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 are from the net.]

….hate speeches against beliefs in religion

[When I started this weblog/website, one thing I promised myself was that I will NOT trash/delete suggestions and opinions that are different from my own. I do not know who this REAL BADAGA, whose comments are given below without any moderation or editing, is but I want to respect his/her views and hence his/her comments form this new post - Wg.Cdr.JP]

JP Sir,

It’s good and interesting to note the highlights of Badaga culture and traditions being highlighted and depicted rightly in your blog.
But, hate speeches against beliefs in religion is deeply hurting and would destroy love in the community. Since all the communities in the world have people who different religion and why not the freedom of religion to practice among Badagas. There are so many Badagas around the world who are following christianity and living peacefully and happily too speaking Badaga language at home and practicing the Badaga culture.
It’s disgusting to observe that even educated Badagas like you are creating hatred rather than bringing in peace and hurting our own community for their difference in beliefs.

If you oppose to them practicing another religion in the hatti, you could tell them politely to move outside the hatti and practice according to their beliefs. If they don’t listen, we could ask our leaders to make the move and then inform the police. In which case, the police would handle it rightly since the present CM is in favour of Badagas too with our own MLA.

But, to beat up our own Badaga people especially the old and ransack their house and destroy their savings and materials brings shame and curse from God of the Universe on all of them involved and infact would all of the children for generations!

THOSE WHO TAKE THE SWORD FOR INJUSTICE AND UNLAWFULLY, WOULD DIE BY THE SWORD SINCE HUMAN LIFE IS CREATED BY GOD. AND EVERY ACTION AGAINST GOD’S CREATION IN WORD OR DEED IS ANSWERABLE BY THOSE HURTING NOW AND FOREVER.

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.”

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?

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

The breaking marriages

J.Rajagopalan from Halakarai writes regarding a Badaga seeking a non badaga :

The boys and girls of the present generation think that they are highly educated and hence know more than their parents. But they must understand that it is simply an academic qulification they have attained but not true education. No educated boy or girl will discard their parents advice,their culture.

A person who does not bother about his parents,their dignity in society,the plight of the children born to them (will any Badaga prefer to marry the children born to this type of couple?), can’t be considered educated. Our forefathers had led a very good life. Are they uneducated? Certainly not.

I sincerely hope that the present generation will not fall prey to this if they do a little bit of introspection.

At the same time, we, the parents,should not lose our hearts in facing this type of unavoidable events in future.

 

Sofiajoghee responds:

Dear Rajagopalan Anna,
You may want to change the topic “Breaking marriages” and rephrase education to knowledge. Because education generally refers to what is formally imparted, be it in school or no school. Our fore fathers could have been illiterate, but knowledgeable. Its only in recent years, that educating every one in our community is growing more and more, all due to exposure and awareness through media. Even our language has lot of Tamil words over time.

May be we all as humans should strive to know our true self (the sath chith) as we learn what we have been educated on. All our great Siddhars have served the world without restrictions.

As long as the purpose is pure, there are no barriers for anyone.

May we we need to look back on how many such souls are evolved, and follow what they have taught, to become a true human, instead of living without an idea of purpose of soul’s birth on this earth.

“The true purpose of marriage is itself to evolve together spiritually.” This is told by Swami Vivekananda. I believe anyone reading this blog is not greater than him. such companions can’t be forced, it just happens. All are destined and decided by someone above us.

Happy New Year! 2011 in review.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 44,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 16 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

“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].

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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

The ‘Maha’ Census of 2011, will the Badagas be there?

The ‘Maha’ census of 2011 that may bring in the ambitious Unique Identification Number to every citizen of our country has started from 1st April, 2010.

Many readers may not know that Badagas were listed as a separate entity in the CENSUS till 1981 but after, that, courtesy some idiots, Badaga are grouped under Kannada (speaking people). What this has done is the huge loss of information of knowing how many Badagas are there [along with all other details like literacy rate, gender wise population etc]. That, SIMPLY MEANS BADAGAS DO NOT EXIST.

What is highly hurting is the fact we have many Badagas including a minister, MLA, many ex-MPs & ex-MLAs who seem to do nothing. Can they not, ATLEAST, shoot out letters to all concerned ? I know of an EX-MP who writes to the local police station every now and then emphasising the EX-FACTOR when it comes to grabbing others land , but does nothing about the community welfare.

What about the many self appointed leaders of Badaga community, including ex-MLAs, who claim that they are very close to the ‘RULING” party leadership ? Why can’t they initiate some action and show the same enthusiasm like when they ‘fleece’ the public for money in the name of donation for the party [but lining their own pockets]?

It is a well known fact that late Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder would seek an immediate appointment, to highlight the problems concerning Badagas, with the Collector as well as the State ministers of his time including the great Rajaji who was the CM. Do you know that Rajaji had to apologise to Ari Gowder when he (Rajaji) was delayed for an appointment and Ari Gowder, as MLA, threatened to walk out. I believe, many Collectors of the Nilgiris, would not only address Ari Gowder’s concern expressed over the phone but would consult him on any issue on the Nilgiris.

Badagas under Schedule Tribes ?

I have very strong views on this subject. Before I elaborate on them, I feel that we should first of all be identified as BADAGAS which is not the case presently as SANTHOSH has rightly mentioned in www://badaga.com “. . our community’s name is not in the list of communities under the BC category. In fact, it is not mentioned under any of the categories.”

As mentioned earlier, even in our own district of the Nilgirs, do you know that we are not taken as a separate community as BADAGAS but are clubbed with other non tribals? That is one of the reasons why the exact number of Badags is not available? When census is taken Badags are clubbed under Kannadigas / others.

I am afraid, if this sad state of affair continues, after a few years, we will come under the “extinct” community.

1. First, we should be identified as a separate group as BADAGAS like Todas, Kothas,Kurumas etc when the people (tribes) of the Nilgiris are referred to.
2. For the larger good of the community, Badagas should get the ST status for the benefits available are too many to go into detail.
Nearly eighty years back, Nakku Betta Leader, Rao Bahadur (Rao Sahib then) Bellie Gowder on whose invitation the Governor of then Madras Province visited Hubbathalai Village was presented a memorandum on the Hill Tribes of Nilgiris which included Badagas, Todas & Kothas. In a grand cultural show organised on that eve Badaga dance was presented [by school boys] in their ‘DODDA KUPPACHA”.

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder, incidentally, was not only the leader of Badagas but represented as leader of all the tribes of Nilgiris (a relatively remote hilly & jungle area and unexplored at that time). The folder he presented to the British Governor, on the occasion of his vist to Hubbathalai [on the invitation of Rao Sahib [ later he was bestowed with the higher title of Rao Bahadur] Bellie Gowder containg some rare photos of all the tribes of Nilgiris INCLUDING BADAGAS

Let us wake up atleast now

See below what David Mandelbaum had to say in 1941

Read the complete article here > http://escholarship.org/uc/item/0zj0w51k

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.

|*|*|*|*|*|

The breaking marriages

It is very sad but true. Many marriages among Badagas are breaking and ending in divorce ‘buduchodhu’.

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’ but for good. She was forced by her parents and those of the groom’s when she refused to get married in the ‘first place’ that lot was at stake. 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 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 educated?

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

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

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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

Rare Photos

[Photo  shows the 'Nakku Betta Koottu' - the grand meeting of Badagas from all over,held under the leadership of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder (Nakku Betta Raja -Bellie Gowda) in Hubbathalai Village about a 100 years ago]

To see more such rare photos – a visual treat indeed – Go Here -> http://badaga-photos.info

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 – the beautiful village !

Anand.N.R [from Kinnakorai and doing his final year Mechanical Engineering in Bannari Amman Institute of Technology] writes :

I have recently visited your website and interested in knowing about us Badagas and our origin. Your website gives us many useful   information about Badagas . I have been to many hattis in Ooty and collected some information about thier places and cultures. One correction in your details on Badaga Hattis…. The people from Kinnakorai  came from Porangaadu seeme and settled there.. So they cant be included in Kundhae seeme . They should be included in Porangaadu seeme..

, Kinnakorai & Hiriaseege Villages – photo by Bellie Jayaprakash Hello Anand, I am aware of the fact that there is ‘some confusion’ aboutwhich SEEMAY Kinnakorai belongs to. My info is mainly based on Prof.P.Hockings’s study. It is quite possible that Kinnakorai originally belonged to Porangadu. I am at a loss to say anything definitive. May be, people like you or the elders in Kinnakorai could throw more light on this. Incidentally, Kinnakorai is one of the most beautiful hattis and is right at Kerala border in the silent valley region. As of now, I gather, some of the property – including hola – of this Badaga villagers is located in Kerala. Before reorganisation of states in 1951, Kinnakorai and rest of Malabar area of North Kerala was in Madras presidency [from British days]. That also included Mysore province [see the map of Madras presidency (province) as given in Wikipedia]. Though, I have seen this hatti from a far of distance [near Manjoor], my ambition has been to visit this hatti with so much of history – Wg Cdr JP Anand adds further : “] Sispara-1847 [Image via Wikipedia Its quite interesting to learn about Kinnakorai…Kinnakorai was formed in the mid 18th century.. Heriyasegai was first formed and later people started building their small houses inside the deep forest of Kinnakorai.. Now there are totally 7 hattis in Kinnakorai and nearly 500 houses… The oldest man in the village Mr. Bellie Gowder is still alive. There is a temple in the village which was also built in the 18th century and a tree which is 600 years of age. Kinnakorai shares the border of Kerala forest department… Most of the tea gardens of kinnakorai are inside kerala state… There is a silent deep valley known as Sispara from which the state of kerala is visible clearly.. Merely it takes 4 hours by walk to reach kerala (a place called Nelagadu). The climate in the village changes rapidly as it is inside the forest. Now a days Kinnakorai is becoming one of the tourist spots in ooty.. Sispara, Peacock Travellor’s Bungalow [Photo from Wikimedia] Anand, thanks a lot for the info. This is the type of information that is highly educative. It will be wonderfu if you can send photos ofthe oldest resident Bellie Gowda Iyya as well as close ups of kinnakorai and other hattis around. I remember Kinnakorai Bella Anna [with a black Badaga Kovili(cap)] who was associated with Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder. Memory goes back to fifty odd years.

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.

Badaga – Hatti, Ooru and Naadu[Seemay]

As elaborated in the page on Badaga Hattis [villages], still there seems to be no conclusive evidence about how the ancestors made the divisions [geographical and social] about their villages.Simply put, in ancient times, a few houses (among brothers and cousins) formed a HATTI and then a cluster of villages, though based not only on the geographical locations, formed a OORU. Obviously, all the people from the hattis forming the Ooru were/are considered as brothers and sisters – and hence no marriages among these hattis were considered. Then, many Oorus formed a SEEMAY or NAADU.   And, FOUR Seemays or Naadus form NAKKU BETTA – representing the complete Badaga population in the Nilgiri hills. Though, only three Naadus /Seemays namely, Thodhanaadu, Mekkunaadu and Porangaadu have the Dhodda Betta peak as the apex and common point of  these three seemays, KUNDHEY SEEMAY, at the southern eastern end, is very much a separate  and important seemay. See the map. The confusion comes when we realise that some Thodha,Kotha and Kuruma villages/Oorus were also included into the broader periphery of Naadu/Seemay. The probable reasons for this inclusion could be the close association of Badagas with these tribes considered as the original inhabitants of the Nilgiris along with Badagas. Oorus forming Porangaadu Seemay ; Hubbathalai – [1.Dhodda Hubbathalai 2.Kunna Hubbathalai] Jakkadha – [1.Jakkadha 2.Kaarakorai 3.Bearatti 4.Mel Bikkatti 5.Kiya Bikkatti 6.Manjitha 7.Malligorai 8.Honnamudi 9.Odhanatti] Jakkanarai – [1.Jakkanarai Melkeri,2. J - Oorkeri, 3.J - Kiyakeri, 4. J - Thoria keri, 5.Thumboor ,6.Thinniyur, 7.Mudiakambai, 8.Bangalada, 9.Kallada, 10.Selavai, 11.Bettatti. 12.Naduhatti, 13.Arabettu, 14.Aravenu, 15.Aravenu kettikeri] CONTINUE reading here…..

CONTINUE reading………..

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]

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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 in English Script

Badaga in ENGLISH script till a separate and exclusive Badaga Script becomes acceptable and easy to use

Though some friends may feel odd about my adopting an existing Language – English- and adapting it to write in Badaga, for the time being, I will stick to English to express in Badaga (Script).

I have used the excellent [free download] ‘Azhagi’-  transliterate software which when installed, lets you to type in English to convert  the same into Tamil, to show my ‘Badaga in English- Script’

The conventions used are;

1. Capital letter brings out emphasis – like o is just o but O is OH –ஒ ஓ or no is  நொ but nO is நோ
2. Extra ‘a’ is stretching the word – like kade is கடெ but  kaade is காடெ
3. Letters which are not in English alphabet but available in Badaga (and Tamil) can be accessed by using the shift key(Capital) – like l is ல but L is ள , n is ந but  N is ண் . zh is ழ
4. Capital S is ஸ, small s is ச (ch will also brings out ச)

Now some sentences typed in English and what they bring out in Tamil

• enna heNNU enna kaNNU maakke – என்ன ஹெண்ணு என்ன கண்ணு மாக்கெ- My daughter is like my eyes
• ELaya nOdi Edasa bE da – ஏளய நோடி ஏடச பேட – Donot ridicule the poor
• Kalla maaththi kaLLa alla – கல்ல மாத்தி கள்ள அல்ல – Kalla’s son is not a thief.
• Maadhi mammi madhi kettudhuve – மாதி மம்மி மதி கெட்டுதுவெ – Madhi aunty’s mind is gone
• KaadE, sattana kadE – காடே , சட்டன கடே – Kaaday, get ready fast.

What do you think?

http://www.mazhalaigal.com/tamil/learn/keys.php  அ a ஆ aa இ i ஈ ii உ u ஊ uu எ e ஏ ae ஐ ai ஒ o ஓ oa ஔ ow ஃ q க ka கா kaa கி ki கீ kii கு ku கூ kuu கெ ke கே kae கை kai கொ ko கோ koa கௌ kow க் ok

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]

Religious conversion

I have strong religious feelings. Born as a HINDU as most Badagas are, I am very proud being a Hindu. But I respect other religions and some of my best friends are Muslims, Christians and Sikhs [courtesy Air Force].

But I am against any conversion from one religion to another by means of compulsion, force or inducement. Of late, it has become a ‘fashion’ for some Badagas to convert to Christianity for no rhyme or reason. But, many have done this, now I understand, due to inducement of money.

Worst is, when some of these ‘converts’ claim sole right to some very old Badaga Traditions and Customs. One such is, the funeral prayer – Karu Haruchodhu which forms an important part of funeral rites. It is claimed by an IDIOT called HN Devaraj of Otti Mora Hosahatty to be part of Bible. His booklet called ‘Pappa Parigaara Aagili’ is given to me by a concerned Hindu Badaga. Outrageous !

Will educated and knowledgeable elders among the Badaga Christians care to correct this offending practice?

RaviChandran Balraj has sent the following link

 http://www.tamilhindu.com/2011/06/nilgiris-baduga-struggle-against-conversion/

image from www.tamilhindu.com

To the ‘Tamil Hindu’ website owner : You have used some  photos which are copyright from my websites http://badaga.in and www.badaga.co without my permission. Pl give proper credit and mention the image source to avoid any legal action – Wg Cdr JP

நீலகிரியில் மதமாற்ற வைரஸ் – குமுறும் படுகர் சமுதாயம்

15 Jun 2011 | 

அண்மையில் ஜூனியர் விகடன் இதழில் வந்த ஒரு செய்தி கவனத்தை ஈர்த்தது.
அடிக்கிற வெயிலுக்கு ஆளாளுக்கு ஊட்டி யைத் தேடி ஓட… அங்கேயோ அதைவிட உஷ்ணமான விவகாரம் ஒன்று சுழன்று கொண்டு இருக்கிறது. அது, படுகர்கள்  நடத்தும் மத மாற்றத்துக்கு எதிரான போராட்டம்!
நீலகிரியின் மண்ணின் மைந்தர்களான படுகர் சமுதாய மக்கள், கட்டுப்பாடான வாழ்க்கை முறை, கலாசாரத்துடன், ‘எங்க வழி தனி வழி’ என்று வாழ்பவர்கள். அவர்களை, கிறிஸ்துவ மதத்தினர் கட்டாய மதமாற்றம் செய்வதாகத் தகவல்கள் பரவவே, சலசலப்பு எழுந்துள்ளது. இது தொடர்பாக, கடந்தமே 25-ம் தேதி நீலகிரி மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகம் முன்பு,‘நாக்குபெட்டா படுகர் குல பாதுகாப்பு சங்கம்’ கண்டன ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் நடத்தியது……

read the full article 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.co?

Have you visited www.badaga.co?

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

T Gopal’s music composition

He is very soft spoken and humble. Highly intelligent but never shows off.

Should have been the First Badaga IITian but for a quirk of fate*.

Associated  with some of the top notch industrialists and now runs his own software (development) company in Chennai. Multi talented and is always a motivation to others.

He is Mel Bikkatti Thatha Gowder’s son Gopal.

Having been a class mate and a close friend, I thought I had known him well.

WELL, almost, I did not realise the musical talents of Gopal.

[*Some friends [ Facebook - Badags Group -] have wondered ‘what is this ‘quirk of fate’ referred here. It is a small story. Gopal and I studied in Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder Board High School, Hubbathalai. A well known Tamil medium ‘co- education school’ in those days. We had chosen Maths Group. Obviously Gopal was very good in studies especially maths. The exams for the school final year [11th] was called SSLC [Secondary School Leaving Certificate]. No, Plus Two then.The two of us along with Brinda (Dr. Brinda Indersen] had scored more than 400 marks out of 600 in the SSLC exam of 1964. By the way, more than 66% marks was considered very very good. All the three of us joined the Pre University Class [PUC] in Govt.Arts College, Ooty. Gopal and I again joined the maths stream and the expectation, more of parents than us, was to become engineers.

Frankly, may be due to the limited exposure and being from a Tamil Medium village school, we did not know  about IIT entrance examination. When we learnt about it almost towards the end of 1964 that the entrance exam would be in April/May 1965, well, it was too late for any worthwhile preparation.

Had we known about it in time, I am 100% sure, Gopal would have made it, for intelligence is in his blood and maths in his breadth. Anyway, we passed our PUC exams with First Class and joined the engineering  colleges in Coimbatore, Gopal – to PSG Tech and me – to GCT.That is what I call a ‘quirk’ of fate?]

And recently he sent the following email :

Attached is my music composition.This is dedicated to the wandering folks of Our Nilgiris.

I am attaching the MP3 version . Midi file  version of this can be edited and rythm can be changed by people with musical knowledge. I am providing the structure of the composition as follows for such exercise.

Scale  used – G Major

Pattern – Lamb (Upbeat)

Chords can be found from the midi file

Tracks recorded   

      Track 1   - Piano,

      Track 2  -  Pad2 (Warm)

      Track 3   – Acoustic Bass

Theme (Pallavi) has two musical sentenses with two phrases each.

Second is the inversion of the first sentence.

Now, it is my pleasure to present that musical composition.

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!)