Saavu Harakke – Karu Harachodhu [1944]

Some time early, VIMAL.S [Manjoo?] had sent me a rare publication of ” Saavu Harakke -Karu Harachodu” by Ketti Achanakal M.K.Nanja Gowder  who had given credit to the ORIGINAL author and his father [Ketti Achanakal] late M.Kaala Gowder who published this on 25-9-1944 (Given below)

Late Mr.M.K.Nanja Gowder, was, in many ways the FIRST BADAGA, to have gathered and recorded a lot of information on and about Badagas and published a few of them. His manuscripts were given to many ‘ Foreign Researchers’ and I am not sure where they are now.

How wonderful it would be if we could access these rare manuscripts!

Thank you, Vimal.

N.BELLIE [LIC] adds

“Dear Sir,
I am the younger son of M K Nanja Gowder Ex MP. Thank you for publishing the Saavu Harakke, originally written by Late M Kala Gowder (Miyya Kala Gowder), father of M K Nanja Gowder of Achanakal, Ketti Village.
As you have mentioned in the article, many manuscripts of my father were given to foreign researchers. Also our Badaga researchers and writers of our community collected a number of details about our community, from my father. Mr K P Raju Gowder of Kadasholai village, some teachers of our community, belonging to Thambatty village, Bikkole village, are among the notable scholars. I do not know all of them.

That documents were used to produce to the Central Govt. Officials, to add evidence to include our Community to Scheduled Tribes list”.

Thank you N Bellie (LIC) for the info – JP

Kadasoley Yogesh’s Badaga Script

It is indeed heartening to know that Yogesh of Kadasoley has been involved in developing a Badaga Script for the past 40 odd years. His tireless efforts, probably, did not receive the attention it deserved so far.

Better late than never, it has come to public domain due to people like Emerald Hari who is bringing out a book of Yogesh during the Hethe Habba festival at Beraganni on 26-12-2012

Read the complete story in Badaga Script page

Set your mood to these songs…

Badagas have made singing and dancing an integral part of their lives.

A happy occasion like a habba [festival] or marriage….there you go….to the foot tapping ATTA – Dance songs like ‘Meley Keriyoge – On the top street‘….even a non dancer will get the inspiration to let the hair loose and join the crowd….
A sad situation….like the demise of a departed dear one…..the sad ‘saavu – death’ songs of Kerban Bella Gowder or Thangadu Krishna Gowder like ‘Ganjikke Kukkeya...’ will make tears roll down the cheeks as they remind you of some one who is no more…
The ever green…Hethe Songs…..
Melodies with a message like ‘Manesella Nondhara – ‘
Or, the melodious modern Badaga songs where the instrumental music has been given more importance…
Or, listen to the powerful ‘Badaga Funeral Prayer – Karu Harachodhu [Blessing the calf]…the famous group rendering of ‘AATHIKKODHU‘

Listen to some of these ‘best of the best songs and sounds’ chosen by me by clicking on the links or ON SOUNDCLOUD given below…
Must see the website on Badaga Songs

The significance of this day is, it comes but for once [in somebody’s life].

Uri Hogi Siri Barali

According to predictions 12.12.12 is a date which indicates that WAVES are our inspiration, not because they rise and fall, but each time they fall , they RISE AGAIN.LET THIS BE FABULOUS DATE FOR EVERY ONE OF US. After 100 years this fabulous date and day will be someone else’s.Todays is ours..

Siri Barali….Santhosha thumbali…

Kethorai Rajma

~~~~~~~~~~~

That is a really nice thought !

mlle_SUMATHI HALAN [Canada]

Badaga – is a separate language by itself

I have been steadfastly claiming that Badaga is an unique language by itself and not a derivative of any other Dravidian Language – I WILL WRITE MORE ON THE FOLLOWING SOON – Wg Cdr JP

Badaga language not a dialect of Kannada, claims French linguistic scholar

Shanta Thiagarajan, [Times of India] Dec 4, 2012,

UDHAGAMANDALAM: “The Badaga language, widely believed to be a dialect of Kannada, was the language of communication of ancient South Dravidians and shares similarities with the local Alu Kurumba tongue,” said Christiane Pilot-Raichoor, a linguistic French scholar from LACITO, a scientific research centre in Paris. She was in town recently to do some research work.

“Today, it is recognized as a separate language,” said Pilot-Raichoor, who has been working on the linguistic heritage of the Badaga language for the past two decades. According to her, there are too many important differences in the phonology and the grammar, differences in gender system, case system, verb classes, to claim a genetic relationship between Kannada and Badaga languages.

“Once our minds are freed from the idea that Badaga is a dialect of Kannada, it may become possible to consider more objectively the Alu Kurumba-Badaga linguistic relationship,” she said. Alu Kurumba shares most of the characteristic Nilgiri features including verb peculiarities of Badaga language. “Whatever resemblance it has to Kannada points to early medieval and older forms of the language. The core grammar in the Badaga language converges with other Nilgiris languages which can be traced to early south Dravidian features,” she explained. Continue reading →

To day, 4-12-2012, is the 120th birthday anniversary of one of the greatest sons of Badaga Community,

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder.

For all that he has done for the community, let us remember him with respect and gratitude !

My sincere salutations to the great and reputed man of Badaga community.
 
“To be born as a gentleman is an accident..
To live as one is an achievement…”
 
He has lived and achieved. Every badaga should feel proud of him.
He will be living eternally in the hearts of  all of us.
 
Regards,
kethorai rajma

Badaga leader’s birth anniversary celebrated

The Hindu – Udhagamandalam, December 5, 2012

Badagas celebrated the 119th birth anniversary of H.B. Ari Gowder at the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society (NCMS), off the Government Botanical Garden Road, here, on Tuesday.

Long considered as the uncrowned king of the Badagas, Mr. Gowder was born on December 4, 1893 and died on June 28, 1971. He hailed from Hubbathalai village near Aruvankadu

The head of the Thodhanadu Seemai Badaga Welfare Association T.M. Kulla Gowder recalled that Mr. Ari Gowder was a well known philanthropist, who was respected by not only the Badagas but also others. He was instrumental in the NCMS coming into being in the 1930s to protect farmers from 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.

By way of acknowledging his significant contribution his bust was unveiled on May 25, 1987, in the multi-purpose hall of the NCMS.

It is unfortunate but true. There are still a lot of ‘greedy’ Badagas who feel that ‘all  property’ should go ONLY to a son / sons and and not to the daughter/daughters. These people, many of them- ‘educated idiots’ of both genders, would justify their claim and contention by saying only a son CAN be warisu or heir. Needless to say, they are living in an ancient  world [when, in a  Badaga Family], girls were NOT treated as EQUALS  and like in any other Indian Community, they were sort of discriminated.

This flawed thinking is very much against the rule of the land. The Indian constitution and present rules and regulations ensure that GIRLS GET EQUAL SHARE of the properties of their parents and ancestors [as BOYS]. Any discrimination in this respect is a criminal offence punishable under law.

But still many ‘self appointed’ and hapless  Badaga kap leaders and Gowdas, live under a false notion that all property is for males only. This cancerous notion which is destroying the  harmonious Badaga family system needs to be cut and CUT NOW. Unfortunately, the people mainly responsible for this ‘cancer’, you guessed it, are females – wives,mothers and grand mothers with ulterior motives.

It is high time we start treating this cancer of Warisu with all the contempt it deserves and cut it off before it destroys the very fabric that is  uniting the community.

More, with many examples, will follow….