Monthly Archives: July 2019

For the Badaga community to preserve its cultural heritage, a large share of credit should be given to its women folk. Though, like any other community in our country, enough importance has not been accorded to the hard working Badaga women, it will not be out of place to say that inspite of hurdles and hardships, some of the Badaga ladies have broken out of the shackles and achieved a lot in many fields.

Sabitha Bojan, (Head – P&D – TN, at SMART Training Resources), is one such highly talented lady. Her poems, mainly in Tamil, are a treat to read (in FB). Recently her book “Neelamalai Pookari...” was released at Coimbatore by the Tamil Nadu minister.

Sabitha, we are proud of you!

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Eight Death Anniversary (13-7-2019)

Idyammal Bellie Gowder

You were everything for us in all those glorious 99 years and 10 months when you were ‘here’.

As we were preparing to celebrate the ‘century’, you chose to leave this earth just a couple of months earlier…seven years ago.

How time flies!

Elle idhale’yu engava harachu

[Bless us all from where ever 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]

 

 

[Autographed pencil sketch of Mom by JP in 1968 while she was reading an issue of Femina ]

“I know my mother looks much older than what she is but those wrinkles have the charm of their own. They indicate the signs of her great endurance; and the hard life she has to lead through to bring her children to lead a life that is respected and regarded by others” – JP 24-1-68

Dear Hands

[Grace Noll Crowell]

My mother’s hands were beautiful,
They are not always smooth and white
They were so busy making dull
And lusterless things clean and bright.

They reached so often to caress
A hurt child crying in the night
They moved as quick as fluttering birds
Among the cups and spoons at tea

They did a thousand lovely things
And did them all so graciously
There is no way to sum them up
The countless things she did for us.

[photo of Idy Hethe’s hand by her grandson Abhi Ari -2010]

 

Let us learn Badaga – the unique language of Badagas of the Blue Mountains

” Ollenge iddiya ? – How are you ?”

‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? – (Roughly) ‘ How is everything ? ‘

1. Are you a Badaga ? – Nee ondu Badagana?

2. Yes, I am a Badaga – Ha, Na ondu Badaga

3. What is your name ? – Ninna hesaru aena ?

4. My name is Bhoja – Enna hesaru Bhoja

5. Which is your village ? – Ninna Hatti edu ?

[5a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? – Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]

6. My village is Bearhatti – Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti

7. Whose son/daughter are you ? – Nee dara maathi / hennu ?

8. I am Mela thara (top street) Joghi Gowder’s son / daughter – Na Mela thara Joghi gowdaru maathi / hennu

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Numbers in Badugu /Badaga

1. Ondu (One) 

2. Eradu (Two) 

3. Mooru (Three) 

4. Naakku (Four) 

5. Iidu (Five) 

6. Aaru (Six) 

7. eizhu (Seven) 

8. Eattu (Eight) 

9. Ombathu ( Nine) 

10. Hathu (Ten)

11. Hannondu (Eleven)

12. Hanneradu (Twelve)

13. Hadimooru (Thirteen)

14. Hadanaakku (Fourteen)

15. Hadanaidu (Fifteen)

16. Hadanaaru (Sixteen)

17. Hadarizhu (Seventeen)

18. Hadarettu (Eighteen)

19. Hathombathu (Nineteen)

20. Eipathu (Twenty)

30. Moovathu (Thirty)

40. Nalavathu (Forty)

 

50. Iivathu (Fifty)

60. Aravathu (Sixty)

70. Elavathu (Seventy)

80. Embathu ( Eighty)

90. Thombathu (Ninrty)

100. Nooru (Hundred)

Days In Badugu/Badaga

1. Aadivaara (Sunday)

2. Sovaara (Monday)

3. Mangavaara ( Tuesday)

4. Bodavaara (Wednesday)

5. Chikkavaara (Thursday)

6. Bellie (Friday)

7. Sani (Saturday)

Months In Badugu/Badaga

It is said that Badaga month usually, starts on every 10th of the English month. Like for example the first Badaga month Koodalu  starts on 10th January.

1. Koodalu (Jan)

2. Aalaani (Feb)

3. Nallaani (Mar)

4. Aani ( Apr)

5. Aadire (May)

6.Aadi (Peraadi) (Jun)

7.Aavaani (Jul)

8.Perattadi (Aug)

9. Dodda Deevige (Sep)

10. Kiru Deevige (Oct)

11. Thai (Nov)

12. Hemmaatti (Dec)

 

Pleasantly surprised to hear all the Badaga Months being mentioned in this song called ‘Kappu Huttileyu’ . Listen to this great dance number and other Badaga songs here

 

 

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	Hindu-Arabic numeral	Badaga and pronunciation
	1	ஒந்து   (Ondu)
	2	எரடு (Eradu)
	3	மூறு (Mooru)
	4	நாக்கு  (Naakku)
	5	ஐது (aidhu)
	6	ஆறு (aaru))
	7	எழ்ழு (ézhu)
	8	எட்டு (ettu)
	9	ஒம்பத்து  (Ompathu)

Certain peculiarities of Badaga .

Haalu [haa – as in hospital and lu – as in Zulu] means milk

Hallu [ ha- as hurt and llu – as in loo] means tooth [teeth]. note – there is no plural term.Haasu – spread [the bedding], Haasike – beddingHasu – hunger

Maana – Pride, Mana – heartKaanu – see, Kannu – eye[s] (example – Doctor-a Kaanu, kanna pathi hegina – See the Doctor, he will tell about the eyes]

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Peculiar Words

There are some words in Badaga that are truly peculiar. for example :

1. GIJI GIJI ( as in Give & Jinx) – Confusion , mess up / disorderly

GIJI GIJI maada beda – Don’t create confusion

Room aekka ethe GIJI GIJI (ya) hadadhe ? – Why is this room in such a mess?

2. MURUKKU(LU) (Mu ru ku) – Foul mood / mild anger

Amme Ekka maathaduvadu elle ? – Why is sister not talking ?

Ava murukkindu endhave – She is in a foul mood

3. BADAYI (Ba daa ee ) – Show Off (proud)

Appara badayi maadiya – She shows off a lot

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Birds (Hakkilu)

1. Haddu (Eagle)
2. Kakke (Crow)
3. Soray (Dove)
4. Kili (Parrot)
5. Emme Hakkilu
6. Bikkola
7. Karia(n)chitta (Black bird)
8. Gubbachi (Sparrow)
9. Mayilu (Peacock)
10. Koi (Poultry hen/cock)
11. Kaadu Koi (Wild hen)
12. Baathu(koi) – Duck

Mari (chic) –{Koi Mari – chic(ken)}

Also for calf [ for eg) Nei mari – puppy dog]

Animals

1. Aanay (Elephant)
2. Kaade -Kaadu Emme – (Bison)
3. Ottaga (Camel)
4. Kudire (Horse)
5. Kaththe (Donkey)
6. Dana (Cow)
7. Emme (Buffalo)
8. Yethu (Bull)
9. Karu (Calf)
10. Huli (Tiger)
11. Singa (Lion)
12. Siruthe (Panther)
13. Karadi (Bear)
14. Maanu (Deer)
15. Pulli Maanu (Spotted Dear)
16. Kadamay (Sambar)
17. Handi (Black Pig)
18. Kaadandi – kaadu handi – (Wild Pig)
19. Mullandi – Mullu Handi – (Porcupine)
20. Seeme Handi (White Pig)
21. Koda, Korangu (Monkey)
22. Mola (Rabbit)
23. Nari (Fox)
24. Nei (Dog)
25. Koththi (Cat)
26. Eli (Rat)
27. Aame (Turtle)
28. Nalli (Crab)
29. Halli (
30. Haavu (Snake)
31. Kappe (Frog)
32. Meenu (Fish)

Insects

1. Hoo (general for insect)
2. Nona (Fly)
3. Selandhi (Spider)
4. Kunni (Bee)
5. Eruppu (Ant)
6. Kosu (Mosquito)
7. Bendu (Moth/Butterfly)

Anatomy

1. Mande (Head) – also refers to Hair though there is specific word – Orama
2. Heddakku (Back of the skull) – usually Badagas have a long heddakku as they donot use cradles. The reason for not using cradles for babies is a story by itself. It is said to be due to the fact that when they left Mysore many hundred years ago, to escape from forced conversion to Islam by the King (Mallik Kafir /Thipu Sultan ?) in the night in a hurry, they had forgotten the baby which was sleeping in the cradle, each thinking that the other person wiould pick up the child.
3. Moole (Brain)
4. Nethi (Forehead)
5. Kenni (Cheeks)
6. Kannu [eye(s)]
7. Kivi (Ear)
8. Mookku (Nose)
9. Bae (Mouth)
10. Thudi (lip)
11. Hallu (Teeth)
12. Naalenge (Tongue)
13. Dhaade ( Chin)
14. Thonde (Throat)
15. Gaththu (Neck)
16. Maaru – Nenju – (chest)
17. Mole (Breast)
18. Hiththalu – Bennu – (Shoulder)
19. Kai (Hands)
20. Mutti (Elbow – also for knee)
21. Beralu (Fingers)
22. Hebbatte – Katte (beralu) – [Thumb]
23. Ugilu (Nails)
24. Hotte (Stomach)
25. Mollu Kudi (Naval)
26. Nadu (Hip)
27. Pitti (Buttocks)
28. Thode (Thigh)
29. Monakkaalu (Knee)
30. Kaalu (Leg)
31. Midi (Heel)
32. Angalu (Foot)

 

COLOURS (BANNA)

1.Kappu – Black

2.BeLLay – White

3. Keppu (Kechay) – Red

4. Pachchay – Green

 5. Neela – Blue 6. Arichina (Manja) – Yellow

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

 

 

The Beauty of Ha sound/word in Badaga

 

Eliminating Ha (word/sound) is sure way of distorting and destroying Badagu language of its originality and purity

Badaga or  Badagu, is a ‘classic‘ and independent language spoken by Badagas of the Blue Mountains or the Nilgiri hills, in north -west Tamil Nadu, bordering Karnataka and Kerala.

Though it is unique by itself, it can be said to be akin to Halaiya (old) Kannada more than any Dravidian language. But due to the geo – political reasons, it is being identified more with Tamil.

Unfortunately, some ‘over enthusiastic scholars’ and a few elders have been trying to eliminate the sound ‘ha -ஹ ‘ (which is an integral part of the Badaga language and) replace it with ‘ah- அ ‘ with some unacceptable justification that these letters (as well as letter like Ja ஜ, Sa ஸ, Sha ஷ ) do not form part of pure/classical Tamil though they are very much in day to day usage.

Let me elaborate and justify why ha and other letters, like ஜ, ஸ, ஷ etc should remain as core letters/sounds in Badaga.

A Badaga village is known as Hatti (ஹட்டி) and not as அட்டி.

Our deity/ Goddess is Hethe – ஹெத்தே and not Athe எத்தே

Some day to day words starting with ha

Haalu – ஹாலு – milk

Habba – ஹப்பா – festival

Hannu – ஹண்ணு – fruit

Haavu – ஹாவு – snake

Jana ஜன – people
Janni ஜன்னி – cold

Jav’voni – Young

Jakkadha –  ஜக்கத –  the famous hatti (village)

Hasu ஹஸு – hunger

Haasu ஹாஸு – spread

Hethe nangava Harichali – ஹெத்தே நங்கவ ஹரிச்சலி

Let Hethe bless us !