Badagas of the Blue Mountains

Golden opportunity for girls who have completed + two & between 18 and 20 years of age.

To start a career with the TATAs. To work in their (IPhone) Mobile manufacturing facility at Hosur (TN), near Bangalore.

Dr. Rajammal, The Lady with a Magic Lamp, is organising this event of Direct Recruitment in association with Tata Group.

On 12 Nov 2021 at NSIyah Memorial Senior Sec School, Kattery Dam, Ketti Palada, The Nilgiris, between 10 am to 1 pm

Starting salary of Rs.15,000 in an all women enterprise at Hosur. Initial paid training of ONE month at Coimbatore.

For more details contact – Dr Rajammal at +91 98413 57720

A great and grand function on 31 Oct 2021

On behalf of Nakkubetta Foundation

A grand function was held at Providence College, Coonoor on 31 Oct 2021 (Sunday)

1. Prize distribution to winners of Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder’s 50th Death Anniversary, Badugu Kadhe Gamalu (Song Competition),

2. Inauguration of Nakkubetta Radio,

3. Ist Anniversary of NANGAVA NANGA ARAVO

It was a well organised function with most of the winners of Badaga Kadhe Gamalu (Badaga Song competition being given the prices in person. With Kausi (Kausalaya), the anchor of “Nangava Nanaga Aravo” who had hosted the programme continuously for the past one year, was the MC and she has a natural talent to keep the audience in rapt attention. It was nice to see so many girls in traditional Badaga dress of THUNDU, MUNDU & PATTU.

Nakku Betta Foundation and Nakkubetta TV founder Ramakrishna honoured the chief guests Ex-Nakku Betta Gowda Thuneri Iyyaru, Ex-Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash, Ex-ISRO scientist Bhojaraj, Ex-IAS officer Sundara Deva and Great Singer Solur G Rama with traditional Badaga Seeley (shawl) and Mandarey (turban) with a momento.

One person who was solely missed at the foundation was the great Badaga Singer Shanthi Desingh, one of the chief judges along with Solur Rama, as she is based in USA.

Many others were presented momentoes on behalf of Nakku Betta Foundation. The well recognised Artist and Painter Gokul Gowder presented his digitally done painting to all the winners.

The man with the golden voice Thuneri Muruga, along with Pudugamandu hatti youngster at the tabla kept the audience enthralled with his songs.

WE take this opportunity to put on record our great appreciation and greetings to Naduhatti Ramakrishna, the founder of Nakkubetta TV and Nakkubetta Foundation, (along with his tech and digital savy team of youngsters). He has single handedly taken great initiatives to bring the Badagas together and to high light the much appreciated cultural and other traditions of the indigenous community. To preserve the arts, especially old songs , the Nakkubetta TV has left no stone unturned.

The programme “ Let us know ourselves (Nangava Nanga Aravo) ” has been an eye opener to both young and old.

You make us PROUD, Indrani Radhakrishna

There are some Badaga women who have achieved international name and fame with their contribution in many fields. Indrani Radhakrishna is one such exceptional women who has shown her caliber in more than one field. Born in Yedapalli hatti and married to Naduhatti, she has been an inspiration and a motivation for many youngsters.

Her father Y K Bellie was an award winning postmaster and a well known social activist. He scored distinction in all subjects. He is Indrani’s role model. Back in her 5th standard, he encouraged her reading habits and in 8th std itself, he motivated her to write poetry and aricles. She proudly claims that “I am what I am because of my father”. Her mother Mathiammal (Maadhi) was the first girl student to finish 10th Standard schooling in those days. Another person who loved Indrani and motivated her a lot was Mrs.Akkama Devi, the first Badaga woman graduate and Member of Parliament from the Nilgiris.

Indrani Radhakrishnan is an international award winner in peace and development, besides other awards. She is a lawyer and also has experiences in many fields like teaching, training, softskills, medical transcription, business transcription, call centre, travel and tourism lecturer in Providence College for Women, besides being a writer of articles and poetry, speaker, at various Rotary, other meetings and conference at Sri Lanka . She has also been chief guest at many events and fashion shows. However, her foremost passion is history, heritage and culture.

Her researched articles of historical events of The Nilgiris are very popular. For her contributions on the military establishments in the district like the Madras Regimental Centre and Defence Services Staff College, both in Wellington, she has been personally honoured. She is very active on the FaceBook.

She is busy writing a book and we have no doubt that it is going to a best seller.

Indrani Radhakrishna, you make us very proud !

There is small but beautiful bridge, called ARI GOWDER BRIDGE, connecting Tamilnadu and Karnataka States at Kakkanallah, Gudalur taluk in the Nilgiris District. This was built in 1936 when Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder was the District Board Chairman.

For many years it was not painted and looked bad. We had taken it up with Collector and NCMS for repainting.

Now the Karnataka Badaga Gowda Association, Bangalore has taken the initiative to get a paint the bridge and give it a green and great look through their EC members Mrs.Anitha & Mr.Gokul IFS.

We thank Mr.Saravanan, the President and all members of KBGA.

Dr.Rajammal, the Badaga “Lady with the Magic Lamp” informs that there is a wonderful opening opening at TATA company.

She can help you reach there. Contact her at +91 9841357720

The ever helpful lady, Dr.Rajammal, whose two eyes are Education & Service, can be reached

at +91 9841357720

Like any society or community in our country, women are not given the equal importance. Badagas are no exception. But of late, it is heartening to note that in their own way there are many Badaga women who are doing a great service in many fields.

The greatest Badaga leader Ari Gowder always felt that women empowerment through education is very important. He believed that girls/daughters should be given equal share in property. And he ensured that by dividing his vast property by giving equal share to his daughter in law and two grand daughters along with the grandson. This he did it seventy years back in 1950s.

The initiative of starting a Facebook group known as Badaga Mandha Women is doing a great service by discussing many issues. In one of the recent discussion on NGO Management , Anuja Jaishree Arun conducted an excellent Zoom session with the ever inspirational Dr. Rajamma about whom I have written a lot in our website http://www.badaga.co which is touching almost 800,000 hits. A big thank you for all the visitors for keeping me motivated.

It is with much happiness and pride that we give the youtube link here.

https://fb.watch/8mdB5wCxg

I have written about the Badaga Lady from Kethorai, Dr.Rajammal who has been an inspiration to many. As a teacher, social activist and motivational speaker, she has achieved many laurels including the coveted “Best Teacher” award from the President of India and the ‘Dronacharya Award‘ to name just two of the twenty plus awards she has received so far. She was conferred a Doctorate by an USA University.

A book on her, The Lady with the Magic Lamp, by Dr.Aswathy Rajan & Manju K Manohar has proved to be a runaway success receiving rave reviews. Presently she is associated with the NGO Sarvalayam that runs an orphanage home for elderly and girl children.

Dr.Rajamma, we are very proud of you!

The Podhigai TV channel telecast an interview with her on 26 Sep 2021. A must see inspirational video.

Read about the book launch

Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder 50th death anniversary Song Competition – Results

Hearty Congratulations to all the winners. But in fact, it is a big win for the Badaga community since we have discovered the fact that there are so many young, some are indeed very young, singers who are going to be our future treasures. In my opinion, each and every participant is a winners. Our best wishes to them.

Advisory Committee

There are no words to greet and convey our thanks to Ramakrishan and his team in the Nakkubetta TV who have proved that we can conduct such a competition completely online, and make it digitally a great success. The two pillars of this competition are of course, Melur G Rama and Shanthi Deisingh ( who, though based in USA, has given her time and efforts completely). Congratulations to also, to all judges for their great work..

My humble thanks to my colleagues in the advisory committee, IAS Sundradeva, ISRO Bhojaraj and Godalatty Singha Sadhu.

An happy ending indeed. On behalf of Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder family, especially my wife Tara, son Abhimanyu Ari and daughter Pakshalika Nanji, I thank Nakkubetta TV, Ramakrisha in particular, for making the Ari Gowder’s 50th Death anniversary year, remarkable and memorable.

You would have  been 109 today!

A journey that was extraordinary ! A life full of challenges !!

But you never gave up !

The steely determination with which you faced  fate and life, is an inspiration for many generations!!

Happy birthday to Mrs.Idyammal [Idy Hethe], wherever you are!!