Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder

Bowing our heads in silent reverence for all that he had done to our community…
so that we can hold our heads high !

[December 4, 1893 – June 28, 1971]

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 as alcoholism was playing havos with the tribals [as it is doing with the populace of the Nilgiris now].

Ari Gowder lead the Indian contingent (yes, “INDIAN CONTINGENT) to World Scouts Jumbore held in Europe in the 1930s.

Being a great philanthropist he had done a lot for the betterment of Badagas. He was the one who established Nilgiri Co-Op Marketing 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.

The bridge constructed in 1939 at Kakkanalla, Masinagudi linking  Tamil Nadu state  with Karnataka state was named Ari Gowder Bridge.

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).

Ari Gowder was held in great esteem and considered as the ‘ Uncrowned King – Nakku Bettaga Raja‘  by Badagas.

The Hindu, 29th June,2012

Badagas pay homage to Ari Gowder

D. Radhakrishnan

For many Badagas, all roads in this hill station led to the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society (NCMS) off the Government Botanical Garden Road here on Thursday.

The beeline was made to garland a bust of H.B. Ari Gowder which adorns the threshold of the multi-purpose hall of the society.

The occasion was the death anniversary of Gowder. Adverted to as the uncrowned king of the Badagas, Gowder was born on 4th December 1893. He died on June 28 1971.

Speaking to The Hindu, senior members of the community recalled that he was a well-known philanthropist, who walked tall not only among the Badagas but also others. He was instrumental in the NCMS coming into being in the 1930s to keep at bay middlemen and unscrupulous traders in the plains.

For over three decades, he was its president and for long it was considered as one of the best of its kind. In recognition of his significant contribution, his bust was unveiled on May 25, 1987.

Gowder, who hailed from Hubbathalai village, near Aruvankadu, was a widely acknowledged leader of the community who had done a lot to lift the Badagas socially and economically.

While a bridge constructed in 1939 linking the Nilgiris with Karnataka is named after Gowder, a road near the Mambalam railway station in Chennai also bears his name.

As the first Badaga graduate, MLC and MLA, Gowder had introduced a number of reforms among the people, including abstention from alcohol. Among those who paid homage to the late leader were representatives of various Badaga associations, political leaders and employees of the NCMS.

from wikipedia

H. B. Ari Gowder

Continue reading →

IDENTIFICATION OF BADAGA

Dr.R.K.Haldorai,
[haldoraitamil@gmail.com     9444503414 ]

                 The word Badaga at the outset reflects the Badaga language speaker. The speaker’s loyalty and solidarity are intrinsically involved in it. It expresses a historically transmitted perception by which the Badaga speech community develops itself. The cultural elaboration of the word seems to be unassailable.

Badaga signifies the speech community and the participant membership of an individual. In another sense, there is a very close link between the word and the homeland, the Nilgiri District. Often it is used as a synonym to the nativity. It is used in accordance with inclination of its people with the homeland. Presumably, there is something more to being a Badaga than simply living in the Nilgiri District. Not all living in the Nilgiri district are Badaga speakers. But clearly the word reflects not only the nativity but also the linguistic identity. This applies in equal measure to the inner and outer identities.

With the ethnic entity, the Badaga speech community depends on fundamental unity, shared culture, shared values, shared ideals and shared attitudes, which are reflected in the shared language. The word Badaga embraces the inheritance of cultural landscapes. It is a cultural laden symbol. This is a very sensitive index of the Badaga culture. The meanings of self and other are involved in it. It reflects traditional self image with an emphasis on linguistic and native sensibility. Both are inseparable to the people of the Nilgiri District who have the credit of Badaga inheritance. So it is an attachment to their home land and language, and they feel pride in it. It is by which outsiders identify them.

As for as Badaga studies concern we have to deduce more from language information about historical contacts, social structure, religious beliefs and practices, folklore and so on. To our dismay the language part was not analyzed properly by scholars and its importance was not understood by the native speakers for a long period. However during the closing decades of the twentieth century two scholars, one from Annamalai University (Dr.R.Balakrishnan) and another from French (Dr.Christiane Pilot Raichoor) had done extensive study on Badaga and analyzed its distinctive characters. Through that they established its independent language status. Following them I analyzed Badaga language and described its independent language status with more such details.

I am in total agreement with Dr.Haldorai. We have not given due importance to Dr.C.P.Raichoor and may be to Dr.R.Balakrishnan. Dr.Raichoor is the co – author of Badaga – English Dictionary along with Prof.Paul Hockings.

The more I go through Dr.Haldorai’s books, especially on Badaga Language, it is clear that he has put in a lot of efforts. I feel we should encourage his efforts by buying his books. – Wg Cdr JP

The information that accompanies the pix in this website reads as

“Photograph of the five hill tribes of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, taken by an unknown photographer from the Madras School of Arts in c. 1871-72. This photograph forms the Frontispiece of James Wilkinson Breeks ‘An Account of the Primitive Tribes and Monuments of the Nilgiris’ (India Museum, London, 1873). Breeks was the Commissioner of the Nilgiris and wished to make a record of the indigenous hill-tribes of the region before their way of life, customs and legends died out due to increasing western influences. In this photograph, two men represent each of the five local tribes: Irula, Badaga, Toda, Kota and Kurumba”.

Yes, we are proud to be Indians and proud to be Badagas.

Should we be not proud of being “NILGIRIANS” – as we belong to the beautiful blue mountains, the Nature Blessed Naakku Bettas?

The preservation of the eco system and environment of the Nilgiris is as much our duty and responsibility as every Indian’s.

In that respect, hats off to the initiatives and efforts of One Earth Foundation lead by Raminder Chowdhary.

Continue reading →

In our eagerness to know about ourselves [Badagas], many times, we highlight the work done by other researchers from abroad and tend to forget our own Badaga scholars who have done a lot on EVERY THING BADAGA.

One such scholar is Dr.Haldorai from Kiya Cowhatty. Though I have heard about him, I could not get to read any one of his books [there are many in English and Tamil] till recently. Saravana Raju of Karimora, a gifted and talented youngster with great many original ideas,got me many of his books.

Though I have had a cursory glance at his books, I am yet to make a detailed study. But one thing I am sure about. We may or may not  agree with all his views and interpretations but definitely, cannot ignore them.

He has been kind enough to respond to my emails and sent me a few exclusive articles and I have great pleasure in putting them up [uncensored] in this page. Yes, I feel he deserves a page for himself.

I will be adding more info in future.

Take a look on Dr.R.K.HALDORAI M.O.L., M.Ed., M.A., Ph.D, here

One of the charms and beauty of our language is ‘HA‘ as different from ‘A/AA‘.

It is Hethe(y) and not Athe(y)/Ethe(y).

Like, the correct way to say is :- Hatti [village], Haalu [milk], HaLLa [river] etc. But I am disgusted and disappointed to hear the above words being mentioned as ‘Atti, aalu,aLLa‘.

In one of the latest releases of the ballad Beradha Bellie – ‘Kaakay haadhara– is sung as Kakkay aadhara‘. Disappointing.

By the way, in many words, the meaning completely changes when you substitute HA with AA. For example, Haalu – milk becomes ANGER[Irritation] when AALU is used.

Harachu – bless, Arachu – Find, Haday – lie down, aday – close

Ignorance may be a bliss but not an EXCUSE.

Also see :- http://badaga-language.blogspot.in/

I have come to know about Emerald Bhojan Hariharan from the posts in badaga.com. I consider him to be a forward thinking Badaga with nothing but the welfare of Badagas in his mind.

It was indeed a pleasure to receive the following email from him. He had sent these comments on what I had written

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

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

What is highlighted by him is a matter of great importance and need our urgent attention.

Dear Anna,

It is my pleasure to leave a short message on your website, which I consider as a yeoman service you are rendering the society in General and the Badaga Community in particular. Kudos and three Cheers to you. May you live long and continue your good work.

It came as a rude shock to me when I came to understand that there are 40+ Thoreya hatties in the Nilgiris and marriages happen only between Thoreyas although they no way differ from mainstream Badagas in any way, be it language, lifestyle, dressing, rituals or customs. Give it to my ignorance or broad mindedness, I always thought there was only one Badaga community and sub-sects were an integral part of it but none was superior or inferior to any.

Once I went deep into it, I came to understand the filth and false prophecies that went into creating this rift. It became unbearable and indigestible for me just to know that how a progressive community like the Badagas could have a prejudiced mindset over their own brothers, the Thoreyas. The same applies to the rift between Hodeya and other subsects as well.

I strongly feel the need for a unification of mindsets in each of us to bring in equality and justice across all sub sects, thus bringing all of us under one single umbrella called the Badaga Community. This will enable us hold our heads high and walk with pride.

On behalf of Manihatty Mahalingiah and Beragini Hethaiamma,

Truly Yours,

Emerald Bhojan Hariharan.

KUMAR [vina.vinasa@gmail.com ] writes on Time to change with changing times

The communities which have resisted change have vanished, the best example is our neighbor todas, the majority of Todas changed to Christianity because of laws in community.  Forget about the changes happening  across world, let us first assess the situation in our community.

Someone has mentioned about the ratio, it is pathetic at present. Every big hatty has atleast 40+ males waiting to get married even though they are well qualified professionally and financially. Anyone in this forum who has someone to get married in his or her house should know well about this. If this continues, its going to affect the society badly, may lead to extramarital affairs and marrying within the seeme(akka-thange).

Its easy for a girl, if she is smart and has chosen a good person, it does not matter which community she is going to live.  But think about a guy, he cannot go to his hutty, nor attend his parents funeral, its cruel.  The elders have to change their mindset, they have to understand what is happening in our society and across the world.  By the time these people die and rules change, lot of boys are going to lose their lives.

Kotagiri and Mekkunadu are far more better, they have accepted it, but in Thodhanadu its just like khap panchayats in Haryana.  When a girl or boy is matured enough to live alone far from his or her place in India or abroad, they will be smart enough to decide their lives also.  Even the middle east well known for ultra orthodox has changed, its time for us to change or else it will affect us badly.

Lets not forget, we live once, time and life are precious.

FIGHTING DENGUE MUST START AT EVERY HOME.

Mosquito trap (Dengue prevention) : Its just a mix of water, brown sugar and yeast.

1. Cut a plastic bottle in half, keep both parts. Can be soft drink bottle.
2. Take the lower portion of the bottle. Dissolve the brown sugar in hot water.
Let it cool down to ~70 deg F (room temperature).
3. Add the yeast. Carbon dioxide will form. (This will attract the mosquitoes.)
4. Cover the bottle with a dark wrap and insert in the top portion upside down like a funnel. Place it in a corner in your house.
5. In 2 weeks you will be surprised by the number of mosquitoes killed.

Badaga Connection

The Nilgiris used to be relatively mosquitoes free. No more. With the global warming taking its toll. And, the towns and villages becoming unplanned of concrete jungles with scant regard for general hygiene , these unwelcome visitors are having a ‘field’ day. So take care, prevention is better than CURE !

Well, you have heard of

‘EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES‘

is not about a killer

but a Panda – bear that

eats, shoots and leaves.

One comma , makes the difference.

Here is another one :

An English professor wrote the following on the blackboard and asked his students to punctuate the sentence correctly :

“A WOMAN WITHOUT HER MAN IS NOTHING“

All the males in the class wrote,

“A WOMAN, WITHOUT HER MAN, IS NOTHING“

and all the females wrote,

“A WOMAN: WITHOUT HER, MAN IS NOTHING“

[from the internet]

Badaga connection

Badagas consider bamboo shoots  curry- OTTUKUDI Udhakka- to be one of the most delicious dishes. In olden days, with the forest cover around the fringes of hattis [villages] gathering bamboo shoots used to be great fun for young girls. So was ‘savudey hirukkodhu – gathering tree twigs.

I understand that a kilo of bamboo shoots was selling for about Rs.80/- this year 2012.