Badagas of the Blue Mountains

On Ms.Rajammal from Kethorai winning best teacher award from the President, her brother Ramachandran from Kuwait, has sent this beautiful letter through us

Hi Akka, This is from your brother (First Son) Ramamchandran Krishnan, Mrs.Umavathi Krishnan and Janaki Krishnan, friends at Kuwait and at Back home from Amma, Yogesh krishnan, Aswini Kannan, Archana Kannan and everyone from Kethorai Village, al our family members and Badaga community, we all are very proud about you for the greatest achievement in your life, as memntioned by R. Nelson ‘inspite of all the short comings in your life you have proved your worthiness’.

Akka, we tried very hard to reach you in Delhi by mobile from Kuwait on 4th and 5th September (during the award ceremony) but we failed. Hope we can talk to you soon.

I am quite sure Appa’s Athma is very happy and he is blessing you from the heaven, but just for a while I thought if he is with us now, then in what a manner he would have expressed his happiness.

Image via Wikipedia

BABU [luhar.07@gmail.com] ‘Just had a glimpse of the site and its really wonderful and amazing that we have an identity in the e-world which is remarkable .. I just went through some of the burning issues and all were genuinely right .. but I feel there is also a concern to be raised when it comes to justice disparity between the rich and the poor in hatti gatherings .. most of the time the decision is based on the status … the problem here I would like to emphasis is people of our community are too good in knowing what is good and bad but they dont have the courage to go against a wrong decision at many hatti gatherings … its totally dominated by a finger counted so called big people namely hatti gowda, his relatives and friends .. there are lot of examples i could qoute bt people should understand this … PLS BE COURAGE ENOUGH TO FIGHT INJUSTICE …THINK BROAD AND HELP FELLOW PEOPLE WITHOUT SENSE OF JEALOUSY …‘

Thanks for the comments and I am 100% in agreement with you.

These comments remind me of our docile [anjuguLigu] nature and general tendency to run away from realities instead of being bold and face the truth.

The undisputed Nakku Betta leader Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, when he was an independent MLA in 1940s and 50s, had an appointment with the then Chief Mininster of Madras State Rajaji. But when the CM did not turn up, Ari Gowder informed the PA and walked out. The great Rajaji personally apologised to Ari Gowder followed with a letter. Incidentally, the present CM was a Junior in those days of Justice Party in which Ari Gowder was a leader along with Periyar.

Ari Gowder used to urge our people that we should not be like ‘hebbathays’ (Cockroaches) which run away when they see light and hide in darkness.

One of the recent incidents, that when Lawyer Bobbli from Chennai was elected as the President of Badaga Associations, there was strong objection from a powerful politician and his supporters who wanted the elections annulled and I am not sure what is the latest position.

Unless we, the ‘ahm’ people change our mind set that ‘might is always right’, we cannot call ourselves as ‘developed people – JP

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Thambatty to attend a wedding. After a long time, I saw a Badaga lady, Mitchi Hethay with all the Badaga Jewellery [Kivi Chinna [ear rings], mookkuthi [nose rings], Saradu[necklace-chokker] and Bay [Bangles]. She made a wonderful sight in her spotless white ‘thundu – mundu’ [Badaga traditional dress].

Mitchi Hethai

mlle Sumathi writes : What a pleasant picture ! Thanks for sharing it with all. Mitchi Hethai is reminding of my own grandma who is no more , my grandma used to wear the same type of jewels .
Just a small question, do they make these traditional jewels even today ? In Ooty where can we order them ? Though not for immediate purchase , just gathering information for future use . Also , where can we buy those waist belts with a small bag  in woollen which our hethais wear ? Happy monsoon season to all our site visitors .

Hello Sumathi, we were able to lay our hands on Badaga Jewellery both at Ooty and Kotagiri. Surprise is that you can have Badaga Jewellery made in Bangalore, yes Bangalore. The waist belt – are you talking about the colourful ‘Satta’?  The sattas used to be the first woolen article any Badaga girl would knit when she started learning ‘how to knit – ‘pinnodhu’ in those days. I am not sure about the present – Wg Cdr JP

Dear Sir,

I visited Nilgiris recently and was starting to wonder about Badagas and Thodas.

Having seen your website about Badagas, here are my thoughts on their origin.

To start with and to be frank I did not know much about Badaga culture except for the fact that they are unlike general “hill people” that one could see. That is, I was aware that Badagas were much more advanced in culture and civilization (should not misunderstand that hill people are of less culture; I am just trying to contrast two different things and hence nothing is inferior here) than normal tribal population. Now that I am trying to understand the origins of Badagas, my theory will be as below.

Read the complete article here

There are a few highly talented entrepreneurs among Badagas who have succeeded in their chosen fields. One such person, who is closely known to me is Gopal, son of Late Thatha Gowder – a police Officer, from Mel Bikkatti. He is the CEO of  RESURGENT  SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES. With his dedication and hardwork, he remains as a motivator to others.

‘Resurgent Software Technologies is one of the Resurgent group companies established in 1980’s having global presence. It has its headquarters located in Chennai, India.Few of the members and their collaborators are ‘numero uno’ in their respective field. Our activities include design, manufacturing, erection of power plant equipment and auxiliaries. Software is also one of the products. Initially the software’s were developed for in house application. Having successfully implemented and used, they have been commercialized.

Resurgent Software Technologies provides software services to Small and Medium sized Enterprises. Its enterprise solutions, with their unique software capability of rapid customization have proved to be very economical. The ERP and Remote power monitoring systems are key areas of focus’.

Read the complete post here

Sashikumar N.C. [ sashinc71@gmail.com] writes :  Please add the following info in the First Badaga .

Vivek. M, son of  Mohanraj from T. Mynalai, who is the

1. First FIDE rated (Chess) player from the Nilgiris. FIDE ID: 5064139
2. National Instructor (FIDE certified Chess Trainer) – One among 67 in the  world.
(Vivek’s e-mail ID :  vivek.chess@gmail.com Phone #: 09787808000)

[Refer website: www.fide.com & www.getchesstraining.com for more details]

Congratulations to Vivek – Wg Cdr JP

As I sit down to ponder over the ‘burning issues’ that are bothering the Badaga Community, three issues pop up as very important. The FIRST one is the inequality with which we seem to be treating our women today. Though, this malaise is affecting all the communities in our country, I am concerned that the Badagas who treated their women folk with so much respect and love in the olden days, are slowly but surely pushing them into the second class citizens category.

In earlier days, the girls were married off at a much younger age [Kannu Hoottadha Henga] but with the firm understanding that they [the girls] could seek divorce at any time if there was matrimonial disharmony and that they would be accepted back into the society without any blame and reservation. Getting married again was no big issue. She, always, had the backing of her parents and her brothers as ‘guru mane’ gave unflinching support in all respects mainly financial. This was probably the main reason that the girl children were not given any share in the property.

Read the complete article here

‘Wow, the Nilgiris’

Here are some pix taken by me

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Photos by Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash

click on the pictures for enlargement

Mudumalai Forest

Mudumalai

Today is a clear day with bright sunlight in the hills. The hills, I am referring to is the Nilgiris, my native place. Every time I drive ‘into’ the hills, either from Mysore via Bandipur and Kallatti Ghats or from Mettupalayam via Kotagiri Aravenu and Haakeri or from Karamadai via Mulli and Geddai [Kundah], my heart is filled with happiness and joy. Such beauty is bestowed on these blue hills by the Almighty. Probably, the Nature wants to show off or should I say, show case its glorious exterior in a truly grand fashion.

Read the full ‘story’ here  The Nilgiris – Neela [Blue] Giris [Hills] – literally ‘The blue mountains’ is popularly known to Badagas as ‘Naakku Betta’ –

One of the real pleasures of having this website  is the unexpected but highly interesting letters received from visitors. If that letter happens to be from a non Badaga [of 16 yrs of age studying in the 12th standard]  appreciating our language and Hethay, joy knows no bounds.

He feels that it is due to Hethay that he has come in contact with Badaga. He says his only entertainment is listening to Badaga songs.

And the most wonderful thing is that Vignessh, the author of the letter, wants to serve Badagas by qualifying as a doctor

Surely it makes our day.

A Wonderful letter  from Vignessh.A [16yrs]

Hai JP Uncle,

Ningaga enna namaskara ….naa ondhu badaga illay, aana enaga ninga basheya maathu adodhgau apaara ishta. Ninga website-una nodithey, enaga apaara santosha

I’ve never been to the Nilgiris butI really love the Badaga culture, customs, language, songs ,dance and habba, especially “HETHAI AMMA”. I have read Hethai history fully. I have developed a strong faith in Hethai .

I feel  my hairs standing on hearing the bugiri sound in videos on the net. I was having all these in my heart and I could not express them to any one, then atlast I found you [website].

I hope to serve the Badagas by any means. Incidentally, I dream of becoming a doctor and serve the Badaga hattis and I’m studying hard to achieve this dream.

My only entertainment is listening to Badaga songs.

enna history ya nodinadhugaa apaara nanri…

I wish to have Hethe’s showers of blessings to be with me all the time.

Thank you very much, now my heart feels light and it might become lighter on seeing your reply..

Awaiting your reply………………your’s.. Vignessh.A

Dear Vignessh Venky,

What a pleasure to get and read your email. Extremely happy to know that you are able to understand Badaga.

And my great appreciation and thanks for the sentiments expressed.

I am sure Hethai Amma’s blessings are, surely and always, with you.

Yours is one of the ‘sweetest’ letters I have received and thank you once again.

Hethaya Haracha ninaga endhendhu hadadhay.

JP Uncle

Letter from Dr.B.S.Krishnamoorthy

Gavadha JP Sir Avakaga,

Really great effort to save each and every piece of the greatness of our community.

While surfing I found the following article published in a well known journal, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 92, No. 2 (Apr. – Jun., 1972), pp. 276-279 (article consists of 4 pages)

“Nouns of the Badaga Language”  by S. Agesthialingom © 1972 American Oriental Society.

May God bless you with full of strength and freshness to continue this great work.

Gavatha,

Dr. Bellie Sundaram Krishnamoorthy

JP adds : Thank  you Dr.BSK for your kind words. In the above quoted article, S. Agesthialingom says, “Badaga, one of the South Dravidian Languages is spoken in the Nilgiri District of Tamilnadu,… there are many distinct features (in Badaga) which may lead one to claim it as a separate language ….[http://www.jstor.org/pss/600655]”