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The beautiful Badaga Bashe(Language)

Let us learn Badaga/Badagu/Badugu

” Ollenge iddiya ? – How are you ?”

‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? – (Roughly) ‘ How is everything ? ‘

1. Are you a Badaga ? – Nee ondu Badagana?

2. Yes, I am a Badaga – Ha, Na ondu Badaga

3. What is your name ? – Ninna hesaru aena ?

4. My name is Bhoja – Enna hesaru Bhoja

5. Which is your village ? – Ninna Hatti edhu ?

[5a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? – Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]

6. My village is Bearhatti – Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti

7. Whose son/daughter are you ? – Nee dara maathi / hennu ?

8. I am Mela thara (top street) Joghi Gowder’s son / daughter – Na Mela thara Joghi gowdaru maathi / hennu

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Numbers in Badugu /Badaga

1. Ondu (One) 2. Eradu (Two) 

3. Mooru (Three) 4. Naakku (Four) 

5. Iidu (Five) 6. Aaru (Six) 

7. eizhu (Seven) 8. Eattu (Eight) 

9. Ombathu ( Nine)  10. Hathu (Ten) )

11. Hannondu (Eleven) 12. Hanneradu (Twelve)

13. Hadimooru (Thirteen) 14. Hadanaakku (Fourteen)

15. Hadanaidu (Fifteen) 16. Hadanaaru (Sixteen)

17. Hadarizhu (Seventeen)  18. Hadarettu (Eighteen)

19. Hathombathu (Nineteen)  20. Eipathu (Twenty

30. Moovathu (Thirty) 40. Nalavathu (Forty)

50. Iivathu (Fifty) 60. Aravathu (Sixty)

70. Elavathu (Seventy) 80. Embathu ( Eighty)

90. Thombathu (Ninrty) 100. Nooru (Hundred)

 

  Numeral Badaga 
  0 Zero சூன்ய (Soonya)
  1 One ஒந்து (Ondu)
  2 Two எரடு (Eradu)
  3 Three மூறு (Mooru)
  4 Four நாக்கு (Naaakkuu)
  5 Five ஐது (aidhu)
  6 Six ஆறு (aaru))
  7 Seven இழ்ழு (ézhu)
  8 Eight எட்டு (ettu)
  9 Nine ஒம்பத்து (Ompathu)

Days In Badugu/Badaga

1. Aadivaara (Sunday) – ஆதிவார

2. Sovaara (Monday) – சோவார

3. Mangavaara ( Tuesday) – மங்கவார

4. Bodavaara (Wednesday) – போதவார

5. Chikkavaara (Thursday) – சிக்கவார

6. Bellie (Friday) – பெள்ளி

7. Sani (Saturday) – சனி

(Indhu Eana Jena – what is today ? : Indhu Sovara – Today is Monday.

See the difference , when the day is mentioned VAARA is included but when a day is referred, it is just mentioned as JENA)

Months In Badugu/Badaga

It is said that Badaga month starts on every 10th of the English month. Like for example Koodalu month starts on 10th January.

1. Koodalu (Jan)

2. Aalaani (Feb)

3. Nallaani (Mar)

4. Aani ( Apr)

5. Aadire (May)

6. Aadi (Peraadi) (Jun)

7. Aavaani (Jul)

8. Perattadi (Aug)

9. Dodda Deevige (Sep)

10. Kiru Deevige (Oct)

11. Thai (Nov)

12. Hemmaatti (Dec)

Pleasantly surprised to hear all the Badaga Months being mentioned in this song called ‘Kappu Huttileyu’- a great dance number.

The lyrics of the song go like this :- https://soundcloud.com/bjaypee/03-kappuuttileyu2

 

Kappu huttileyu neppuna sundari, Oppi hegileyu dhirachiya mundari
Kappu huttile naa hathuna notta dha, Keppu na huttile ondhuna notta tha

Thatti beetha sileyu nee edhega, Kottu beetha hennu naa edhaga
Muthu muthu mookathiga sokki hodhane, netti niddane
Sothu pathu neetha endhu kaathundhu endhe dha, matha hegu dha, madhuvaya matha hegudha,

KOODALU thinguvana koodile singarene , AALAANI thinguvatha aa aagi varasha mamma ,
NALLANI go kollaandhu hega beda, AANI huttidha mele badhila hegine baa mamma ,

AADHIRE jena nodi bae thumbi maathaadu, AADI mudidha mele ododi bannane mamma,
AAVANI thinguvadhoge dhaavani singarava , Arattu perattu aara PERATTASI thinguvadha,

DODDA DIVIGEYA dodda kiru edhega , KIRU DIVIGEYA siri devi aagi banne ,
THAI mae thalaiga thatti kai yoda aatta paatta, HEMMATTI ebbaneyu aemaathithindhu hoga beda ,

Thatti beetha sileyu nee edhaga , Kottu beetha hennu naa edhega

கப்பு ஹுட்டிலெயு நெப்புன சுந்தரி, ஓப்பி ஹெகிலெயு திரசிய முந்தரி
கப்பு ஹுட்டிலே நா ஹத்துன நோட்ட த, கெப்பு ந ஹுட்டிலே ஒந்துன நோட்ட த

தட்டி பீத்த செலெயு நீ எதெக, கொட்டு பீத்த ஹெண்ணு நா எதக
முத்து முத்து மூக்கத்திக சொக்கி ஹொதனே,நெட்டி நித்தனெ
ஸொத்து பத்து நீத்த எந்து காத்துண்டு இந்தெ த, மாத்த ஹேகு த, மதுவய மத்த ஹெகுத,

கூடலு திங்குவன கூடிலே சிங்காரெனெ, ஆலாணி திங்குவத ஆ ஆகி வரஷ மம்ம,
நல்லானி கொ கொள்ளாந்து ஹேக பேட, ஆணீ ஹுட்டித மேலே பதில ஹெகினே பா மம்ம,

ஆதிரே ஜென நோடி பே தும்பி மாத்தாடு , ஆடி முடித மேலே ஓடோடி பன்னனே மம்ம,
ஆவாணி திங்குவதொகே தாவணி சிங்கரவ, அரட்டு பெரட்டு ஆர பெரட்டாதி திங்குவத,

தொட்ட தீவிகியொ தொட்ட கிரு எதெக, கிரு தீவிகியொ சிரி தேவி ஆகி பன்னே,
தை மே தலைக தட்டி கை யோட ஆட்ட பாட்ட, எம்மாட்டி எப்பனேயு ஏமாத்திதிண்டு ஹோக பேட,

தட்டி பீத்த சிலெயு நீ எதக , கொட்டு பீத்த ஹெண்ணு நா எதெக

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For Badaga songs go here

 

PECULIARITIES OF BADAGA

Peculiarities of Badaga

Haalu [haa – as in hospital and lu – as in Zulu] means milk

Hallu [ ha- as hurt and llu – as in loo] means tooth [teeth]. note – there is no plural term.

Haasu – spread [the bedding], Haasike – bedding

Hasu – hunger

Maana – Pride, Mana – heart

Kaanu – see, Kannu – eye[s] (example – Doctor-a Kaanu, kanna pathi hegina – See the Doctor, he will tell about the eyes]

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Peculiar Words

There are some words in Badaga that are truly peculiar. for example :

1. GIJI GIJI ( as in Give & Jinx) – Confusion , mess up / disorderly

GIJI GIJI maada beda – Don’t create confusion

Room ekka ethe GIJI GIJI (ya) hadadhe ? – Why is this room in such a mess?


2. MURUKKU(LU) (Mu ru ku) – Foul mood / mild anger

Amme Ekka maathaduvadu elle ? – Why is sister not talking ?

Ava murukkindu endhave – She is in a foul mood

3. BADAYI (Ba daa ee ) – Show Off (proud)

Appara badayi maadiya – She shows off a lot

Also see Badaga Language here

http://badaga-language.blogspot.com/

Birds (Hakkilu)

  1. Haddu (Eagle)
  2. Kakke (Crow)
  3. Soray (Dove)
  4. Kili (Parrot)
  5. Emme Hakkilu
  6. Bikkola
  7. Karia(n)chitta (Black bird)
  8. Gubbachi (Sparrow)
  9. Mayilu (Peacock)
  10. Koi (Poultry hen/cock)
  11. Kaadu Koi (Wild hen)
  12. Baathu(koi) – Duck

Mari (chic) –{Koi Mari – chic(ken)}

Also for calf [ for eg) Nei mari – puppy dog]

Animals

Aanay (Elephant)

  1. Kaade -Kaadu Emme – (Bison)
  2. Ottaga (Camel)
  3. Kudire (Horse)
  4. Kaththe (Donkey)
  5. Dana (Cow)
  6. Emme (Buffalo)
  7. Yethu (Bull)
  8. Karu (Calf)
  9. Huli (Tiger)
  10. Singa (Lion)
  11. Siruthe (Panther)
  12. Karadi (Bear)
  13. Maanu (Deer)
  14. Pulli Maanu (Spotted Dear)
  15. Kadamay (Sambar)
  16. Handi (Black Pig)
  17. Kaadandi – kaadu handi – (Wild Pig)
  18. Mullandi – Mullu Handi – (Porcupine)
  19. Seeme Handi (White Pig)
  20. Koda, Korangu (Monkey)
  21. Mola (Rabbit)
  22. Nari (Fox)
  23. Nei (Dog)
  24. Koththi (Cat)
  25. Eli (Rat)
  26. Aame (Turtle)
  27. Nalli (Crab)
  28. Halli (
  29. Haavu (Snake)
  30. Kappe (Frog)
  31. Meenu (Fish)

Insects

  1. Hoo (general for insect)
  2. Nona (Fly)
  3. Selandhi (Spider)
  4. Kunni (Bee)
  5. Eruppu (Ant)
  6. Kosu (Mosquito)
  7. Bendu (Moth/Butterfly)

Anatomy

  1. Mande (Head) – also refers to Hair though there is specific word – Orama
  2. Heddakku (Back of the skull) – usually Badagas have a long heddakku as they donot use cradles. The reason for not using cradles for babies is a story by itself. It is due to the fact that when they left Mysore to escape from the King (Thipu Sultan ?) in the night in a hurry, they had forgotten the baby which was sleeping in the cradle, each thinking that the other person would pick up the child.
  3. Moole (Brain மூளை)
  4. Nethi (Forehead)
  5. Kenni (Cheeks)
  6. Kannu [eye(s)]
  7. Kivi (Ear)
  8. Mookku (Nose)
  9. Bae (Mouth)
  10. Thudi (lip)
  11. Hallu (Teeth)
  12. Naalenge (Tongue)
  13. Dhaade ( Chin)
  14. Thonde (Throat)
  15. Gaththu (Neck)
  16. Maaru – Nenju – (chest)
  17. Mole (Breast மொலெ)
  18. Hiththalu – Bennu – (Shoulder)
  19. Kai (Hands)
  20. Angai (Palm)
  21. Mutti (Elbow – also for knee)
  22. Beralu (Fingers)
  23. Hebbatte – Katte (beralu) – [Thumb]
  24. Ugilu (Nails)
  25. Hotte (Stomach)
  26. Mollu Kudi (Naval)
  27. Nadu – Kattu (Hip)
  28. Pitti (Buttocks)
  29. Thode (Thigh)
  30. Monakkaalu (Knee)
  31. Kaalu (Leg)
  32. Midi (Heel)
  33. Angalu ( sole Foot)

Came across the following Limerick in http://www.oedilf.com/

Badaga by Graham Lester

In the hills out in Tamil Nadu
There are so many fun things to do,
Like Badaga Scrabble,
But don’t let the rabble
Make a Kannada goose out of you.

Badaga is the language of a tribal group of the same name that inhabits the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is a dialect of Kannada. (Badaga is an unique and independent Language -JP )

1 Comment

Posted on 01/10/2021 in badaga

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Ashamed…..

When I coined the slogan “Proud to be a Badaga”, I was acutely aware of the fact that there are many factors on which we should be ashamed of as well.

One such is the disunity (or rather the lack of interest to be united and) show the world that ALL BADAGAS SHARE COMMON VALUES & SPEAK IN ONE VOICE when it comes to many common issues.

Unfortunately, what our ancestors advised and hoped ‘Uri Hogi, Siri Barali – Let jealousy vanish and happiness prevail’ has not come true.

One such area where urgent action required is to have a ‘SUPREME BODY/ASSOCIATION’ representing but elected in a democratic way by all Badagas.

The recent reports in the news papers about the ‘heated arguments for election and possession’ of YBA – Young Badagas Association’ at Ooty. From what one gathers from various sources is that an ex-MLA  is refusing to ‘vacate’ his chair and not letting any fresh air to flow in. One wonders why this ex-MLA connected with a particular political party, is in a perpetual denial mode for fair and free elections that may help in the upliftment of the community, is a mystery.

The Hindu [ 24th May 2013]

The face-off between two groups over custody of the premises of the Young Badagas Association (YBA) here took an ugly turn on Thursday with members on either side breaking open locks put up by each other on the office door. It was followed by complaints being lodged against each other.

In order to prevent untoward incidents, a police team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police G.S. Anita moved in.

YBADinamalar (24-5-2013)

Or, is money, power or fear of exposure that is holding back a CHANGE. Let not a miniscule of ‘self – interested’ men make us feel ASHAMED.

May I appeal, in the interest of all, to stand united and be PROUD of being Badagas – Indians.

1 Comment

Posted on 25/05/2013 in badaga