May 15th Badaga Day

It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude, we want to place on record our great appreciation to Poramgadu Seemai leaders including the 'Parpathi' and Hubbathalai Gowda Mani for celebrating Badaga Day [please see :- http://badaga.wordpress.com/badaga-day-15th-may/] as ARI GOWDER day at Nattakkal, near Kotagiri in memory of one of the greatest leaders of Badaga Community who had done so much to the society.

Rao Bahadur HB ARI Gowder passed away in 1971 but remembered by the grateful community with love, respect and reverence.

Ari Gowder Family

Mrs.Rukmani Bhojraj [daughter in law]

Mrs.Tara Jayaprakash [grand daughter] and Wg Cdr Bellie Jayaprakash [nephew]

Oh man.....

Badaga Inspiration

Badaga Inspiration

 [from http://e.amritapuri.org/blogs/2007/347/]

I love watching the Badaga dance in Coimabatore. Two years back when Amma last was here, and again during Amma’s 53rd birthday celebrations in Amritapuri, they also enchanted the crowd – inspiring westerners, students, and Ashramites to join in . The same happened again this year. Young and old, men and women. Their rhythmic movements, graceful flowing hands and bodies, the beating of drums and call and response voices calls to the dancer inside us. It’s so primal, so natural, and so beautiful. 

One wonders how long these people have been dancing like this – how far back in time? How wonderful that India has been able to preserve these timeless traditions.

For a while, I was content just taking photos, or watching from the sidelines – focusing on their movements. But I found my inner self wanting to join in. I stood there – conflicted – trying to overcome my inhibitions – people would look at me – a westerner in white awkwardly throwing his body around. But then some westerners did join in, the Badaga happy to show them the movements even as they were ‘throwing a wrench’ into the coordinated movements of those already dancing.

Still, I stood by the sidelines. Then, at the end of the first night, as Darshan ended, and the Badaga still playing, Amma Herself stood up to leave the stage – and made a full circle – turning round with the beat, no inhibition, no concerns. Just dancing…..

The next day, I knew the Badaga would be there again. Would I join in?
Around 2am, they were singing and dancing again. Again, I stood by the sidelines, thinking about how Amma was so natural, innocent when She danced. I recalled how Amma says it’s just not enough to stand at the shore of the ocean and just get your feet wet. You have to dive in. I recalled how I overcame my fears when I used to go firewalking (walking on hot coals) – I would stand there trying to convince myself that it would be fine. It just takes a leap of faith…

In a moment of surrender, I joined the line. I found myself behind a Badaga man who was more than happy to call out the movements and changes as we made our way around the circle. I loved it. At times, it was awkward, but once I got the jist of it, it seemed so natural, so beautiful. When we were in synch -hands, legs, arms, – it was so nice – like a huge drum circle when they reach that magical moment when all the drummers are connected and the music just flows. So did our bodies- around and around, faster and faster.
I can’t wait till the next time..

Sri Pati, USA
Coimbatore, 23 January 2007

The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : The story of Ariya Gowda

The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : The story of Ariya Gowda

The story of Ariya Gowda

by Sriram V [The Hindu - Chennai, May 1, 2012]

Ari Gowder was President of the Backward Classes League and leaned towards the Justice Party

The chances of anyone travelling down Ariya Gowda Road in West Mambalam, and stopping to wonder about the identity of the man who gave the thoroughfare its name, are slim.

For when you are on Ariya Gowda Road, you are focused on getting out of the road alive, given its traffic.

He was not Ariya Gowda. He was HB Ari Gowder, a great visionary and leader of the Badaga community of the Nilgiris. And his life, as gleaned from various sources, including a 1935 Who's Who and the internet, makes for interesting reading. Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai J Bellie Gowder, made his fortune in laying the tracks of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, which was completed in 1908.

His wealth made him a leading member of his community, and his clansmen came to him for advice on several issues. Bellie Gowder founded a free school in his native village, Hubbathalai, an institution that still functions. He passed away in 1935. Bellie Gowder's son, Ari, was born in 1893. His father ensured that he was educated in the modern sense and he graduated from Madras Christian College.

Though he was to consider himself a contractor and a planter, it was in politics and social uplift that Ari Gowder was to make a mark. In 1923, he became the first Badaga to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council of which he was a member until 1934. In the 1940s, he was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly.

When the Rajaji government introduced Prohibition in 1937, he led the challenge of enforcing it in the Nilgiris, of which area he was also the first non-official to become District Board President. Ari Gowder was also active in the Scouts Movement. Another contribution of his was the establishment of the Nilgiris Cooperative Marketing Society, which eliminated the stranglehold middlemen had over the simple mountain people.

He was also a Director of the Badaga Land Mortgage Bank. While the sympathies of most of his community lay with the Congress, Ari Gowder, given that he was President of the Backward Classes League, leaned more towards the Justice Party, which was active till the 1930s. That probably explains the road in Mambalam being named after him.

Neighbouring Theyagaroya Nagar or T Nagar, developed in the 1920s when the Justice Party was in power and most of the roads, parks and streets there are named after its leaders.

Legend also has it that a large chunk of land adjoining the Mambalam Railway Station was his, which he donated for developmental work. Like his father, Ari Gowder too received the title of Rao Bahadur from the British Government, in 1943.

In 1946, Ari Gowder was defeated in the Assembly elections. But in 1952 he contested successfully as an independent. He was to remain an independent for the rest of his career.

He passed away in 1971. How did Ari Gowder Road morph into Ariya Gowda Road? And should it not be just Ari Road?

 The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : The story of Ariya Gowda.

Let us call ourselves as Badagas speaking Badaga/Badagu

Naren (vijayarajnaren@gmail.com) has sent me the following email through a comment and raised a very important issue of urgent nature :

Sir, Thank you for a such wonderful site. Though a regular reader of this site, I have yet to comment on such wonderful  info in these blogs.

It is evident that caste enumeration is conducted now in Tamil Nadu. Each and every caste is trying to mobilize and clarify nature of the sub-sects of their caste during enumeration. Is there any awareness created in the community in respect of how to answer the caste enumeration. Is it necessary for Badagas to state their sub sect like Haruva, Badaga, Thorraya during the enumeration?

I hope you will create the awareness in the above aspect.

Thank you very much Naren.

Since the 1981 census Badagas are not shown as a separate community but have been clubbed with 'Kannada Speaking groups'. This, to say the least, is - atrocious. Badaga is a separate and unique community with rich language and 'richer' rituals, customs and traditions.

Now is the chance for us to proudly say that we are Badagas (Badagar) and our mother tongue is Badaga ( Badagu). The other important issue about sub sect :- our history has quite a few instances where we, as a community, divided ourselves into Odaya,Haruva, Badaga, Kanakka, Adikari,Thoraya etc and created a lot of bad blood. (I am surprised, though, to learn that Thorayas are given the MBC classification while Badagas come under BC,) let all those who speak Badaga (Badagu) be considered as Badagas (Badagar).

I have just spoken to the  General Secretary and Treasurer of the Coonoor Badaga Welfare Association about this and have been promised that they have already put out ads in local TV and soon in the news papers to request all Badagas to give, when the caste census is taken, their cast as BADAGAR and mother tongue [language] as BADAGU when the caste enumeration is undertaken. This applies to all  Badagas wherever they reside, be it in the hattis, towns or cities.

So, all you  Proud Badagas out there, please ensure that we give our identity [caste/'jathi'] as BADAGA(r) and Languge spoken as BADAGU/Badaga

- Wg Cdr JP

Badaga language - 'sha - ஷ ' and 'zha - ழ' ?

Recently I had the pleasure of receiving  Anandha Raju [inventor of Badaga Anandha script] with his charming wife and children at our place and had a pow wow on Badaga, the great language.. Anandha feels that there is no 'sh -ஷ ' sound in Badaga Maathu [language].

I disagree. What about barasha (year) - பரஷ, baashay (language) - பாஷே, Kashta (difficulty) ௦ கஷ்ட , nashta (loss) - நஷ்ட  and ishta (wish) - இஷ்ட ?

Another 'sound' of interest is 'zha - ழ' - the only word that comes to mind is 'eizhu'- (seven) -இழ்ழு .

What do you think?

Badaga Kola [Clan]

Pratheepan Raju posted this info in FB [http://www.facebook.com/groups/badagas/doc/430310926984904/]

This is a work of Late Thyagi. K.P.Raju Gowder of KADASOLAI Village who was Author of the local Nilgiri magazine called "ARAAICH [Araachi?]" in which he had published 13 issues.
The Badaga community, like several communities of India is formed of different Clans(KOLA) affiliated to different Totems.

The various clans and their totems are as follows:
1. Forefathers of Solur Group - NAGA (COBRA)
2. Forefathers of Thoodagur Group - ANEY (ELEPHANT)
3. Forefathers of Doddur Group - MARI (GODDESS MARI)
4. Forefathers of Sinnakunnur - Kethi - Kundha Group - KASTURI (MUSK DEER)
5. Forefathers of Hebbanadu - Halhattane - Thangadu Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Meekeri - Ithalar - Balakola Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Horanally - Porthy Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Bembatti - Belida Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Kasoley-Mandhanai Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Jakkanarai Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
Forefathers of Kateri Ajjur Group - MANIKKA (CARBUNCLE STONE)
6. Forefathers of Adhikari Group - KOVERU (WHITE HORSE)
7. Forefathers of Kagguchchi- Jagadala Group - BELLIE (SILVER)
8. Forefathers of Pannemanai-Kenduva Group - SELANDI (SPIDER)
9. Forefathers of Porangadu Group - MADHUVA (HONEY BEE).

Each clan is exogamous, i.e., man belonging to one clan cannot marry the girls of the same clans as they are the descendants from the same ancestors. Men of one clan can marry girls of different clans affiliated to different totem.

Direct words from from his piece -
"It is claimed that the main merkunadu group,viz, the Hebanad-Halatanai-Thangadu group and the Jakkanarai group are descended from the same forefather. The Late A.N. Kadagowder, former Moniagar of Merkunad, Denad Village and the Late.M.Doddayya Gowder of Halattanai informed the author (Late.Thyagi.K.P.Raju Gowder) that the forefather of the Jakkanarai group of the Badagas was uterine brother of Huliajja, Guruajja and Haraajja, the forefathers of the main group of the merkunad people. The Jakkanarai forefather Batti Hettappa joined the Porangadu forefathers at Thalaimalai and accompanied them to Betalada where he married Yelingi Amma, the sister of 7 forefathers of Porangadu people. The above informants asserted that they belong to the MANIKA CLAN."

NAGA KOLA
Hatti’s founded by Solur Group Forefathers
Village Name Nearest Point
1. Soluru Solur
2. Bekodey Solur
3. Kotatti Solur
4. Bikkekandi Solur
5. Hosahatti Solur
6. Thalemaley Solur
7. Hakkosu Solur
8. Addakorey Solur
9. Devala Devala

ANEY KOLA
Hatti’s Of Thoodagur Group Forefathers
Village Name Nearest Point
1. Hullathi Hullathi
2. Karepalli Hullathi
3. Meluru Hullathi
4. Kavaratti Hullathi
5. Yekoni Hullathi
6. Kadasoley Hullathi
7. Malekotey Hullathi
8. Athigallu Hullathi
9. Kilinjimora Hullathi
10. Nanjanadu Nanjanad
11. Kuruthugui Nanjanad
12. Kallakorey Ithalar
13. Morakutti Hebbanad
14. Nerimora Hebbanad
15. Bandumi Jagadala
16. Kukallu Kukal
17. Yediyuru Kukal
18. Kukalthorey Kukal
19. Nerikambey Kukal
20. Seegehola Kukal
21. Degili Kukal
22. Uyilhatti Kukal
23. Kurumidi Kukal
24. Kotada Hassanur Melseeme
25. Hosahatti Hassanur Melseeme
26. Attapadi Hassanur Melseeme
27. Seegehatti Hassanur Melseeme
28. Punajuru Chamarajnagar Taluk


MARI KOLA

SUCCESS STORY OF [Hubbathalai] SIVAN

I have always believed that success comes when one works with tireless zeal and single minded dedication to do something for the society. Recognition, of course, comes knocking down sooner than later.

One such unassuming Badaga who has achieved a lot of success and recognition is Hubbathalai Nandi Gowder SIVAN. He has traveled widely and is easily approachable for any sort of advise.

Recently, he was bestowed with the following awards at New Delhi.

Bharat Excellence Award with Gold Medal of FFI in 2012, presented by Dr.G.V.G.Krishnamoorthi, Former Election Commissioner,Govt of India for the growth of Indian Economy. and Inspiring Pillar of India Award with Gold Medal of FFI in 2012, presented by Dr.Premnath, Former Deputy Director General, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN-FAO) for successful achievements and contributions in the chosen fields.

Wonderful to see  Siva receiving the award attired in traditional Badaga dress.

Wishing Siva[n] many more success in all his endevours. We are proud of you, Siva.

Badaga Baray [Script] - A request from Anandha

Dear Wg Cdr JP,

May I entreat the visitors of your websites to do what they can for the cause of making Badugu, hitherto a spoken language, a written language?

I want every Baduga to stand by me in my endeavour to publicize the wealth of Badugu literature through the Badugu Alphabet.

Please find attached herewith the following files containing

1. The Badugu Alphabet and their International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) Correspondences

2. Badugu Sayings with Phonetic Transcriptions using the IPA

Please do the needful. Thanking you, with kind regards,

R.Anandha(n)

 

A Very BIG Thank You

Badaga is now in FACEBOOK also. See https://www.facebook.com/badagas

Two hundred thousand [200,000] – Not Out

AS WE GET CLOSER.....to the 200,000 visitors mark...[ http://www.badaga.co ]

That is a lot of hits for a website [weblog] that is focused on a 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 and loyal friends, have made me bow my head in gratitude. I feel humbled but proud.

Proud to be an Indian and a Badaga, indeed.

Hope to say 'thanks a million' soon...

'Healer' Shivakumaran

'Healer' Shiva

Mar28

There is an enormous amount of talent or should it be latent talent among Badagas. Many of these talented persons are very simple & humble and seek no publicity.

One such gentleman is healer [Dr?] Shivakumaran, son of late G.Motta Gowder of Konavakorai Village, near Kotagiri.

Shivakumaran, known simply as Shiva to friends, is a ‘healer’ of very great potential, who with his patient hearing of the problems of patients, and unique touch and heal techniques [acupressure and acupuncture combined with simple yoga and eating advices] has cured many in the Nilgiris of complicated medical problems.

Shivakumaran is with a defence establishment in Wellington and is always willing to help out, whenever he finds time.

If you are looking for ‘alternative‘ but highly effective ‘medicine‘, look no further than ‘Healer’ Shiva.

Contact details : mottanshivakumaran@gmail.com cell # 8807273678.

We are proud of you, Shiva.