Monthly Archives: February 2015

Dharmalingam Venugopal [NDC, Kotagiri] informs about the sad demise of Mr.Basavaraj

[26-02-2015]. Just heard the sad news that Basavaraj of Kalhutti, Kotagiri is no more. He was perhaps the last of the Badaga bards who sang for almost all of his 80 plus years. He had  an impressive repertoire and could hold the crowd spell bound for hours, often throughout the night.

He was a original researcher of Badaga history and took much pains to put down his findings, thoughts and views on record. He was an authority on several Badaga matters and took active part in promoting and preserving Badaga tradition.

He was a great admirer of Rao Bhahadur Bellie Gowder and Ari Gowder and never missed an opportunity to spread their fame and contributions.

He was related and very close to my father A.Dharmalingam often entertaining him with his moving  Badaga songs.

He was featured nicely in the video on Sullivan Memorial.

While Basava is no more, the memories of his music and his eyes loaded with mischief would remain cherished in our hearts.

May his soul rest in peace.

We join Venugopal in paying our respectful homage to Basava Gowder on behalf Badaga Community as well as on behalf of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder, Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder and Mr. H.A.Bhojraj family. – Wg Cdr JP

The Nilgiri Documentation Centre honoured Prof Hockings, in absentia, with the The Nilgiris Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 on February 23 when Prof Hockings turned 80 at a function at Lawley Institute, Ooty.

Dharmalingam Venugopal presenting the award to Mrs. Shubha Somasundaram, Prof.Hockings’s friend from San Francisco, USA. Others in the photo are Dr.Sundaradevan, first Badaga IAS officer and Prof. Frank Heidemann, Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Munich, a German researcher of/on Badagas and author of ‘AKKA BAKKA’, who had visited me at Coonoor in 2011.

In my opinion, Paul Hockings has been the scholar/researcher whose studies on Badagas  may be considered to be very comprehensive. May not agree with some of his findings especially about the Badaga origin [that Badagas migrated from the Mysore plains] but the wealth of information that he has exposed in his books is greatly applaudable. If I have to choose a single book out of many, without hesitation I would go for ‘Counsel from the Ancients: A Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses‘. Unfortunately, this book is very expensive but you can access most of the pages  online.

In this book, Prof. Paul Hockings, probably the most authentic researcher on and of Badaga, lists more than a thousand Badaga proverbs, 1730 to be precise. He feels that 1730 could be a complete figure containing all the proverbs there are.
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?? – Wg Cdr JP’s review

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Prof Paul Hockings is the Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Illinois, USA. He is also the Adjunct Curator of Anthropology at the Field Museum of Natural History and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Visual Anthropology’.
Prof Hockings has been researching the Nilgiris, particularly the Badagas, since 1962 resulting in a number of authoritative publications including Encyclopaedia of the Nilgiri Hills, So Long a Saga: Badaga Social History, Badaga-English Dictionary, Counsel from the Ancients: A Study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses, Blue Mountains: The Ethnology and Bio-geography of a South Indian Region and Blue Mountains Revisited: Cultural Studies on the Nilgiri Hills.

Prof. Hocking’s massive contribution has paved the way for the Nilgiri studies being classified today as Nilgiriology.

The Nilgiri Documentation Centre will honour Prof Hockings, in absentia, with the The Nilgiris Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 on February 23 when Prof Hockings turns 80.

The function will be at Lawley Institute at 11-30am on February 23 at Ooty.

Dharmalingam Venugopal

[Honorary Director, Nilgiri Documentation Centre]

There are many women who have sacrificed everything so that they can devote all the time to look after the well being of family, friends and others. Their selfless sacrifies even under very trying times is an inspiration to many. Their struggle to maintain family dignity comes at a very high sense of responsibility. Mrs.Rukmani Bhojraj is one such Badaga woman.

Daughter of a great Badaga leader from Kundhah Ketchigatty B.K.Bella Gowder and daughter in law of another great Badaga Leader Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai Ari Gowder, she has lived a life full of grit and determination, in-spite of severe physical impediments. She has been a source of strength to all those who have known her.

As this ever friendly lady, steps into her 82nd birthday today, we seek her blessings and wish her many more happy returns of the day!

‘Kundhe Seemay’
Also known as ‘Eera Jilla Seemay’

Naakku Betta – pix by JP

In an effort to give the exact and correct names of hattis/villages under each of the four SEEMAYS, given below is the list under Kunde [Naadu] Seemay. I would request our friends to verify and vet the list and send corrections to bjaypee@gmail.com or add them as comments to this post – LEAVE A REPLY box given at the bottom.

We may separate the hattis as per Badagas, Odeyas and Thorayyas and group them under ‘OORU’ [a group of hattis form an ooru and many oorus constitute a seemay].

At present the focus is on hattis of Badagas [Gowdas] who can marry Badagas from other seemays. Please note that some hattis like HOSAHATTI appear to be repeated but there may be more than one HOSA Hatti in a seemay.

Kerappaadu – Photo by JP

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info

‘Mekku Nadu Seemay‘
Also known as ‘ Asala Bisalagiri Seemay ‘

Naakku Betta – pix by JP

In an effort to give the exact and correct names of hattis/villages under each of the four SEEMAYS, given below is the list under Mekku Naadu Seemay. I would request our friends to verify and vet the list and send corrections to bjaypee@gmail.com or add them as comments to this post – LEAVE A REPLY box given at the bottom.

We may separate the hattis as per Badagas, Odeyas and Thorayyas and group them under ‘OORU’ [a group of hattis form an ooru and many oorus constitute a seemay].

At present the focus is on hattis of Badagas [Gowdas] who can marry Badagas from other seemays. Please note that some hattis like HOSAHATTI appear to be repeated but there may be more than one HOSA Hatti in a seemay.

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info

Porere – photo by JP

[Reproduced from the page Learn Badaga – ]

A couple of days back, I received the following email from a young mother [name withheld] who wrote to say :

Dear Sir,   It gave immense pleasure for me to visit your website. I was always amazed to know about the community and the culture.

I am a Non Badaga and married last Dec to a Badaga from ………..

And Recently on the ….. of this month I gave birth to a baby. My husband and my in laws want me to learn Badaga  as I have to talk to the baby in Badaga for her to pick up the language.

Please help me learn the language by sending me some day to day conversations .

Thanks in Advance. Best Regards.

Let us learn Badaga

Naakku Betta – pix by JP

In an effort to give the exact and correct names of hattis/villages under each of the four SEEMAYS, given below is the list under Porangaadu seemay. I would request our friends to verify and vet the list and send corrections to bjaypee@gmail.com or add them as comments to this post – LEAVE A REPLY box given at the bottom.

We may separate the hattis as per Badagas, Odeyas and Thorayyas and group them under ‘OORU’ [a group of hattis form an ooru and many oorus constitute a seemay].

At present the focus is on hattis of Badagas [Gowdas] who can marry Badagas from other seemays. Please note that some hattis like HOSAHATTI appear to be repeated but there may be more than one HOSA Hatti in a seemay.

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info

Hubbathalai Hatti – Photo by JP

“Porangaadu Seemay”

In an effort to give the exact and correct names of hattis/villages under each of the four SEEMAYS, given below is the list of all hattis under the four Seemays.

The names are given, to the extent possible, as pronounced by Badagas and not as ‘badly twisted’ by others. Like – the original name of Eethoray being called Elithorai.

There may be some omissions/additions/corrections required.

I would request all friends to verify and vet the list and send corrections to bjaypee@gmail.com or add them as comments to this post – LEAVE A REPLY box given at the bottom.

We may separate the hattis as per Badagas, Odeyas and Thorayyas and group them under ‘OORU’ [a group of hattis form an ooru and many oorus constitute a seemay]. At present the focus is on hattis of Badagas [Gowdas] who can marry Badagas from other seemays.

Now, marriages between Gowdas with Haaruvas,  Lingaites, Kanakkas etc sects from different seemays [ in some cases, within the seemay] are common. In my opinion, it is high time, we had only three broad groups among Badagas. Namely, Gowdas[including the other sects mentioned above], Odeyas and Thoraiyas and in the distant future, just BADAGAS.

Please note that some hattis like HOSAHATTI appear to be repeated but there may be more than one HOSA Hatti in a seemay.

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info.

1.’Thodha Naadu Seemay ‘ (Supposed to be our “Dodda Ooru”. Also known as ‘Raja Padagiri Seemae’. The boundaries are from Solur to Kookkal Thore. The names given as known and pronounced by Badagas)

Oorus under Thodhanaadu Seemay : Thooday Gui, Kadanaadu, Ebbanaadu, Solur, Kagguchi, Honnadhalai, Kookkal,  Poosay Coonoor, Thrichigadi [??}, Solur Kokkal [??]- these appear to be Kotha settlements.

Hubbathalai Hatti – Photo by JP

“Porangaadu Seemay”

‘Mekku Naadu Seemay‘
Also known as ‘Asala Bisalagiri Seemay’

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info

Porere – photo by JP

Kerappaadu – Photo by JP

Please also see the page on HATTIS for more and exhaustive info