Nanjanadu – let it be ‘Nenjuna Nanju Elladha Naadu”

Update by Dharmalingam Venugopal [22 Feb 2014]

Nanjanad needs relief, reconciliation and rehabilitation

A visit to the strife-torn Nanjanadu shows that with a little sensitivity on the part of all concerned, the senseless death of two innocent lives, the huge damage to properties and the blot on the peace-loving community could have been avoided.
The administration deserves all praise for posting a massive and understanding contingent of law enforcers to bring the situation under control.
With the spontaneous gesture of hundreds of community people descending on the village every day to condole and console the villagers the Badaga brotherhood is also aiding healing process.
However, a closer look shows that the deceptive calm could again be shattered if relief, reconciliation and rehabilitation efforts are not set in motion forthwith.
The victims’ families, one with a baby of five months and another with a college going youth, deserve the compassionate solatium of the Hon’ble Chief Minister through the recommendation of the district administration.
Enquires show the preference for a committee, comprising a representative of the Sri Ramakrisha Mutt, a high ranking retired government official and a retired police officer both settled in the district, to initiate the process of reconciliation.
The district administration would do well to support a Badaga Week during the coming Summer Festival to bring together and showcase the talents of the Badagas in music, dance, painting, photography, writing and other fine arts. Such an event in Anna stadium will give an opportunity to the Badagas to bond together while giving a grand treat to the tourists. A part of the proceeds can be set aside for rehabilitation in Nanjanad.

Dharmalingam Venugopal
[Hon. Director,Nilgiri Documentation Centre, Kotagiri] writes on

BADAGA FACTIONALISM

Badagas need  Alternative Dispute Settlement system

According to Social scientists, group conflict is a pervasive feature common to all levels of social organization. Group conflicts are either inter-group between two groups or intra-group  between individuals within a group.

Although both forms of conflict have the ability to spiral upward in severity, group level conflicts are generally considered to be more powerful as “groups are generally even more competitive and aggressive than individuals”. However, there is evidence that a large proportion of group conflicts are indeed personal conflicts.

The two main sources of intergroup conflict have been identified as competition for material rewards or for social rewards like respect and esteem.

According to the noted Badaga scholar, Paul Hockings, there is no published evidence of any kind of factional division or katchi as it is locally called, among the Badagas until the late 1850s. Since then  two types of factions have continued to plague almost all the Badaga villages. One based on personal factions stemming from strong difference of opinion about someone’s personal grievance. The second and more common type was each village taking one side or the other in some dispute of general concern to everybody. However, Prof Hockings concludes that the Badaga society has managed to reduce its tensions over the years by its big leap towards modernization.

Observers will recall that during the decade of the tea boom in the 1990s there was absolutely no incident of faction fights in the Badaga villages. Therefore, long term mitigation for Badaga factional fights lies in more modernization and development in the villages.

Sociologists say that within small groups, both constructive and destructive conflict occurs and it is important to accentuate the constructive conflict and minimize the destructive conflict.

In recent times Badaga have grown to be litigious and seek the law courts for every personal and social issue. The delay in disposal of cases or the deliberate attempt in dragging the cases or the manipulation of verdict often lead to build up of tension which at times end in avoidable tragedy.

What the Badaga society need most now is a mechanism for Alternative Dispute Settlement which is faster, cheaper and mutually more satisfactory.

There are a number of highly credible retired judges and administrators available in the state and the district for arbitration.

Let some Badaga social organization like the Nelikolu Trust take the initiative to set up an ADS for the Badagas.

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Wg Cdr JP :- Just heard the sad news that two persons have died in the clashes between two groups of BADAGAS at Nanjanadu Village over conducting Puja at the temple. Real shame !!

Enemies of Badagas are Badagas themselves.

Oh, God, they can kill in the name of GOD. Can there be anything more painful ?

Are we still proud to be Badagas??

I wrote earlier :-

An appeal to the people of Nanjanadu Hatti [24-10-2013]

Nanjanadu hatti, probably, is the biggest hatti of Badagas. More than a thousand houses.

I visited this hatti a couple of days back to attend the funeral of a close relative. What shocked me is the fact that there are two factions in this hatti and one faction does not attend the functions of another.

It appears that the deep division among families, the fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters took place due to a dispute  about the SHIVA temple which is located at the very entrance of the village.

We have always believed that FAITH in the ALMIGHTY unites the people. How can GOD be the reason for division?

How can the people of this great hatti let such a thing happen and seek justice in the higher courts of Justice when, with a simple act of give and take, the issue can be resolved within minutes?

Is it not high time that the educated youngsters of Nanjanadu take the initiative to bring back harmony to this beautiful place?

A few days back, I had published a new post “… finding the 18th camel (see below)” in which I had highlighted the need to find a ‘common ground’. Can we NOT find the common ground right in front of the SHIVA Temple which remains locked?

You, the people of Nanjadu Hatti, will you listen to this appeal to unite?

Will you invite the people of Nakkubetta to a grand function of unification very soon??