Ari Gowder - 41st Death Anniversary [28-6-2012]

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder

Bowing our heads in silent reverence for all that he had done to our community… so that we can hold our heads high !

[December 4, 1893 – June 28, 1971]

Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder, the first Badaga graduate, first Badaga M.L.C & M.L.A for a long time who had brought many reforms in/to Badaga Community including ‘prohibition’ (no alcohol - kudi) to Nilgiris in British days itself as alcoholism was playing havos with the tribals [as it is doing with the populace of the Nilgiris now].  

Ari Gowder lead the Indian contingent (yes, “INDIAN CONTINGENT) to World Scouts Jumbore held in Europe in the 1930s.  

Being a great philanthropist he had done a lot for the betterment of Badagas. 

He was the one who established Nilgiri Co-Op Marketing Society at Ooty, to save the small farmers-especially Badagas- from the exploits of middlemen & traders at Mandis in Mettupalayam. He was the President of NCMS for more than 30 years, till his death and NCMS was considered one of the best co-op societies in India during his days. His statue has been erected in the NCMS compound in appreciation of his great work.  

The bridge constructed in 1939 at Kakkanalla, Masinagudi linking Tamil Nadu state with Karnataka state was named Ari Gowder Bridge. Since he donated the land, the road in front of Mambalam Railway Station in Chennai (Madras) is named after him (known as Arya Gowder Street). 

Ari Gowder was held in great esteem and considered as the ‘ Uncrowned King - Nakku Bettaga Raja‘ by Badagas.

from wikipedia

H. B. Ari Gowder

Rao Bahadur Hubbatale Bellie Ari Gowder (December 4, 1893 – June 28, 1971) was a Badaga leader and the first member of the Badaga community to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council.

Birth and early life

Ari Gowder was born to Rao Bahadur H. J. Bellie Gowder at Hubbatale on December 4, 1893. Bellie Gowder was an engineering contractor from the Badaga tribe of Nilgiris who constructed the Nilgiri Mountain Railway.

Politics and public life

Ari Gowder was educated at the Madras Christian College before entering politics. He became the first Badaga to be elected to the Madras Legislative Council. He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Council from 1923 to 1926 and from 1930 to 1934 and was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Madras state in the 1940s and 1950s. He was also a President of the Backward Classes League. He also served a President of the Nilgiris District Board. When prohibition was introduced in 1937, Ari Gowder was instrumental in enforcing prohibition in the Nilgiris district. He led the Indian contingent to the World Scouts Jumboree in Hungary in 1930.

Philanthropic activities

Ari Gowder established the Nilgiris Co-operative Marketing Society in Mettupalayam in 1941 and served as its President until his death in 1971. The main purpose of the Nilgiris Co-operative Marketing Society was to guarantee the rights of cultivators from being exploited by middlemen.

Death and legacy

Ari Gowder died on June 28, 1971. He is highly regarded by members of the Badaga community who regard him as their patriarch. A bridge constructed in 1939 at Masinagudi linking the then Madras Presidency with the kingdom of Mysore was named Ari Gowder Bridge. The portion of West Mambalam, Chennai which adjoins the Mambalam railway station was gifted to the Government of Tamil Nadu by Ari Gowder and the road which runs parallel to the railway line is named Arya Gowder Road in his honor.

Identification of Badaga

IDENTIFICATION OF BADAGA

Dr.R.K.Haldorai,
[haldoraitamil@gmail.com     9444503414 ]

                 The word Badaga at the outset reflects the Badaga language speaker. The speaker’s loyalty and solidarity are intrinsically involved in it. It expresses a historically transmitted perception by which the Badaga speech community develops itself. The cultural elaboration of the word seems to be unassailable.

Badaga signifies the speech community and the participant membership of an individual. In another sense, there is a very close link between the word and the homeland, the Nilgiri District. Often it is used as a synonym to the nativity. It is used in accordance with inclination of its people with the homeland. Presumably, there is something more to being a Badaga than simply living in the Nilgiri District. Not all living in the Nilgiri district are Badaga speakers. But clearly the word reflects not only the nativity but also the linguistic identity. This applies in equal measure to the inner and outer identities.
With the ethnic entity, the Badaga speech community depends on fundamental unity, shared culture, shared values, shared ideals and shared attitudes, which are reflected in the shared language. The word Badaga embraces the inheritance of cultural landscapes. It is a cultural laden symbol. This is a very sensitive index of the Badaga culture. The meanings of self and other are involved in it. It reflects traditional self image with an emphasis on linguistic and native sensibility. Both are inseparable to the people of the Nilgiri District who have the credit of Badaga inheritance. So it is an attachment to their home land and language, and they feel pride in it. It is by which outsiders identify them.
As for as Badaga studies concern we have to deduce more from language information about historical contacts, social structure, religious beliefs and practices, folklore and so on. To our dismay the language part was not analyzed properly by scholars and its importance was not understood by the native speakers for a long period. However during the closing decades of the twentieth century two scholars, one from Annamalai University (Dr.R.Balakrishnan) and another from French (Dr.Christiane Pilot Raichoor) had done extensive study on Badaga and analyzed its distinctive characters. Through that they established its independent language status. Following them I analyzed Badaga language and described its independent language status with more such details.

I am in total agreement with Dr.Haldorai. We have not given due importance to Dr.C.P.Raichoor and may be to Dr.R.Balakrishnan. Dr.Raichoor is the co - author of Badaga - English Dictionary along with Prof.Paul Hockings.

The more I go through Dr.Haldorai's books, especially on Badaga Language, it is clear that he has put in a lot of efforts. I feel we should encourage his efforts by buying his books. - Wg Cdr JP

A pic [of British Library - online gallary] can tell a thousand stories

The information that accompanies the pix in this website reads as

"Photograph of the five hill tribes of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, taken by an unknown photographer from the Madras School of Arts in c. 1871-72. This photograph forms the Frontispiece of James Wilkinson Breeks 'An Account of the Primitive Tribes and Monuments of the Nilgiris' (India Museum, London, 1873). Breeks was the Commissioner of the Nilgiris and wished to make a record of the indigenous hill-tribes of the region before their way of life, customs and legends died out due to increasing western influences. In this photograph, two men represent each of the five local tribes: Irula, Badaga, Toda, Kota and Kurumba".

Proud to be a ‘Nilgirian’

Yes, we are proud to be Indians and proud to be Badagas.

Should we be not proud of being “NILGIRIANS” – as we belong to the beautiful blue mountains, the Nature Blessed Naakku Bettas?

The preservation of the eco system and environment of the Nilgiris is as much our duty and responsibility as every Indian’s.

In that respect, hats off to the initiatives and efforts of One Earth Foundation lead by Raminder Chowdhary.

“One Earth Foundation is a non-profit environmental and community service  trust focused on creating and enhancing environmental awareness and positively impacting the lives of indigenous communities through various initiatives.  Supported by several organizations and volunteers, our efforts and initiatives  are largely based in the ecologically & culturally  sensitive Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve where we engage, involve and interact with  village children, tribes & local communities and  special needs groups.

Our work is underpinned by the core guiding principles

• Conservation of the natural and cultural wealth and heritage of Nilgiris
• Engage and involve indigenous communities in our efforts
• Teach, inspire and empower young minds to equip and enable them to be the future custodians of our fragile planet”

More info on this great initiative is available in their beautiful website

Dr.Haldorai, a Badaga who has authored many books on Badaga

In our eagerness to know about ourselves [Badagas], many times, we highlight the work done by other researchers from abroad and tend to forget our own Badaga scholars who have done a lot on EVERY THING BADAGA.

One such scholar is Dr.Haldorai from Kiya Cowhatty. Though I have heard about him, I could not get to read any one of his books [there are many in English and Tamil] till recently. Saravana Raju of Karimora, a gifted and talented youngster with great many original ideas,got me many of his books.

Though I have had a cursory glance at his books, I am yet to make a detailed study. But one thing I am sure about. We may or may not  agree with all his views and interpretations but definitely, cannot ignore them.

He has been kind enough to respond to my emails and sent me a few exclusive articles and I have great pleasure in putting them up [uncensored] in this page. Yes, I feel he deserves a page for himself.

I will be adding more info in future.

Take a look on Dr.R.K.HALDORAI M.O.L., M.Ed., M.A., Ph.D, here

Articles by Dr.Haldorai

akka  bakka

                The institution of akka bakka is about thirty nine and above main villages of the Badagas, and essentially a patri local cult – seat. akka bakka structure consist of three components viz. hebbAyilu, karukambu and ajjugUDu. The hebbAyilu consists of two upright stone pillars with a connecting beam on top. In olden days this structure was erected with wooden posts. HebbAyilu means big or main enterance and it is enterance for not only akkabakka but to a particular village as well. Once as a rule village houses were built behind this structure. karukambu is an upright wooden post measuring about three feet and it represents Badagas earlier occupations. The third one is ajju gudu, sometimes it is called ajjigUDu, a dwelling place about three feet high constructed with stone slabs

                

 akka bakka is basically head quarter of a clan and it is governed by rules of exogamy. At present it acts as a ritual place or ceremonial yard. Only a village having akka bakka is the head or main village of Badagas and called as uur(village). Besides this devvamane (ancestral house)  is also important feature of Ur. Each such main village has ten or fifteen (even more) hamlets called haTTys. At the same time in exception cases even a single village may have the status of Ur and has akka bakka. The annual harvest festival, devvahabba celebration starts at this place. During other occasions such as he the festival too akka bakka gets special attention. Badagas are dependent upon agriculture. Men and women are nearly equal participants in agricultural pursuits. Hence agriculture gets the central place in the economic activity of the Badagas and their festivals are centring around this. From the beginning economy of Badagas has been found to be mixed one and their stage does not provide for any specialization of function. They followed variety of occupations to eke out of their subsistence. Honey gathering, hunting, rearing of buffaloes, shifting cultivation are the prominent. However agricultural and pastoral activities surpassed all.

                

 The term akka is a corrupt form of Tamil akkam, which means grain and bakka means wide open place or esplanade. Hence the compound word akka bakka expresses the meaning of a place where grains pooled after harvest. Once Badagas were barley and millet cultivators and mostly they had done on a common venture. During that part of time akka bakka got special attention. At present they abandoned millet cultivation all together. However to mark their tradition few ears of barley are placed during harvest festival. However akka bakka became relic and worshiped.

Why are we killing our language?

One of the charms and beauty of our language is ‘HA‘ as different from ‘A/AA‘.

It is Hethe(y) and not Athe(y)/Ethe(y).

Like, the correct way to say is :- Hatti [village], Haalu [milk], HaLLa [river] etc. But I am disgusted and disappointed to hear the above words being mentioned as ‘Atti, aalu,aLLa‘.

In one of the latest releases of the ballad Beradha Bellie – ‘Kaakay haadhara- is sung as Kakkay aadhara‘. Disappointing.

By the way, in many words, the meaning completely changes when you substitute HA with AA.

For example, Haalu – milk becomes ANGER[Irritation] when AALU is used.
Harachu – bless, Arachu – Find, Haday – lie down, aday – close

Ignorance may be bliss but not an EXCUSE.

Also see :- http://badaga-language.blogspot.in/

An email from Emerald Bhojan Hariharan

I have come to know about Emerald Bhojan Hariharan from the posts in badaga.com. I consider him to be a forward thinking Badaga with nothing but the welfare of Badagas in his mind.
It was indeed a pleasure to receive the following email from him. He had sent these comments on what I had written


“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, Lingayat [Lingakatti],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).

What is highlighted by him is a matter of great importance and need our urgent attention.


Dear Anna,
It is my pleasure to leave a short message on your website, which I consider as a yeoman service you are rendering the society in General and the Badaga Community in particular. Kudos and three Cheers to you. May you live long and continue your good work.

It came as a rude shock to me when I came to understand that there are 40+ Thoreya hatties in the Nilgiris and marriages happen only between Thoreyas although they no way differ from mainstream Badagas in any way, be it language, lifestyle, dressing, rituals or customs. Give it to my ignorance or broad mindedness, I always thought there was only one Badaga community and sub-sects were an integral part of it but none was superior or inferior to any.

Once I went deep into it, I came to understand the filth and false prophecies that went into creating this rift. It became unbearable and indigestible for me just to know that how a progressive community like the Badagas could have a prejudiced mindset over their own brothers, the Thoreyas. The same applies to the rift between Hodeya and other subsects as well.

I strongly feel the need for a unification of mindsets in each of us to bring in equality and justice across all sub sects, thus bringing all of us under one single umbrella called the Badaga Community. This will enable us hold our heads high and walk with pride.

On behalf of Manihatty Mahalingiah and Beragini Hethaiamma,

Truly Yours,
Emerald Bhojan Hariharan

'High Time' to change with changing times

Kumar [vina.vinasa@gmail.com] writes on Time to change with changing times.

The communities which have resisted change have vanished, the best example is our neighbor Todas, the majority of Todas changed to christianity because of laws in community. Forget about the changes happening across world, let us first assess the situation in our community.

Someone has mentioned about the ratio, it is pathetic at present. Every big hatty has atleast 40+ males waiting to get married even though they are well qualified professionally and financially. Anyone in this forum who has someone to get married in his or her house should know well about this. If this continues, its going to affect the society badly, may lead to extramarital affairs and marrying within the seeme(akka-thange).

It is easy for a girl, if she is smart and has chosen a good person, it does not matter which community she is going to live. But think about a guy, he cannot go to his hutty, nor attend his parents funeral, its cruel. The elders have to change their mindset, they have to understand what is happening in our society and across the world. By the time these people die and rules change, lot of boys are gonna lose their lives.

Kotagiri and Mekkunadu are far more better, they have accepted it, but in Thodhanadu its just like khap panchayats in Haryana. When a girl or boy is matured enough to live alone far from his or her place in india or abroad, they will be smart enough to decide their lives also. Even the middle east well known for ultra orthodox has changed, its time for us to change or else it will affect us badly.

Lets not forget, we live once, time and life are precious.

From the heart....

Do you have something to say?... a thought, a feeling , a comment or for that matter anything  straight from your heart. Only request is KISS - 'Keep it SHORT sweety'

Please keep it short and do not be offensive. 

Here is the FIRST ‘do you’ from Sofiajoghee from Singapore

Topic:  Praying Hettai Amma

I have no criticism on any religion or praying methods. Th only aim I think is to merge with our soul creator. So, I learnt a few techniques that would lead to the attainment of realization, healing and Samadhi if followed with discipline.

When I see we say we follow Hindu culture, however, our community is completely lacking in the growth in these areas except for the stories of Hettai Amma Eera Masi, who I was told vanished into the space when she found Iyya was found as a spirit after he was dead.

I am not sure how far my understanding of the story is true, because I have heard many versions of this stories from many people. So, I believe, she existed and was a great being. We have taken principles of her life to be followed in our life as well.

But end of the day, we need to reach a point which will lead us to eternity, and methods that can lead us to our creator. Do we have any such methods of prayers?

Even though Hettai Amma is a  mother godess (we believe so), we don’t allow women who try keeping the house clean over the hettai amman festival time to enter the temple. why are all these still in place.
If we understand the true value soul and the purpose of it, we shouldn’t have such practices, but strive towards one goal, because soul is always in its purest form. It is the intention of any person that needs to be pure when they pray, and not based on any division on color, sex, caste or creed.

Does our prayer practice have any such development helps? Kindly let me know if you have any pointers.

If not, don’t you too feel there is something we lack and its time for us to learn. Since we don’t have such learnings, many are changing converting their religion where their souls are motivated. nothing to blame, but every time soul is in search to reach Shiva.  So, how to teach such things to all?

Send letters/articles/your thoughts 

for publication in badaga.in or badaga.co (or any of Wg Cdr JP's websites on BADAGA SERIES) to 

- badaga@badaga.co or bjaypee@gmail.com:

Name: E-mail: Comment:

Bana Gudi - Kinnakorai

Bana Gudi - Kinnakorai. This image has been posted by Anand Ravi in FB who informs that it was built in 1858 and must be one of the oldest temples. [Bana - Forest, Gudi - Temple]

Spill the beans..to check the brain(s)

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!

And yes, the man is really there!

Badaga Connection

Coffee is planted along with tea in Kundha area [lower elevations]; and, dried and cleaned coffee beans are a given as standard gift [called 'nattu'] to friends and relatives. This great tradition of giving 'nattu' is another trait that we can be proud of.

Pun,ctuation

Well, you have heard of

'EATS SHOOTS AND LEAVES'

is not about a killer

but a Panda - bear that

eats, shoots and leaves.

One comma , makes the difference.

Here is another one :

An English professor wrote the following on the blackboard and asked his students to punctuate the sentence correctly :

"A WOMAN WITHOUT HER MAN IS NOTHING"

All the males in the class wrote,

"A WOMAN, WITHOUT HER MAN, IS NOTHING"

and all the females wrote,

"A WOMAN: WITHOUT HER, MAN IS NOTHING"

[from the internet]

Badaga connection

Badagas consider bamboo shoots curry- OTTUKUDI Udhakka- to be one of the most delicious dishes. In olden days, with the forest cover around the fringes of hattis [villages] gathering bamboo shoots used to be great fun for young girls. So was 'savudey hirukkodhu - gathering tree twigs.

I understand that a kilo of bamboo shoots was selling for about Rs.80/- this year 2012.

A glimpse of Badaga Cuisine and Dance

I found this interesting piece of youtube clip in FB - Badaga Group. Though it is, more of the Nilgiris and about a local hotel, I like the way Badagas have been portrayed - in a positive way.
I have mentioned about the Koi Udakka and Gaasu Dhotti in the Badaga Recipe page much earlier.see http://badaga-recipes.blogspot.in/

Also, do you know that the Nilgiri Mountain Railway - now a UNO heritage - has a strong Badaga connection. Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai Joghee Gowder Bellie Gowder, undisputed Nakku Betta Chief till his demise in 1935, laid the NMR track from Mettupalayam to Ooty  in 1908 during the British time. Bellie Gowda was the one who built the first school for Badagas in Hubbathalai. He was given the title Rao Sahib and Rao Bahadur mainly because of this. See also http://sites.google.com/site/badagacommunity/raobahadurhjbelliegowder

His son Rao Bahadur HB ARi Gowder, another great Nakku Betta leader, was the railway contractor during his time. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._B._Ari_Gowder
Amazingly, these two were authorised to stop this 'toy train' anywhere between Coonoor and Ooty just by showing the hand to stop.