston in USA]. Since Bhoja is the son of Rama Gowder of ‘Hannu Mora Hatti’ [ or Jakkadha, Dhavani or Ketchigatti for that matter], Kada and Kangi belong to HM Hatti for practical or rather, moray purposes. By the way, in olden days, all Badagas belonging to Gowda [group] were known as Bellie Gowder, Ari Gowder etc.

So all the youngsters of HM Hatti are brothers and sisters. Marrying among themselves is, thus prohibited.

Now, our ancestors, being wise men of yonder, grouped certain hattis into communes called OORU. These hattis need not be very close to each other. The number of hattis forming a ooru need not be of a specific number. The next grouping done by our forefathers is forming a SEEMAY. Hence, a Seemay contains a few Oorus [which in turn has many villages]. And our Muthe Muhappa [the first of the ancestors] divided the Nilgiris into Nakku Betta [Four Mountains/massifs] to where all the Badagas belong to. See the division of Seemays and hattis in my websites here – Hattis, Ooru & Seemay or here

To put simply, a cluster of closely built houses formed a street -thara, [the thatched and later country tiled houses have common walls).

A few tharas formed a hatti with well defined and demarcated areas like 'Dhodda Manay' [big house- literally], ‘suthu kallu’ [mostly with a bikka mora (olive tree), gudi [temple],hanay [grass ground] etc.

A few hattis to Ooru. A few oorus to Seemay.

Four seemays namely 1)Thodha Naadu 2)Porangaadu 3)Mekku Naadu 4) Kunde [Naadu],  to NAAKKUBETTA. see Hattis, Ooru & Seemay.

And now to specifics

As far as MORAY for marriages are concerned,

a) A girl/boy cannot marry a boy/girl from the same hatti  to which they both belong to .

b) A girl/boy cannot marry a boy/girl from the same Ooru to which they both belong to.

c) BUT A GIRL/BOY CAN  MARRY A BOY/GIRL FROM THE SAME SEEMAY TO WHICH THEY BOTH BELONG TO.

There is a wrong impression that you cannot marry from the same seemay.

My own example

My father, Bellie gowder, one of the few educated Badagas was born in 1896 in Bearhatti ( the real surprise is that my grandfather Kada Gowder decided to educate my father in St.Michael’s in Coimbatore. In those days, I understand, he had to be taken upto Mettupalayam in a Kattay Bandi [bullock cart]. He got a job in Cordite Factory, Aravankadu near Hubbathalai. He married my mother Kaade (Idy ammal), daughter of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder and sister of Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder.

Bearhatti is one of the six hattis belonging to AARUOORU [six villages], Jakkadha [Jagathala] being the ‘head’ village. Hubbathalay is one of the hattis coming under HATHOMBATHU OORU [nineteen villages]. Both these villages belong to PORANGAADU.

After marriage, firstly for convenience as cordite factory is closer to Hubbathalai than Bearhatti and secondly being the youngest daughter of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder who was the Naakku Betta Gowda (chief) at that time and as she was only 15 at the time of marriage in 1927, my parents decided to settle down in Hubbathalai.

But my mother being a fiercely ‘PROUD” lady insisted that she would stay only in a new house built a little away from the main Hubbathay hatti. Thus, was born my ‘home’ called ‘DHODDI’ in 1948.

For all practical puposes, we are Nattaru (Guests- literally) of Hubbathalay.

Story does not end here. Though, I was born and brought up in Hubbathalay, I am married to Tara, grand daughter of Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder of Hubbathalay. That is, my mother and wife are from the same hatti.

Please note ; It is very common to see many marriages among boys and girls living in the same village. Living, I said and NOT BELONGING to the same village. But they are perfectly suited to each other and probably known to each other from childhood. May be their marriage is a LOVE marriage.

Exceptions

Incidentally, there are a few marriages solemnised  between the boys and girls belonging to the same Ooru. In one of the cases known to me, a boy from Eethoray is married to a girl from Hubbathalay – both belonging to Haththombathu Ooru. Though, it created some flutter in the beginning, it has been accepted now (due to the fact a rich and politically very influential person is involved??)

Do you know that Kodhumudi is one of the villages which is considered as two separate villages consisting of Mel Kodhumudi and Kiya Kodhumudi and marriages between them is normal?

When you refer to Kinnakorai, in fact it refers to six/seven hattis and marriages do take place among themselves as some hattis in them is consided to be completely made up of Nattarus??

More on Moray

So what happens when a boy belonging to Kavaratti of Thodha Naadu seemay wants to marry a girl from Yedapalli Village of Porangaadu Seemay ?

This appears to be a case of NO MORAY in the sense moray is neutral here and not prohibited. And, in my opinion, there should not be any problem.

Causes for confusion

Originally or rather in the earlier days, marriages took place only within the groups like Gowdas, Lingayats[Lingakattis],Haruvas, Odayas and Thorayas as they formed their own hattis. For example, Odhanatty near Jakkadha is a hatti of Thorayas and it does not come under Aaru Ooru [and hence Porangadu Seemay].

Without going into the details of the unfortunate vertical divide of Badagas, in the early 1900s, where one section was against the compulsory invitation of Kothas [to 'harakkolu idippudhuga' - playing music on payment in kind or cash, which ended in huge expenses and debts for the family of the deceased with devastating results. The funeral was not an oneday affair but went on for week and all the 'guests' who had come from far and wide, had to be looked after with food and drinks.  The expenses of funerals were not NOT borne by [all houses in] the hatti as is the practice now] for funerals and another insisting on inviting Kothas.

The section of Badagas who were against inviting Kothas was lead by Hubbathalai [Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder, who introduced many reforms like 1) the funeral expenses would be borne by the whole village 2) education for all Badagas etc] and the other section by Thangaadu.

Another cause for this division was the claim of  Thangaadu [Haruva Katchi] led group that when they attend the funeral of Gowda, they would only touch the head [saavu muttodhu], irrespective of the age of the deceased saying that they were the priets. Generally, when a Badaga attends a funeral, as a mark of paying respect to the deceased, the feet or the head is touched depending on whether the dead is elder or younger.

 

I am skipping many more details since this would distract from the topic MORAY which is under discussion.

But these days, marriages among these groups [Gowdas, Haruvas, Lingakattis] have become common. Hubbathalai has marriage relation with Thangaadu or the Lingakatti Hatti of Sakkalatti [Sogathorai] with Eethorai or Bearhatti.
[to be continued]

Sathish Krishnan commented on Marrying a person with no MORAY

‘Thanks for the detailed explanation. I belong to Balacola and I’ve heard elders saying that there is no moray for any marriages within Maekunadu seemay, and Kundey seemay is the best suit for us. But your blog says there is only restriction for marriages within a village or within a ooru (group of villages), and no restriction for marriages within a seemay. It is contradicting and please clarify the same. I will be looking forward for further updates to this blog’

Hello Sathish, Thanks for the comments. First for the contradiction part. I am saying that “no marriages within a hatti and Ooru but yes within a Seemay as long as the Oorus are different. Like 6 Ooru can tie nupital knots with 19 ooru – both being from Porangaadu“. As far as your Hatti Bakkola (Balacoloa?), Mekkunaadu Seemay are concerned, I am NOT in a position to clarify but as far as Kundey Seemay – yes I agree. More in updates soon – Wg Cdr JP

[to be continued]

From Malaysia

Anbu Keerthan Suppirmaniam

[ anbukeerthan6@gmail.com :: mobile : 0066 012 632 1579 ]

I’m from Malaysia and would like to share my personal experience in learning Badaga Language.

Badaga language is so amazing and very interesting. I got a lot information from websites such as numbers, greetings, months, animals name, months and i’m very proud that I can sing full length of badaga song.(Banuloka Thevakumara Neethano Song)

I just cant stop mentioning the words and singing Badaga language songs. Really amazing and interesting.

Now I want to improve on speaking and pronouncing and I need help and guidance to meet my own satisfaction.

Always proud to be an INDIAN.

Hello AKS, thanks a million for your views on Badaga. If you browse through my websites, may be you will find a lot on Badaga language. I hope, some Badaga friends in Malaysia will pickup your words and get in touch with you. Best wishes – Wg Cdr JP

Healer Shivakumaran

There is an enormous amount of talent or should it be latent talent among Badagas. Many of these talented persons are very simple & humble and seek no publicity.

One such gentleman is Healer [Dr?] Shivakumaran, son of late G.Motta Gowder of Konavakorai Village, near Kotagiri.

Shivakumaran, known simply as Shiva to friends, is a ‘healer’ of very great potential, who with his patient hearing of the problems of patients, and unique touch and heal techniques [acupressure and acupuncture combined with simple yoga and eating advices] has cured many in the Nilgiris of complicated medical problems.

Shivakumaran is with a defence establishment in Wellington and is always willing to help out, whenever he finds time.

If you are looking for ‘alternative‘ but highly effective ‘medicine‘, look no further than ‘Healer’ Shiva.

Contact details : mottanshivakumaran@gmail.com cell # 8807273678.

We are proud of you, Shiva.

Two hundred thousand [200,000] – Not Out

AS WE GET CLOSER…..to the 200,000 visitors mark….

That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] that is focused on a small community of the Blue Mountains – the Nilgiris, in the southern part of India. Is it due to…

the urge to know the unknown about ourselves….

to sift the truth from fiction….the satisfaction that we have a very unique history…..the mystery about the mistaken migration…..the traditions that are still steadfastly followed…..the great language that has survived for centuries without a script….

The simple fact that this site’s motto of ‘Proud to be a Badaga ; Proud to be an Indian‘ has become an accepted norm…

You all, my dear and loyal friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude.

Proud to be an Indian and a Badaga, indeed.

Hope to say ‘thanks a million‘ soon…

Started as a hobby but now an obsession.This website crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors on 8th March,2010 and 150,000 visitors on 20th April,2011. Feel humbled but proud

Copyright © Bellie Jayaprakash 2006-2012

Dedicated to mom

Mrs.Idyammal Bellie Gowder

[1912-2011]

A Very Big Thank You

Mlle. Sumathi Halan [Canada] says:
Congratulations to you and your constant efforts to keep our website updated, interesting and great ! Hats Off, Wg Cdr JP for your efforts and selfless service to our community.

Thanks a lot Mlle.Sumathi, you have always been a source of help and happiness

Badaga is now in FACEBOOK also. See https://www.facebook.com/badagas

Oh man….

Let us call ourselves as Badagas speaking Badaga/Badagu

Naren (vijayarajnaren@gmail.com) has sent me the following email through a comment and raised a very important issue of urgent nature :

Sir, Thank you for a such wonderful site. Though a regular reader of this site, I have yet to comment on such wonderful  info in these blogs.

It is evident that caste enumeration is conducted now in Tamil Nadu. Each and every caste is trying to mobilize and clarify nature of the sub-sects of their caste during enumeration. Is there any awareness created in the community in respect of how to answer the caste enumeration. Is it necessary for Badagas to state their sub sect like Haruva, Badaga, Thorraya during the enumeration?

I hope you will create the awareness in the above aspect.

Thank you very much Naren.

Since the 1981 census Badagas are not shown as a separate community but have been clubbed with ‘Kannada Speaking groups’. This, to say the least, is – atrocious. Badaga is a separate and unique community with rich language and ‘richer’ rituals, customs and traditions.

Now is the chance for us to proudly say that we are Badagas (Badagar) and our mother tongue is Badaga ( Badagu). The other important issue about sub sect :- our history has quite a few instances where we, as a community, divided ourselves into Odaya,Haruva, Badaga, Lingayat [Lingakatti],Kanakka, Adikari,Thoraya etc and created a lot of bad blood. (I am surprised, though, to learn that Thorayas are given the MBC classification while Badagas come under BC,) let all those who speak Badaga (Badagu) be considered as Badagas (Badagar).

I have just spoken to the  General Secretary and Treasurer of the Coonoor Badaga Welfare Association about this and have been promised that they have already put out ads in local TV and soon in the news papers to request all Badagas to give, when the caste census is taken, their cast as BADAGAR and mother tongue [language] as BADAGU when the caste enumeration is undertaken. This applies to all  Badagas wherever they reside, be it in the hattis, towns or cities.

So, all you  Proud Badagas out there,

please ensure that we give our identity [caste/'jathi'] as BADAGA(r) and Languge spoken as BADAGU/Badaga

- Wg Cdr JP

Badaga language – ‘sha – ஷ ‘ and ‘zha – ழ’ ?

Recently I had the pleasure of receiving  Anandha Raju [inventor of Badaga Anandha script] with his charming wife and children at our place and had a pow wow on Badaga, the great language.. Anandha feels that there is no ‘sh -ஷ ‘ sound in Badaga Maathu [language].

I disagree. What about barasha (year), baashay (language), Kashta (difficulty), nashta (loss) and ishta (wish)?

Another ‘sound’ of interest is ‘zha – ழ‘ – the only word that comes to mind is ‘eizhu‘- (seven).

What do you think?

Padmanabhan writes about Mr.MK Bellie Gowder’s manuscripts…….

Dear JP anna…

MK Nanja Gowder, the younger brother of MK Bellie Gowder, was my maternal grandfather. Right from my childhood, he used to relate stories to me from Bellie ayya’s works. He told me that, Bellie ayya had one day called him (Nanja ayya) to discuss in private about one of his manuscripts. He had asked Nanja ayya to go through the entire manuscript for his personal consumption and at the end of which, he requested Nanja ayya to destroy the manuscript. Nanja ayya, told me that it was the History of Badagas. The reason, he said, why Bellie ayya wanted it to be destroyed is because he believed that it would bring undesired division among’st Badagas.

Now I am not sure if the manuscript that I am talking about (History of Badagas) is different from the Badaga ‘clans/kolas’ manuscript that you say could probably be in possession of Dr Hockings. It would be great service to the Badaga community if the original manuscript is made public, if it does exist.

Regards … PADMANABHAN

Hi Paddy, Thank you very much for this great info. When I mentioned that Prof.Paul Hockings ‘papers’/books could have taken a lot of info from Mr.Bellie Gowder’s manuscripts, I am only ‘guessing’. Though, Mr.Bellie Gowder might have had ‘some’ reasons to destroy his manuscript, I hope and pray that the original has survived. It would be a great source to learn about our Badaga Community. – Wg Cdr JP