Badaga Day 2009

From ‘the Hindu’ issue dated 16 May 2009

Enthusiasm marks Badaga Day fete Special Correspondent

Long-pending demands of the community highlighted

Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Paying respects: The founder-secretary, Young Badagas Association, T.B. Ramamurthy, garlanding the bust of Badaga leader H.B. Ari Gowder in Udhagamandalam on Friday. —

Udhagamandalam: Though exchanging greetings and enquiring about each other’s welfare repeatedly is a prominent cultural trait of the Badagas of the Nilgiris, it was done with accentuated enthusiasm on Friday.

The reason: May 15 has for the past 15 years been observed as Badaga Day.

Clad in their spotless white traditional dress, hundreds of Badagas from various parts of the Nilgiris district and places like Chennai, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Tiruchi, Hosur, Mettupalayam and Mumbai congregated at the Young Badaga Association (YBA) hall here and reflected on the state of affairs in the community even as they enjoyed the cultural programmes organised for their pleasure. The celebrations were set in motion after obeisance was paid to late H.B. Ari Gowder of Hubbathalai village, the widely acknowledged leader of the community who a few decades ago had done a lot to lift the Badagas socially and economically.

A bust of Mr. Gowder within the premises of the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society was garlanded by the founder-secretary of the YBA, T.B. Ramamurthy, of Dhavani village. His contributions were read out.

Flag hoisted

Earlier the Badaga flag was hoisted at the YBA by a senior member of the community T.M. Kullan.

Interacting with ‘The Hindu’, the participants said that the occasion would be utilised to reiterate the community’s long-standing demand for inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

If fulfilled, it would ensure social security for the community, which is identified only with the Nilgiris.

Adverting to the rich and hoary culture of the community, they said that in whichever part of the world Badagas may have settled they should not lose sight of their moorings or compromise on the cultural front.

While highest priority should be accorded to unity, family values should be given importance and ego clashes should be eschewed.

Acts of selfishness which may do irreversible damage to families and the community should be avoided.

Badaga Movie “Gavava Thedi”

Ms.Sumathi Halan writes :-

The write up on Gunji and seeking elders blessings a la badaga were really interesting.

Well, I was very curious that there has been no write up as yet on the new badaga movie, ” gavava thedi ” on our website… I am sure you are having reasons !!

As the director of the movie was a friend of my dad’s friend , we went to see the film.

It is not a bad attempt at all for a badaga movie , yet there were a few lapses which were prominent … for instance there were typical commercial elements inserted …may be for the front benchers … but time and again audience have encouraged and supported good directors like Mr. Radha Mohan … . Hope our future badaga moviemakers will be bold enough to make movies they believe in.

There was also poetic injustice in characterisation because 1 evil character ( the hero’s so called friend ) is not punished till the end .

Anyways , these are beginning days for badaga movie ventures and hope everyone goes to watch this movie , at least to encourage such entrepreneurs for the coming generations .

Hoping to see what other visitors to our site feel about this movie !

Hello Sumathi, there is no other reason other than lack of info on the movie ‘G.T’ for not writing about the same. Of late, I have been away from my place and hence not been able to update as frequently as possible. Yes, I am with you, any new attempt should be encouraged – JP

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Hattis

This is Ganesan Lingan from Porthy Village, Mekku Nadu seeme.  I just gone thru the Badagas website to know our hatties and seeme’s, I saw all the hattis and seems in one place and really enjoyed reading each and every hattis. I would say this is definitely Great effort! And really appreciable.

I just wanted to you know that Emerald is not a badaga village( as per my knowledge) and fully occupied by other communities except one or two badgas having provisional stores and houses along with that,. So please request you the remove the Emerald from our hatti list.

And also I found Osa Attu Bayilu (New Attu bayilu near kai kandi) missing from Meeku nadu. There are two Attu Bayilu one is Palliya (old) Attu bayliu and other one Osa attu Bayliu.

Also Bigada missing from Thodha nadu Seeme (not sure about seeme). This village spotting near Ithalar… This is a beautiful very tiny village located in center of the tea estates. Also I have forgotten to mention one more hatti which is Beingisakallu from meakunadu Seeme. Beingisakallu is spotted between Nanjanadu and Kei kouhatti

Ganesa, Thank you for your imputs. Nice to be told about the hattis and the corrections are being incorporated – JP

Badagas of the Blue Mountains…..their unique history, origin, culture, customs, rituals, language and lifestyle !!

photo by – sardarsingh

Weblog of Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash <bjaypee@gmail.com >

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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.

The elderly person puts both his/her palms on the head of the person seeking blessing, and blesses as ‘ Ondhu Nooru, Saavira Agili [let one become a hundred and then a thousand];  Somi, harachavu,sogavu kodili [may God give good health and happiness]; Hoppa eday, bappa eday ella ollithay barali [let only good things happen while going out or coming back]‘

This tradition not only ensures respect to elders but also shows the close bond. Incidentally, open palms -where the nerves end, is supposed to transmit positive vibrations. Thus, the open palms placed on the head, is the ultimate way of blessing.

If you are new to this custom, it may make us a bit uneasy [ashamed is a very strong word] but when you get used to it, this is pure bliss.

Let us start seeking the blessings from the most neglected elders – our parents.

Where do we stand?

I am one of the staunch believers of every eligible voter casting his/her vote. There is no excuse to sit at home and think that elections are meant for others. Having said that, what if you do not like the candidates who are contesting in elections or you do not support any particular political party?

Still we must go and cast our vote under section 49 (O). It is a sort of dissenting vote but very much officially and constitutionally permitted. The beauty of this particular section is that no candidate can be declared a winner if the margin of victory is less than the dissenting votes. That is, if 100 people have voted under Sec.49(O) and if the leading candidate’s margin is less than 100 votes from the next, then he/she cannot be declared a winner.

Another reason being offered for not voting in this parliament elections in Nilgiris is the gross injustice done to Badagas by making the Nilgiris Constituency a reserved one. Thus, NO BADAGA can contest in this election. Though a feeble protest was launched against declaring our district as a reserved one, none of the self serving political leaders from our community took any action. They did not have the guts to tell Tamil Nadu Govt not to recommend reservation for this District as the majority population of this area, Badagas, in fact become disinterested in parliament elections as they cannot contest and hence we can forget a Badaga MP for the next twenty years.

Cruel, but true. That is the price we pay for democracy.

But then, do we really have to??

Thangaadu L.Krishnan, another great singer

I have heard a lot about Thangaadu L.Krishnan, probably a contemporary of Kerban Bella Gowder, but only now had the opportunity to listen to his songs, courtesy Priyaraghava of Eddakkaadu. To say the least, the voice of L.Krishnan, is very unique and the more you listen to his songs, the more you want to listen. Simply great. One of the songs from the album, Priyaraghava has hosted in Cooltoad, is “Kundha Paala Roadu dhoge”…the original Badaga atta song. I remember listening to this dance number fifty years back, a song which was a must in any habba. Old timers will remember this song being referred to as ‘ Baby powder’a bekku endhagha, Bella na hennu en Janagi, Akka akka huttidha awai, ondhu jolia heghine baali’.

An album containing songs of L.Krishnan can be accessed hereBadaga Songs on the Web

The best song, as per my choice, is ‘Kanjikke Kukkiya’

You can also listen to ‘[H]alilladha’ here

or listen to ‘Banuna’ song  here

or ‘Aladhoppa Barae Nee’ here

or ‘Amma  Amma’ here

I will be grateful to any reader who can provide more info on Thanagaadu L.Krishnan [including photos] and his songs so that we can immortalise his songs like that of Kerban Bella Gowder.

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Origin of Badagas

A reader, Sai writes :-Really amazing website….being a Baduga girl….I didnot know the history of our community….really I felt  ashamed when my friends ask about our Baduga community….now I feel proud to tell them that we have a website which has songs ,traditions, amazing photo gallary, proverbs etc.   Good work….  I just want to know if  we people migrated from Karnataka  during Tipu Sultan’s period?

Thank you Sai. I am very happy that youngsters like you are learning about our community with all its great traditions. Well, as far as our migration from Karnataka during Tipu’s time only because our name Badaga (meaning northerner) is very debatable. I am firmly of the view that our history is much older- may be a thousand years or more older – and my initial ‘research’ confirms that. More in the future articles…Wg Cdr JP

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Badaga Months in ‘Kappu Huttileyu’ Song

The more I listen to the dance song ‘Kappu Huttileyu’, the more fascinated I become. All the 12 Badaga months starting with KOODALU, [the names of the months given in the page 'badaga language'], are beautifully integrated within the song.The lyrics of the song go like this:-

Kappu huttileyu neppuna sundari,

Oppi hegileyu dhrachiya 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!

Go here to listen to the song.

Did you feel like dancing as you listened to this song?

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Latest letter from Ravi Balraj [kuwait]

Hello JP Anna! Ollangai Idhara!Manaiyogai ella ollngai idharaiya!Ellaga enna namaskara!

Enna main gelasa jenathogai onthu thirukku aaliyu ninga”Badagas of the Blue Mountains” site visit madothu embathu agi adathai.Internet open madilai kandippa ninga page visit madi latest updates ellava nodinai.

Mukkiyava old badaga songs keppathu, dhoddaru shloka (badaga proverbs) nodi enna orkut profilethogai update madothu enna gelasa agittadathai.(sorry for copying).Ninga site Flag Counter thogai First three placethogai (na) ibbathundhu aasaipattanai.

Somi ningaga olliya balava thandhu innu appara kala idhu Great Badagas esaruthogai, ningavu obbana ibbathu endhu aasai pattanai. Ravi Balraj

By a way, do you have a broadband connection? Then, click this link  http://badaga-songs.blogspot.com/ You will be taken to my blogsite with Badaga Songs. On the right side, scroll down to Badaga Love Songs, choose ‘Moga Nodi’ or ‘Nadu kattuna‘ [songs initially suggested by mlle_ Sumathi Halan]. Put on your headphones…press the play button…and …enjoy listening to the sterophonic songs !

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Badaga Songs on the web

Click on the picture to go to Badaga Songs on the web site and listen to some nice music

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Drinking hot water to avoid heart attacks

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks.

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The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.

Read the complete article in the General Intrest page

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Click  on the link/pics for more info

About Bellie Raj & Jedayasomi Habba – Video by N Meena

Badaga Calendar 2009

Badagas of the Blue Mountains…..their unique history, origin, culture, customs, rituals, language and lifestyle !!

Weblog of Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash [bjaypee@gmail.com]

Badaga Calendar 2009

Here is the calendar for Jan 2009
with Badaga month K[G]oodalu [which starts from Jan 10th and falls into Feb 2009] being incorporated

Click for enlargement

Read all about Badaga Calendar here

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Naakku Betta – Map

Click on the pix for enlargement

The above map of Nilgiri Massif, based on Paul Hockings’s research, shows the division of Badaga Villages into the four ‘SEEMAYs’. As I have explained in the page ‘Hattis’, Badaga Villages are grouped into clusters / communes [there is no particular number as to how many villages will constitute one commune] called OORUs and these OORUs in turn constitute a NAADU or SEEMAY. It appears that initially there were only three seemays/naadus with DHODDA Betta peak being at the apex. KUNDHE NAADU / SEEMAY might have ben added later.

Incidentally,Porangadu seemay was originally known as PARANGI NAADU. The Name THODHA NAADU could have come because of many THODHAVA [TODA] settlements are in that region. In MEKKU NAADU, Mekku means West. (The four directions in Badaga ;- Mooday – east, Mekku – west, Badage – North & Thekke – south)

Incidentally, Ooty in Badaga is [H]OTHAGAY and Mettupalayam is METTUPA

To see which Village – Hatti belongs to which Seemay and for more info with pictures go to the page ‘Hattis‘