Badagas of the Blue Mountains !

2012-01-11T02:32:00.001-08:00

Our hearts bleed for the 'brave hearts' of B.Manihatti .

The first conversion of Badagas to Christianity took place in 1854 when some German missionaries mislead a couple of Badagas in Ketti (Santhoor) with the lure of monetary compensation and false promise of 'education' for the children. The seeds of disharmony among these peace loving and innocent people who believed in unity and community living (all the hatti people acted as one) were sown.

Unfortunately, the biggest curse of our people is the disunity combined with jealousy, that is all pervasive. The so called leaders of the community have found shelter in politics and corruption with the active support of 'self appointed Gowdas' who could be 'purchased'.

The saddest point is that we do not have a selfless Nakku Betta leader after Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder [who passed away in 1971] who can galvanise our people with true leadership qualities.

This is Hethe Habba time. The ALL Mighty Mother Goddess Hethe has saved us from many a disaster. SHE will save us this time also. Let us be united.

In UNITY lies our STRENGTH.

where are we heading to....

2012-01-09T06:10:00.000-08:00

- Badagas taking out a procession in Ooty on Saturday. Photo:M.Sathyamoorthy [The Hindu]

"Rally Against Govt Employee's 'Conversion Bid' [News report in outlookindia.com - Jan 08, 2012]

About 2,000 people today took out a procession here today demanding action against a government polytechnic lecturer accusing him of attempting to convert the locals to Christianity.

The people of B Manihatty village and surrounding localities dominated by Badaga community, a tribal community of the Nilgiris District, submitted a memorandum to the District Collector demanding action against lecturer Moorthy, who had recently converted to Christianity, police said.The villagers had yesterday ransacked the house and burnt the belongings of Moorthy protesting against his plans to build a prayer hall after obtaining permission for constructing a residential premises. More than 100 villagers were arrested in connection with the violence.

The memorandum also demanded a departmental inquiry and transfer of the district Superintendent of Police, accusing him of 'functioning' against the villagers.More than 500 police personnel have been deployed in the town as a precautionary measure in view of the rally taken out today."

This is a classical example of how one person can vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of a Badaga Village. Is this the fault of the individual who has turned a 'betrayer' of the community he was born in or the general trend in every hatti where there is no cooperation and unity among the villagers who are constantly at each other's throat - like what we have witnessed in Nanjanadu recently?

2011 Review

2011-12-31T23:39:00.000-08:00

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for the website http://badaga.wordpress.com which has more than 183,000 hits

Here's an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 44,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 16 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

All is well ?!

2011-12-30T21:29:00.000-08:00

A couple of decades ago, there was hardly any info available about BADAGA - both people and language.

Now, On 'Google' when 'badaga' is typed, what comes out as information is mind boggling.

Everything - 323,000
Images - 35,100
blogs - 4500
Videos - 3960
Discussion - 3550
Books - 452

Of course, on a deeper analysis, whatever is listed is NOT completely BADAGA. That apart, there are many websites, blogs and discussions and [YouTube] Videos that can make you cringe. There are plenty of 'cut and paste' jobs or more regrettably plain copy posts. As you can guess, no credit to the original 'creators' given by these copy cats.

Worst, there are many videos in the name of 'Badaga Dance' that are downright amateurish, 'cheap' and and not Badaga dance at all.

But then, there is plenty of 'good' information if you really prepared to spend some time to 'see what you want - Look beyond what you see!

The biggest satisfaction is that there is interest among youngsters to know all about Badagas...the history, origin, traditions, customs and culture.

Attempts are being made to 'create a written script' for Badaga by Anand and others. Badagas themselves are carrying out research to learn about our past history and record them in their books. J.B.Balasubramaniam is about to bring out a second edition of 'PAAME' a highly laudable effort. 'Badaga Samuthayam' by Sivaji Raman [of Jakkanarai] is a treasure trove.

Badagas spread all over the world are bringing laurels to Badaga Community with their pioneering work. Vinitha Rajkumar in UK is running a successful 'Bharatanatyam' school.Students like Sumathi Halan, who is doing her higher studies in Canada, is a source of information on India in the local community. Both Vinitha and sumathi are invited to give speeches in the town hall meetings.

Melur Village, a small Badaga hatti, is a 'smoke free' hamlet. BMW is not about the high end car or 'Behen Maya Wati' but' Blue Mountain Warriers' consisting of Badagas who are concerned about the environment degradation in the Nilgiris and doing their bit to help out the society.

The slogan 'Proud to be a Badaga' coined by yours truly has become an universal cry of all Badagas. What started as a hobby but now a passion, this website 'Badagas of the Blue Mountains' has become a reference point to many.

More than 100 visitors every day. That gives motivation to do more.

Much more is needed to be done on an urgent basis to declare 'all is well';

to hold our heads high and declare

'Proud to be an Indian and Proud to be a Badaga'.

Happy New Year!

புத்தாண்டு நல் வாழ்த்துகள் !

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash

(to my mom who left this world on 13 -7-2011:- without you or your inspiration, I am nothing. You gave me everything and always blessed me with - 'ollithay agili'.

Thank you mom, wherever YOU are!)

Another great Badaga 'Saavu' song

2011-12-23T22:52:00.000-08:00

Once in a way, we get to hear a song which instantly registers both in mind and heart. The golden voice you hear in this saavu [funeral] song is, beyond any doubt, excellent and haunting.

Indhu Dhodda Maneya by Thangadu L Krishna Gowder

" This song is by -Thangadu L.Krishna Gowder.Produced by Thuneri- RajkumarAnd music by Athagrahatti team the album name is : Muthe Mora ! As I mentioned before -Most of the photos in the Group/in this Video are take from http://badaga.wordpress.com/ , www.badaga.name). Thanks to Wg Cdr.Bellie Jayaprakash for this Great effort -I request all members to have a View on this site -very informative.Proud to be a Badaga - Yogesh Ajjan "

A great song !!

WANT TO GET MARRIED BUT THE FEAR OF THE ‘RAVAGES OF DIVORCE’ IS A STUMBLING BLOCK

2011-12-19T18:06:00.000-08:00

A lot of youngsters are looking out for the ‘right alliance’. Contradictory it may appear but there are, sadly, a large number educated Badagas choosing not to marry or postpone the idea of getting married itself. Is the delay due to social compulsions and ’fear’ of early divorces ['puduchodhu'] in many cases? Is it an universal phenomena?

Though, the following is based on the study in the USA, it could be true about many educated Badagas.

Source : www.newswise.com

With the share of married adults at an all-time low in the United States, new research by demographers at Cornell University and the University of Central Oklahoma unveils clues why couples don’t get married – they fear divorce. Among cohabitating couples, more than two-thirds of the study’s respondents admitted to concerns about dealing with the social, legal, emotional and economic consequences of a possible divorce….

Roughly 67 percent of the study’s respondents shared their worries about divorce. Despite the concerns, middle-class subjects spoke more favorably about tying the knot and viewed cohabitation as a natural stepping stone to marriage compared to their working-class counterparts. Lower-income women, in particular, disproportionately expressed doubts about the “trap” of marriage, fearing that it could be hard to exit if things go wrong or it would lead to additional domestic responsibilities but few benefits.
The study also found working-class cohabitating couples were more apt to view marriage as “just a piece of paper,” nearly identical to their existing relationship. They were twice as likely to admit fears about being stuck in marriage with no way out once they were relying on their partners’ share of income to get by.

[Complete article here - > : http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/584138/?sc=dwhn]

Rare Pix by Ravi Belliraj

2011-12-13T22:41:00.001-08:00

Ravi Belliraj is one of the 'rare' persons whose heart is always with his roots in the Nilgiris and Badagas, though he is now in the Middle East.

He has gone out of the way to do a lot for the betterment of Badagas.

Like earlier, he has sent some 'rare' photos with a small note :

"Ollanage idhara, alli ninga ella ollange ibbadundu somiya nenasine.Some rare pix for your information & record."

and it is my pleasure to put these pictures in this website.

Ravi Belliraju 'ga ethay 'thanks' hegudhu endhu artha appilay!

Ravi, thanks a ton and I am sure the visitors to this website will find these fantastic 'fotos' not only interesting but educative.

Hover the mouse over the pix for details/Caption

The above pix is not the Hethay Habba but 'Madivala' - the ceremony in honour of the [dead] ancestors, celebrated by Badagas once a few years[decades] in those days - Wg Cdr JP

Highly Disturbing

2011-12-13T22:38:00.000-08:00

There are some highly disturbing reports in 'The Hindu' and 'Dinamalar' (14 Dec11, issue) titled " Villagers oppose construction of church " and mentioning about lorry loads of B.Manihatti villagers staging a demonstration at the Collectorate[Ooty] and submitting a memorandum that the activities of some persons - to construct a church in the village - that are threatening the unity of the village.

Residents of B. Manihatty at the Collectorate in Udhagamandalam on Tuesday. – Photo: D. Radhakrishnan [The Hindu]

As correctly pointed out by these villagers, this move to construct a church and the reported forced religious conversion is bound to affect not only the Badaga Culture but the very fabric of this unique community that has striven to safe guard its traditions, customs and rituals for centuries.

We all stand by the Villagers of B.Manihatti and offer our complete cooperation and solidarity and appeal to the authorities to stop this construction.

When will these 'traitors' of Badaga Traditions, who are on the pay rolls of some of these Pastors and Impostors learn to respect the great Badaga sensivity ?

Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder

2011-12-07T02:33:00.001-08:00

Once in way, in the history of a community, there comes a leader, who becomes a visionary and leads his people by example.Such, was a leader who would have been 118 yrs 0n 4 Dec 2011.

That is Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai Bellie Gowder ARI GOWDER.Much has been written about this great leader who lead the INDIAN CONTIGENT to world scouts jamboree in Hungary in 1932and you can read all about Ari Gowder here.

Even after 40 years after his death in 1971, Badagas remember him with love and respect.He made us feel and say 'Proud to be Badagas'and because of his insistence that we must educate our children, especially girls, we are able to hold our heads high today!Bowing our heads in silent reverence for all that he had done to our community…

Rao Bahadur H J Bellie Gowder

2011-11-28T06:46:00.001-08:00

Rao Bahadur H J Bellie Gowder

[ A Historic Hero of the Nilgiris]

Society grows due to education, a human being remains human due to education. The pioneer who helped the Badaga Community (of Nilgiri Hills, South India) in the field of education, was Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai.Joghee Gowder.Bellie Gowder, a great leader and the leading light of Badagas during his time.

He started a school for Badaga students in Hubbathalai Village on July 01, 1929. It was (initially) known as Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder (free) High School.

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder Board High School, Hubbathalai

It is at the same Hubbathalai Village where he often used to invite the 'Seeme Gowdas' (Badaga leaders of other areas of the Nilgiris, each area being called a 'Seeme' or a small 'kingdom') to discuss the situations and problems prevalent at that time and give his advice. People from "Naaku Betta " ( from all over the Nilgiris - spread on all the four[naaku] sides by mountains called 'bettas' in Badaga language) always kept coming to see him, seek his advise and settle their difficulties. In fact, it is said that the kitchen fire in the house of Bellie Gowder was never extinguished (to feed the people who came to see him).

Like the proverbial seven philanthrophists (Kadai Ezhu Vallalgal) described in Tamil literature, he too was a great philanthrophist. He gave lot of importance to education and established the Hubbathalai High School to help the poor to be literate.

He passed away on April 10, 1935

The fame of this historic hero, Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder, will remain forever !

This article was originally written in Tamil by

A.Kari Gowder

General Secretary, Porangadu Seeme Nala Sangam and published (May,2006) in the form of a booklet by

"PORANGADU SEEME NALA SANGAM" [N.G.O Regd No. 153 / 2002],

C-10 Hope Park, Kotagiri Post, Nilgiri Dist - 643 217, Tamil Nadu (India)

Translated by Wg.Cdr.Bellie Jayaprakash

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder with British Engineers and workers at Bridge No.33 between Coonoor & Mettupalayam. Bellie Gowder was involved in laying the Nilgiri Mountain Raiway, now WORLD HERITAGE, a hundred years ago. He was conferred with the title RAO BAHADUR for carrying out the excellent but challenging contract work of building this unique railway system in inhospitable forest area that also involved in cutting tunnels through rocky hills as well as building many bridges with sheer guts. He employed human power to lift the racks & rails and remove the rocks and boulders. Many of his workers were BADAGAS who addressed Bellie Gowder as BELLIE MAISTRY

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder became very famous after help laying the Nilgiri Mountain Railway between Ooty & Mettupalayam and British Officilas who visited Nilgiris accepted his invitation to come to his house in Hubbathal Village. This photo taken on 27-12-1934 shows the water tank & “Mel Tharas” (upper street houses) of Hubbathalai

Rao Bahadur HJ Bellie Gowder with boy scouts of Hubbathai School which he built (1929)

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder’s wife Mrs. Nanji Hethe with a British lady in 1930s.

( This photo was taken at Hubbathalai Hatti to which many dignitaries including the Governor along with his wife had paid visits on Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder’s invitation for functions like opening the first school built by Bellie Gowder etc. The British governor was presented with a lock - made of pure gold - that he unlocked to open the school building)

Nanji Hethe with one of the sisters of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder

Nanji Hethe with her first grand daughter Radha [daughter of Mrs.Kade Idyammal (Photo taken about 65 years back) and Rao Bahadur HJ Bellie Gowder’s sister -photo taken abt 80 years back

bjaypee@gmail.com

Proud to be an Indian , Proud to be a Badaga

Badaga Blessings

2011-11-28T06:43:00.001-08:00

Let us seek the blessings of Elders, 'Doddavakka Harichili'

One of the wonderful and deeply meaning ful customs of Badagas, is the seeking of the blessings of elders. That is, whenever any person meets/visits an elder, he or she seeks the blessings of the elderly person [elderly does not mean aged/old but only elder by age] by bowing the head and requesting "Harachu (bless me)". If any headgear like cap/turban is worn, the same is removed. Also, on social occasions, like when the'earmarked'/ selected devotees proceed towards the Hethay mane or at certain festivals the village elders bless the others who prostrate in front of them. Similarly, when the newly weds seek the blessings - 'adda bubbadhu', these blessings are given, though at times, it is a shorter version that is used

.

ondhu, ompaththu aagali,
[ondhu - one, ombaththu - nine, aagali - happen]
ondhu, saavira aagali,
[saavira - thousand]

harachchava kodali, sogava kodali,
[haracha - health, soga - happiness, kodali - given]
baNda hechchali, badhukku hechchali,
[banda - cattle, badhakku - wealth/prosperity, hechchali - increase]
bE hechchali, haalu hechchali, haNNu hechchali,
[bay/be - crops, haalu - milk, hannu - fruits)

manE katti, maaru kattili,
[mane - house, katti - build, maaru - marriage]
ondhu manE, saavira manE aagali,
[ondhu - one, mane - house, saavira - thousand]

beNNE bettu aagali, thuppa theppa aagali,
[benne - butter, betta - mountain, thuppa - ghei, theppa - well]
hulla muttilE hoo aagali, kalla muttilE kaai aagali,
[hullu - grass, hoo - flower, kallu - stone, kaai - (unripened) fruit]
honna muttilE sinna aagali,
[honnu - iron, sinna - gold]

bettadhudhu bandhalEyu, beraluga adangali,
[bettadhadhu - (like a big) mountain/lots, beralu - small finger]
attudhadhu bandhalEyu, aangai adangali,
[attudhadhu - (lile a deep) valley, aangai - palm/fist]

Kattidhadhu karEyali, biththidhadhu bEyali,
[Kattidhadhu - tied (cow), karyali - yield (milk)
aanaiya balava kodali, ariyaa siriyaa kodali,
[aanai - elephant, bala - strengh, kodali - given, ariya - a lot, siri - happiness]
budhdhi bevarava kodali,
[budhdhi - intelligence, bevara - wisdom]

uri hOgi, siri barali, siri sippaaththi agali,
[uri -envy, hogi -(be) gone, siri - happiness, sippaththi - plenty]
HOppa edE, bappa edE ellaa, oLLiththE barali,
[Hoppa -going/ travel, ede - place, bappa - coming, ella - all, olliththe - only good things]

nooru thumbi, naadu jaradhu, dheera pooraNa aagi,
[nooru - hundred, thumbi - filled, naadu - nation, jaradu - envious, dheera - wise, poorna - full]
OLLiththa Eththi, Hollava ThaLLi, olagodho ellaava Gedhdhu,
[olliththa - good deeds, eththi - taken, holla - bad, thalli - reject, olaga - world, ellava - complete, gedhdhu - win]

sangatta salippu illaadhe,
[Sngatta - illness, salippu - problems/hinderance]
hoppa dhaari, Bappa Dhaari yo, edinjilu iLLaadhe,
[dhaari - path, edinjilu - blockades]
padippEri mundhuga hesareththi,
[paddippu - education, mundhuga - forward, hesaretthi - name and fame]

kumbE kudi haradha engE, angaalu muLLu muriyaadhE,
[Kumba kudi - pumpkin, haradhu - spread, aangaalu - foot/sole, mullu - thorn]
kO endhu korachchi, bO endhu bokki,
[korachi - calling, bokki - overflow]
ManE thumba makka hutti, gOttu thumba sosE kondu,
[ mane - house, makka - children, hutti - born, gottu - corner, sose - daughters in law]

paava pariya nOdi, olagadha hesaru eththi
[paava - dear, paria - near ones, nodi - look after, olagadha -whole world, hesaru - name and fame, eththi - get]
badhukki baa
[Badhukki - prosperity]

Let prosperity/good deeds increase nine folds,
Let a prosperity increase a thousand times,
Let good health and happiness be bestowed
Let the cattle wealth / livestock (number of buffalows and cows) increase

Let wealth increase
Let the (sown) crops increase

Let the milk (yield) increase
Let the fruits increase

May you build (your own) a house
May you get married
Let one house become a thousand

Let the butter [yield] grow to a mountain,
Let ghei (clarified butter) being made, become large like a well
Let grass turn to flowers and stones to fruits when touched
Let iron turn to gold
Even if trouble comes in huge amount like a mountain, let it be contained in a finger
Even if trouble comes like a deep valley, let it be contained in the palm (fist)

Let the tied cow give milk,
Let whatever is sown ,grow well

Let the strength of Elephant be bestowed (on you)
Let a lot of happiness be given,
May you become intelligent and wise

Let jealousy vanish and happiness prevail
Let happiness increase many fold

Let only good things happen wherever you go and come

Let you live to be a full hundred with lots of wisdom so as to make others wonder(envious)
Take only the good and leave behind the bad
May you win all in this world
without any worries and problems,
Let there be no hindrance on your ways
Let you come up in life with wisdom given by education

Like a pumpkin plant that grows and spreads
Let not thorns stop your steps

Let your name and fame spread wide and far and called by all and overflow
Let your home be filled with children
and let there be many daughters in law

May you look after your dear and near ones
Earn a great name in this world
And live with all prosperity !

ஒந்து, ஒம்பத்து ஆகலி,ஒந்து, சாவிர ஆகலி,

ஹரச்சவ கொடலி, சொகவ கொடலி,
பண்ட ஹெச்சலி, பதுக்கு ஹெச்சலி,
பே ஹெச்சலி, ஹாலு ஹெச்சலி, ஹண்ணு ஹெச்சலி,

To read the full text go here>>

Badaga Months

2011-11-28T06:41:00.001-08:00

[Photo - below - shows the 'Nakku Betta Koottu' - the grand meeting of Badagas from all over,held under the leadership of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder (Nakku Betta Raja -Bellie Gowda) in Hubbathalai Village about a 100 years ago]

PHOTO : COPYRIGHT> WING COMMANDER BELLIE JAYAPRAKASH

Badaga Months

Badaga Calendar 2011 - KOODALU

Badaga Calendar 2011

Badaga Months

1) Koodalu, 2) Aalaani 3) Nallaani 4) Aani 5) Aadire 6) Aadi 7) Aavaani 8 ) Perattaadhi 9) Dhodda Devige 10) Kiru Devige 11) Thai 12) Hemmatti

The more I listen to the song 'Kappu Uttileyu', the more fascinated I become. All the 12 Badaga months starting with Koodalu [given in Capital Letters] are beautifully integrated within the song.

Go here to listen to the song.

The lyrics of the song go like this :-

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 ஹேகு த,

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 ஏமாத்திண்டு ஹோக பேட ,

தட்டி பீத்த சிலெயு நீ எதக ,
கொட்டு பீத்த ஹெண்ணு நா எதெக

Go here to listen to the song

Badaga Ring Tones

2011-11-28T06:38:00.001-08:00

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Badaga - Hatti, Ooru & Naadu(See'may)

2011-11-28T06:37:00.001-08:00

As elaborated in the page on Badaga Hattis [villages], still there seems to be no conclusive evidence about how the ancestors made the divisions [geographical and social] about their villages.Simply put, in ancient times, a few houses (among brothers and cousins) formed a HATTI and then a cluster of villages, though based not only on the geographical locations, formed a OORU. Obviously, all the people from the hattis forming the Ooru were/are considered as brothers and sisters - and hence no marriages among these hattis were considered. Then, many Oorus formed a SEEMAY or NAADU.

And, FOUR Seemays or Naadus form NAKKU BETTA - representing the complete Badaga population in the Nilgiri hills. Though, only three Naadus /Seemays namely, Thodhanaadu, Mekkunaadu and Porangaadu have the Dhodda Betta peak as the apex and common point of these three seemays, KUNDHEY SEEMAY, at the south eastern end, is very much a separate and important seemay. See the map.

The confusion comes when we realise that some Thodha,Kotha and Kuruma villages/Oorus were also included into the broader periphery of Naadu/Seemay. The probable reasons for this inclusion could be the close association of Badagas with these tribes considered as the original inhabitants of the Nilgiris along with Badagas.

Oorus forming Porangaadu Seemay ;

Badaga - Villages, Communes and (Four) Divisions

Hubbathalai - [1.Dhodda Hubbathalai 2.Kunna Hubbathalai]
Jakkadha - [1.Jakkadha 2.Kaarakorai 3.Bearatti 4.Mel Bikkatti 5.Kiya Bikkatti 6.Manjitha 7.Malligorai 8.Honnamudi 9.Odhanatti]
Jakkanarai - [1.Jakkanarai Melkeri,2. J - Oorkeri, 3.J - Kiyakeri, 4. J - Thoria keri, 5.Thumboor ,6.Thinniyur, 7.Mudiakambai, 8.Bangalada, 9.Kallada, 10.Selavai, 11.Bettatti. 12.Naduhatti, 13.Arabettu, 14.Aravenu, 15.Aravenu kettikeri]

CONTINUE reading here.....

CONTINUE reading...........

Prof: Paul Hockings has sent the following comments

2011-11-28T06:35:00.001-08:00

Prof: Paul Hockings has sent the following comments:
Am glad to say that my book “Ancient Hindu Refugees” will be out in a year or so in A MUCH REVISED AND EXPANDED EDITION. It presents new evidence for a move from Mysore villages in the late 16th century, and brings the story completely up to date. Several people have been enquiring about how many hattis there are: well, in our Dictionary of Badagu (1992) we already gave the complete list of 468 hattis divided between a number of u:ru. That has not changed, although some of those hattis were abandoned.

A hundred and fifty thousand visitors....

2011-11-28T06:29:00.001-08:00

A hundred and fifty thousand thanks…

From the bottom of my heart…..a big ‘Thank You‘ to all the visitors to this website.

It was a small step to sow the correct information about ‘The Badagas of the Blue Mountains‘.

And now, it has grown and spread out to attract a large number of friends like YOU.

We have crossed the mile stone of 150,000 visitors on 20-04-2011.

Thank you, and please visit again!

[But I still maintain "what we DO NOT about Badagas is much more than what we know about them"]

From the bottom of my heart.....a big 'Thank You' to all the visitors to this website.

It was a small step to sow the correct information about 'The Badagas of the Blue Mountains'.

And now, it has grown and spread out to attract a large number of friends like YOU.

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This is what I had written when we crossed the milestone of 100,000 visitors in March,2010 in badaga.com

A hundred thousand thanks to you all!

Any event in our life is generally valued in terms of numbers. First birthday, tenth year, Silver (25) / golden (50) / platinum (75) Jubilees, a century in cricket, thousand pillars in a temple, Lachathipathi (a lac) etc etc. Similarly, to a website, the importance or rather the encouragement is in terms of the number of visitors to that site. In that sense, the number, a hundred thousand, 100,000 is very significant.

To achieve that land mark for a website that focuses on a small tribal community with great traditions, confined within the four geographical boundaries called 'Seemay/ Naadu' called 'four' mountains [Naakku Betta] in Badaga, in the beautiful blue mountains [the Nilgiris], is a matter of great pride and honour.

A few years back, when you were craving for a website on or about Badaga, the only one was Rabin's www.badaga.com. The website made me wonder why not start a website or rather a blog on, of and about the Badagas of the Blue Mountains.

To give more info on Badaga, the language and people. What started as a hobby and the urge to give accurate, authentic and unknown information as a 'pay back' to the community I belong to and be proud of, has grown into an ambition and obsession. The more I dig into our history, origin, customs, culture, language and traditions the more is the motivation and the determination to give gleamed information to the youth of the community in particular and to the public in general. Needless to say, the journey is one heck of an unknown but highly interesting and satisfying one.

The motivation and encouragement comes from the constant stream of comments that I receive every day. More than anything else, the 'nasha' comes when I look at the number of visitors. More than a hundred visitors for so many days, months and years! Simply AMAZING !! There must be something right and interesting in what appears in the website www.badaga.in or rather, the weblogwww.badaga.wordpress.com if I can boast of a hundred thousand visitors, nay honourable guests and friends so far.

Special thanks to badaga.com for being the original trigger of the ambition that has been largely fulfilled. All I can say, with hands folded and head bowed, THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of my heart. And, let us remain to be proud Indians and proud Badagas .

With warm regards, Wg.Cdr. Bellie Jayaprakash

A word about my BADAGA websites

2008-11-30T03:26:00.000-08:00

One of the complaints I hear from our friends visiting my websitehttp://badaga.wordpress.com is that it takes ages to fully display all the contents. This is because, there are many multimedia posts like songs, pictures, animations etc.To overcome this drawback I have developed another set of websites in BLOG SPOT / BLOGGER with each page fromhttp://badaga.wordpress.com being made into an individual website that can load faster.Like for example, the most popular page ‘BADAGA SONGS ON THE WEB’ is made into a separate website > “Badaga Songs on the web” where you can listen to ‘Badaga Music’ without leaving the page and leave your comments as usual.

The Complete list of new weblogs in BLOGGER are

Badaga Wedding in pictures,

Badagas of the Blue Mountains-General Interest,

Badaga Songs on the WEB,

Badaga Rare Photos,

Badaga persons who made a difference,

Badaga Jewellery,

Badaga recipes.....,

Badaga Funeral Rites,

Badaga Songs,

Hethay Amma History,

Badaga Language,

Badagas of the Blue Mountains,

Badaga Villages,

Awake India. Enough is enough,

Tech it from me,

Website of a young Badaga

TEA & TEA prices ?

2008-11-30T02:34:00.000-08:00

Badagas have been associated with the plantation crop TEA in a big way in the Nilgiris, ever since it was introduced in India by the British. Some pioneers like Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder planted tea in a large area of his land holding [at one time he owned about a thousand acres of land around the Nilgiri Hills].From traditional crops like potatos, Badagas took to tea in a big way. They planted, protected and preserved their ‘thotta’ [estates], being it a small holding of one or two acres or slightly bigger ones of ten / twenty acres, with their sweat and blood.

Whenever two Badagas met from different areas, one of the ‘greetings’ would invariably be, ‘ Ele (soppu) bele ella ethe? - how about the prices of tea? ‘ Since most of them were and still are ‘green leaf’ suppliers that is to say, they would pluck the green leaves from their gardens/estates and sell them to tea factories on a price per kilo determined by the latter. The people from Kotagiri area were real hardworkers and took special care of their crops.The tea factory owners, in turn, would fix the price of green leaf tea based on how much price they would get when they sold their made tea [ready to drink] in the ‘AUCTION Centres’ in Coonoor, generally through BROKERS.

This is where the problem started. As long as the made tea was sold at a decent price, the factory owners gave a good or ‘comfortable’ price to the green leaf suppliers who formed a majority.But, the brokers, sensing the great weakness of BADAGAS for all the ‘Ws’ and their extravagance in spending money without the thought of saving, started lending money to the factory owners under one pretext or other. Thus the gullible came under their stranglehold and had no choice but to sell the made tea to only these brokers from whom they had borrowed money.

They had to meekly accept whatever price was offered by these unscrupulous traders who formed ‘CARTELS’. Since, most of the small tea factory owners could not stock their produce or demand a better price, they had no choice but to either offer a much lower price to the green leaf suppliers or pack up and close their factories.Since tea, at least in the earlier days, took about five years to become a fully developed crop and is considered as perennial, destroying and switch over to other vegetable crops was nor an option due to a variety of reasons. At the same time, tea being a plantation crop and needs to be plucked after every fortnight or so, could not be left to become ‘mudhi’. Low prices means no incentive.

The economy of Badagas depend on tea prices to a great extent. And, hence, the small growers are caught between the devil and the deep sea.

The ‘brokers cartel’ attributed the low prices to the ’quality’ of made tea produced. Though to some extent it was true that a few factory owners indulged in ‘adulteration’ etc, a large number of them were and are still caught in the vice grip of the brokers.

This is where, the initiative [described below] taken by young social activists and concerned citizens like Mrs. Anitha Gokul, wife of DFO of Haveri [Karnataka] Mr.Gokul, needs everybody’s immediate attention and action.

Will we wake up?

TEA & TEA prices ?

2008-11-29T23:41:00.000-08:00

Mrs.Anitha Gokul has put the ills that are affecting the ‘TEA FRONT’ in a very clear and elobarate way [ given below] in the forum under ‘Nilgiri Issues’.I feel it needs our urgent attention and action. And hence I am reproducing it under Badaga Community should it escape the readers’ attention.The ‘brokers cartel’ with some gullible bought tea factory owners have ruined a generation now.Your views require the immediate attention of all those ’small’ tea growers - especialy Badagas whose lives have been very closely linked to tea and tea prices.It is high time, we TAKE SOME ACTION AT ONCE !!

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Anitha Gokul writes in badaga.org

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005 FOR BETTER TEA PRICING

Dear members,

I am opening up an old issue of tea price vis-a vis the official apathy of the Tea Board of India for allowing tea prices to be quoted at low prices artificially due to the unholy nexus between the tea brokers and the Tea Board officials; nexus between the tea brokers and the tea buyers; thereby inflicting pain and hardship to lakhs of tea growers and tea manufacturers. So please spare a few moments to read the following for the cause of our people.We all accept that the tea price is affecting the livelihood of the people of Nilgiris and Badagas in particular. We have been channeling our energy against the Government of TamilNadu and were happy if the State Government gave us a paltry sum in the name of subsidy. It is high time we think beyond such short-term measures and analyze the real cause of low tea price.Lakhs of tea growers are dependent upon about 170 tea factories in Nilgiris. The tea manufactured in the factories is being sold through only 7 or 8 tea brokerage firms. Numerous buyers purchase the tea, which are distributed within India and are also exported. Thus one could see that the tea brokers hold the key to the tea industry.The retail price of tea is in the range from Rs120- 200/kg or more. The auction price of tea at Coonoor is below Rs.50/kg. So what has happened to the remaining hundred Rupees? This is because of the nexus between buyers and tea brokers.Almost all the tea factories have borrowed few lakhs of Rupees from the tea brokers to start the factory without understanding the consequences of the exorbitant interest charged. The compounded interest charged is about 36% per annum. Thus tea factories have been forced into a debt trap and have become mute spectators as the tea brokers decide the price of tea. About 100 factories are shut down in Nilgiris as they are not able to withstand the high interest rate. The tea growers are the real sufferers in this whole process as they depend upon the factories for tealeaf rate. Since tea factories get less value for the tea sold, they are forced to reduce the rate of tealeaf. Thus about 8 tea brokers through a hundred and odd factories are exploiting lakhs of tea growers.

Thus the crux of the issue of low tea price lies in the fact that tea factories are in a debt trap of the tea brokers.

The Tea Board of India is the licensing authority for the tea brokers. As per the licensing norms, no tea broker is supposed to lend money to any tea manufacturer. In violation of this, the tea brokers have been charging exorbitant interest from the tea factories. The Tea Board officials have been showing a blind eye to this social evil, which needs to be questioned by each one of us. Unless this violation is set right, the price of tea is not going to improve.

The important tool available with each one of us to make the Tea Board officials take action against the tea brokers is the Right to Information Act, 2005.

Some questions that could be asked are:

1) Are tea brokers entitled to lend money to tea manufacturers? If yes, under which norm/rule/act. Please furnish a copy of the same.
2) Are tea brokers lending money to tea manufacturers?
3) Is Tea Board aware that tea brokers are lending money to tea manufacturers at exorbitant rate of interest?
4) If tea brokers are not entitled to lend money to tea manufacturers, what is the action taken by Tea Board against tea brokers.
5) If the Tea Board officials against the tea brokers do not take action, please furnish the names of the erring Tea Board officials.
6) What action has been taken against the erring Tea Board officials?

By seeking information under RTI, we can activate the whole Government machinery, as they are supposed to furnish information within 30 days from the date of application. Many applications should be sent to Tea Board so that the issue will not die and we can accomplish many things, which we cannot achieve through courts, etc.

My only wish is that there should be more discussion on this subject so as to take it to a logical end, as I believe that as learned members of our community we can achieve justice. A lot of things have been happening in the scene where the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Human Rights Commission, Chief Vigilance Commissioner have been alerted, which will be elaborated during our course of discussion.

As per licensing norms of the Tea Board of India, tea brokers are not supposed to lend money to tea factories. In violation of these norms, money is lent. This violation is going unabated because the tea board officials are not taking action against the tea brokers. By questioning the officials, we can force them to take action on tea brokers. Once that happens, then tea brokers will not have the guts to harass tea factories and pull them to courts. By this we can liberate the tea industry from the clutches of the brokers and see bouyancy in the tea leaf rates for sure.

Tea brokers have very deep pockets to overcome any hurdle that might come in their way. So the only option left with us is to hold officials responsible for their negligence of duty. I have sent three seperate applications under RTI today. A copy of these are as follows. I would appreciate if more members would send similar letters or better versions so as to put pressure on the officials concerned, which would cost a mere ten Rupees.

To
1.Shri. Basudeb Banerjee I.A.S., Chairman, Tea Board of India, 14, B.T.M. Sarani ( Brabourne Road), Kolkota 700 001.
2.Shri. R.D.Nazeem, Executive Director, Tea Board of India Zonal Office, Post Box No: 6, Coonoor 643 101 Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu.
3.Sri. Raj Singh, Director, Room No: 225, Udyog Bhavan, Dept of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, New Delhi 110 011.
Sir,
Sub: Application under Right to Information Act, 2005
Please find enclosed a Postal Order for Rs 10/- with a request to furnish the following information under Right to Information Act, 2005.
1) Are Tea brokerage firms entitled to lend money to tea manufacturers? If yes, under which norm/rule/act? Please furnish a copy of the same.
2) Are tea brokerage firms lending money to tea manufacturers?
3) Is the Ministry/Tea Board of India aware that tea brokerage firms are lending money to tea manufacturers at exorbitant rate of interest?
4) If tea brokerage firms are not entitled to lend money to tea manufacturers, what action the Ministry/Tea Board of India against tea brokerage firms has taken?
5) If the Ministry/Tea Board officials against the tea brokerage firms do not take action, please furnish the names of the erring Ministry/Tea Board official or officials.
6) What action has been taken against the erring Ministry/Tea Board official or officials?
7) Who is the authority responsible to take action on the erring official/officials?

If no action has been taken, what action has been taken against the authority responsible to take action?
9) Please furnish a copy of the licensing norms for Tea brokers.
10) What is the action taken by the Ministry/Tea Board of India to improve the system of getting better price for made tea?

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Central Bureau Of Investigation requesting to investigate into the fraudulent activities of Tea Board.

To
The Superintendent of Police,Economic Offence Wing, Central Bureau of Investigation, Rajaji Bhavan,Besant Nagar,Chennai-600 090.
Sir,
Sub: Large-scale economic offence in tea industry –regarding.
Ref: 1) My application under RTI Act, 2005 to Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India dated 11-02-2008.
2) Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India’s reply letter No. MISC/LC/2007/1315 dated 27th February 2008.
3) My application under RTI Act, 2005 to Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India dated 06-03-2008.
4) Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India’s reply letter No. MISC/LC/2007/108 dated 17th April 2008.

********

With regard to the above subject and references, I would like to bring the following for your kind information and necessary action.
The Tea Board of India is a regulatory body for the tea industry like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for the stock market. Unlike SEBI which does not allow Stock Brokers to advance money to sellers of shares, bonds, etc and charge interest from them till its realization, the Secretary of Tea Board of India has openly declared that claiming of interest by Tea Brokers from tea manufacturers is not a violation. This trade practice is one of the main reasons for huge difference between the auction rate and market rate for tea in India. Thus Tea Board has allowed Tea Brokers to earn by means of both commission and interest. Neither the tea growers nor the consumers are benefited. There is a loss of crores of Rupees in terms of evasion of sale tax, income tax, etc to exchequer in the trade of tea. The Tea Board of India has not taken any action. However, in the case of stock market, the buyer and the seller buy and sell shares at the same rates and the Stock Brokers only take commission for the transaction. The information obtained by applying under RTI Act, 2005 has exposed the role of Tea Board of India in this illegal trade practice, which has completely ruined the tea industry in India.

In reply to my application under ref (1), copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-1, the Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India under ref (2), enclosed as Annexure-2, has informed that no Tea Brokerage Firms are entitled to lend money to any tea producing company or tea estate in accordance with the clause 21 of the Norms for licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions. He has further informed that Tea Brokerage Firms may make advance payments to tea manufacturers against tea for sale in the relevant Auction Center and/or against sold tea-awaiting payment of prompt in accordance with the clause 21 of the Norms for Licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions.
Vide ref (3), copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-3, it was requested to provide information as to whether Tea Brokerage Firms can charge interest on the advance payments made to tea manufacturers against tea for sale in the relevant auction center and/or against sold tea awaiting payment of prompt in accordance with the clause 21 of the Norms for Licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions.
Vide ref (4), copy of which is enclosed as Annexure-4, the Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India has replied that claiming of interest by the Tea Brokerage Firms on advance payments made to tea manufacturers is not a violation of the norm stipulated for broker by Tea Board since such norms do not specify that advance should be interest free.
The reply given by the Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India, vide ref (4) is contradictory to the reply given vide ref (2). While vide ref (2), it is mentioned that Tea Brokerage Firms cannot lend money to tea manufacturers as per Clause 21 of the Norms for Licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions; vide ref (4), it is mentioned that claiming of interest by the Tea Brokerage Firms on advance payments made to tea manufacturer is not a violation of the norm stipulated for broker by Tea Board since such norms do not specify that advance should be interest free.

The reply given by the Secretary & CPIO, Tea Board of India is misleading. Under the circumstances, the following questions arise:
1. If Tea Brokerage Firms are not entitled to lend money to tea manufacturers, but can claim interest on advance payments made to them, what is the difference between lending and advance payments in clause 21 of the Norms for Licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions?
2. If the norms do not specify that advances made to the tea manufacturers by the Tea Brokerage Firms should be interest free (as replied by the CPIO vide ref (4)) and the clause 21of the norms clearly specifies that Tea Brokerage Firms cannot lend money to tea manufacturers but can only advance against the tea to be sold in the relevant Auction Center and/or awaiting payment of prompt, why is the Tea Board not interpreting the norm that Tea Brokerage Firms should not charge interest on the advance payments to the tea manufactures?
3. Is Tea Board of India abetting the Tea Brokerage Firms in circumventing the clause 21 of the Norms for Licensing of Brokers in Public Tea Auctions and allowing the Tea Brokerage Firms to extract exorbitant rates of interest from the tea manufacturers?
4. If no, Have Tea Brokerage firms registered under Money Lender’s Act or Pawn Brokers Act? Is the income by way of interest been reflected in the annual turn over of the brokers, while submitting for renewal of their licenses up to 31st December of every year? Does Tea Board of India have the authority to accept the Tea Broker’s income by way of interest, while giving renewal for Tea Broker’s license every year?
These applications submitted under RTI and the replies furnished under the above said references are being keenly watched by thousands of tea growers and tea manufacturers on the Internet who are hoping for some respite. Hence, Lakhs of small tea growers are indirectly affected because of the existing trade practice. The regulatory body namely the Tea Board of India has completely failed in its duty to protect the industry for its own personal gains. Hence I request that suitable investigation may be taken in the interest of lakhs of tea growers and the industry.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,

(D.ANITHA) Haveri 22/04/2008

Copy submitted to:
1. The Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, Block No.3, 4th Floor, CGO complex, New Delhi-110 003.
2.The Superintendent of Police, Anti Corruption Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation, Shastri Bhawan, 3rd Floor, 26 Haddows Road, Chennai 600 006.
3. The Chairman, Tea Board of India, 14, B.T.M. Sarani (Brabourne Road), Kolkota-700 001.

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2008-11-29T23:12:00.000-08:00

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For 'one site' that says it all about the Badagas of the Blue Mountains

More than 178,000 visitors

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No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com

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Badagas of the Blue Mountains !

where are we heading to....

2011 Review

All is well ?!

Another great Badaga 'Saavu' song

WANT TO GET MARRIED BUT THE FEAR OF THE ‘RAVAGES OF DIVORCE’ IS A STUMBLING BLOCK

[Complete article here - > : http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/584138/?sc=dwhn]

Rare Pix by Ravi Belliraj

Highly Disturbing

Residents of B. Manihatty at the Collectorate in Udhagamandalam on Tuesday. – Photo: D. Radhakrishnan [The Hindu]

Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder

Rao Bahadur H J Bellie Gowder

Badaga Blessings

Let us seek the blessings of Elders, 'Doddavakka Harichili'

.

ஒந்து, ஒம்பத்து ஆகலி,ஒந்து, சாவிர ஆகலி,

ஹரச்சவ கொடலி, சொகவ கொடலி,பண்ட ஹெச்சலி, பதுக்கு ஹெச்சலி,பே ஹெச்சலி, ஹாலு ஹெச்சலி, ஹண்ணு ஹெச்சலி,To read the full text go here>>

Badaga Months

Badaga Months

1) Koodalu, 2) Aalaani 3) Nallaani 4) Aani 5) Aadire 6) Aadi 7) Aavaani 8 ) Perattaadhi 9) Dhodda Devige 10) Kiru Devige 11) Thai 12) Hemmatti

Go here to listen to the song.

Go here to listen to the song

Badaga Ring Tones

Badaga - Hatti, Ooru & Naadu(See'may)

CONTINUE reading...........

Prof: Paul Hockings has sent the following comments

A hundred and fifty thousand visitors....

A hundred and fifty thousand thanks…

We have crossed the mile stone of 150,000 visitors on 20-04-2011.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A word about my BADAGA websites

TEA & TEA prices ?

TEA & TEA prices ?

No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com

belliejayaprakash©2011

ஹரச்சவ கொடலி, சொகவ கொடலி,
பண்ட ஹெச்சலி, பதுக்கு ஹெச்சலி,
பே ஹெச்சலி, ஹாலு ஹெச்சலி, ஹண்ணு ஹெச்சலி,

To read the full text go here>>