Badagas of the Blue Mountains

Late Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms.J.Jayalalithaa had a special place for the Nilgiris, where she built a bungalow for herself in Kodanaad, Kotagiri among tea estates and a soft corner for the Badagas, a local and native community. She had preferred to give Badagas the chance to become AIADMK MLAs and MPs though among the community, a sizeable section supports rival DMK party.

A much misunderstood person as very arrogant and authoritative, she was a soft person, highly intellect and an able administrator.

In her demise, we lost a true friend of Badagas and the Nilgiris!

May her soul, RIP !

Along with Badaga folk dancers in the Nilgiris on May 17, 1992

Photo- Vino John [The Hindu 06/12/2016]

The Nilgiris has lost a Patron

Next  to Chennai,  and perhaps, Srirangam, no other place was dear to Late CM as the Nilgiris. Ooty stole her heart since the 1960s when she was regular visitor for film shooting. Even prior to her first term as CM she visited Ooty whenever an opportunity arose. She was well aware of the issues facing the Nilgiris.

On taking over the government one of the first things she did was to declare a moratorium on constructions in the Nilgiris and later followed it up with the announcement of a Master Plan. The constitution of the Hill Area Conservation Authority was another major step.

On the forest side she took several decisions including a total ban on felling of rosewood trees.

On promotion of tourism the formation of a rose garden was a major initiative.

On the native people,  she was especially fond of the Badagas but the Badagas failed to make use of her good offices.

As a conservationist at heart she took only a week, after Save Nilgiris Campaign appealed to her, to withdraw the proposed Kallarpallam small dam in Kotagiri. Later she herself  moved into Kodanad.

If her intention to protect and preserve the Nilgiris did not fully materialize she can’t be blamed for it. The administration was often lax in implementing the rules and regulations. The people’s representatives and the public were also lax in making proper representations for the good of district.

The hills have lost a protector.

Photo and text by

Dharmalingam Venugopal,

Nilgiri Documentation Centre

Ari Gowder

He was an undisputed leader of Badagas. It is accepted, with a tinge of sadness that there is no Badaga who has taken his mantle in leading the community even after 47 yrs after his demise in 1971.

Today is HB Ari Gowder’s 122nd birth Anniversary. He was the eldest son of Rao Bahadur [Hubbathalai Joghigowder] Bellie Gowder and [Jakkadha] Nanji in 1893.

Apart from being the first Badaga graduate and leading the Indian contingent for the world scouts jamboree in 1932 at Hungary, he brought many far reaching reforms in the Badaga community. He fore saw the importance of equality of women and the education of girl child. He encouraged Badaga girl students to go abroad in 1960s both on student exchange programmes and study tours.

Another great reform he was keen on was, equal share of property to both sons and daughters. This he ensured by setting a personal example and leaving behind a registered Will. His property was equally divided to his daughter in law, two grand daughters and a grand son, accordingly.

HB Ari Gowda

You did so much for the family and community!

on this 122nd birth anniversary

Remembering with respect and reverence !

Avvaiya Maathu – Mother Tongue

Dr.R.Haldorai

Hethey Eeramaasi aadi bhandha erakkadha maathu
Beraganni Ayya aadi bandha bettadha maathu
Kaadey hethe aadi bandha gavadha maathu
Hethappa aadi bandha haaluna maathu
Muthappa aadi bandha muthuna maathu
Ayyanavakka aadi bappa kullana maathu
Hetheyavakka aadi bappa hesayadha maathu
Appanavakka aadi bappa Aaseyadha maathu
Avvaiyavakka aadi bappa alleya gavadha maathu
Aaduvamaga aasaga ollithadha aata kadhey maathu
Oruduvamaga ojey koottuva ollangadha maathu
Maney maney ella nudiba makkadha maathu
Mandha ella nudiba naayadha maathu
Seemay ella  aadi bappa jenuna maathu
Bettadha makka ella aadi bappa belladha maathu
Hatti haney ella aadi bappa harachadha maathu

Kannuga kaanadhey hora emba
Kiviga booyadhey hora emba
Adhu alimaana dhaariya hogindu hadadhey emba!

Kootta kudumba ella Badugu maathu  Aadiley
Makka mari ella Badugu maathu aadiley,
Maney mandhu ella Badugu maatha kullu maadiley
Avvaiya Maathu alimaana aagadhey hattara!!

[அவ்வெய மாத்து (Mother Tongue) டாக்டர் இரா.கு.ஆல்துரை]
ஹெத்தெ ஈரமாசி ஆடி பந்த எரக்கத மாத்து
பேரகணி அய்ய ஆடி பந்த பெட்டத மாத்து
காடெ ஹெத்தெ ஆடி பந்த கவத மாத்து
ஹெத்தப்ப ஆடி பந்த ஹாலுந மாத்து

முத்தப்ப ஆடி பந்த முத்துந மாத்து
அய்யநவக்க ஆடி பப்ப குல்லாத மாத்து
ஹெத்தெயவக்க ஆடி பப்ப எசெயாத மாத்து
அப்பநவக்க ஆடி பப்ப ஆசெயாந மாத்து
அவ்வெயவக்க ஆடி பப்ப அள்ளெய கவத மாத்து

ஆடுவமக ஆசக ஒள்ளித்தாத ஆட்ட கதெ மாத்து
ஓருடுவமக ஓஜெ கூட்டுவ ஓலங்கத மாத்து
மநெ மநெ எல்லா நுடிப மக்கந மாத்து
மந்த எல்லா நுடிப நாயத மாத்து

சீமெ எல்லா ஆடி பப்ப ஜேநுந மாத்து
பெட்டத மக்க எல்லா ஆடி பப்ப பெல்லத மாத்து
ஹட்டி அணெ எல்லா ஆடி பப்ப ஹரசத மாத்து
மாமூலெ எந்த மூதந்திர கோட தொட்டி பந்த மாத்து

கண்ணுக காணாதெ ஓர எம்ப
கிவிக பூயாதெ ஓர எம்ப
அது அளிமாந தோரியோ ஓகீண்டு அடதெ எம்ப

கூட்ட குடும்ப எல்லா படகு மாத்த ஆடிலெ
மக்கமரி எல்லா படகு மாத்த ஆடிலெ
மநெ மந்தி ஆ எல்லா படகு மாத்த குல்லு மாடிலெ
அவ்வெய மாத்து அளிமாந ஆகாதெ அட்டர

De-congesting Charing Cross, Ooty

Dharmalingam Venugopal

Nilgiri Documentation Centre

While the District Police administration is doing its best to decongest the traffic in Ooty town, lasting solutions can come only if bold and long term decision are made.

Charing Cross in 1940 [Photo from the net – Times of India]

In 1945 – photo from  – https://debugfs.wordpress.com/category/ooty/

Ooty bears the bulk of the 25 lakh tourist traffic coming into Nilgiris annually. In the course of the next 5 or  10 years the traffic is likely to doubt itself  to 50 lakhs.
To cope with such huge influx much more than traffic diversion and extra parking spaces is needed.
Ooty needs a integrated traffic plan at every important traffic junctions like Charing cross, main bus stand and market area.Charing cross deserves to be  taken  up first because of  its tourist importance.
The Adam’s fountain,  Gandhi statue and Periyar memorial were installed there to respect these leaders at  a time when Charing cross area had little traffic. Today they are hardly noticed by the locals or tourists amongst the congestion and traffic. There are no particular significance for these monuments  to be there.  For instance, the Adam fountain was first near the market, then near the Colectorate before being shifted the present spot.

 With due consultations with the public, parties and government, these monuments can be shifted to the adjacent triangular public park on the  Church hill road. There is ample space in the park to install them. The park which is now closed can be made a lively tourist spot.
The Uzhavar Sandai can be shifted to the nearby SHG shopping complex on the college road.
The space gained can be properly planned for traffic management and parking which can serve the area for at least the next 10 years.
But this is not enough. Charing cross must be served by a circular flyover which can distribute the traffic to the four roads which emanate from it.
There is enough space for a sleek flyover which can be tastefully done as a tourist attraction. In fact, the name Charing cross denotes a central point from where major roads branch off.
The Ooty traffic plan can be part of the investments as part of the 150^th anniversary of the Ooty Municipality under the new Special Area Development  Programme.

[ Ooty – Othegei to Badagas is the main marketing center for many Badaga Villages of Mekku Naadu and Thodha Naadu Semays. The population of Ooty consists a considerable number of Badagas. – Wg Cdr JP]

LIVING GODS – வாழும் தெய்வங்கள்  – Raghu Joghee in Facebook

photo – Raghu Joghee

Doddamanae is the house which is constructed first in a hatty. All the rituals take place over there. The doddamanae in the hatty Kannerimukku which belongs to to Porangadu seemay is believed to be older than 500 years. The present heir to the Doddamanae is Ajjaya(81) and Kadigi Hethae (75) who haven’t renovated the house still and are devotedly believing in rituals and are following them still. They are no less than any god or goddess because of their reknowned devotion. Indeed, they are living gods.

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 !!