For a quick update and ‘faster glance’ visit www.baduga.co
This website www.badaga.co is made ‘mobile friendly’ !
You can easily access the website that is
‘ALL ABOUT THE BADAGAS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS’
in your smart phone and read/see the posts/pix !
In excerpts that can be expanded !!
Take a look !!!
Dharmalingam Venugopal
Hindustan Photo Films was not the first industrial misadventure on the Nilgiri hills. 140 years ago the South India Alpha Gold Mining Company, ‘the biggest venture to date’ was set up for gold prospecting in Gudalur by two Australian coffee planters who had been gold miners earlier.
The New Zealand Herald of 31 March 1875 was agog with excitement. It talked of famous geologists of the day Messer Foote and King having made the project study, the Governor of Madras Lord Hobart himself having inspected the area and ‘experienced diggers’ involved in the project.
As for the quantity of the gold it was said that the, ‘auriferous quartz veins are as rich as are any which have been discovered in California’. The only danger was the , ‘fearfully malarious nature of the climate’.
The East India Company also notified that, ‘should any gold be found, a portion of it would be considered belonging to the government’.
‘Ootacamund, the delightful hitherto recherché sanitarium on the Neilgherries is to be the new busy and bustling Ballarat (a gold mining town in Australia)’ concluded the report and predicted an exodus from ‘Melbourne to Madras’.
However the folly of the whole sordid episode was exposed soon after. As Shyam Rungta says in ‘The Rise of Business Corporations in India 1851-1900’ the whole venture was, ‘founded on incompetence and ended in misfortune’. The average cost of an ounce of gold produced was three times the market price.
The failure of Alpha only added to the speculation. When the gold rush peaked in 1879-81 as many as 41 companies were set up with a capital of over 5 million Pound Sterling in London, Bombay and Madras.
The shares of these companies commanded 50 to 100 percent premium even before any work was started merely on the basis of the cables sent by the ‘mining experts’ one of whom turned out to be a retired circus clown.
From little more than clusters of native huts, ‘gold towns’ of Devala and Pandalur blossomed suddenly into busy mining centres substantial buildings, bungalows, hotels, a store for ‘valuable quartz which was to be extracted’, a saloon and even race course laid out on paddy fields.
When the gold ‘boom’ burst without producing any gold several companies and banks collapsed in London and India. The only people who benefited were the ,’professional promoters, vendors of land, engineers and government of Madras and Mysore and their officers’.
The gold burst left Devala and Pandalur ghost towns, a place which a Times of India reporter had described before the gold rush thus, ‘Nature was undoubtedly in a poetic mood when she conceived and evolved the country, wild and lovely in extreme at one moment suggesting by the impressive grandeur of its mountain masses reminiscences of the Austrian Tyrol, at another recalling the sweet scenary of our own beautiful Wales by the delicate sylvan richness of its wooded valleys’
BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI,
DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT ||
ஓம் பூர் புவ ஸவ |தத் ஸவிதூர் வரேண்யம் |பர்கோ தேவச்ய தீமஹி |தியோ யோன பிரசோதயத் ||
The Porangadu Seemay leaders, lead by Seemay Gowda, Bheema Gowder have taken the initiative to end the unwanted and unnecessary embroglio and to solve the problem of running of Young Badaga Association [YBA] at Ooty.
They have correctly pointed out to the fact that YBA belongs to the whole community of Badagas. A few individuals cannot hold the entire community to ransom for their selfish motives and personal gains by forcibly occupying the premises under one pretext or another.
They have called for a Nakkubetta Kootu, at the traditional meeting place at Nattakallu, near Kerban, Kotagiri to sort out the issues on 16-8-2014.
Our best wishes and hope the YBA will once again regain its past glory.
Dharmalingam Venugopal
The Nilgiri district administration’s open mind to consider the positive winds of change among the feuding factions of the Badaga community is praise worthy. However, a lasting solution to the recurring problem and a competent body to take over the YBA Building should take into to account representations from across the Badaga community.
Badagas have always been socially conscious and have been forming various associations and advocacy groups to spread social, cultural, economic and ecological awareness among the community. A federation of all such groups will be the best representative body of the Badagas to manage common community assets like the YBA building and to make representation to district, state and central administrations on the problems and welfare of the Badaga community.
All registered social, cultural and economic welfare associations including bajan and music groups and modern groups based on websites and social media as well as documentation centres can form an umbrella organization which may be called All Nilgiris Badagas Union (ANBU ) or GAVA, the equivalent of the word love in Badaga.
Only such a federation would reflect the glorious traditions of the Badagas together with the high achievements and aspirations of the community spread world over. Such a body will be capable of bringing all the two lakh odd Badagas under its active fold, mobilize enough funds and undertake necessary welfare and developmental activities.
The management can be of two tiers. The traditional leaders or the Parpathis and can be the patrons of the Union whose functioning can be managed by an Executive council with due representations to the four Nadus and the various eligible associations. A management consultant can be engaged to frame the criteria of eligibility, functions, laws and bylaws. The Union should be the sole voice to represent the Badaga view to the administration and mediate in local issues and disputes.
The YBA building can be managed professionally by a paid Manager and a Accountant, preferably non-Badagas, to the satisfaction of all groups.
A library and a cultural gallery depicting the history and culture of the Badaga community should be the top priority of the new management.
Bellie N commented on Need for All Nilgiri Badagas Union (ANBU)
Dear Mr Venugopal, Your article seem very good and productive. If it is implemented our community will be united in alll aspects, and will get good knowledge about our culture and all. But unfortunately there was a Federation of all of our community Associations. The first hurdle started at that stage only. The ego and power fight between the Federation and YBA started and some unnecessary difficulties started there. At one stage all the leaders of Federation and YBA decided to stop the functioning of Federation. OK past is past.
I humbly suggest all our leaders to prefer YBA as our Apex Body for all the Badaga Organizations throught the Nation and Abroad. Any Association started at any place in India and abroad should be affiliated with YBA, and its name should be the same YBA followed by their respective area, like YBA, Coimbatore, YBA, Chennai and so on. As YBA is situated in our Native Nilgiris head Quarters, and all the Naakku Betta people are the members of YBA,, it is obviously the sole Association for our whole community. Of course all the other Associations, out of Nilgiris should be given representation in the Governing committee, and office. i hope it will be a welcome suggestion, I hope.
I welcome other opinion, to get a wide discussion in this matter.
Independence day
by Bellie Jayaprakash
August fifteenth.
Independence day.
Freedom from occupation of the land
by aliens. Celebrations.But what about freedom
from exploitation of gender and hunger
from fights over caste and religion
from inequality based on creed and region
India, my great land of legends
when are you going to be really FREE?#######################
Freedom Struggle in the Nilgiris
Dharmalingam Venugopal
Notwithstanding its remoteness and the influence of the British, the Nilgiris played its due role in the freedom movement. Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the hills from Jan 31 to Feb 4, 1934 stoked the freedom call. Gandhians like Rev.C.F.Andrews and Marjorie Sykes further encouraged the movement among the locals. The house arrest of Sarat Chandra Bose, brother of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose in 1942 in Coonoor and his address in public meetings influenced many inhabitants of all classes.
Mrs.Anne Besant, George Arundale and B.P.Wadia were interred in Col.Olcott’s house in Ooty from June to September 1917 for their role in Indian Home Rule movement.
The freedom struggle not only touched the most numerous Badagas, it also equally influenced the small community of Todas on the hills, who composed a remarkable song to welcome Gandhi to the hills.
Toda songs have both a lyrical component as well as a melodic component. The songs consists of several lines. The essential component of each line is a ‘konh’ which comes from the memory of the senior Todas describing various significant events on the hills.
Let us Join In to make this country the best
MyGov – ‘The citizen-centric platform empowers people to connect with the Government & contribute towards good governance’.
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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’ Prof.Hockings interpretation is quite different to what I feel is the correct meaning. I think ‘a person who spends time learning and ponders (over a problem) is better than the one who runs away (in a hurry) and thus trips over. [Odhidhama – one who has learnt (spent time learning), Niddhana – stops to ponder over[think], Oddidhama – one who runs, Erandina – trips over]. We can hear mothers telling their young children ‘Oda beda , Erandire’ – 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’. In my opinion . the lady who does not listen to any one (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 – one who does not listen- and mechidhava – one who is appreciated by all – even a morende kolu is enough as jewellery. Is it a case of wordplay (pun) by our ancestors??
I have listed a few of the proverbs below and hope to add more in future.
[Sources : Interaction with Fellow Badagas, ‘Naakku Betta’ monthly (1979) –Edited by K H Madha Gowder, Achanakal, Ketti Post , ‘Naakku Seeme’ monthly – May 2006, Edited by K.M Nanjan, Kil Cowhatty Village, Muthorai Post,
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There are a lot of young Badagas who are highly intelligent and hugely talented and have made a mark for themselves in their chosen fileds.
Niranjan Ramurthy is one such young Badaga. He is a AdWords Certified Google Partner and can give a boost to your business wherever it is located worldwide. He is presently at Kotagiri, The Nilgiris.
Being a PROUD BADAGA, he informs me that he can make ‘special offers’ to Badagas and regular visitors to our Badaga websites here or here
He is looking to become a Google AdWords Premier SME Partner with a growing base of small, medium and large sized businesses globally. Currently the one-man agency, Adostrophe.com manages multiple clients who advertise their websites through Google AdWords, Bing Ads, Facebook and other platforms. While SEO article writing is another service offered, the core speciality lies in managing Google AdWords accounts.
Visit his website adostrophe.com for more details. email : – Niranjan@Adostrophe.com
If you are a ‘talented young Badaga’ please send details for publication in our websites – Wg Cdr JP
Baduga or Badaga …well both are the same!
For a quick update and ‘faster glance’ visit www.baduga.co
You can easily access the website that is
‘ALL ABOUT THE BADAGAS OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS’
in your smart phone and read/see the posts/pix !
In excerpts that can be expanded !!
Take a look !!!
This website www.badaga.co is made ‘mobile friendly’ !
Dharmalingam Vengopal [Nilgiri Documentation Centre, Kotagiri]
As the centenary of the First World War is being solemnly observed world over, the beautiful BEM Neethi church on the slopes of splendid Kalhutti valley in the Nilgiris also silently observes its centenary as a victim of the global war.
The Basel Evangelical Mission (BEM) was established in Basel in Switzerland in 1815 by German and Swiss missionaries who worked in Africa, China, South East Asia and south India. Their work began in 1834 in the Malabar area and spread to Karnataka and south Maharashtra.
Basel Mission came to the Nilgiris in 1845 at the invitation of retired judge G.J.Casamajor who donated his entire property at Ketti to the mission. The first missionary to arrive was Michael Buhler, a gifted linguist, who was the first to document Badaga folklore including the Badaga forefather sayings and ballads. He was the first to put, ‘Badaga language and culture on the scholarly map’. Buhler died young at the age of 37. Several Badagas attended his burial at St. Stephen’s church at Ooty where Judge Casamajor was also buried.
‘Thanks to the missionaries, many Badaga villages have had primary schools for longer than thousands of comparable small communities in Canada, the United States, South Africa or Australia’ says Prof.Paul Hockings, an authority on Nilgiri studies.
Exactly one hundred years after the mission was founded its missionaries were unceremoniously sent out of India and their properties confiscated as ‘enemy property’ after the outbreak of First World War in 1914.
The BEM Neethi Church stands a mute witness to the global war which had its echo as far as the peaceful Nilgiris.
Can you crack these codes and find out the ‘hidden messages’?
Yes, it is better to stand on your head and clear all DO(ub)TS ?!
Art in WORDS or Words in ART ? !
Original works of ‘ Bellie Jayaprakash ‘ [No reproduction permitted]
~~~ A picture is worth… a thousand words ~~~
Photos by Bellie Jayaprakash ©2014
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“Eay, Ah How” – Badaga ‘Athikkodhu’
The beauty about Badaga community is not only the unique customs specific to the community but the steadfast belief with which atleast some of them are followed by Badagas with fervour. one of them is the loud chanting of ‘Athikkodhu – saaying of EAY AH HOW – on certain but specific occasions.
Three occasions come to mind immediately,
1)During “hethay Habba’ – both when from every village the devotees go to Hethay temples at Beragani and Peddhuva as well as when the Hethay deity is taken to ‘Madi Halla -river’ for change into new dress once a year [and also whenever is a temple deity is taken on procession during habbas in hattis],
2)during weddings when the bride and groom are brought to the ‘Madhuvay Mane – wedding house,and the newly weds are taken to the temple and
3)on funerals when the widow is brought for ‘olay Kattodhu’ and the ‘akki eththuva ‘ procession starts from the ‘dhodda Mane’ to ‘saavu hanay ‘ where the corpse/body is kept before being taken for burial.
This loud ‘cry’ is made from the bottom of the stomach by a few leading the procession and repeated by the rest following them.
Listen to ‘Saavu Aathikkodhu’ recorded live in Ketchigatti here
http://soundcloud.com/bjaypee/athikkodhu-saavu
Listen to ‘Maduvay Aathikkodhu’ recorded live in Thambatty here http://soundcloud.com/bjaypee/athikkodhu-madhuvay
2nd September,2014
Idyammal Bellie Gowder
Mom, you would have been 104 years today and we would have celebrated your birthday in style.
Your children and grand children would have called from all over the world to wish you Happy Birthday – a daughter from Kundey Kettchigatti, another daughter from Chennai/Madras, grand son from South Africa, a grand daughter from Ooty, a grandson from Bangalore, a grand daughter from Australia, another grand daughter from New Delhi….. and from many other places
Your sons and daughters in law would have celebrated the day with you along with a Birthday Cake brought in by another grand daughter from Coonoor and her son/your great grandson would have bowed his head and said,’Somee hethey, harachu’. You would hold him and blessed him as you would have blessed us all, ‘Somee, harachava kottu, sogava kottu , hoppa edey bappa edey ella olliththay aagali’ / Oh Almighty, give them health and happiness and , let there be only good things wherever they go‘.
You would have in typical style said with a smile ” ennu aesu kalaththa ebbadhu – how long you want me to live?“
And, suddenly one night, you chose to leave us WITHOUT REALLY SAYING ‘Hoyittu Bannu – good bye!’
You were everything for us in all those glorious 99 years and 10 months when you were ‘here’. Your blessings still guard and guide us in all our endevours.
We miss you , Mom / Hethey
Elle idhale’yu engava harachu
[Bless us all from wherever you are]
 Idyammal Bellie Gowder |
|
| Born | September 02, 1912 Hubbathalai, The Nilgiris |
|---|---|
| Died | July 13, 2011 (aged 99 years 10 months) |
| Parents | Rao Bahadue HJ Bellie Gowder and Nanji Hethe |
| Sister of | Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder |
| Spouse | B.K.Bellie Gowder [Bearhatti] |
[A pencil sketch of Mom by son JP in 1968 while she was reading an issue of Femina]
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p style=”text-align:left;”>~~~~
Rajma
I love watching the Badaga dance in Coimabatore. Two years back when Amma last was here, and again during Amma’s 53rd birthday celebrations in Amritapuri, they also enchanted the crowd – inspiring westerners, students, and Ashramites to join in . The same happened again this year. Young and old, men and women. Their rhythmic movements, graceful flowing hands and bodies, the beating of drums and call and response voices calls to the dancer inside us. It’s so primal, so natural, and so beautiful.
One wonders how long these people have been dancing like this – how far back in time? How wonderful that India has been able to preserve these
timeless traditions.
For a while, I was content just taking photos, or watching from the sidelines – focusing on their movements. But I found my inner self wanting to join in. I stood there – conflicted – trying to overcome my inhibitions – people would look at me – a westerner in white awkwardly throwing his body around. But then some westerners did join in, the Badaga happy to show them the movements even as they were ‘throwing a wrench’ into the coordinated movements of those already dancing.
Still, I stood by the sidelines. Then, at the end of the first night, as Darshan ended, and the Badaga still playing, Amma Herself stood up to leave the stage – and made a full circle – turning round with the beat, no inhibition, no concerns. Just dancing…..
The next day, I knew the Badaga would be there again. Would I join in?
Around 2am, they were singing and dancing again. Again, I stood by the sidelines, thinking about how Amma was so natural, innocent when She danced. I recalled how Amma says it’s just not enough to stand at the shore of the ocean and just get your feet wet. You have to dive in. I recalled how I overcame my fears when I used to go firewalking (walking on hot coals) – I would stand there trying to convince myself that it would be fine. It just takes a leap of faith…
In a moment of surrender, I joined the line. I found myself behind a Badaga man who was more than happy to call out the movements and changes as we made our way around the circle. I loved it. At times, it was awkward, but once I got the jist of it, it seemed so natural, so beautiful. When we were in synch -hands, legs, arms, – it was so nice – like a huge drum circle when they reach that magical moment when all the drummers are connected and the music just flows. So did our bodies-around and around, faster and faster.
I can’t wait till the next time..
Sri Pati, USA
Coimbatore, 23 January 2007
A couple of days back I received the following email from David McCreedy :
I’m looking for translations for four sentences in Badaga to add to my web site:
Currently the site lists over 500 languages in their own writing systems, everything from Afrikaans to Zulu, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics to Braille.
I realize this request is rather odd… Please let me give you some background: My best friend from college has, since graduation, traveled extensively for her employer. So much in fact that she JOKES she only needs to know four phrases in the local language to get by:
1) Where is my room?
2) Where is the beach?
3) Where is the bar?
4) Don’t touch me there!
I am hoping that you can provide me with translations preferably using the native/normal writing system for the language as well as the Latin alphabet.
I will appreciate any effort you can make. Thank you,
And here is my reply :
Your email to me. Quite interesting. Here are the Badaga – equivalents -1) Where is my room? – Enna Roomu ellie? என்ன ரூமு எல்லி?
2) Where is the beach? – Beechu ellie hadadhey? பீச்சு எல்லி ஹடதெ?
3) Where is the bar? – Baaru ellie hadadhey? பாரு எல்லி ஹடதெ?
4) Don’t touch me there! – Enna allie mutta beda! என்ன அல்லி முட்ட பேட!
You can ‘see’ the Four Essential Travel Phrases at http://www.travelphrases.info/languages/badaga.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<h3><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Crossword in The Hindu about BADAGA</strong></span></h3>
<h4 class="textwidget" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">In 'The Hindu' newspaper of June 17,2008,<strong> 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 !! </strong></span><a href="http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/17/stories/2008061799951000.htm">….. See the crossword here !</a></h4>
<strong>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Microsoft on Badaga Language….
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Limerick on Badaga
[found on the net]
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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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MRS.R.RAJAMMAL,B.Sc, MA.M.Ed. (Kehtorai Rajma)
A President’s award winning teacher (KV2, AFS, Tambaram) whose name has been recommended for PADMA SHRI
Salutations to the teachers of our glorious nation
“ The mediocre teachers tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward
The concept of being a teacher in the Indian context is predominantly divine and socially a source of inspiration. Even from the ancient times, the significance of a teacher has been approved by the vedic order. That’s why we say, “Matha, Pitha, Guru, Devo Maheshwaraha.” Teacher, the guru, is given a place superior to God, the creator Himself. The role of a teacher in Indian society has been recorded and regarded as the custodian of culture, tradition and heritage. Teacher stands as the embodiment of virtue, repository of immaculate kindness and the fountainhead of gentility and generosity. In fact, in no other social system of the world, teachers have been treated with utmost dignity, stupendous esteem and marvelous identity.
A teacher in the school plays a multi-faceted role – responsible mentor, a second parent, a good friend a philosopher, a guide and a true counselor. In this electronic era where the students become ultimately restless due to various pressures of life, a teacher becomes the compendium of colossal endurance. A student is like a shapeless raw clay handed over to the teacher with hopes of being beautifully moulded. A good teacher is like a candle who burns to illuminate the way for others. An earnest teacher guides the students their way, but does not escort them to their destination.
Teachers’ Day is celebrated as a tribute to the valuable contribution made by the teachers to the society by imparting knowledge and the enlightening and shaping the carrier of students. Every year on 5th September, we gratefully remember the great educationist Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, whose dream was that “Teachers should be the best minds in the country.” Teachers play an influential role in the life of every student. They are like the beacons of light, guiding student’s right from the formative years of their lives. Teachers mould them and in the process of their future, what they learn from their teachers remains with them forever. Teaching gives self satisfaction for the teacher. The entire teaching community should render their services for the upliftment of the student community.
If the triangular bond among the Students, Teachers and Parents is strong and meaningful, then the nation’s future is secured.
Do you know that there are two Badagas who were very closely involved in the construction and maintenance of the unique Nilgiri Mountain Railways from Mettupalayam to Ooty – Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai J.Bellie Gowder and his son Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder?
In the picture below,Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder with British Engineers and workers at Bridge No.33 between Coonoor & Mettupalayam. Bellie Gowder was involved in laying the Nilgiri Mountain Raiway, now WORLD HERITAGE, a hundred years ago. He was conferred with the title RAO BAHADUR for carrying out the excellent but challenging contract work of building this unique railway system in inhospitable forest area that also involved in cutting tunnels through rocky hills as well as building many bridges with sheer guts. He employed human power to lift the racks & rails and remove the rocks and boulders. Many of his workers were BADAGAS who addressed Bellie Gowder as BELLIE MAISTRY.
Ari Gowder was also honoured with the title Rao Bahadur and was given the railway contracts after his father, from 1935 till his death in1971.
This short video is a tribute to them.
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Dharmalingam Venugopal
A Nilgiri poetry day will be celebrated as part of the Ootacamund Day on September 13 at the Book Club of Nilgiri Library jointly with the Nilgiri Documentation Centre, Kotagiri. The day will mark the centenary of Nobel prize winning Mexican writer Octovia Paz who wrote a memorable poem on Ootacamund when he was the Ambassador of Mexico in India. The Blue Mountains have inspired poetries of several kinds for hundreds of years. The rich content and melodies of Toda, Kota and Badaga songs are living testimonies of this. The Nilgiri mountains have also inspired the visitors to pen many memorable poetry. Lord Tennyson mentioned the sweet Nilgiri air in this poem , ‘Brook’. Lord Macaulay is said to have got his ideas for some of his epic poems while his sojourn in Ooty. Later Percy Macqueen, Collector of Nilgiris, collected many folk songs, and donated his manuscript to the Madras University Library. Tamil scholar Ki.Va.Ja. edited the collection, which was published by Saraswathi Mahal Library in 1958. Ki.Va.Ja gave the collection the title ‘Malaiaruvi’. Justifying the title, he compares folk songs to the untrammelled gushing of a waterfall. A folk song, he writes, is like a flower that blooms on an untended plant in a jungle, in contrast to the structured verses of poets, which can be compared to a carefully nurtured jasmine creeper. Macqueen also wrote published a book Todaland, a collection of his poems on Nilgiris. Hilton Brown was an ICS officer and Collector of Nilgiris in the 1940s, who wrote a history of Parry & Co, Parry’s of Madras, in 1954. A prolific writer between the 1930s and the 1950s, he wrote a dozen novels, including, Dictators Limited, Susanna, Locust Food, That State of Life and Asylum Island, two collections of short stories, Potter’s Clay and Maya, three collections of verse, including Both Sides of Suez and The Gold and the Grey, two critical biographies — of Rudyard Kipling and Robert Burns — and an anthology titled The Sahibs that he edited and a non-fiction memoir, The Civilian’s South India. Brown wrote several poems on Nilgiris. Beyond the Jungle, a Tale of South India which was published by the Edinburgh publishers William Blackwood in 1968 was supposed to have been written by a Sita Rathnamal who was believed to be a Irula girl from Kil Kotagiri. It seems she was adopted and given a English education and later she became a nurse, marrying a Naval officer and wrote a competent autobiography in English which seems to have become a standard book for literature students all over India. She is said to have returned to her small village amidst the jungle and that there is no evidence whether she stepped out of the jungle after this return. Her identity is not still known.
Badaga Poetry by Wg Cdr JP [Reproduced]
Kettu Muridhu Naa Kerio Kulibaneyu Huttu Nattu Enna Hollandhu Hegoneyu Hethu Thathi Saakidha Awai Enna Hollandhu Hegule Maathi Allandhu thallule Goonu bhuddu Naa Cooli Geevaneyu Huttu Kettu Naa Maasi Kulibaneyu Pattu Beetha Batte Ekkoneyu Kettandhu Hegule Awai Enna Mattandhu Thallule Kottage Huggi Naa Geria Baakoneyu Araya Kulidu Naa Danava Mesoneyu Horia Thookki Naa Hotte Kaibeneyu Kore Ondhu Hegule Awai Ondhu Ariandhu Nudivile
Erigittu with Thuppa, Avare Udhakka and Keere Soppu
Thuppadha hittu or Enne Hittu
Badagas usually grow vegetables in their small patch(es) of land called ‘HOLA’ (see photo) for their regular use apart from other commercial crops like potato, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower etc. These would also include many varities of beans, peas, greens, corn etc. Every variety of avere(bean) has a specific (sometimes unique) badaga name. No Badaga wedding meal is complete without ‘Avare & Gaasu udakka’ [beans & potato curry]. Incidentally, Badagas do not serve non-vegetarian (meat) dishes on the wedding day , main meal is called – ‘maduve hittu‘. Another great trait among these simple peasant people is called ‘nattu‘ – a sort of gift (again mainly the home grown vegetables & grains) given to relatives, friends and guests.
>>Tea Leaves… the crop on which Badaga ‘economy’ depends so much..
The food, eating habits, preparations of some dishes as well as the ingredients used are covered. along with the methods used in cooking (like in a mud pot known as MADAKE in traditional fire place - OLE)
It must be mentioned that though many masala powders are available in the market, the Badagas use a specially prepared curry powder known as ‘ BADAGARU MAASU HUDI’ in their preparations.
I remember my childhood days when the dried GANJE / GHODUME (barley/wheat) used to be spread in the fore court of the houses called KERI (street) , between two groups of Hatti HEMMAKKA (ladies) squatted opposite to each other with GANJE DHADIS (sticks of about four feet long and an inch thick) systematically & alternatively beating to remove the chaff. The rhythmic ‘tak tak’ noise would be accompanied by some folk lore Badaga songs. This is known as GANJE SACHODHU.
How can anyone forget the GANJE that would be HURUTHU - fied (fried) in a HURI MADDAKKE (mud pot with a hole on its side) through which a HURI KOL (a short stick with cloth tied at one end as a ball) would be inserted and the contents stirred constantly for uniform frying?
Huri Maddakke >
The fried ganje called GANJIKKE would be taken with BELLA (jaggery) and THENKE (coconut). The taste of this would increase if hurutha keerai is added. Used to be a very common snack during the “kodai” season when no one can venture out on account of severe wind and rain.
This ganjikke would be powdered in a ‘ BEESA GALLU ‘ or ‘BEESARAN KALLU’ ( grinding stone ‘flour mill’) that was a permanent feature in the EDHA or NADU MANE and stored for furture use. People who go on long journeys (in olden days travel was by foot only) took this powder along with them, a very handy and healthy meal. This powder would be mixed with hot water to make a gruel. Salt and jaggery could be added to taste.
[ Also see BADAGA RECIPES]
Edha Mane (notice the Beesa Gallu (Grinding Stone-mill) at the right bottom corner. The corner is called GOTTU MOOLE)
(Buttermilk) MAJJIGE [ also known as - Pay'ray'] KADANJODHU or HAALU SORAKKODU( milk churning ) used to be a routine job and great fun for the children in trying their hands. The BENNE (butter) and THUPPA (ghee or clarified butter) are very healthy. When taken with ERAGI HITTU (wheat ball in the size of cricket/hockey ball), it is very tasty.
EEGAVE THIMBUDHUGA AASE BANDHARAVA ? (don’t you feel like eating now)?
POTHITTU (wheat dosai) has to be an all time favourite of Badagas. During SAKKALATHI HABBA (the last festival before HETHAI HABBA ) POTHITTU with THENKE NEERU (coconut water) is the main dish.
What about dishes like OTTU KUDI UDAKKA (bamboo shoot curry) which can put any BAADU UDAKKA (non veg curry) to shame?And KOONU (mushroom) preparations?
There are many side dishes like SOPPU, BARRATHA AVARE , GAASU SANDEGE Then the question of how to ERAGI HITTU HOKKUDU (make wheat ball?) or make HABBA (festival) specials like BADE (vadai) KAL KAL (sweets made out of maida) etc etc.
Talking about chutney – GAASU SANDEGE , when GAASU (potato) is cooked in KENDA (ember) – SUTTA GAASU - and mixed with UPPU & OLLIYA MAASU (salt & pepper) it really tastes great ……umm…really mouth watering.
Incidentally, a DODDARU SHULOKA (Badaga Proverb) goes like this ; “GHANDA (GHANDU) ILLADHA MANE HOLLA, GAASU ILLADHA UDAKKA HOLLA” meaning : -” without a man(husband), house is bad ; without potato, curry is bad”
I was pleasantly surprised to know that Taj Garden Retreat hotel in Coonoor (in the Nilgiris) serves some exclusive Badaga specials like THUPPADITTU & OTTU KUDI curry.
“Since the British lived here for long, there was a mix of the English food with the local ingredients – mostly, the native Badaga food. Thuppathittu, is an example. That makes it different from the typical English food…..For vegetarians, … Ottakudi Gassu poriyal ( a typical Badaga food of potatoes, spices and bamboo shoots), …. Avarai Uthaka (traditional Badaga speciality), Khuni khichri (spice preparation) and Gassu Dhotti (boiled potato preparation)”
http://www.expresshospitality.com/20050808/viewpoint02.shtml
Rasam is called MAASU NEERU ( milagu thanni in Tamil that has found its way into dictionaries).BATHA HOKKUDHU was done by elephants in ancient period, and till a few decades ago, by 50 to 60 bulls and cows brought from the plains (mainly Avinashi near Coimbatore) to the villages and mostly done during night time. One of the methods/processes in storing/pruning our farm produce ERAGI (millet) is known as ” ERAGI METTODHU ” (Stamping).
This is done on the green ERAGI stems freshly harvested from the fields. A bunch of this is put indoors on the floor and squeezed by bare feet . This is done mainly in the night in the EDHA MANE (middle room) and stored in the DHARSAE PETTI / BALLA (storage basket) which is located on top of the HAGALAE (permanentally fixed long wooden plank from wall to wall that also served as a huge cot) in the EDA MANE . See the illustration above.
BALLA or BALLA PETTI is a big cylindrical basket for storage and fixed to the wall/floor by cow dung. There would be hole at the bottom to take out the grain. The hole is sealed with cow dung and removed whenever required. Smaller storage basket is called KUKKE. Depending on the usage they are known as BENNE KUKKE (butter basket), HUYIGAL KUKKE (multi utility basket), DODDA KUKKE (big basket) with a handle to carry mud to clean the temples before puja in the olden days and of course, the GANJIKE KUKKE with smaller baskets attached to a central bigger one used in SAVU (funeral) rites. MAKKIRI was a larger basket used to carry food items to fields (HOLA) and on long journeys.
BESAKATTI is a large flat basket, used for drying grains, hung above the fire place/ hearth ( OLE ) in the inner room (OGE MANE) of a Badaga Home during earlier days.The basket is suspended from the beam with wire rods /ropes (KANNI).
There are a lot of DODDARU SHULOKAs on BALLA (storage container for grains). A couple of them are listed here :
“Ballada hattale siri, Kukkeya hattale uri” ,
“Baavava balla ethone getta, badava baathu satha “
visit Badaga Recipes for more
Avaray with Gaasu Udhakka (Beans with Potato Curry)
One of the favourite dishes of Badagas. No Badaga wedding would be complete without this curry
Devarajan Mathan – [deva_mathan@yahoo.com]
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Chicken – 1kg
small onions – 500 gms , Koi uduka maasu hudi (masala powder) – 1/2 cup (or depending on how spicy you want it) , cumin seeds (jeera) – 2-3 tsps , saunf – 2-3 tsps , kas-kas – 2 tsps , cloves – 3-4 , cinnamon – 1/2 inch, cardamom – 2-3 , ginger – 1 inch piece , garlic – 8-9 medium size flakes , salt to taste , turmeric – a pinch , mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp , small or big onions for seasoning , oil – 3-5 tbsp , water
Clean and wash the chicken pieces well. Marinate the chicken in maasu hudi – curry powder [see below to learn how to make Koi Udakka maasu hudi], salt and turmeric.
Warm the spices (cumin, saunf, kas-kas, cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom). Grind them in a mixer along with ginger and garlic and keep aside.
Peel the small onions, wash and cut the larger ones into 2-3 pieces and fry in a little oil on low fire. Keep stirring the onions so that they are uniformly and thoroughly fried. Remove from fire, cool and then make it into a paste in a mixer.
Mix the onion paste with the marinated chicken.
Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and the onions. Fry till onions turn golden in colour. Add the masala-ginger-garlic paste and saute. Then add the marinated chicken and water (according to how thick you want the curry to be). Cook for 20 – 25 minutes or till chicken is done.
It is better to use a pan to cook the curry than a cooker as the flavour of masala and spices usually does get absorbed into the chicken when a cooker is used.
I am grateful to Ms. Anitha Gokul for accepting my request to write / give the recipe for the traditional BADAGA CHICKEN CURRY as well as the preparation of CURRY POWDR – the ’secret weapon’ of good Badaga Cooking)
KOI UDAKA MAASU HUDI (Masala powder for chicken gravy)
chillies – 1kg , corriander seeds -2 kg , cumin seeds (jeera) – 250gms ,pepper – 50 -100 gmsThere is no need to add other spices like saunf, cloves, etc. They can be added while preparing the curry. Roast the chillies, corriander, cumin and pepper seperately in a hard bottom pan on low fire. The colour of the spices should turn dark as our gravies are usually dark (nearly black) in colour. Be careful not to over-roast. Mix the ingredients together and get them ground in a grinding or pounding machine. Pounding is a better option inorder to maintain the flavour of the spices. Cool the masala powder as soon as after it is ground. Seive and store properly. This masala can be used for more than a year if stored well.
UDAKA MAASU HUDI
chillies – 1kg , corriander seeds – 1kg , cumin seeds (jeera) – 100g , saunf – 100g , pepper – 100g , roasted bengal gram dhal (potto kadalai) – 1cup , bengal gram dhal (kadalai parupu) – 1 cup , red gram (thovarum parupu) – 1 cup , raw rice – 1 cup , turmeric – 50g , fenugreek (methi) – 50g , kas-kas – 50g , mustard seeds – 50g , clove – 20-25g , cinnamon -25g , cardamom – 50g , asafoetida – 5g , curry leaves – 2-3 bunches , nutmeg, mace etc – 1-2 (optional, but when used enhances the taste)
(by Brent Thompson says the recipe originally comes from Poultry Advisor (a magazine) published in Bangalore, in 1970. The recipe was attributed to Mrs. Seetha Mahalingam from Ooty. Brent’s notes and the original measures for the recipe appear in brackets. Also, see badaga.org)
Ingredients* ½ Cup. ghee or oil (orig 1 Cup.), * ¾ tsp black mustard seeds (orig ½ tsp.) * 3 onions, medium, chopped or thinly sliced * ½ tsp turmeric powder * 3 tomatoes, sliced or chopped * 1 chicken, skin removed (as always, in India), cut into small pieces * 1 can coconut milk (or milk from one coconut — about 2-3 Cups.) * salt to tasteI * 12 garlic cloves (fewer, if really large) * 2″ ginger root * 4-5 Tbs green coriander (originally 1-2 Tbs.) * 10 cardamoms (originally 6) * 6 cloves * 2″ cinnamon stick, II – Grind together: * 2 Tbs. coriander seeds, roasted * 10 red chilis, dried
Method1. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed vessel; add the mustard seeds. When they crackle, add the sliced onions and fry until the onions turn a golden brown.2. Add garlic-ginger paste (mix I) and fry about 2-3 minutes.
3. Now add the chili-coriander powder (mix II) and continue frying another 5 minutes, stirring often enough to prevent sticking or burning.
4. Add the turmeric. Add tomatoes and chicken and mix well. Add the coconut milk. Add salt to taste.
5. Cook uncovered until the chicken is tender, adding water if it gets too dry – be careful not to add too much water, as it dilutes the flavor. The color of the broth will gradually deepen and turn brown as it cooks.
6. Optionally, at the end, add a few cashews and cook for another 3 minutes .
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visit http://badaga-recipes.blogspot.in/ for more
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