Monthly Archives: October 2016

The World Tea & Coffee Expo and Conference was held in Mumbai last week for 3 days(20-22, October). Around 70 Companies have exhibited their produces in the event highlighting mostly Speciality Teas.

Tea Board of India  allotted a stall in its pavillion to the Nilgiris Small Tea Growers to exhibit their products. Hubbathalai N Sivan, [Promoter & Social Entrepreneur,  OOTYFRESH Speciality Nilgiris Teas Project,  Nilgiris Tea Development Foundation(NTDF)], took two progressive small tea growers to the event and displayed their Speciality Handmade Green Teas  alongwith his OOTYFRESH Speciality Nilgiris Tea (premium  White Teas, Green Teas, Orthodox Teas,etc).

Since he was also  invited as a Speaker  he presented a paper on Vision and Mission on Nilgiris Small Tea Growers for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Developments.

A large number of Badagas still depend on tea for their primary source of income and livelihood . I am in agreement with Siva when he says that there is tremendous future for our Nilgiris Speciality Teas in India and Abroad and it is high time that our community should wakeup and venture into this atleast now for our sustainable livelihood through our tea gardens. – Wg Cdr JP

Hubbathalai N Sivan  [ sivan@ootyfresh.in ] can be contacted at  Ph-9443856694 / 9843908540

Recently, came across the following news item published in the Deccan Chronicle dt 27-07-2016.

OOTY: While a grateful nation is preparing itself to pay homage to “People’s President” A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, on his first death anniversary on Wednesday, here in the hills M.N.Bojan, a Badaga octogenarian, former President’s college and hostel mate at St.Josephs’ College in early 1950s, remembers how Kalam relished “Thupathittu or Yennaiittu” a traditional sweet of the Badagas of Nilgiris and how they enjoyed outings for coffee and chips in Tiruchy.

A retired teacher now, .Bojan (85), hailing from Kadanadu near here, is preparing for a `puja’ on Wednesday at his home to pay homage to his friend.

I was quite excited to see my teacher Kadanaadu Bhoja Bhaathiyaaru in the picture. He taught us English and couple of other subjects at Rao Bahadur Board High School, Hubbathalai in early 1960s.

Hope to meet him and pay my grateful respects in person! – Wg Cdr JP

This site is dedicated to my mother, Idyammal Bellie Gowder

Born into the richest family of the Badagas in 1912, forced to marry at the age of fifteen, to a poor but educated man who was eighteen years elder, just to honour and the keep the words of your father Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowda, from a sick bed,  you suffered in silence and bravely accepted all the short comings of life.

Though you were the youngest among five brothers, you were not given any share of your father’s property of nearly 950 acres of land and many houses spread around the Nilgiris, Nakku Betta, because you were a girl child.

But, your eldest brother, the great Ari Gowda, the undisputed leader of Badagas for many years – till his death in 1971, was a constant help and support inspite of opposition from the next generation of male members.

Ida – Kaday (Idyammal) in 1927

Though you were the unifying force of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder family of Hubbathalai, you ignored the ridicule and became a role model of determination showing exceptional leadership qualities.

The suffering and hardship did not deter you to educate each and every child, both boys and girls numbering eight, sending all to colleges [including one to a medical and another to engineering].

Your 99 years and ten months of life, was full of wisdom and a source of inspiration to children,  grand children and great grand children living all around the world.

Ide Hethe (Idyammal) in 2010

Oh mother, I touch your feet and seek your blessings wherever you are!

ENGELLAVA OLLENGAY BADUKKU ENDHU HARACHCHU, THAAYEY !!

Students contest for Mountain Day

Dharmalingam Venugopal
Nilgiri Documentation Centre

The United Nations designated  “International Mountain Day” is observed every year on December 11 to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build alliances that will bring positive change to mountain peoples and environments around the world.

The topic for this year is “Mountain Cultures: celebrating diversity and strengthening identity”.

The Nilgiri Documentation Centre has been celebrating Mountain Day since its inception in 2002.

This year NDC proposes to organize a competition for Nilgiri students on the topic, “The Nilgiri Mountains- A Marvel of Cultural Mosaic”.

The Nilgiris is a unique case where tradition, modernity and change have marched together for centuries producing a remarkable integration of cultural diversity. Nevertheless, newer changes and challenges are bound to occur in the future. How the present student community which will be called upon to manage those challenges in the future is of utmost importance to the Nilgiris.

The competition for students (both school and college going) will cover writing (prose and poetry), painting and elocution. Certificate of participation and suitable prizes for winners will be presented on December 11 at the Mountain Day function. Details will be informed after receipt of entry applications.

Students desirous of participating may contact dharmalingamvenu@gmail.com or 9444365360 at the earliest.