AUG 10, 2009 VOL 3 ISSUE 2 Potato: Farming this unassuming tuber was a tradition, until recently. A review on p 10, 11 Alcoholism: upto 20% of alcohol drinkers become alcoholics. A perspective from a social worker, p 4 Local e A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NILGIRIS TRADITION I CULTURE I FLAVOUR I BUSINESS I NEWS Next issue: Heritage abused The Kurumbas have been traditionally forest dwellers. Their skills at honey hunting have been globally renowned but their’s is an uphill challenge. Honey Hunters. The Local Correspondent y pic, courtesy: Keystone Foundation
Transcript
AUG 10, 2009VOL 3 ISSUE 2
Potato: Farming thisunassuming tuber was atradition, until recently. Areview on p 10, 11
Alcoholism: upto 20% ofalcohol drinkers becomealcoholics. A perspectivefrom a social worker, p 4
LocaleA U N I Q U E P E R S P E C T I V E O F T H E N I L G I R I S
TRADITION I CULTURE I FLAVOUR I BUSINESS I NEWS
Next issue: Heritage abused
The Kurumbas have beentraditionally forest dwellers.Their skills at honey huntinghave been globally renownedbut their’s is an uphillchallenge.
HoneyHunters.The Local Correspondent
y
pic,
cour
tesy
: Key
ston
e Fo
unda
tion
2
The only heavy rain spell that thedistrict received in July was aroundthe 2nd week. It was on one ofthese days (night rather) that theBangalore- Ooty buses werestalled near Gudalur for 4-5 hoursdue to road blockades caused bymudslips on the ghat section. Theengineering students, here on aplanned two-day trip, took to ‘Uno’the elimination card game, keepingthemselves and co-passengersupbeat. What they liked about theNilgiris? Its weather!Student-tourists upbeat inspite of being stranded in a
KSRTC bus near Gudalur, due to heavy rainfall.
Raliah dam: One of the lifelines of theNilgiris, Raliah dam caters to the drinkingwater supply of Coonoor town.
Constructed in 1941, it took a little less than3 years to put up this sizeable dam which isset in pristine surroundings in the beautifulmountain ridges along the Wellington-Coonoor hill tracts. The area is off limits tovisitors due to obvious reasons of watercontamination. However, with priorpermission f rom the local municipalauthorities, small groups can visit the site.
Recron Pillows:Plush pillows from Recron, now available atJograj & Co. Prices range from Rs 155/-onward. Visit for a complete range of homefurnishings including branded mattresses,bedspreads, blankets, curtains and fine rugs.Jograj & Co, Bedford, Coonoor - 1.Call: (0423) 2231722
New Quetta Stores’ latestaddition to its wares, is a finecol lect ion of art i f ic ialjewellery with prices startingfrom Rs. 800/- onwards. Visiton any day of the weekanytime between 10 am to10 pm. New Quetta Stores,No. 587 Commercial Road,Ooty - 1. Ph: 98652 45603.Visit us also for a range of finecrockery and gift exclusives.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Raliah dam
The total depth of the dam is 58 ft. Water,this July, rose to around 40 feet. According tothe caretakers, this year’s rainfall has not beenas plentiful as in July, last year, when the damhad overflowed.
Work on Raliah dam was inaugurated by thethen Minister for Local Administration, ShriB Gopal Reddy in the presence of MunicipalCommissioner, Mr S Devagnanam and MrSamanna Naidu Municipal Chairman,Coonoor, on 16th July 1938.
Artificial jewellery
Badaga song & dance: If most Badagas cansing, then every Badaga can dance, records MrDharmalingam Venugopal in the book, TheNilgiris, published by the NilgiriDocumentation Centre. The dances, he furtherstates are a combination of graceful steps,gentle jerks, quaint turn and half-turns of thebody, hands, wrists and palms. The dancers areat their best during festivals and marriageswith men and women, young and old,matching step with each other. The ballads ofthis indigenous community are equallycaptivating. Charles Gover (1871) writes, ‘Itis quite certain that few nations can boast ofbetter songs as far as words may go.’
Info and pics, courtesy: Nilgiri Documentation Centre
5 must-visit touristspots in Ooty.In about half a day’s time, with asmall car or taxi handy, one canget to the essence of Ooty’stourism identity. (The 6th one, isthe proverbial icing-on-the-cake).
Pykara Lake:
Ooty Lake:
Botanical Gardens:
Tea museum & Tea factory:
Doddabetta Peak:
21 kms from Ooty, on the Ooty-Mysore Road, is the Pykara lake.It is considered sacred byindigenous tribes. Great forboating. Thank God for digitalcameras.
Standing at 2623 msl (metresabove sea level) Doddabetta is10 kms from Ooty. The namemeans ‘big mountain’ in the locallanguage. Surrounded by denseshola (forests) the peak offers atruly far-sighting experience.
The glittering jewel of Ooty, thelake is a treat to behold from afar!Total extent: 65 acres. Officiallyopened to boating since 1973.
In the heart of Ooty town, this 55acre expanse is the ‘lungs of thetown’ and its resident population.Its layout was completed in1867. 2000 varieties of flowers,is fascinating and overwhelming.
Enroute Doddabetta, the teamanufacturing experience here,is total - from leaf to cup, as theysay. The museum is a historybuff’s delight!
travel ‘I can’t explain why I decided that I mustvolunteer at the museum but I simply knewthat I must do what I can now, to be of help.’Pushpinder can pass off as a tourist at firstsight - a visitor at the very same Bee museumthat she and her husband (then a student officerat the DSSC, Wellington) had visited early lastyear. Her enthusiasm is equally remarkable -like the one that a visitor feels for the very firsttime, when experiencing a new thing!‘I think the culture and traditions of the localcommunities is fascinating. I am also happy thatwhile the communities have preserved theircultural ties, they have also embraceddevelopment. Gomathi, who works with mehere, a member of the local Kota tribe, is todayan MA in linguistics!’Capt Pushpinder Khajuria was formerly amilitary nurse. Due to her husband’s variousposting (a Lt Col in the Indian army) she decidedto retire from active duty to be with him. ‘Myhusband is a very understanding person, like afriend’. That fact, TheLocal correspondent canvouch for - the gentleman, it seems, steppedinto Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri, shortlybefore they had to leave Wellington for theirnext posting, and left their car keys on the tablemuch to the surprise of everyone there, saying,‘my wife will be back after a month. She is goingto volunteer at the museum and will need thecar to move about.’ The interesting part-Keystone didn’t know about this!But that is Pushpinder - ‘pushy’ as the Keystonefolk affectionately call her. She had her way.‘Life is uncertain. Suddenly, you get a naggingfeeling that something must be done and thenit happens - you follow your heart.’The resolute lady knows what uncertainty isabout. Her younger brother died tragically, ofbrain haemorrage.Nothing is permanent. Nothing will last forever.We know, nevertheless, that her work at themuseum will.
Pushpinder Khajuriabecomes a volunteer at theBee Museum. Just like that.A decision at the drop-of-a-hat! But yet, its a consciousdecision.
Follow your heart.The Local Correspondent
The Bee Museum &Green Shop
At hill bunk on the Mysore Rd,your understanding of localtraditions, one of which ishoney hunting, is complete withthe visit to the Bee Museum.Honey lovers, celebrate. Therange of fresh forest produceavailable here, will stun you.
The Local quiz.
1. When was the HeadPost Office, Ooty, opened?2. When did the district getits first adhesive stamp?What was the cost ofstamp for postage fromOoty to Madras?3. What is the hobby ofstamp collecting called?4. Which country has thelargest postal network?5. How many post officesare there in the Nilgiris?6. What extent of areadoes the Postal service inthe Nilgiris, cover?7. Which was the firststamp, based on theNilgiris. In which year?
The Postal servicesin the Nilgiris is over180 yrs old. Em-ploying over 120postmen andwomen, some ofthe department’spost offices in the dis-trict, are virtual heri-tage sites. answers on p 13
issue4
Social drinking, over time, has beeningrained into society as acceptable but it willalarm the uninformed that 2 out of every ten‘drinkers’ will become an alcoholic!
All alcoholic beverages contain a chemicalcalled ethyl alcohol, a powerful drug whichdepresses the central nervous system andslows down brain activity. Needing nodigestion, alcohol is straightaway absorbedby the walls of the stomach and smallintestine. Once absorbed it travels to all partsof the body - stomach, heart, liver, kidney andthe brain. The potent consumable depressesthe part of the brain that manages inhibitionsmaking the person feel relaxed and carefree.Alcohol, in fact, reduces the functioning ofthe brain and does not add to its ability tothink or communicate better.It is important for us to acknowledge thatalcoholism is not a sin, a moral weakness or acrime. It is a disease - a progressive diseasethat leads to severe physical, emotional andsocial problems, affecting each and everymember of the family with the same intensity.
Alcoholism can be treated. With some carefulplanning, the family can help the alcoholicmember out of the situation. On occasions tohelp in de-addiction programs at TTK
Hospital, I was made aware of vital do’s anddon’ts, (from TTK pamphlets) for the family,when dealing with the situation :
Don’t treat the alcoholic as a child. You wouldn’tif he/she were suffering from some otherdisease. It is important to acknowledge thecondition as a disease and a disease that canbe treated.
When the question of ‘howshall I stop?’ occurs, theknowledge that the family ofan alcoholic has, of the illness,will be of immense help. But,most families are ill preparedto help at this stage.
There must be strong political will to address the issue ofalcoholism. It is well known that an alcoholic can destroy hisfamily. We have several hundred families in the district, that
are severely affected by the problem.As long as the revenue to theGovernment is l inked toconsumption of liquor, there willalways be apathy by theadministration. It is for people torealise for themselves about thedangers of addiction and to abstain.K J Raju, Science teacher & Social worker.
Sports is the alternative. Young people must take on sporting activity not just asa career but as a way of life. Even then, the individual must watch out for thepersonal choices he/she must make. I know of excellent racers on the Nationalcircuit who might have gone on to much higher accomplishments but who wentunder due to bad company andeventually, the drinking habit gettingthe better of them. I lost a friend, andfellow motorbike racer in a roadaccident,in Chennai. This was justafter a ‘party’ to celebrate hisachievements. Emmanuel Clarke,Professional Motor racer, Asian circuit.
My point of view...
India has over 55, 000 liquoroutlets including shops, barsand restaurants.Source: Business Today, Jun 2009
The mean age of initiation ofalcohol use has decreased from23.36 years during the 1960s,to 19.45 years in the 90s.
About 80% of alcoholconsumption is in the form ofhard liquor or distilled spirits,showing that the majority drinkbeverages with a high concen-tration of alcohol.Source: IAPA
Beer, targeted mainly at youngdrinkers, considering their higherdisposable income is todaygrowing at a sales growth of 10%p.a. 70% of beer sales comes inthe ‘strong’ category, or the so-called higher octane beverages.Source: Business Today, Jun 2009
Nilgiris’ TASMAC sales targetranked 20, among the districtsof Tamilnadu. Its achievement ofsales target was at 84%, in 05-06.Source: TASMAC figures for Mar 2006
Don’t check to see how much the alcoholic isdrinking and don’t try to search for hiddenliquor. Worse, don’t pour the liquor away. Thealcoholic always finds ways to get more.
Don’t argue or nag them about the drinkingespecially when they are drunk. Don’t try toreproach or preach to the alcoholic. It willaggravate the problem.
Alcoholics Anonymous through a leafletcampaign stresses that alcoholics suffer guiltanyway. Reminding them of failures, neglectof family and social discord is wasted efort - itonly accentuates the problem. Look for thesigns of a chronic drinker wanting to stop andtake it from there. The first signs of wantingto give up, come at the end of a desperateperiod. It may come during the remorse of ahangover or a personal crisis that bringsrealisation. When the question of ‘how shallI stop?’ occurs, the family’s knowledge of theillness will be of immense help.
However, the family, deeply traumatised bythe turn of events already, is isolated fromthe individual, sometimes taking on the blamefor the situation. The wife, for example,thinks ‘Is he drinking because I am not uptohis expectations?’ That is untrue. Nobody canbe responsible for the condition of an alcoholic,except the individual. However, most women
No longerbottled up.
The family of thealcoholic, needs tobe counselled.
Mohini Ramalingam
issue5
The writer, a local, is engaged in voluntary service inthe sphere of alcoholic de-addiction. Family members ofalcoholic persons may contact her for guidance on hermobile no: 9894224311.
If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf.Somebody the other day asked me this question as “why am I doing all this?‘ Wellbeyond the obvious reasons I have lined out a few more. I found that Golf and investmentshad a lot in common. Of course, you’d be right to ask how this is possible?Don't let your mind interfere with the game: Golfers who let their emotions run wild willbe on the fast track to having all balls in the rough, out of bounds or in the sand. In muchthe same way, investors cannot be ruled by their emotions. Fear, greed and overconfidenceare powerful emotions that can lead an investor to make poor investment decisions. Finda good caddy: Good caddies have a strong knowledge of the golf game, and canadvise the player on various strategies that might be useful for a particular hole. Caddiesalso have a strong understanding of the player's personality and style, and have a goalto keep the player's emotions in check. A financial Planner plays the role of a caddywhen it comes to your money. Play the percentages: In golf, making a conservative playand laying up in front of water is usually the best choice rather than trying to hit a hole-in-one. In the same way, buying penny stocks in order to land a tenbagger is not usuallythe best choice. There are no second chances: Unlike that second shot your partner mightlet you take during a friendly round of golf, there really are no mulligans allowed inprofessional golf games, or in the world of finance. Take your time before you make aninvestment; there is no second chance if you make a poor investment decision. Onegood game doesn't indicate future success or otherwise: One round of golf is not goingto be an indicator of your overall performance at golf. If you have one bad game, itdoes not mean you're a terrible golfer. Your progress over a number of years of playinggolf, is a much better indicator of success, just as it is with managing your finances.So, the next time you're about to tee off, it might be a good time to take a step back andconsider how much you already know about investing through golf. With that in mind,the task of getting your investments in order might not be as daunting as you originallythought. If you golf, you've already got a head start on understanding how to make yourmoney grow. Congratulations to the winners and participants on their showing at therecently concluded tournament organised by Birla Sun life mutual fund and GolchaInvestments!
The intricateconnections betweengolfing and investmentsare fascinating.
Advertisement
Jinesh Golcha
The writer manages Investment advisory, Golcha Investments. He may be contacted at: (0423) 223 3338 / 99944 71622
Inform
ation an
d pics, courtesy: Golcha In
vestm
ents
Until recent times, alcoholwas unheard of in the villages.Intoxicants are shunned by thelocal community. It isunfortunate, today, that evenyoung men are taking toalcohol. Among other reasons,gainful employment is the keyto keeping the youth away fromsuch habits.Smt Akkama Devi, Former Memberof Parliament.
Two influences in a child’s life arecritical - the parent and the teacher.Both have challenging examples toset for the child. Parents, however,have a greater role to play by notencouraging alcohol in the home. Itis important that a child should seeus practice what we preach.Llewellyn Xavier, Educationist
The views expressed by the individuals in the opinion section, are their own.The Local disclams liability of any kind whatsoever, on account of the same.
My point of view...
suffer the brunt of the situation drawing uponthemselves intense negativity. A defencemechanism builds up, at times, with the wifecovering up for the husband. They cry a lotand eventually stretch their capabilities toimpossible levels to cope with familyresponsibilites. The extreme case is when thewoman has to go out to earn for the family,the alcohlic having absolved himself of allresponsibilities.
Children of alcoholic fathers develop variouspersonality types - rebellious, placating orresponsible. For instance, a case study that atTTK had this little girl getting up in class at11 on specific days saying that she had to gohome. The reason? It would be rationcollection day and she knew that her fatherwould be drunk at home and the motherwould be sitting and crying. Somebody hadto get the rations! Responsibility, early on.
My personal experience of interacting withcounsellors at TTK Hospital in Chennai, aResearch Institute and de-addiction Centre,was an eye opener. It is a literal haven forfamilies of alcoholics. It helps families cometo terms, rid themselves of guilt, anger andshame which many find dreadful to copewith. The reminder that alcoholism is aprogresive disease, if not treated early, canbecome terminal, is stark. On the other hand,it is reassuring.The first step to the family’s recoveryhappens when members reassure themselvesthat they were not responsible for the alcoholicbeing in this state. This realisation putseveryone in a comfortable frame of mind. Therecovery of the patient begins only after thefamily stabilises its emotions and feeling onthe issue.The TTK Clinical Research foundation atAdyar, Chennai, founded by Mrs ShantaRanganathan, like several other organisationsengaged in the research and remedy ofalcoholism, is a ray of hope for every alcoholicand his/her family.
6Advertisement
Utility sweatersA sweater for average day-to-day activity, which is not tooheavy to wear and yet providesadequate warmth is, in industryparlance, a utility sweater.Versatile, these can be worn foralmost anything like gardening,during kitchen work, eveningwalks and even informaloccasions. Choose from aselect range of 7 plain colours- navy blue, beige, brown,black, grey, off white and purewhite.The utility sweater range at theWoolen Store is made of fineacrylic wool and is brought toyou from the wool factories ofLudhiana.
RAGENO
CEPHA
ERPA
COVDAAO
TRJAUFIKC
SLMUP
Unscramble the words belowto discover nature’s gifts!
answers on p 14
Recipe
Vepampu Rasam
Tamarind of one lime sized ball3 Red chillies, broken into two.Neem flower (vepampu), 4tbspOil, 2 teaspoons salt.Extract the juice from thetamarind, pouring water into it,until you get a thin flowingliquid. Add salt to taste.Set aside.
In a kadai (pan), heat the oil, frythe chilli and neem flower. Fry itwell till it turns dark. Set aside.Heat the tamarind water andadd the fried ingredients into it.Rasam is now ready to serve.
It’s amazing to see so many people, amidstus, taking up voluntary work. It is a joy tosee young children learn about our culturethrough the activities of the BharatiyaVidya Bhavan. The selfless work ofvolunteers there, shows that we still havetime for one another in the fast-changingsocial environment of today.Talking of the social enviroment, analarming trend is taking place with the
Editorial
Reason tocheer
(Neem flower)
Note: Vepampu Rasam is especially goodfor digestion. It is also highlyrecommended for women folk,immediately after childbirth. If you havea neem tree in your garden, fresh flowersmay be collected by placing a fresh whitetowel under the tree. The flowers must besundried and stored. In any case, neemflower is available at most departmentalstores.
Recipe sent in by a subscriber of TheLocal, Mrs Mahalakshmi Chandrashekar,Fraser Town, Bangalore.
in my
average age of initiation into alcohol, forinstance, rapidly decreasing. The articlewritten by the volunteer engaged in de-addiction, is a ray of hope for alcoholics.There is reason to cheer when we look atthe impact that a handful of committedNGOs and their volunteers have achievedin the sphere of tribal welfare. Of particularmention is the work of Keystone Foundationamongst the marginalised communities suchas the Kurumbas. This issue’s cover pageand the centrespread is a tribute to theindigenous people of the Nilgiris and anappreciation for their timeless traditions,especially as examples to all of us, of how tolive with just enough.It is all so inspiring that one is compelled, attimes, to follow the heart and volunteer for acause just like Pushpinder Khajuria did atthe Bee Museum in Ooty! Harsha Bellie
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nilgiri chapter is young and vibrant.
Deepa Rajagopal
culture7
‘What is the significance of a namaskaram beforewe begin a dance performance?’ The firstquestion we ask a cheerful Yoshita who hadrecently joined Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’sBharathanatyam dance classes. The act oftouching the ground and placing one’s fingerson closed eyelids, before beginning to dance, isa symbol of obeisance to Mother Earth - toseek pardon for stamping on the revered onewhile dancing, explains Akshaya, the little girl’sinstructor in simple, understandable terms tous and the keen young minds we encounteredon a foggy evening in Coonoor on the first floorof an unassuming building that you can miss ifyou didn’t check for directions!But that has been the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavanstory, universally - unassuming, unpretentiousbut extremely intense in its objectives ofpreserving timeless traditions and values andenabling people from diverse backgroundsto find expression through art & dance form.
Namaskaram!
Yoshita’s mother Mrs Sophia Dennis is thrilledthat her daughter is learning Bharathanatyam.‘I am originally from Chennai. I always wantedto learn Bharathanatyam but couldn’t when Iwas my daughter’s age, due to variouscircumstances but I am really happy that shehas this opportunity!
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was founded in theyear 1938 by Dr. Kulapathi M. Munshi. Oneof the premier cultural organizations in thecountry, the Bhavan aims at bringing about acultural awareness among people by inculcatingmoral values in daily life while enabling a ‘revivaland renaissance of Indian culture’, state the twosenior ladies of the Nilgiri chapter, Mrs.ShrimatiSridhar and the Kendra’s secretary Mrs. UshaSriram, who, along with the other membershelp organise regular discourses by spiritual andeminent scholars on various topics related toIndian culture and values.A non political organization, Bharatiya Vidya For details, readers may call: (0423) 223 4770 / 94436 09669
Bhavan aims at rekindling the spirit ofnationalism and Indian culture among the youththrough its activities.The Nilgiris Kendra was inaugurated in May2004 by the then Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr.Ram Mohan Rao.Mrs Sridhar explains how the local chapterbegan with just 15 members, crediting theacclaimed Bharatanatyam artist, Mrs NaliniPrakash for her efforts towards bringingBharatiya Vidya Bhavan to the district.Today, there are members from across thedistrict with a total of 10 office bearers; thechairman of the Nilgiris Kendra, presently, isDr. M.R.Srinivasan, former Chairman of theAtomic Energy Commission, a resident of Ooty.The activities of the Kendra include Indianmusic, dance and instrumental (mridangam)music classes, which are conducted 3 times aweek. Presently, 30 students attend theseclasses, we learn. Art classes are also conducted.An annual summer festival of music and danceis conducted for 3 days in which leading artistsare invited to perform. It was through such anevent in May, earlier this year, that Yoshita’smother came to know of the activities ofBharatiya Vidya Bhavan, locally.
The Thiagaraja festival is celebrated annuallyand leading musicians are invited each year tosing the Pancharathna Krithis.
The Coonoor office of the Bhavans also housesa library which has over 2000 books on Indianculture, history and philosophy and a variety ofbooks for children. It is open on all days from 4to 6 p.m and on Saturday and Sunday from 2to 6 p.m. A seminar cum workshop for schoolteachers in the Nilgiris was sponsored by OrientLongman in which activity-based learningmethods were taught to teachers. Mrs Shriramstates with delight, that the program attractedover 100 teachers from the district. Every yearthe local Bhavans Kendra honours a prominentlocal who has made valuable contributions inany field, with the Kulapati Munshi Award.Last year’s recipient of this award was Mr. G TS Pandiaraj whose iconic status in the teaindustry is common knowledge. A scholarshipprogramme is proposed this year. Accordingto the lady representatives, it will ensureeducational aid to 30 underprivileged children.
Conference facilities: At Preethi Classic Towers, conferencing need nolonger be long, tiring sessions. With a vibrant ambience, ample space and tastyfood at scheduled intervals, every interaction is bound to deliver results.A place where ideas are liberally exchanged! Where your opinion will reallymatter. Call to enquire more about compact conference options of 20-25 members.We also cater to large conference groups of 100 or more.Ph: (0423) 222 3666-69 email: [email protected]: www.preethiclassic.com
Advertisement
Hunter- gatherers in tropical forests have been harvesting honey from the wild, using traditional skills and techniquesperfected by several generations. But their lifestyle is threatened as they face pressure from the modern world. Defores-tation, changes in land use (such as monoculturing) and loss of bee habitat have affected honey gathering. In South andSouth-East Asia, honey is collected from the wild, from the nests of the 'Apis dorsata' or giant Honeybee. It can produceupto 20kgs of honey in a year. Apis dorsata are found in and near forests. A colony of bees can build a comb measuringupto1.5 metres hanging from a rock face or branches of tall trees.In India and Thailand ‘bee trees’ can host over 100 colonies, 10-20 colonies per tree are quite common. In Indonesia,Vietnam and parts of India like in the Sunderbans of West Bengal, the government, through forest departments controlshoney hunting by issueing collection permits. In the Nilgiris, Kurumbas Irulas, even Todas and others collect honey with noencumbrance. Honey cropping in most places is done at night when the bee is less active and less inclined to attack. TheAlu Kurumbas, like their counterparts in Southern Vietnam and the Melalenca forests collect honey by day. The bees aresmoked out of their hive and the comb is removed by slicing it off, leaving behind sufficient brood comb to allow thereturning bees to rebuild their nests, thus ensuring a better harvest the next summer.
Faceless. Fearless.
Information courtesy: Ms Rose Pereira & Ms Harsha Bellie
pics
, cou
rtesy
: Key
ston
e Fo
unda
tion
Indigenous communities have displayed a greatsynergy with their natural habitats, where aharmonious interplay exists. Honey hunting by the forestdwellers is one such fascinating example.
Honey hunting - a tradition.The Kurumba honey hunters form a team before setting out on thehoney-hunting expedition. The chief hunter fasts and prays beforehand.He is mainly assisted by his brother-in-law who secures a vine ladder to atree or a peg. It is believed that he would not harm the chief hunter bycutting the vine or letting go as this would make his sister a widow. Onemember of the team positions himself halfway down the cliff face, to secureor steady the swinging vine ladder. The men below build a fire; the smoul-dering smoke chases the bees away from the hive. As the chief hunterdescends, he sings the honey song, invoking the bees as his sister-in-law ormother-in-law, imploring them not to sting or bite him, their ‘brother-in-law’. He slices through the honey comb, mainly the lower or middle por-tion which falls into a container that he deftly holds below it.
Advertisement
key e
lemen
ts
local issue10
The land under potato cultivation, fromapproximately 20000 hectares in the1970s, has dwindled to 4500 hectares orso today, threatening the status of thepotato in the Nilgiris as a symbol ofeconomic prosperity and traditionalvalues.
Not so long ago, as one approached Ootyfrom Valley View, one would have foundfields covered with lush green vegetation,topped with pale white or pink flowers.The locals would have informed you thatthese were patches of potato or ‘gaasu’ asit is known in the native Badaga language.Most of these potato fields today havegiven way to the demands of urbanisationand those that are left, jostle for spacewith other vegetables like carrot, cabbageand cauliflower taking its place. Tea ofcourse, has literally muscled out the potatoin the vast hinterland.The unassuming tuber has made anincredibly long journey from the highaltitude mountains of the Andes fromwhere it originated, to India. The
Portuguese would have introduced it in the1600s together with other newcomers liketapioca, chilli and tomato.
John Sullivan, the founder and developerof Ooty is credited with bringing it to thehills in the 1820’s. Early records show thatthe potato was first planted at Stone Hilland then at Wellington. Its ensuing successattracted the attention of the local farmers.
The Nilgiri Documentation Centre recordsthat by the 1850’s the potato was replacingthe traditional millets of the Badagas,becoming their mainstay crop. Demand, atthe time, was spurred, according to localhistorians, by the Irish Famine. TheGovernment also made an effort to importgood seed potatoes, into the Nilgiris fromEurope and Australia.As in most agrarian communities, farmingoperations involved the entire family. Theplanting activity was turned into an occasionby the women who sang songs during the
process. Cow dung, of which there was aplentiful supply, was used as fertiliser(there was little or no use of pesticidesuntil the 60s). The surplus crop would bepacked in mud and stored in deep pits,partly for seed and partly for ownconsumption.
In 1917 the Agricultural Research Stationwas established in Nanjanad, a prominentBadaga village that was a major hub ofpotato cultivation. Later, a subsidiary ofthe Central Potato Institute, Shimla, wasset up in Muthorai, 6kms from Ooty. The‘Great Scot’, in fact, is a breed that wasdeveloped locally. The potato was to usherin an era of development and prosperitythat saw the local community progressfrom, as local historians record, straightfrom the ‘mud lamp to the electric bulb!’
The onset of World War I is said to haveincreased potato production in the Nilgiris.The end of the war, however, witnesseda corresponding slump in demand.Disease is said to have set in gradually,playing a destructive part in the ensuingIn the balance.
The future of the Ooty potato hangs in the balance, with severalfactors weighing against its sustenance. A Potato Museummay well be its final destination if there is no timelyintervention.
J Pillai
Painting is my hobby. My first painting, if I can remember, was when I was in school. My artteacher taught me the rules: First choose a picture. Cut it neatly and place it under a tracingpaper. Trace the outline and then use the tracing paper to carefully draw the outline of thepicture on the drawing board or sheet. If it is a deer, ( one of my early paintings), make sure youmark the finer edges like the tip of the nose, the pointed ears and the hairs on its tail. Now, youare ready to begin. Choose the right colours and start off.The basic rule, however, is the most important - you must have the time.
Timeon ourhands
Sarasu BellieReaders write
local issue11
The last of a generation of farmer-entrepreneurs‘We never used any form of chemical fertiliser or pesticides for as long as we could do withoutit. I remember the women-folk would sing while they worked the fields. ’ 90 year-old K MLingaiah began his association with the soil at the age of 11. His knowledge of potato farming,in fact, any form of vegetable farming, is fascinating. He grew potatoes on thirty acres in Nedugula,a sizeable Badaga village about 10 kms from mainland Kotagiri. ‘The British were a friendly lot,having a great amount of respect for the community. They introduced good business practicesamong local farmers. Potatoes and other ‘English vegetables’ were their gift to the district. ‘ Thesizes of potatoes, he says, were the size of his palm. ‘I recall sacks of potatoes being taken, bybullock carts, to the railway station in Mettupalayam, right after the auctions at the nearbyMandi. They were meant to go to far-off places. We knew that it was all going off to ports likeBombay and Calcutta and then onto container ships.’True to his philosophy, the robust ‘Ayya’ as everyone in the 300 neighbouring houses call him,does not touch a single tablet!
decline of the once famous economic driver.Chemical fertilisers began to find their wayinto potato fields with the Nanjanad mix (afertiliser developed in Ooty) becomingpopular at the time. However, the soil beganto feel the strain gradually losing its fetility.The 1960’s saw the beginning of the end.The increased usage of chemical fertilisersdid improve the yield but also brought withit a host of other unforeseen problems asfarmers put aside the traditional methods ofcultivation. The potato crops were hit bydiseases like the late blight . Dr. F G W Jonesdetected the presence of the Potato CystNematode(PCN) in Ooty.The Tamil Nadu Government, realising thepotential danger, amended the DestructiveInsect Pest Act 1919, to ensure strictchecking of movement of potatoes grown ininfested areas prior to marketing. To restrictthe spread of the PCN to other areas,potatoes grown in the Nilgiris were and stillare not allowed to be sold as seed potatoes.A new PCN resistant variety like KufriSwarna was developed by the CentralPotato Research Station in an effort to getthe rapidly declining local potato cultivationback on its feet. However, these measuresproved futile. The production of potatocontinued to fall with the total area undercultivation dwindling by nearly 75% in aspan of 3 decades, as pointed out in theintroductory paragraph.The final nail in the coffin was the tea boomof the 80s. Today, tea is grown on over 80%of cultivable land in the district covering
The first mention of potato in Nilgiriswas made by Rev. James Houghin1824. He alleged that Sullivan’sgardener, at Stonehouse, had stakeda claim for having grown a singlepotato weighing Five pounds! Heconcluded “though I saw none quiteso large yet what I did see were veryfine.” These potatoes were evidentlymeant for the domestic consumptionof Sullivan’s household. The credit foractive propagation of potato,however, should go to Maj.(later Col.)Crew, the military Commandant ofNilgiris with whom Sullivan had a feudthroughout his career in the Nilgiris.Maj. Crew in 1832 established theGovernment Farm (present day C.S.I.College of Engineering) at Ketti wherehe introduced potato. Maj. Crew wasalso in-charge of the maintenance ofroads to all nooks and corners of thedistrict and this facilitated him inpromoting potato in theneighbourhoods of Badaga domains.The Badagas were traditionallyfamiliar with wildly obtainedtubers(neggilu gaasu) and alsoconsumed them. But they also tookto this new kind of cultivated tuber,readily. They began to identify it bythe same native parlance, thoughdropping the prefix and called thepotato ‘gaasu’. When cabbage cameto be introduced by the Europeans, aeuphonic touch was added and a newname “gosu” was invented for it whichhas interestingly enough becomenaturalised in Tamil too!
Sullivan’s gardenergrows 5 pound potato.
Info, courtesy: Rev Philip K Mulley
The Nilgiri Co operative Marketing Society launched in1935, under the leadership of the illustrous H.B. Ari Gowder (Nilgiri’s legislator ‘par excellence’) transformed the paradigms of Badaga socio-economic modes. By his exemplary commitment to the welfare of his people, Ari Gowder set thestage for assiduous cultivation of thrift in the management of resources in everything relating topotato cultivation which, by this time, gained the status of agricultural operation. For the next quarterof the century or so, these co operative enterprises, while based on a staple product of those times,provided a new forum for social solidarity. Though the total extent of potato-cultivated area came tobe less than halved in time to come, the methodology and experience gained by ordinary Badagafarmers stood them in good stead when they came to shift their enterprises to tea, in recent times.
45000 hectares. Small growers gravitatedtowards the bought-leaf tea sector, whereeven a holding of about 1 to 1.5 acres ofland was sufficient. In potato, at least 5 acresis considered viable. Farmers like MrLingaiah (see box) cultivated potato on 30acres. Today, few have that sort of holding.Fragmented share of land among the natives,due to family sub-divisions over the years,has attributed to the lack of viability.There are other problems too. Mr K SatishKumar, one of few young entrepreneurs inagriculture today, hailing from among theKannada speaking families, long settled inthe Nilgiris, who have been very successfulat crop farming, says that the biggestchallenge today is shortage of labour. Addto that cost of fertiliser and pesticide andeven fairly large size holdings are barelyprofitable to farm.There can be to two likely conclusions to thispiece - just as tea enjoys corporate presence,large business houses could look to massproduction of potatoes. Branded potatos,organically or naturally grown, may well beendorsed by a health conscious [global]consumer. A Potato Museum could otherwisebe the final destination for the famous Ootykelangu considering its historical import in thispart of the world. There is, incidentally, onealready in the Peruvian capital, the homelandof the potato. Consider the aside in the righthand corner which suggests that theindigenous folk were already familiar withwildly obtained tubers (neggili gaasu) longbefore British advent in the Nilgiris.
H B Ari Gowder’s far-reaching efforts
12
“Shee-long, capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long,capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long, capital ofMeghalaya…” droned the monotonous voiceof the uninspired child, learning by heart, herGeography lesson. That was in the suburb ofCalcutta where a friend and I had gone tovisit her mother. Instantly, Mrs Chippendale’smemory flashed across my mind, taking meback to 1964, when I was a class VII studentat St Joseph’s Convent in Coonoor.
Cecily Clare Chippendale or C3 as she signedher name, was my class teacher. She taughtme English, Maths, History & Geography; itsher Geography classes that stood out vividlyin my memory. A good teacher, is a lastingexperience. I relive the wonder and thrill ofher classes when I read William Dalrymple orwatch National Geographic or Fox History. Herclasses were an odyssey, a journey of discoveryinto the country or continent that was herteaching point. She used stamps, postcards,pictures, maps and the atlas to take us around
the world to give us a glimpse of a country, itsmountains or plains, its rivers, its natural wealth,the people and their culture. The topper in classwas given stamps of different countries!
I remember our ‘journey’ into the Congo, tothe Pyrenees and the Andes. Our study ofSwitzerland ended with an exhibition put upby us students. Mrs Chippendale gave us ateaspoon of condensed milk and a piece ofchocolate – products that Switzerland was thenfamous for, apart from watches. When we didJapan, we reared silk worms in class. She madewords like Savanaah, veldt, prairie and steppescome alive in our minds.Most memorable was her class on rotation andrevolution of the earth around the sun and itssignificance. Using the electric bulb as thestationary sun, she moved a hand held globearound it to make us understand how seasonschange, how and why days become shorter thannights in winter and why it’s frozen and coldaround the poles. We got to see the slant rays
The teacher who took us around the World.
of the sun (the bulb) falling on the two ends ofthe globe and the direct light around theequator. The tropics of Cancer and Capricornwere more than just lines on the map andvernal and summer equinoxes became all tooclear. Stories of the northern lights and of theland of the midnight sun held endlessfascination, also the hot springs in which theMaories cook their food. She made each lessona living experience activating your mind, yourimagination and curiosity. Wherever possibleshe reduced things to a formula. The climateof the Mediterranean was W6, i.e., warm wetwinters with westerly winds. She was great atteaching spelling too-Med-it-er-ran-ean spellsMediterranean-her voice still rings in my ears.What I value most was that there was no rotelearning-she taught and we had to make notes.We even referred to books other than theprescribed text. Mrs Chippendale taught mehow to study. She also taught me how to teach.
Mrs Cecily Clare Chippendale taught us how to study. She taught me how to teach.
The writer is Professor of English at the ProvidenceCollege for Women, Coonoor.
Rose Pereira
‘Colani Eyewear is now available in Coonoor,’reported The Indian Optician in its April 2008issue. Luigi Colani the Italian designer is knownfor his work across the spectrum, from cars tocoke cans. ‘Bio design’ is what his work is widelyacclaimed as.
Benny John, a second generation entrepreneurwho is actively assisting his father who startedGrace Opticals, is taking the enterprise to itsnext level of business development - the firmnow enjoys exclusive distributor rights in India,for the famed Colani eyewear and extends thespectacle frames to select stores within thecountry.
According to Mr John, the retail store at MountPleasant, near Coonoor, stocks an attractiverange of high-end spectacles for the elderly.
Grace Opticals’ high-endeyewear for the elderly
‘Making something useful, out ofold clothes, for example, is a traitwhich if encouraged in adults canbecome a lifetime value whenpassed on to little children’, saysMrs Shoshanah Xavier, Principal,Kingsbury Montessori School,Ooty.The KRICET program is aimed atinculcating the Montessori way ofteaching in anyone who interactswith children - teachers, counsellorsand even housewives.
Duration: The 60 hour program is phased across alternate days of the week, with two hoursessions each time. Applications open from Aug 17th 2009. All classes are presently conductedat the Kingsbury School premises in Ooty. Eligibility: Must have studied in English mediumand must have a genuine interest in children. For details on course fee and content, pleaseget in touch with Mrs Shoshanah Xavier, Principal, Kingsbury Montessori House, Higgins Road,Ooty -1. Ph: 94420 84525
Take an Informal Montessori Course and help shape the think tank of our world- its children.The KRICET program of Kingsbury Montessori School is back.Applications on from 17th Aug ‘09.
The letter holder alongside was created by a trainee at theKRICET (Kingsbury Research in Child Education &Training) program.
Promotional feature
Note: 200-500 sqft of space required in Coonoor, for conducting the informal KRICETsessions. Please contact Mrs Xavier on the tel. no mentioned above.
13local impact
SARAS Trust, in Ooty, has been a focal pointfor several foreign volunteers who take time offfrom their studies to do a year of social workamong underprivileged groups in the Nilgiris.
This correspondent of TheLocal decided tofollow up on the story of SARAS (July 09issue) by talking to two young Germanvolunteers who were nearing completion of ayear of social work in the Nilgiris.
Helen Keymer (Weimar) and Anna Krings(Solingen) are two young women who have amature approach to life. They demonstrated anopen mind and an eagerness to learn andunderstand the ways of a foreign country andwere willing to immerse themselves in theethnicity and culture of India. According to MrsVasanthakumari, the head of the Trust, the twovolunteers took an active part in various projectsconducted by the organisation. At theGovernment Primary School in Upper Bazaar,Ooty, they taught the school children SpokenEnglish and Drawing.
Despite the lack of proper educational tools anda language barrier, they were able to make adifference in the lives of the children.‘The children are friendly and they have awillingness to learn.’Among other projects, Anna and Helen alsoparticipated in the HIV awareness programmesconducted by SARAS. They were accompaniedby the local staff to various villages in the interiorsto spread awareness on HIV. They did their bitby distributing pamphlets and attempting tocommunicate with the people. They also spenttime with the inmates at the Home. Thoughthe language barrier posed a challenge,preventing them from probing deeper into thewomen’s problems, they however managed tounderstand real issues, they pointed out.
‘Indian food is great, despite the spiciness andoiliness’. Helen says that she loves masala dosaand feels that eating with her fingers brings hercloser to her food. They have so familiarisedthemselves with Ooty that they even have their
Eating withour fingerswas a very‘Indian’experience.
Nia Tilley
My child says that she is beingfrequently punished in class. It is mostlycaning that she and some other childrenreceive, from a particular teacher.Sometimes, she refuses to go to schoolciting flimsy reasons. Do we have legalrecourse?
Spirituality
Radha R
Travel is exciting, new insights, new sensorydelights, beautiful nature all around, diversepeople.All these experiences can be rated and stored inCDs and pretty albums. But these are all externalvisuals. What of the journey inward? Are youready to delve into your innards? To discover thereal you, not the carefully coiffured person youpresent to the world.The REAL you is the mind and ego workingovertime. Exit societal norms and religion; beginto explore spirituality and existence. I enteredspirituality by accident, attended a class to clearmy lungs and ended up cleaning the muckaccumulated by eons of my existence on planetearth. Bear with me, I am learning to conquerfantasy by accepting reality. I have not conqueredfear, fear is an essential part of my existence butI have learnt how to handle it. I thought I knewwhat silence meant, but discovered a whole newrealm. I now know that worry is unessential forour lives. I discovered that the most potentweapon on earth was not the nuclear bomb, but
unconditional love, a difficult concept, but I am stilllearning. I thought life was peppered with piecesof suffering, and was told there is no sufferingon planet Earth! I discovered they were actuallylessons for improvement. We are all uniquebeings. Unique beings with massive inputs of ego.I am learning to be grateful for everything I have inmy life.I am, today, eternally grateful to my Spiritual leader,my Guru, for my improved health and wisdom.My journey inwards has been a guided tour. Acleansing of chakras and a vacuuming of energybodies. We have seven of them- chakras! Thisguided journey was a precious gift to connect tothe infinite energy source; stirring within me,emotions long forgotten. Instilling inside, a newintelligence, still in its infancy. A few mysticalexperiences, to indicate to me that the path isinward and a realisation that spirituality is foreverybody, not just a select few. An open mindis the only qualification necessary to awaken tothis new dimension!
own favourite teashops to savour the Nilgiristea. They were, however, taken aback whenthey first arrived, to see a profusion of posterson every available space in Ooty town. Theywere also dismayed by the garbage and theopen sewage drains that they encountered.
Besides volunteering in the Nilgiris, they wereable to travel extensively throughout India toplaces such as Dharamsthala, Rishikesh andRajasthan. This experience has taught them tobe independent. The sight of beggars andhomeless people sleeping on the streets hastouched them deeply.
The volunteers have decided to specialise in SocialAnthropology, Sociology and Asian studies whenthey go back to Germany and hope that thesestudies will be useful when they revisit India tocontinue their social work.
As per the Tamil Nadu EducationRule, corporal punishment is totallyprohibited. The Rule makes it clear thatschools shall not cause mental andphysical pain to the child. Physicalpunishment is not only a violation ofthe basic fundamental right, it is also adangerous practice that can causesevere physical injury or mental trauma.It is noted that such punishment goesagainst the child's dignity and it is notin tune with the UN Convention ofthe RIghts of the Child. An aggrievedperson can take legal recourse underthe Juvenile Justice Act 2000, underSection 23, in which any personcommitting such an offence shall bepunsihed with imprisonment which mayextend to six months or fine or both. Under the Indian Penal Code, the PenalSection 323 states that penalty for sucha crime may extend to one yearimprisoment or fine of Rs 1000/- orboth. Under Section 325 punishmentis imprisonment which may extend upto 7 years and the individual shall alsobe liable to pay fine.We sugggest however, that you firstcontact the school management so thatthey may reprimand the teacherconcerned. If you are unsatisfied withthe action taken by the school, you maychoose to proceed with legal action.
1. 1826 2. 1854, an 8 anna stamp 3. Philately4. India 5. 182 6. 2549 sqkms 7. 1981on Todatribe
answers to the local quiz on p 3 6
traditions14
Letters to the Editor
The Elephant Valley Eco-tourism project,an initiative of the Sathyamangalam ForestDivision, is a unique venture and the first ofits kind within a territorial division.
30.8% of the forests in India come underthe protected areas and 51.6% remainwithin the jurisdiction of the Forest Divisionsas Reserve Forests under territorial divisions.Sathyamangalam has 1455.31sq.km. offorests within its boundaries. The ElephantValley Interpretation Centre portrays imagesand information which speak about thisbountiful region, its natural heritage,geography and people.
This building was built in 1973 and referredto as the 'Tool Shed' since it was used as ashed for maintenance and repair of the coupevehicles of the forest division. Fuel woodcoupes were stopped in 1975, further towhich selection felling was stopped in 1980,after which the 'Tool Shed' was utilised as astorehouse for forest produce that wereprocured by the LAMPS Society. It latercame to be used by the Special Task Forceduring their combing operations in theSathyamangalam forests. After theoperations were discontinued the 'ToolShed' was abandoned.It is with the co-operation andunderstanding of the Tamil Nadu ForestDepartment, Sathyamangalam division,that this center has been revitalised as aninterpretation centre. Keystone Foundation,a Trust working in the Nilgiri BiosphereReserve on issues related to forests andindigenous people has designed andinstalled the information.Thumbithakadu, a value addition centrelocated at Hasanur has come forward torenovate the building and run an eco-shopand café. Funds for the renovation of thecentre were also made available from theVillage Forest Council of Gedessal. TheInterpretation Centre will be managed andmaintained by the Village Forest Council ofGedessal. The revenue generated from thecentre will be utilized for conservationactivities undertaken by the village forestcouncils.
Keystone Foundationsets up NatureInterpretation Centreat Sathyamangalam.
Nilga Apparel, introduced its special range of schoolbags last year. According to Mr Amar Sancheti, whooversees the educational institutions’ requirementson behalf of the company, their longstandingexperience with canvas, especially the rainwearwhich they supply to the tea industry, had inspiredthem to venture into school bags.The bags are light, equipped with adjustable strapsand have neatly designed compartments ifor booksand sports kit separately.Vaishnav Anil, a Std 5 student of Riverside PublicSchool, Kotagiri, which has recently incorporated thesmart school bags, says ‘ It is spacious. I can puteverything in it, including my water bottle!’The school bags, according to Mr Sancheti, are 100%water-resistant and have the capability to keep outwater even in a heavy downpour.
Smart school bags
The writer is an Addl. Co-ordinator at Keystone Foundation
Nilga, as a brand, was registered in the year 1942 by the London basedBailey Brothers, having an office in Coimbatore. Primarily engaged in themanufacture of raincoats, the brand derived it’s name from the Nilgiri Tahr,a unique deer breed renowned for its resilient all-weather coat.
Sir, I was delighted to have The Local back at my doorstep! Living in a concrete city like Bangalore, yourmagazine for me is the much-needed breath of fresh air that rejuvenates and reconnects me to the place Ilove. The new format is compact. The back-burner cover story was an eye-opener that made me immediatelycheck the weight of my daughter's school bag. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the Sullivan's Bungalow andwas quite disappointed with myself that in spite of being a thoroughbred native of Nilgiris, I had not seenit yet! It’s a must-see on my next visit! Thank you for uncovering such beautiful memories for us with everyedition of The Local. Keep up the good work. All good things will last to the very end.Valentina Hubert, Koramangala, Bangalore
Material: CanvasNo of compartments: 2Extra features: adjustable straps,school logo in tag formatSizes: Small, medium, largePrice: On request
Orange, Peach, Pear, Avocado, Jack Fruit, Plums. Trees in myorchard.
answers to the jumble on p 6
Sumin George
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to [email protected] or posted to the address mentioned on p16.
Event of the monthStanes Higher SecondarySchool, Coonoor completes its150th year celebrations (1858-2008), with the unveiling of astatue of its founder ThomasStanes. The bust of therenowned educationist will beunveiled by former Presidentof India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalamat the school premises on 14thAug 2009. According to schoolauthorities, members of theAlumni Association and localdignitaries alongwith seniorstudents of the school, willobserve the historic event.
Former PresidentDr. APJ Abdul Kalam, tounveil statue ofThomas Stanes.
Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaims liability of any kind whatsoever, arising out of the readers use, or inability to usethe material contained in it. Adequate care has been taken to compile stories for the reference of our users. TheLocal makesevery effort to maintain accuracy of the information but does not accept responsibility for any and disclaims responsibilityfor any loss or damage which may arise from the information provided. All opinion expressed in the issue in the form ofarticles or any viewpoint is solely that of the individual or advertiser concerned and TheLocal accepts no liability thereof.None of the Authors, Contributors, Sponsors or anyone connected to TheLocal can be liable for any reproduction of thematerial.
15
This facility was for sometimeused by the Special Task Forceduring their combing operationsin the Sathyamangalam forests.It is, today, a storehouse ofinformation on the naturalheritage of the region.
Information & pics, courtesy: Keystone Foundation
Interpretation Centre,Sathyamangalam:
A free help-linefor English!
When a retired Professor ofEnglish decides that he simplycan’t retire, he decides that hewill extend himself to those whoneed help in the English languageand literature. On phone or inperson, in an impromptu andinformal fashion. He insists that itbe free of any charge.‘What’s the point in keeping it tomyself’, says the die-hardteacher in Dr. D Krishnaraj.There is a catch. He also decidesthat if you may decide to extendanything for his assistance, youmay do so in favour of the 150-year old Nilgiri Library!Call the professor on his mobileno. 94430-95691 keeping inmind, however, that it is not quitea 24 hr help-line!
(But is there a catch?)
Has your childbeen to the TeaMuseum & TeaFactory yet?How is tea manufactured? How is tea made from the green leaf? Howis it that the green leaf turns into black granules? Just some of themany questions that a young mind is likely to ask...The Tea Factory experience at the Doddabetta Tea Factory is complete!Right from leaf to cup, the entire manufacturing process is explainedthrough an interactive, guided tour. As for the historical question ofwhen tea was discovered, the carefully documented history at the teamuseum, will fascinate the young mind. Visit on any day between 10am to 6 pm. For school enquiries, call: 94430 55529, (0423) 2231679
Tea sacks filled with freshly made CTC tea Doddabetta Tea Factory, Ooty-Kotagiri Road, Ooty -1.
Advertisement
key e
lemen
ts
traditions
Published on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgiris. Printed at Satya Press, no. 50 Kariappa Street; Purasaiwalkam, Chennai - 7. Editor: Edwin David
The Bee Museum atOoty traces thetraditional honey huntingskills of the Kurumba tribeof the Nilgiris. Visitors arealso introduced to thecultural aspects of otherindigenous communitiesof the region, throughvarious books anddetailed documentationon historical and culturalaspects.Children will especiallyfind the videodocumentation to theirdelight. Visit the BeeMuseum on week days,between 10 a.m and 7p.m.
Green Shop, Ooty:C/o the Bee MuseumOpp Hill Bunk,Mysore Road Ooty - 1.Ph: (0423) 2441340
key e
lemen
ts
Visit our GreenShops for forestfresh honey andmuch more..
Advertisement
‘Who is fitter, mom or dad?’ A surprisequestion to Mrs Nalini Prakash’s son as hewalked in while we were all in the midst of aninformal interview on a Sunday evening attheir home in Upper Coonoor. ‘Dad, I think.’And then he looks at the internationallyacclaimed Bharathanatyam artiste, his mother,and says in hasty afterthought, ‘actually it’smy mom!’Art and dance, we deliberate, is a highlydisciplined form of human expression that notonly brings out the best in an individual, ‘ithelps connect the mind with the body’ saysthe experienced artiste, going on to elaborateupon the intensity of a dance performance:‘You are totally in it while on stage. The variedsteps, the co-ordinated movements-yourhands, feet and the eyes are all doing separatethings but conveying a central message.Ultimately, the audience’s involvement iscritical. My guru, Prof. Sudharani Raghupathyis fantastic. The way she carries the audiencewith her is a wholesome experience’. But itsan exhausting one as well. ‘This is why dancersneed supreme fitness and discipline.’A disciplined life in Ms Nalini began whenshe was 3, the age when she started to go fordance classes. ‘Its interesting how I actuallywas good at sports as a little girl in school and
Mind-body connections. The Local Correspondent
yet had this ‘pull’ towards classical dance. Iremember waiting for the school bell to go offand would ride hard on my cycle straight downCathedral Road (in Chennai) all the way toMylapore to Sudha aunty’s home to get thereon time. 100 mts, by the way, was my favouriteathletic event’, she says looking in her husband’sdirection. Mr Prakash Rajubettan, anentrepreneur-agriculturist and son of the lateMr B Rajubettan the pioneer of the Nilgiri teaindustry, has built himself a reputation as anavid sportsman, cricket being his forte. Again,an early start for him too; it seems he was thefirst one from his school to be selected for thedistrict team. And he too looks supremely fit.
The two of them have created simplehomegrown examples for both their son anddaughter by being role models of disciplineand devotion. Matters related to spiritualityfind their way into our discussions. It is related.The mind and the body connection subject isrevisited. ‘Dance/movement therapy has greathealing abilities. It is non-verbal therapywhich heals the mind and the body,’ says MsNalini who is presently pursuing a Mastersdegree in Dance Therapy in Philadelphia, U.S.‘Even before it can speak, the fundamentalmeans of communication for an infant isthrough the movements of its body.
Expressing emotions through the body isthe base of dance/movement therapy andis being used as alternate therapy fordifferent sections of people including themedically ill. It is also very successful in treatingdepression’, she adds.It was an uplifting experience for us to havemet the family. Last question to the energeticcouple: If you both ran a 100 mt race now,who will win? ‘I will’, they both reply in unison.
