Megha is, probably, the first Badaga to get into a Indian Institute of Management after clearing the CAT, in the All India level. She has done her graduation in Metallurgical Engineering, from PSG Technology, Coimbatore. She worked for two years at Titan Engineering and Automation Ltd and has freelancing experience in digital marketing which sparked a deep interest in the field and motivation to do MBA.
Hailing from BETHIMORA, a small hamlet located near Kookal, near Kotagiri. Her Parents are Raman and Sivagami, humble farmers who have tirelessly worked and encouraged Megha in her education and to pursue her interest in higher studies.
Megha is wondering if any other Badaga women have pursued a MBA degree from any other IIM or similar institution to that she could learn from their experiences and stories that would incredibly motivating and insightful.
Are there any scholarships or support programs – either from within Badaga Community or elsewhere – that could help students to pursue higher studies? (In case of any info, please send the same to this website (bjaypee@gmail.com) or Megha at 24pgp163@iimraipur.ac.in )
May 15th is celebrated as Badaga day, every year. Many may not be aware that this has been done from 1993 onwards. The Porangadu Seeme (Mainly Kotagiri Area) has been celebrating this day as ‘Ari Gowder Day‘ also, in honour of Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder of Hubbathalai [See the link Great Badagas] who had done a lot for the Badaga Community, at Nattakal ‘Naakku Betta Koottu Hane’ (Naakku Betta Meeting Ground) which had seen many historic Badaga gatherings for over 80 years. Nattakal is near Kerben Village [near Kotagiri], on the main road from Coonoor.
As you browse the pages in badaga.co enjoy the music of this all time favourite
Indrani Radhakrishnan to Grace ‘Inspiring Journey of a Woman’ Book Launch at Cambridge University
The London Organisation of Skills Development (LOSD) is proud to announce that Indrani Radhakrishnan, a distinguished lawyer, researcher, writer, and international award-winning peace ambassador, has been invited to the highly anticipated book launch of “Inspiring Journey of a Woman”. The event will take place at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, UK, on March 9, 2025 (offline), and March 7, 2025 (online), in celebration of International Women’s Day.
With a career spanning multiple fields—including law, education, research, and social activism—Indrani Radhakrishnan has been a strong advocate for women’s empowerment, human rights, and cultural heritage. As a Peace Ambassador and a member of the SPMUDA Commission on Human Rights and Human Rights Advisory Council, she has made significant contributions to global peace and development initiatives. Her unwavering dedication has earned her prestigious accolades such as the World Peace Achiever Award and the Universal Children’s Day Award (2021) from the Philippine SPMUDA Organization.
Beyond her legal and humanitarian work, Radhakrishnan is a passionate writer and speaker, engaging with global audiences through Rotary clubs, conferences, and academic platforms. She is also the first in Badaga history to receive international recognition for her contributions. Her book, “The Lost Legacy of the Nilgiris”, is a pioneering work that sheds light on the rich history and heritage of the Nilgiris region.
At the book launch of “Inspiring Journey of a Woman”, she will join an esteemed panel of speakers and thought leaders to discuss the strength, resilience, and transformative power of women across the world. This event promises to be an inspiring occasion, bringing together voices that champion gender equality, leadership, and social change.
Badaga Girl from Ooty, The Nilgiris Wins The Prestigious Women’s Pro Golf Tour – First Woman From The State of Tamilnadu To Win This Tournament
Rhea Purvi is the daughter of Mrs Suguna (Adigaratty) and Group Captain N Saravanan (retd) from Melur Village.
Rhea got introduced to Golf when she was barely 5 and a half years old, during the time when her parents were in fact trying to pick up the sport. She picked it up faster though and played her first ever Golf Tournament in Lucknow and walked away with her first medal when she was 6 years and 1 month old.
One thing led to another and through the many transfers and changes in Schools and environments, she still managed to keep playing golf to the extent possible. Although she managed to win a few events here and there or finish runner up at the junior level, it wasn’t always a bed of roses. She has had her share of ups and downs, tears and smiles, plenty of near misses and lost opportunities as it is in the world of sport.
Through all those trials, tears and slippery paths, Rhea Purvi managed to stay the course and turned Professional under Women’s Golf Association of India, in 2021 . Since then, she has been participating in about 15 to 16 tournaments every year, all over India and maintains a creditable merit in golf while also topping in academics through and through.
After a few Top 10, Top 5 finishes as a Professional Golfer, on 10 January 2025, Rhea Purvi showed her mettle to win her Maiden Professional title on the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour, thereby becoming not only the first woman from The Nilgiris but the first woman from the State of Tamil Nadu to win this prestigious title.
Hoping this is just the start of many more prestigious moments for her, as she now sets her eyes on a few International tournaments too this year.
Rhea, All the best for your success in all your future endeavours
(Samantha Iyanna – Coonoorian in Facebook)
Late HA Bhojraj, son of Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder, Hubbathalai was the first Badaga to have won many Golf Tournaments, in the Nilgiris including South India Golf Championships in 1950s/1960s, His name figures in the honour boards of Wellington Gymkhana and Ooty Gymkhana Clubs.
Rhea Purvi is the First Badaga Woman Golfer to have made a mark in the Golf Professional Circuit. We are very proud of you Rhea Purvi. Doubly happy that you belong to Air Force Family being the daughter of Gp.Capt Saravanan of Melur Hatti – Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash
Hethey Habba the biggest festival of Badagas of the Blue Mountains, The Nilgiris, is a time that unites the Badagas more than anything else. The villagers gather together around the village Suththukal, in the temple complex, pay a token amount called Dhadi Hana, on the friday, just before the Hethey Habba monday (this year 2025, the habba is on Monday, the 20th January). The amount collected is deposited at the sacred Hethey Temple at Beraganni Village, by the villagers who go the Beraganni village, who are called Hethey Kararu, some of them carring the sacred sticks called Dhadi. They are given a warm and respectful send off. They undertake this journey by foot.
The distance to Beraganni from Hubbathalai is about 33 km and it takes about nine/ten hours. This time Chandra, an ex Army Veteran & famous hockey player of yester years and Mahesh, from Hubbathalai village are undertaking this pious journey for the 37th year contineously.
This solemn occasion is called Hana Kattodhu (paying money). and it was celebrated with full traditional gaiety at Hubbathalai.
With Captain Pavithra Manohar, who made the Badagas proud by being the First Badaga lady who won the President of India Sword of Honour when she passed out of Officers Training Academy, Chennai in Oct 2022, (now posted in the North East of India); she had come to attend the Hethey Habba festival – Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash (Veteran Indian air Force Officer)
How can I thank you for making this website join the million (1028,000) hits club ?
This website was started two decades ago, since I felt that correct information about Badagas was not available at that time as well as my conviction that what is known about Badagas as a hill tribe is much less than what is NOT known. What started as a hobby has become an obsession now. Plenty more to be probed and the truth that Badagas are an indegenous tribe of the Nilgiris and the so called migration theory, that Badagas migrated from Mysore, is more of a myth and not the complete truth.
A great song that describes the evil practice among a few Badagas who despise other Badagas, known as Nattaru, settling in a village which is not native to them but probably have married from that same hatti (Vilage). Great lyrics, haunting music and a video with mainly Thooratti Village people in the cast.
Baduga Music Academy (BMA) Trustee T.Mynalai Bojaraj added this song to create (Badaga) Community Unity Awareness. This is BMA’s first Cultural Project.
In his book, THE GOLDEN BOUGH – A STUDY IN MAGIC AND RELIGION (1922) Sir James George Fraser (1854 – 1941) mentioned the following :-
Among the Badagas of the Neilgherry Hills in Southern India, when a death has taken place, the sins of the deceased are laid upon a buffalo calf.For this purpose the people gather round the corpse and carry it outside of the village. There an elder of the tribe, standing at the head of the corpse, recites or chants [known as - "KARU HARUCHODU"] a long list of sins such as any Badaga may commit, and the people repeat the last word of each line after him.
The more I listen to the song 'Kappu Uttileyu', the more fascinated I become. All the 12 Badaga months starting with Koodalu [given in Capital Letters] are beautifully integrated within the song.
Bugiri Music Academy presents Videos/Songs to bring about mindset change to Badagas
Hethegu Dhukkaththa - by Porthy SJ Mani
A great song that describes the evil practice among a few Badagas who despise other Badagas, known as Nattaru, settling in a village which is not native to them but probably have married from that same hatti (Vilage). Great lyrics, haunting music and a video with mainly Thooratti Village people in the cast.
Sholur G Raman is one of the greatest Badaga singers. Gifted with a golden voice, he composes his own songs and adds a lot of punch to the lyrics. His dance number " Mele Kerioge" is the hottest song for atta in any Badaga Function. A great singer and a simplton, music is in blood and has done a a yeoman service to spread Badaga songs far and wide,
Badaga dance is all about grace and style. It is a wonderful sight when a group of ladies dance together. During the funeral, the ladies of the parental village [hatti] of the deceased woman, dance going around the cot [kattalu] to the music provided by the 'host' hatti musicians.
English Translation of the above poem by Bellie Jayaprakash
My Mother
Even when I was down with poverty and sat at the front court yard,
Even when the near and dear ones despised and deserted,
My mother who gave birth, cared for and brought me up,
Did not blame me and did not reject me- her son, as bad
Even when I toiled as a Cooli with a bent back,
Even when I sat down with my looks dulled and dirty,
Even when I wore patched up old clothes,
My mother never said that I was down ; never rejected me as poor!
Even when I entered the stables and cleaned the dung,
Even when I sat on the rock and tendered the cows,
Even when I lifted loads to earn so as to suppress the hunger,
My mother never found any fault ; never scolded me as ignorant.
Dhoddaru Shloka
Some Badaga Proverbs [Dhoddaru Shloka]
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1.Akka Ghandana koda dhukka hegile, Makka maria buttu baa ennana (When
sadness is shared with elder sister’s husband, his advise is to
come to him) 2. Aandama ellade Haandi Beya, Ullama ellade Gulla
beya 3. Kiviga elladadu kombuga aeththaga 4. Guttige [Kuttige?]
bathavu arai aaga beda, kunna thammanu mella aaga beda 5. Kumbala
kaaya [Kumbakkeya] saaki handiga kottenge (Growing pumpkins only to feed wild boar) 6. Gumboonda Mola edda enge [like a hare jumping out of the bush -element of surprise] 6a.Eragi holaga mola hugga enge [ like a rabbit getting into a wheat field -destruction by deceit] 7. Sadiga madi elle 8. Saththu biththa kaaye 9.Saththaduga hinde etha holae eana? (After death, how does it matter where you go?) 10.Saththa Koyee, baththa mukkirava ? (Can a dead hen feed on grains?) 11. Gollaru mada kattida enge 12.
Ghandu gundu, hennu helavu 13. Ghandu kulidu ketta, Hennu thirigi [hisithu] ketta (The boy wasted his life by idling/lazying around
(sitting), the girl wasted her life by smiling (turning around) at strangers 14. Ghanda thoorile, kandamanu thoorina [when the
husband neglects, everybody follows] 15. Ghanda ebbane buddi elle,
buddi bappane ghanda elle (Wisdom did not come when husband was alive, when wisdom came husband was not there) 16. Gana ellade
sande aaga, sangadhi ellade daari sameya (Evening does not end without gossip, way does not end without some news) 17. Koyigu
kothigu maake (Like a hen and a cat [always fighting]) 18.Koy(iy)a Kaethaa maasu arappadhu (Do you ask the hen [being
killed for dinner] for grinding the chilli paste?) 19. Kona neeruga baggiravo, neeru konaga baggiravo [Will the bull bend to
drink water, or, water bends for the bull? -Implying
impossibility] 20. Kothi aatta, eliga prana sangada (The antics of a cat are matters of death to a rat) 21. Kothi kaala baase
denge (Like the cat licking its leg) 22. Savi kanda kothi attalu hathidenege 23. Koduva cooli nodu, kathuva olaya nodu [keep a watch at the wages being paid (and hence get work done) and keep a watch at the burning embers in the kitchen] 24.Kodalia kaavu, kolava kedu maadira 25. Kotta hennu nela arige 26.Kotta saalava kaeyade ketta, bithida holava nodade ketta (Suffering
by not asking the loan to be returned, nor looking after the planted[with seeds] fields) 27. Kai yoge kannaadiya beethindu neerunamoga nodidha enge (looking for the reflection of the face on thewater when there is a mirror in the hand) 28. Kai eelu aaga guddili masiya [the implement not bend as per the shape of bones in the hand] 29. Kaiga bandadu bega elle (What came to the hand did not reach the mouth) 30. Ketta arasa buda beda mikka
kannava eda beda 31. Kulidhu athamaga kulidhu avvu, niddhu athamaga niddhu avvu (Cry sitting with the one who cried sitting
with you, cry standing with the one who cried standing - pay in the same coin- –
proper and equal reciprocation 32. Kuradaga hagalu ena er uena (How does it matter whether it is day or night for a blind
man?) 33. Sandhe jaamana meiyu, saaku hoththu bandha nattan uhoga (The evening rain and the guest who had come with a hessian
cloth[bag] covering will not go easily) 34. Sappodu saare, Haagottudoora 35. Chiikkavanaalayu Sivana buddi (Even though he is veryyoung, has lot of wisdom like Lord Siva) 36. Ollitha ethi hollava
thallu, olagodho ellava gellu (Take only the good leaving behind the bad and win all in this world) 37. Hallana neeru hattaleyu
baavi neeru hechu 38. Thaaya palichileyu neera pallicha beda (Even
if you [have to] show scorn to mother, never do it to water [the
source of life]) 39. Kasa aaleyu rusi maadi thinnu (Even if it
is rubbish, eat it after making it tasty) 40. Natta maneye
hattaleyu, ghanda mane hesara ethu 41. Kicha muttile attira (If
you touch the fire, it will burn you) 42. Hottiya kitcha beethale
kettara 43. Aaru kaasuna sambuva aaleyu, aranmaneya gelacha
maadu 44. Adhista mooru p(b)aala, harakke aaru paala 45. Kitcha
thindama karia Hedana (One who eats fire, excretes charcoal) 46.
Nanga belli holladale thattana koda horatta ena 47. Ghandana
ollithundhu undia dhottadhu ekka beda 48. Maneya nududhu mandhaga
hogu 49. Maathu hetchi mane ketta, bithu hetchi hola ketta 50.
Aadindu holae maathu, agadundu holae mannu [Agadhale mannu, Nudidhale
maathu] 51. Hanja theedhara(theegira) maathu niddara 52.
Thandeya koddamana paadhava hidi 53. Thindhu santhosha aappadhuna,
nodi santhosha aagu 54. Avvaiya halladha nodile magava nodudhuga
mane enaga 55. Huttone anna thamma, hoppane dhayada kaara 56.
Sandhe aappile endhu hoga beda, baaga aappile endhu era (oraga)
beda 57. Kathu potti, hethu baradi 58. Ethu elladhamaga edha
elle, makka elladhamaga mane elle 59. Nangaga bandhale allu
thundhu, Ooruga bandale opedha kai 60. Hasanooru haala
kudipadhuna, Neelagiri neera kudhi 61. Moladha kanna neera, bettai
kara aradhaneya 62. Hadadhe endhu hatta maada beda, kette endhu
kaeda thora beda 63. kette endhu kaeda thora beda, baddendhu bava
thora beda 64. Sikkanuna badakku batta baiyilu 65. Niri
chikkira, hari chikka 66. Huttu daridharaga kottu dhandodhu
daara 67. Thale thatty nela nodi nade 68. Aandama illade aandi
bethadava, ullama illadhe gulla bedharava 69. Hitta andhu kondu,
battaya nidhu kondu 70. Balla beethu baddiga hoga beda 71.
Arasana makkaga hurikallu muthu 72. Aeye pyla moyae nodu 73.
Anai koodi halla, theni koodi batha 74. Thitta thevara otha
beda 75. Anna thammana agala maada beda 76. Thaaya maatha kethu
nodadhey nyaya hadadheya, thandhya maatha kethu nodadhey handhi
hadadheya 77. Madi buddu maaruga sedhara, hennu buddu nattaga
sedara (Madi buddale maaruga, ele buddale meduga) Added :- 78.
Badagava makka huttu , Badegega Athu AAgha Beda 79. Hothu Banda
Kathiya , Ooruna ebba Kathe othara 80. Badavaga Badukku Bandale,
Thinguva Beesiluna Kode Hidithana 81.Bendhamana Hunna, Nondhama
Ariyakku 82.Usara Kotta Kothi , Nosala Nakkira 83. Thalaiyamana
Maathu, Mundhuga Uppu – Hinduga Bella 84.Appana Maathu,
Aneya Bala 85. Bae Aadileyu Bae ga Kedu, Seegi Aadile yu Bae ga
Kedu [A word play-pun- on Bae which means both the mouth and crop
[vellamme] 86. Mundhileyu Mookku Hagga, Hindileyu Kaal
Kanni 87.Akka Ellade Natto, Avare Ellade Uttavo
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Remember to access many multi media posts like Badaga Songs and Dance.
The beauty about Badaga community is not only the unique customs specific to the community but the steadfast belief with which atleast some of them are followed by Badagas. One of them is the loud chanting of ‘Athikkodhu – EAY AH HOW – on certain but specific occasions. It is said that in earlier days [hundreds of years back], when the Badaga villages [hattis] were separated by thick jungle forests , 'athikkindu Hoppadhu ' - traversing the forest with loud athikkodhu chant - kept the wild animals away.
Three occasions, when this loud chanting takes place, come to mind immediately,
1)During “Hethay Habba’ – both when from every village the devotees go to Hethay temples at Beragani and Peddhuva [as well as when the Hethay deity from Hethai Gudi is taken to ‘Madi Halla -river’ for change into new dress once a year].Also, and whenever a hatti temple deity is taken on procession during habbas in hattis],
2) During weddings when the bride and groom are brought to the ‘Madhuvay Mane – wedding house' and the newly weds are taken to the temple and
3) On funerals when the widow is brought for ‘olay Kattodhu’ and the ‘akki eththuva ‘ procession starts from the ‘dhodda Mane’ to ‘saavu hanay ‘ where the corpse/body is kept before being taken for burial.
This loud ‘chanting /cry’ is made from the bottom of the stomach by a few leading the procession and repeated by the rest following them.
I have given the ‘live’ recordings of this unique chanting (recorded during a wedding [the band playing in the background] at Thambatty
That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] on BADAGA that is focused on a small community of the Blue Mountains - the Nilgiris, in the southern part of India. Is it due to...
the urge to know the unknown about ourselves....
to sift the truth from fiction....the satisfaction that we have a very unique history.....the mystery about the mistaken migration.....the traditions that are still steadfastly followed.....the great language that has survived for centuries without a script...
The simple fact that this site's motto of 'Proud to be a Badaga ; Proud to be an Indian' has become an accepted norm...
You all, my dear friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude.
Proud to be an Indian and proud to be a Badaga, indeed.
Hope to say - 'thanks a million' soon...
Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash, is the 'All-in-One' of this site. He started this site as a hobby but now, it has become an obsession. This website crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors on 8-3-2010, 150,000 visitors on 20-4-2011, 200,000 visitors on 6-4-2012 , 250,000 on 22-1-2013, 300,000 hits on 6-1-2014, 350,000 on 6-1-15 and 400,000 on 13 -11-2015550000 hits on 1 Jan 2018. Feel humbled but proud
Once in a way, we get to hear a song which instantly registers both in mind and heart. The golden voice you hear in this saavu [funeral] song is, beyond any doubt, excellent and haunting.
Thomas Chandy (thomaschandy@gmail.com) writes:-
"This is my first visit to this site and was surprised to know how ignorant I have been about the Badaga community. All that I have read makes me hang my head in shame for I have been growing up in the Nilgiris, among the Badagas and I was so ignorant about their origin,culture and so on. This write up is very informative and useful and may the Badaga community grow and spread through the whole world and prosper".
"Thank you Thomas. I am humbled at your kind words. May I hope that the Badagas will live up to your hopes, and thank you once again on behalf of the Badaga community – Wg Cdr JP"
Learn Badaga
” Ollenge iddiya ? - How are you ?”
‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? (Roughly) Hope everything is ok ‘
1. Are you a Badaga ? - Nee ondu Badagana?
Yes, I am a Badaga - Ha, Na ondu Badaga
2. What is your name ? - Ninna hesaru aena ?
My name is .... Enna hesaru .....
3. Which is your village ? - Ninna Hatti edhu ?[3a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? - Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]
My village is Bearhatti - Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti
4. Whose son/daughter are you ? - Nee dara maathi / hennu ?
This is the the first time I am visiting this site.... It took 5 hours to go through this site, you have done a fantastic job. Its just like a bible for our next generation. Thanks for your commitment!
Badaga
From the heart
Do you feel very strongly about any issue concerning Badaga Community? Have the urge to pour your heart out ? Feel free to express yourself without any inhibition and send them tobjaypee@gmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Save the TIGER
Tiger is HULI in Badaga Lanuage
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CLICK HERE
------------------------
Bhuvaneshwari R writes :- This website is one of the best I have seen. Didn’t think I would find so much detail about our culture.
The history of origin of Badagas is quite fascinating. Photos are also really great.
Really good to see someone do an effort to spread awareness.Thank you…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn Badaga
Welcome, one and all!, Baarivi, Ollengay Iddhara?
Ninna hesuru aena?- what is your name?,
Nee Ae hatti? - which is your village?,
Appana hesuru? - Father's name?],
Maduvey aai buttava?- [Are you] married?,
Ganda,Elliya gelcha gheedhana?- where is [your] husband working?,
Here's a question that was posed to the Dalai Lama:
"What thing about humanity surprises you the most?"
His answer is : "MAN - Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn't enjoy the present,
And as a result he doesn't live in the present or the future. And he lives as if he's never going to die and then he dies having never really lived".
Once in a way, we get to hear a song which instantly registers both in mind and heart. The golden voice you hear in this saavu [funeral] song is, beyond any doubt, excellent and haunting.
Dedicated to my mother Mrs.Idyammal Bellie Gowder [1912-2011] who gave everything to me
That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] on BABADAGA that is focused on a small community of the Blue Mountains - the Nilgiris, in the sosouthern part of India. Is it due to...
the urge to know the unknown about ourselves....
to sift the truth from fiction....the satisfaction that we have a very unique history.....the mystery about the mistaken migration.....the traditions that are still steadfastly followed.....the great language that has survived for centuries without a script...
The simple fact that this site's motto of 'Proud to be a Badaga ; Proud to be an InIndian' has become an accepted norm...
You all, my dear friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude.
Proud to be an Indian and proud to be a Badaga, indeed.
Hope to say - 'thanks a million' soon...
Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash, is the 'All-in-One' of this site. He says that he started this site as a hobby but now it has become an obsession.This website crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors on 8-3-2010, 150,000 visitors on 20-4-2011, 200,000 visitors on 6-4-2012 , 250,000 on 22-1-2013, 300,000 hits on 6-1-2014, 350,000 on 6-1-15 and 400,000 on 13 -11-2015550000 hits on 1 Jan 2018.600000 hits on Sep 2018 Feel humbled but proud
Mookuthi 
Chinna 
==
![Seemae [See'may] & Morae [Mo'ray] (relationship)](https://i0.wp.com/badaga.wordpress.com/files/2008/11/nakku-betta1.jpg?resize=200%2C200)
Badagas of the Blue Mountains 