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Urgentstrides

vital.

SEP 10, 2009VOL 3 ISSUE 3

Educationist returns:Former teacher of HebronSchool returns from astint overseas as theschools new head p 13

White fences: Land in the district be-ing steadily cordoned off, is raisingsocial and environmental concerns. Aninclusive perspective is provided by arecent UN recommendation. p 10, 11

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: The state of publictransportation in the Nilgiris

pic:Staffphotographer

Dr A P J Abdul Kalamsmessage, on a recent visit,inspires locals. p 5

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Cairn Hill: One can almost miss the turn, alittle beyond Fernill in Ooty, where a tinydirt track leads off the main road, into thefascinating walk called Cairn Hill.

Yes, walk! Home to the oldest Cyprus(Cupressus macrocarpa) plantations in theNilgiris (1868), this is, according to thesignboard of the Forest department foundon the premises, one of the few surviving

original walks as enjoyed by the British. Thedepartment communique states that

Advertisement

Cairn Hillanimals seen or heard here include theNilgiriLangur ( Presbytis johni), Giant Squirrel(Ratufa indica), Barking Deer (Muntiacusmuntjak) and Indian Porcupine (Hystixindica) alongwith birds such as NilgiriLaughing Thrush (endemic to Nilgiris),Scimitar Babbler, Flycatchers, Bulbuls,

Thrushes, Fantails, Grey Jungle Fowls,Sunbirds, Wagtails and Warblers.

Wanna go for a walk? Conditions apply: Nocars inside the premises. And pesky phones!

Walkers only.

Its a pleasant surprise to see coffee growinghere, says the erstwhile coffee planter fromChikmagalur, Karnataka, Mr Dominic Rebello.Its almost like cats and dogs under one roof. Theanimal loving family, based in Bangalore, was visitingthe Nilgiris on a two day trip. What we liked mostabout the Nilgiris? The holiday mood begins rightfrom Mysore. The entire drive from there onwardsis fascinating. You can do so much along the way -Bandipur-Mudumalai-Masinagudi-Ooty...

What we liked mostabout the Nilgiris.

Sumeru frozen foods are food lovers firstchoice! The range of ready -to- eat andready-to-serve products extend fromchicken sausages, fish fillet, chickencutlets and lots more in the non-vegetarian fare alongwith vegetariandelights such as methi parathas,vegetable burger patties and french fries.Sumeru products are exclusivelydistributed in the Nilgiris byQuestMarketing. Call us to know more aboutthe range of imported and indigenousfoods that we stock. Our entire range of

products are available at select outletsin the district (mentioned on p 15).Call:98431 46176/ 98430 80083

Bison:The majestic animal that is the bison,is found across the length and breadth ofthe Nilgiris. 1/3 of the country s bison arefound here. These largely harmless-to-humans beasts, are also known as theIndian Gaur. It is not uncommon now tosee a herd in and around tea plantations.Apart from its phenomenal size that easilygives its away, the typical identification of abison is its stocking-ed feet and a light greypatch on the forehead. With shrinking

habitats, in recent times, the bison has beenclassified under the Red list of the IUCN(International Union for Conservation ofNature and Natural Resources).

The unique tea brewer mug is an industry first from Glenworth Estates.The double-glass tea mug is reinforced with the capability to retainheat for long spells. The 200ml cup (in pic) has a removable strainerthat keeps the tea leaves inside the glass, while you conveniently sipaway. Best to keep handy at your work desk. Also ideal to carry alongon short trips.

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5 must-visit touristspots in Ooty.

In about half a days time, with asmall car or taxi handy, one can

get to the essence of Ootystourism 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 historybuffs delight!

Train timings:

Mettupalayam-Ooty : Dep:7:10 am Arr: Ooty-1200 noon. Ooty -Mettupalayam : Dep:3:00 pm.Local trains : Ooty to Coonoor-9:15 am, 12:15pm, 3:00 pm, 6: pm. Coonoor to Ooty-7:45 am,10:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm.

travel

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.

His record forpaper sales is130 copies ona Sunday!

Ootysfavouritepaperwalaretires.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway engages the rack &pinion system, a novel creation to ensure extra and foolproof braking of the train. The teeth-like centre piece foundrunning right up to Kallar station from Coonoor runs ex-actly in between the two tracks. A ratchet type cog wheelattaches itself to it, keeping the speed of the train under

control. This railway has the steepest gradient in the In-dian Railways at 1:12 . Its alternate biting teeth (Abt) in therack & pinion, provides it adequate safety.

His little shop at Charing Cross, oppositeBreeks Schools lower gate has been the townresidents favourite spot to pick up theSunday morning edition. I sold 130 copiesin a single day says the beaming MrKaruppaiah, who made humble beginningsin Ooty 42 years ago. Thats when he arrivedhere as a young boy from Trichy. RelaxStores has been just that to several agegroups, across the years, stocking thoughtfullittle items from candy to essential oils.Both his daughters studied in Breeks schooland are happily settled. His wife, due tomedical reasons, is now settled at Trichy andthe paper-shop-man too moves there forgood but in characteristic local style, heleaves his heart behind.

Farewell and thank you from an old schoolboy-regular customer!

HELP-LINES

DISTRICT

POLICE

Police: Ooty - (0423) 100,Coonoor - (0423) 2221836,Kotagiri - (04266) 271100,Gudalur (04262) 261246.

call 108in anyemergency

Please add the area code if dialling from amobile phone or from outside the circle

The Local quiz on the NilgiriMountain Railway (NMR).

1. When did the NMR come into being? 2.When was the railway line extended toOoty? 3. What is the total length of therail line from Mettupalayam to Ooty? 4.From which elevation does the train startits journey up? And what is the highestaltitude that it touches at Ooty? 5. Whatdoes Abt system stand for? 6. How manytunnels can be found along the way? Howmany stations does the NMR have?

Hanging from a heritage train is ashorrendous an act as slapping agrandmother in the face. The respect andreverence that a heritage site deserves islost on most of us who are consumed incheap, self-centred notions of what tourismreally means.The 100 year old Nilgiri Mountain Railway(NMR) is considered a World Heritage Site,having been conferred this status by theUNESCO in 2004!Please do not venture to and encourageothers not to brazenly etch names on wallsof compartments, or heritage buildings etc,as if to find a cheap shortcut to a place in

history.

An appeal.

1.In18992.In19083.46kms4.328msl&2203msl5.Alternatebitingtrack.6.16tunnels7.9stations

Issued in Public interest by TheLocal

Pic, courtesy: Kaiwaan Patel

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local issue

4

Strange men knock on ourdoors to ask for water andan empty glass to havetheir liquor with.

When enoughis enough.

They have made 3 representations to the Collectorsoffice over the past 3 years to remove the liquorshop in their colony. They have voted in Panchayatrepresentatives who havent kept promises. Theyhave, on occasion, registered complaints at the police

station. They are not aware of the fundamental rulethat a liquor shop must not be located within 100mts of a place of worship or an educationalinstitution.

The residents of an indescript colony nearWellington had nevertheless decided to call a localcable television channel to voice their grievance.TheLocal correspondent met concerned residents aday after their staged protest.

While there is anxiety on the faces of the villagewomen folk, there is hope. They are deeply ignorantof their legal rights but they are determined thatsomething must be done. They feel it is thegovernment that has decided that the shop besituated here (apparently at the conjunction of 7important residential pockets including the large

Jagathala village nearby) and so there is acceptanceand resignation.

Yet, they believe there will be respite from theirtroubles relating to drunk men, after dark, (andduring broad daylight - we encountered two of them,one of whom thought it was useless to dicuss thematter as if a living testimony to vouch for theseemingly impossible situation of alcoholism). Howmany alcoholics in this part of the world? Theydont know.In the words of a little girl who became a schooldropout, We want the liquor shop closed. My fatherbecame a drunkard and couldnt pay my fees.

Readers write

When we talk about social drinking, whatdoes it mean? Does it mean that we keep

our friend company by drinking when heor she drinks or do we drink just to makefriends and move within a particular group.Can we not socialize and make friends

without drinking?I hold the view that having a glass or twoof wine once in a way is not harmful if it isa way of relaxing and enjoying a meal. Butif we drink heavily every evening we riskbecome alcoholics in no time! What arethe consequences of drinking heavily? Theheavy consumption of spirits will ruin ourhealth and our lives. Health problems

Radha Naidu

especially damage to liver is quite common.What about the financial side? In thelower economic strata, for instance, aperson who drinks heavily spends a greatdeal of money on it when his wage is notenough. For example, a labourer whoapproximately earns Rs. 200 a day will spendall that money on drinks especially if he isan alcoholic. He then resorts to borrowingsince he wont have any money left to feedhis family bringing upon himself, debt.Such people who are alcoholics need help.

Doctors who have patients with thisproblem should refer them to AlcoholicsAnonymous where such people can meetregularly, talk about their problems andhelp each other.At present we also come across instancesof students of eighteen or nineteen whodrink. They may belong to the upperclasses, the middle or the lower. Studentsof affluent parents see their parents drinkregularly and raid the drinks cabinet for adrink when their parents are away.Drinking has become a way of life and has

(Un) socialdrinking.

Cant we make friends withoutthe help of liquor?

become so acceptable that the downsideof it not even talked about. People at aparty are encouraged to drink even whenthey have to drive after drinking. Whosuffers? People get run over by drivers whoare drunk. This happens on a regularbasis. Then there is the problem of illicitliquor. Alcoholics are drinking this stuff,especially those alcoholics from thelower classes. Illness and even deaths haveoccured because of this.

The time has come for us to seriously

think about this situation and try tocontrol the menace.High schools should hold discussions ona regular basis so that students becomeaware at an early age of the dangers ofdrinking. Hopefully then we can prevent

young people from turning intoalcoholics at an early age. We have toemphasize that their future can beendangered by drinking heavily.Lastly let us realise that only by settingan example we can prevent the youngergeneration from turning to alcoholic.

They dont have a school in their colony, no piped water, only onestreet light... Yet, they have inherited an unwelcome gift of a thrivingliquor shop that is perched in the middle of their lives, making it morethan a nuisance. The women of Tharemi colony, below Jagathala village,finally stand up to assert their rights. Will they be heard?

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cover story

5

When the former President of Indiawalks into the hall of a local school inCoonoor to celebrate 150 years of itsexistence and instantly gestures that thehigh seat or gaddi placed on the stagefor him be removed, it becomes thetalk of the town. Every individual, youngand old, has not stopped telling others

who werent there on Aug 14, 2009 of

this episode. Dr A P J Abdul Kalamfurther requests that the VIPs kindlyfind some place other than the front rowsthat they had already occupied and toallow students of the school to take theirplace so he might interact with the

youngsters easily.To see the enlightened man in person isin itself an enlightening experience.Short statured, quick paced and quicker

witted, the former President immediatelyendears himself to all, including theousted VIPs and the visibly embarrassedschool authorities.Thirty percent of the nations populationis made up of young children like you.If we include the age group of upto 30

yrs of age, then 54% of Indias populationis its youth. Change will have to comefrom you if our country must progressand if we must be a strong, developednation by the year 2020 (his personal,much admired vision).

To get a glimpse of the visionary-scientistor to have at least heard his words fromafar would have sufficed for most in thehandpicked audience that morning, butthere were others who hustled thesettings like the photographers who

constantly caused unwary security mento abruptly and awkwardly turn in thedirection of the sudden moves of the socalled media. School authorities seatedon the dais were compelled to stand up

The Local Correspondent

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam makesknown his love for childrenwhile expressing disdain forunnecessary fanfare. His inspiringaddress during a brief visit here,willhave great impact, if we pay heed.

Childrenare the most

importantpeople.

ever so often and wave the interruptiveforces down.None of this perturbed the enlightenedman. His goal was to talk to youngstudents. How many of you want tobecome a politician? There was no showof hands until he repeated the question.

The lone, tentative hand that went up,somewhere at the far end of the StanesSchool auditorium, was perhaps only ina hesitant, almost playful fashion, mostlyhoping to be unnoticed.He noticed. Good. Some of you mustdecide to enter politics. The nation needs

young people like you to take up therunning of its affairs. Of the 10 questionsthat Dr Kalam parried from students,(who had prepared themselves inadvance) one was, Sir who will make a

better politician, a young inexperiencedperson or an older, experienced one? Forevery question, the visionary would firstaccredit the youngster saying that thequestion was a good one and then he

would embark on the answer, each onebeing absorbed by the audience as freshink to blotting paper. Youth containsenergy. Age carries knowledge and intime, acquired wisdom. Both these areessential for a politician to be useful tosociety. You must gain knowledge earlyso that your energy will be productivelyharnessed.

It was obvious that Dr Kalams wordsalso reached out to the child in everyadult seated there. The nervous laughterand clapping that followed hisConcluded on p 12

The President of the Nilgiri chapter of the All India Womens Conference has rallied herself and members of theassociation against alcoholism. In a recent memorandum to the District Collector,Mrs Indu K Mallahhas solicitedinformation regarding the location of liquor shops across the district, particularly if any of them have flouted the ruleof 100 ft from schools and places of worship. On the subject of alcoholism, the senior lady feels it is time for residentsof the district to stand up and be heard on this growing social menace. I am concerned about our youth. We must worktowards making their future meaningful and values driven, just as our elders did for us.

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Dierdre E. Issar nee Wright

6

Recipe

Godhimai Adai

Ingredients: Wheat rava 250 gms,Raw rice flour 100 gms, Bengal gramdal 50 gms, Green gram dal 50 gms,Ulund dal 50 gms, Thoor dal 50gms. Coconut pieces1cup, Red chili(dry) 5 nos, Ginger 1 small piece,Garlic 5 small pieces, Sombu 1spoon, Jeeragam 1 spoon, Curryleaves, Coriander leaves andMurungai keerai.

Directions: Soak wheat ravaseparately for half an hour and allthe dals for 1 hour. Grind rava firstin the mixie and then the dals (avoidmaking it into paste). Add rice flourand mix all these well in a containerand add salt.Grind coconut, ginger, garlic, red chili,sombu and jeeragam. Heat some oilin kadai. Put together murungaikeerai, mustard and ulund dal withsome onions and grinded masala. Stirit for some time and then add it tothe flour. Heat tava and make theAdai, thick or thin as a dosa, as youmay wish.Ideal for morning breakfast.

(Wheat based preparation)

traditions

Recipe sent in by a subscriber of TheLocal, Mrs. Valarmathy Arumugam,

Nlgiris.

Stanes Alumni gettogether for the 150thyear celebrations finale.

The youngheart in oldstudents.

I excitedly told my friends in Bangalore thatIm going back to my old school for its 150th

year celebrations and tore away from my routine!Unlike many, I do have the opportunity of

visiting the Nilgiris fairly regularly as my parents Col (Retd.) C.T.O.A Wright & Mrs.P.M.Wright live in Wellington. However, I

would never get around to visiting my old schoolfor lack of time. This visit was special and I hadreserved the 14th and 15th August, 2009 onlyfor Stanes School.

On 13th, the registration day, it was lovely tomeet old friends, both senior and junior, to giggletogether and to be the butt end of jokes. All ofus certainly looked a lot older, with signs ofgraying, spectacles and the little extra weight!

Nine members of the batch of 1984 celebratedtheir 25th anniversary of passing out. This time,I noticed a strong representation of the not soold alumnus the youngest being from theclass of 2009.It was equally delightful to see some of our oldteachers too Mrs. Daniel, Mrs. Samson, Mrs.

Thangaraj, Mrs. PM Wright and Mr BenjaminGnanamanickam - believe me, it is somethingto do with the Nilgiri air that keeps them going!Dr A P J Abdul Kalams thought provokinginteraction the following morning with boththe present and past students was the highpoint of the function. Apart from unveiling the

bust of the schools founder, Thomas Stanes,the former President was also invited toinaugurate the Oyster Project of the school aSpecial Education department. I was veryinterested to know that the school had takenthe initiative to start this off as it is a subject thatis very close to my heart (I was secretly happythat it was housed in Groves Block, my old houseof which I was House Captain). I personallybelieve that every school must have a SpecialEducation Cell. I must add a word of cautionthat we do not use it as a method of filtering outchildren with learning disabilities. They must

be part of the mainstream as most of them haveabove average IQs and are gifted and talented.If taught and counselled well, they will bringlaurels to their school. I speak from personalexperience.

We returned to some fun and games thatafternoon. A solemn Thanksgiving Service wasfollowed by an AGM and the evening saw allof us let our hair down at the Coonoor Club.

The photographs say it all!The fun could not carry on and on, as we mighthave wished, since we were expected to be upbright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the flaghoisting and a march past on IndependenceDay. Our oldest alumni member present, Mr.Edwin Rajarathinam (class of 1966) was theChief Guest. Mr. Llewellyn Xavier (the presentPrincipal and also an alumnus) had us swingingour arms during some marching practice before

it all began. Lt. Col. (Retd) Sivakumar (myclassmate) lead our contingent. It was wonderfulto be back on the field. I remember how we

would take part in every event as students sincethere were just a few of us in the Super SeniorsDivision (Class 11 & 12). The alumni laterpitted skills against younger players in afriendly basketball match. I am proud to tell

you that in 1979-80 the girls basketball teamwon the Interschool championship.Going back to school was truly enrichingenough to haul me back to my routine!

For the record: Alumni members of Stanes School, Coonoor, posing for pictures next tothe bust of school founder Thomas Stanes which was unveiled earlier by former PresidentDr APJ Abdul Kalam on Aug 14. The writer is seen standing extreme left.

The writer belongs to the class of 1980 (Std.12)

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7

Would Ipluck tea fora living?

Trying ahand at tea leaf plucking, I quicklydiscover that the experience is rare. Itsparadoxical, in fact. Will my pinch hurt thestalks? Wont the leaf die if I pluck it off, thattoo the tender, light green ones that swaydelicately in the lightness of the morningbreeze? Will an incorrect pluck affect the

whole plant?The elderly lady (in pic) assures me that its

quite ok and that I have actually fared well.I am instructed not to go below what iscalled the table- a particular level on thetea bush, below which the stalks turn brown,solidifying further with each descendinglevel and culminating in tough roots.I am able to come to terms. It is, I believe,pre-ordained that a large section of humankind must live of this humble leaf.Consider this: small tea growers in the district

alone, numbered a whopping 65000 in the year 2008-09 and they cultivated tea on

approximately 45000 hectares of landaccounting for 80 million kgs produced inIndia annually!Plucking begins at around 8 30 am eachday and goes on till lunch when the team(usually about 4-5) breaks and with anintervening tea break later in the afternoon,they finally wind up by 5. Eight hours ofsheer expert touch, some lightheartedconversation, diligent plucking andmaintenance work on the bush (keeping thetable flat, clearing weeds within the tea bush)and finally stuffing the leaves into big roundsacks that they carry to the nearest weighingshed and it has been just another day at

the office for them. The average weight of abag goes upto 30 kgs and that is how mucha plucker would usually pluck in a day (Icould manage about two and a half kilos allmorning). At Rs. 3/- a kilo, its a crisp (orpaltry, depending on your point of view)hundred rupee note that the homemakertakes back to her family in the village or hatti(most of the small growers and pluckers hailfrom the indigenous Badaga community).

In my mind, as much as in the readers, thequestion of whether it was worth the effort,is a separate point. The fact is that thisfascinating co-existence between humans

and nature is divine. It blurs the lines ofdivisions. There is oneness with everythingaround us. I understand that the same bush

will have new sprouts soon enough. Its thecircle of life! Whether this philosophical bentof mind has place in our materialistic outlookis introspective but I believe it is important.As for the plucker, her health, happiness andhope lies as delicately as drops of rain on theedge of the leaf. The Local Correspondent

Ban Pro-D fromIllban Remedies is the ultimatenutritional energy source. With the addedbenefit of soy protein, each serving containsmore invigorating nutrients than ever before.Ban Pro-D effectively controls blood glucoselevels and checks diabetes. The vegetarianformula contains high concentration offunctional nutrients for diabetics.

Illban products are distributed exclusively inthe Nilgiris byQuest Marketing. Ourentire range of products are available at selectoutlets in the district (see p 15)

Call:98431 46176/98430 80083

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The Badaga hattiThe term hatti is used to describe a settlementof the predominant indigenousBadagacom-munity of the Nilgiris.

Hattis comprise parallel rows of compact housesmade of stone or mud mortar. The usual num-ber of houses one can find in a mid sized hattiwill be around 200-300 while some large hattisare also home to a thousand families. Typically,a hatti is perched on the slope of a hill, on theleeward side to protect itself from the directimpact of the westerly monsoon. The layout of

Master Plan.

pics:StaffPhotographer

The breathtaking layout of a typical Badaga hatti has many alocal and tourist stop and admire it, in awe. With over 300 suchclusters of closely-knit dwellings found across the district, theblend and balance that these villages signify with Nature isoverwhelmingly evident. Its almost like a Master Plan!

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keyeleme

nts

Advertisement

a hatti will include at least two main temples, oneabove it and one below, a large field which isused for a variety of purposes, including festivals,sports etc,. One is also sure to also find amplegrazing land around the hatti, though this hasdepleted in recent times due to changing occu-pational trends among the once dairy-agricul-tural based community. Extremely hospitable, theneeds of the average inhabitant are minimal.Historian Paul Hockings notes in his book onLinguistic trends, one of the timeless proverbs ofthis fascinating people,Allidamma, arasu; Kuli idammabirusu, meaning the one who has servants iswealthy, but the one who has food is happy.

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The white fence.The Local Correspondent

Responsible property investment,(RPI), recently framed by the UnitedNations, talks of the role that thebuilding sector has to play in sustainingthe environment. According to theUnited Nations Environment program(UNEP) report (2007) it is estimatedthat 30 per cent to 40 per cent of carbondioxide (CO

2) emissions can be reduced

if the real estate development andconstruction sector identifies andincorporates proper practices.

The pace of property acquisition in theNilgiris, in recent years, has raised thequestions of what social andenvironmental impact has been createddue to this. From an environmentalstandpoint, particularly wildlife, much isbeing documented about the man-animal conflict that has led to widespreaddisplacement of animals and in extremeinstances, their deaths. Fences, cordoningoff land, have particularly affectedmovement of elephants, forcing them toseek alternative routes making them

(with input from Deepa Vasudevan)

Off limits: The recentincrease in use of solidfences, to cordon offproperty bought in theNilgiris, has raised somesocial and environmentalconcerns. A candidperspective.

Al-Kabeer, established in 1978, is apioneer in frozen and processed foodsin Asia. Its quality has been itshallmark, earning accolades fromcustomers the world over..

In India, Al-Kabeer offers the largestrange of 100% veg products.Al-Kabeer products are exclusivelydistributed in the Nilgiris byQuestMarketing. Call us to know moreabout our range of imported andindigenous foods.Our entire range ofproducts are available at select outletsin the district (mentioned on p 15).Call:98431 46176/ 98430 80083

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local opinion

11

Whats wrong with our weather?Sarasu Bellie

Yesterday it rained, but only for a short while. It was sunny in the afternoon but itbecame cloudy by evening and at night it turned windy. Today, it started becomingcloudy and a few drops promised some rain but nothing happened. My father couldeasily tell when it would rain. In fact, my mother would sometimes not take hisadvice and end up getting all the washed clothes wet again. Today, with all themodern equipment we cannot predict weather correctly. What has happened?We learnt that clouds bring rain. Also, that water evaporation makes the clouds. Butfor water to be preserved in the ground, it needs shady trees. I look out from mywindow and I see tall, steel towers that bring waves of electronic signals but no rain.

inadvertently venture too close to humanhabitat (see expert s opinion on p16). Ifit is going to cause displacement, thenas developers, we must ensure thatintervening fencing lines must beremoved and only the marker postsremain, mainly for identification; this

will help animals pass freely, suggests alongstanding property developer in theNilgiris.

Well meaning efforts by the real estatesector must however be collective andrepresentative of the larger concern. TheRPI stipulations, it was opined in anational dailys article, will soon compelinvestors to turn away from propertythat is built with dubious environmentalstandards. It is also said to go beyondthe purview of the environment and toaddress social implications such aslabour and legal compliances.

The social implications of the land beingcordoned off, are considerable. Accessto land in interior fields, for instance, isbecoming inconvenient since mostbuyers prefer only roadside propertymaking it arduous for those engaged inagriculture forcing them to find alternateroutes to their fields. In some cases accessrights are even denied.

The other issue is agricultural activityon most of the cordoned off land beingeliminated. There are innumerable teafields that one sees lying untended to asits new owners are to be found residing

in far off cities!In this scenario, what is happening tothe original farmer-owners? In the caseof the predominantly agriculture-based

community, the Badagas, most of theirtraditional farming activities thatincluded potatoes and other essential

vegetables had already been replaced bylarge scale tea planting, a few decadesago. Due to fragmentation in family sizesand therefore land holding becoming

small, most of them began to depend onothers fields to provide them work.However, now with adjoining fields inand around villages or hattis beinggradually sold and sealed off (pic left),this income for the majority of thefamilies whose only mainstay wasagriculture, has been seriously affected.Restoring land to farmers through leaseis a way forward and while there are afew land owners who have entered intoannual lease agreements with locals, theperennial greed trap is to see purecommercial intent alone resulting in

unviable lease renewals, making theproposition itself, unviable to enter into.Unmindful or uninformed propertybuyers cannot be entrusted withconsidering social aspects as much aslocal developers do, for it is they whobest understand the dynamics of both theenvironmental and social implications.If developers were to come together witha shared longterm vision and regulatetheir approach in what is considered a

vital sector - housing, then mostecological issues will have been readilyaddressed even before they arose.

The introduction of the controversialbuilding regulations and the inadvertentdissatisfaction created due to the miningAct are relevant cases in point. While

the intention of the PIL (Public interestlitigation) that was filed by a local tocontain quarrying (interpreted as stonebreaking) are considered by some asbeing triggered due to vested interests,the fact remains that most builders,contractors and home buyers have been

unmindful of the larger repercussions.It is in keepng with long term concernsthat the RPI has been introduced and ifone has to understand its motivescorrectly, it will stand out as having adistinctively inclusive agenda.

A resident, who had moved in to theNilgiris some years ago, while talkingof his plans now, for some agriculturalactivity on newly purchased land a fewmiles away from his residence, said thathe was considering solar fences to protectthe perimeter! Only a few decades ago

there was no electricity in the villages,leave alone electric fences. The elders ofthe village cite stories of a night

watchman who would keep vigil with afaithful dog at hand. On sighting orhearing the marauding wild boar, he

would call out to his counter part on thefacing hill who in turn would reach outto yet another on the next hill and soona queer, steady drum beat would start off,confusing the raiders enough to go andfind some other place to dine or toabandon their plans altogether. But thesepractices are now resigned to folklore.

There is an old adage which says goodfences make good neighbours. Butcertainly, this did not include open landin its reference.

Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaims liability of any kind whatsoever, arising out of the readers use, orinability to use the material contained in it. Adequate care has been taken to compile stories for thereference of our users. TheLocal makes every effort to maintain accuracy of the information but does notaccept responsibility for any and disclaims responsibility for any loss or damage which may arise from theinformation provided. All opinion expressed in the issue in the form of articles or any viewpoint is solely thatof 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 the material.

Readers write

Keystone Foundation now opens aGreen Shop in Mysore, taking forest-fresh produce of the indigenous tribesof the Nilgiris, closer to eco-sensitivecustomers in this region.

We were invited to set up shop by theGreen Hotel, Mysore (located at

Jayalakshmipuram), who are ourlongstanding partners in the BeeMuseum project at Ooty, stated MrMatthew John, one of KeystoneFoundations founder members.

The shop was formally opened on 5thSept 09. It will, according to theorganisation, stock all popular Keystoneproducts like honey, spices & coffee.

Green Shopopens in Mysore

Event of the month

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Journalism workshop at Government High School, Aravenu.

Learning is fun: Students of theGovernment High School, Aravenu inexcited chatter, shortly after the journalismworkshop that was recently conducted forthem at their school premises.

Ajournalism workshop in Tamil didnt seem asdifficult as we had thought, while on our way toAravenus Government High School, near Kotagiri.It was daunting, however, to see about 100students, boys and girls, eagerly waiting to seewhat thepatrikepeople had in store for them.The excitement at being able to learn how to

generate news was evident when after about 20minutes or so, every single voice wanted to beheard.A questioning mind is important, for a journalistto be effective. Responsibility is above all. Becareful with information that you have access to.Be courteous yet courageous in your approachespecially when dealing with sensitive issues.Facts are critical to opinion...

The students were able to generate a smallnewspiece, almost all by themselves, at the endof the one hour session which goes thus:Independence Day celebrations at GHS, Aravenuwas held amidst great fanfare, with the schools

PTA President hoisting the flag in the presence ofstaff, parents and the students. Later in the day,teachers planted trees at the periphery of theschool playground to mark the occasion.

Cyber crimes are on the rise in recent times,says Mr Brian Soans, a techno-legal consult-ant, who is engaged in the sphere of bankingconsultancy. My role is multifarious. It involves,on the one end, advising clients who are unawareof cyber related crimes such as identity theft, onthe possible dangers that they face from fraudsterson the worldwide web today. On the other hand,

in the capacity of being a DRT (Debt recoverytribunal) representative, I monitor the manner inwhich banks deal with their clientele who have,due to various reasons, defaulted on their loanrepayments. Banks are sometimes arbitrary intheir approach towards customers who have de-faulted in their repayments. There are more pro-ductive ways by which to manage the situationbut usually it ends in harassment. Clients consultme on their options and almost always, the re-sults are favourable to both sides. Allied Law alsoworks towards reconstructing/restoration, con-verting sick businesses into profitable units.

Mr Soans consulting firm Allied Law is headquar-tered in Bangalore with offices in Chennai and

Mangalore. In the Nilgiris, Allied Law has just setup an extension office to serve the requirementsof local businesses and individuals. The firm hasorganised a 2 day seminar on Banking Law for ad-vocates and proprietary/partnership businesses inthe district. Enrolment details mentioned below:

Techno-legal

consultant in

the Nilgiris. conclusive answers each time, wasevidence enough that much of what was

being experienced that morning insideevery heart and mind was enlightening.Stand up for what you believe is right.It is not enough to conform to everythingaround you. Your voice must be heard.

There is much to do. There is much thatis left to be done. The year 2020 will beupon us soon...All that the great man said that morninghas left as deep an impression on everyonepresent as it has on the localcorrespondent.Keeping young children foremost in ourthoughts and actions will be crucial. It

will entail a host of activities beginning

with literacy enhancement drives acrossthe district. It will require greater

volunteerism in the area of after-hourseducation. It will have to ensure thatchildren who cannot afford highereducation must be sponsored to do so. It

will be equally important to keep youngones from being ensnared intoundesirable habits, particularly alcohol.It will be important for adults to carrythemselves as good examples to the

youth. But first, we must shed the cultureof VIPism.

Continued from p 5

Children are themost importantpeople.

Banks need not harassdefaulting customers.

There are better meansby which to arrive at asolution. I act as anarbitrator.

Seminar: 2 day seminar on banking laws,legal recourse in debt restructuring andcyber crimes Venue: Keswick, OrangeGrove, Coonoor - 2. Date: 18th Oct 09.Call (0) 92452 01687 for details.

Promotional feature

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You actuallyswim with sharks?! That wasthe startled exclamation of the interviewers when the newly installed principal ofHebron School, Ooty said that he enjoyedswimming in the ocean more than (whatwe thought the customary favourites for

an Australian), football or rugby. The softtoned gentleman then takes time to explainthat sharks arent as dangerous as is madeout to be: You dont bother them, and theywont either.

Mr. Mark Noonan has just taken chargefrom the previous principal, Mr AlastairReid, who now moves to a new assignmentin England. It has been a little over amonth since the sturdily built educationisttakes the seat of responsibility at this over100 year old institution.The on-the-dot 5 o clock entry into thePrincipals cabin is appreciated. The head

abandons his administrative chair, makesus comfortable in the guest chairs and thenseats himself on one with a wide smile. The first question evokes a frown. Is itstill worth being a teacher? The questionis met with a counter-question.Why do you ask?! Gradually, Mr Noonandispels our speculative representation thatthe teaching profession no longer attractsthe best and that it is too challenging andgruelling in these [chaotic] times to beenjoyable. The world has always reveredthe teacher. Communities and countrieshave relied on their teachers to show theway. No matter the challenges, teachingwill be a fulfilling effort. It is irreplaceablein the sheer sense of service to society thatit provides... The smiles are back.To a question on the present day scenarioof too many children for a teacher tohandle, and if small is therefore beautiful,he replies saying Nothing is too big tobreak into manageable parts.This is good organisational behaviour,the Principal emphasises, adding,ultimately, if the child is at the centre ofour efforts, solutions will always emergeno matter how large a problem there is.There are benefits of being compact. At

Hebron School, for instance, every youngster is presented endlessopportunities to flower and flourish witheach one finding his and her own space.Teachers are facilitators and friends. The

The Local Correspondent

conditions are favourable. We remindourselves of what the National shootingchampion Kynan Chenai, a student of thisschool, told TheLocal in an interview last year, The environment at Hebron calmsmy mind and prepares me for my personalchallenges! Hebron has advanced to movewith changes in technology too. In all ofthis, the new head says he is thankful toGod that the institution retains its firstlove, as summed up in the Hebron School

motto-Deo Supremo (meaning God first).It will be a task enough to sustain themomentum at this renowned educationalcentre which, notwithstanding itsCambridge curriculum, is central to the

The new head of Hebron School is more than ready to take on the ever increasingchallenges in the sphere of education, today. He is hands-on and he will derive from hisdistinctly diverse interests like swimming with sharks and cultivating farm vegetables.An informal interview.

identity of Ooty town. It has an inherentcosmopolitan outlook and it has keensensitivity to localised issues - the studentsfervently extend themselves to local causes,hygiene and good health among theweaker sections in particular.What do you think of Ooty now? (Theprincipal was a teacher here 10 years ago).Its so much cleaner! There is aconsciousness among the locals about theirheritage and the need to preserve it.

We do believe that the local communityat Tuncurry, Australia is missing the manas it is evident that he is them - photos ofhis previous stint at the Great LakesCollege are already up on his office wall!It wont be long before this global localwill carry his new team ahead with rolledup sleeves! And he keenly wishes tocontribute to the welfare of fellow locals.Mr Mark Noonan knows what it takes totill the soil. With patience and in the hopeand faith that the harvest, ultimately, willbe fulfilling.

The world relies on its Teachers.

interview

Letters to the EditorReaders who wish to send letters to the Editor may writeto : 10/363-Y-1,Indiranagar, AVK Post, Nilgiris - 643 202. Alternatively, you may also emailyour correspondence to thelocaleditor@gmail.com In case of any queriesor clarifications call: (0) 97905 90570.

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Letters to the EditorSir,Through the good office of my neices husband, K.P.Rajagopal, in Coonoor, I was able to get the latest issue ofThe Local. I went through the magazine carefully but couldnot find the subscription rates. Please do let me knowwhat the rate is.

I would also love to introduce The Local to a lot of peopleI know. You may have known Dr V.M.I Nambissan who wasthe GMof Cordite Factory, Aruvankadu. One of his daughters,my niece, is presently HOD, Dept of Sociology at theJawaharlal Nehru University. Imsure she would love TheLocal... ...My good wishes for the enduring prosperity ofThe Local.Prof. Radha Nair,Kannur Road, Calicut

Sir,

I was indeed pleased to find The Local in my letterbox andhope you will continue to publish the paper at regularintervals. The last I received an issue by post, was in

March 09. Were there any issues prior to the Aug issuethat I received? If so, I would like to have a copy.

We all learn through experience and pitfalls.

Please let me know when and how much I have to pay forthe subscription of The Local as I have not received anynotice letter in this regard. I would not like to miss theissues and hope you will keep in touch with customers likeus who have preserved the issues ever since the paperstarted. I am a resident of Nilgiris since 1957.

Wish you all the best.A R Rajagopal,Springfield, Coonoor

After having lived an entire year awayfrom the Nilgiris, one of my firstpriorities, when I got home, was to goout into the garden and say hello to my

winged friends!The sheer variety and colour of birdsfound in the Nilgiris is second to none,so much so that Indias most reveredornithologist, Mr Salim Ali hadcommented about the Nilgiris as beingone of the best places for birds in India.Longwood shola, near Kotagiri, and theforests along the Coonoor Mettupalayam road are amongst thoseregions with a high density of bird life.

These areas, as with other parts of theNilgiris, play home to a number ofendemic bird species which furtherexemplifies their importance. A walk

within the forest bedazzles even those who are not keen bird watchers.However, even the smallest of gardensattract a wide variety of birds and oneliterally, does not need to leave thecomfort of home to watch these amazing

creatures.Gardens with flowering plants arefrequented with birds which feed ontheir nectar. Among the birds that canbe easily spotted frequenting flowers arethe sunbirds and white-eyes. Both thesebirds belong to the order Passeriformes,

which comprises almost three fifths ofthe worlds birds and are characterisedby their gripping feet. They have threetoes pointed forwards and one

Ashwath Vishwanath

Birds at yourwindow sill

Publishers note

One is a majority.

Even the smallest of gardensattract a wide variety of birdsendemic to the Nilgiris.

Ever since the issue of alcoholism caught our attention, spurred by the article of ade-addiction counsellor (TheLocal Aug09), I have requested several among us tostand up and speak out against the problem. Especially those whose opinion willmatter. The common refrain, initially, was that alcohol is socially accepted and

what can we really do about it? Or, the Government is behind it, so...I believe the least we can do is to raise our voice against this growing menace thatthreatens to debilitate our health, wreck our homes, and cripple our sustenance anddevelopment as a society. Notwithstanding the perceivable position of minority,some among us, our women folk in particular, have decided that enough is enough.

Their actions and expressions have been featured in this issue. Each have raised a

voice not knowing that there is another who has done so as well! This, I believe, isthe power of one when every individual believes it is now upto him or her and notanyone else. The time has come to grapple with our common issues. If it is yourproblem then it is equally mine too. This perspective will take us ahead before theissue itself fells us all down. If you wish to know more about the movement againstalcoholism, do get in touch with the undersigned.On a related note the former Presidents recent visit and his spirited address hasinspired many who had the opportunity to hear him. We trust that the excerptsfrom that speech, featured in this issue, has inspired you as well.For the convenience of our readers our subscriptions have been reopened. Pleasesubscribe or renew your subscription to avail of your copy ofTheLocal by post. Youmay also choose to send a copy to a friend, anywhere in India. The postal ratesremain unchanged. Edwin David

Local

SUBSCRIBE TO

Subscriptions to The Local, are openedeffective October 09. Please subscribe/renewyour subscription through the followingmethods: Demand draft/local chequefavouring The Local Media Publishing Co,.(or) by a Money order to The Editor, The LocalMedia Publishing Co,. 10/363-Y-1, AVK Post,Nilgiris - 643202. Call: (0) 97905 90570.1 Year subscription : Rs. 180/- for 12issues, incl. postage & handling.

It is time to stand up and speak out.

Present a memorandum to the districtCollector as a public grievance,requesting to remove the liquor store.File an application under Right toInformation Act with reference to theNorms and Rules relating to Locatingor Establishing a liquor store in TamilNadu for which you should get a replywithin 30 days of filing. File a writ petitionin the High Court stating the publicinconvenience praying for a directionto remove or relocate the liquor store.

According to the provisions in theProhibition Enforcement Act, a liquorshop should not be located within 100ft of a place of worship or an educationalinstitution. Further, according to theCriminal Procedure Code Act, Sec 133Conditional order for removal ofnuisance.- (1) Whenever a DistrictMagistrate or a Sub-DivisionalMagistrate or any other ExecutiveMagistrate specially empowered in thisbehalf by the State Government, onreceiving the report of a police officeror other information and on taking suchevidence (if any) as he thinks fit,considers- (b) that the conduct of anytrade or occupation, or the keeping ofany goods or merchandise is injuriousto the health or physical comfort ofthe community, and that inconsequence such trade oroccupation should be prohibited orregulated or such goods ormerchandise should be removed or

the keeping thereof regulated; Sec133 (1) (b) CrPC.

Legal Provisions regardingremoval of a liquor shopfrom a locality.

Info courtesy: Advt Sabarish Devaraj, Ooty

Continued overleaf

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environment

particularly strong toe pointedbackwards, giving them theircharacteristic perch. They are alsoknown to require the most parental careamongst birds.

The white-eyes (or Silver-eyes) aresmall birds of about 10cm in length,pale olive with a white underbelly andthe sexes are alike. Their characteristicname is derived from the conspicuous

white ring encircling the eye, giving animpression of a larger white eye. Theyhave a slender, slightly downwardpointed curved bills and extendabletongues with fine brush like tips forcollecting nectar. Their diet includesfruit and insects like aphids. The birds

In your backyard:Gardens with flowering plants are frequented bybirds which feed on their

nectar. Among the birdsthat can be easily spottedonflowering branchesare the Sunbirds andSilver-eyes.

Information & pics, courtesy: Ashwath Vishwanath

are found foraging in small groups.During the breeding season they builddeep cup shaped nests from plantmaterial woven around the branches ofbushes. They have small broods rangingfrom 2 to 4 per nest.In the Sunbirds, unlike the White-eye,the sexes are distinct with the malesbeing more brightly coloured. They aresmaller than the White-eye with acharacteristic curved beak. These birdsalso primarily feed on nectar. Beingdistantly related to the hummingbirdsof the Americas they can hover, albeitfor short periods and usually perch tofeed. The crimson backed Sunbird isfound commonly and is endemic to the

western ghats. The adult male has amaroon breast-band, sides of the headand back. The throat is purple and therump is crimson and the underparts are

yellow, flanked with white. The femalehas an olive-green back, brown wingsand yellowish breast which is a lot lessstriking than the male. They breedthroughout the year but are morecommon during the monsoon seasons

with two eggs per nest.

Quest Marketingwas incorporated in1994 with the aim to stock and distribute bothimported and indigenous food products in theNilgiris. Today, the company stocks a range ofhigh-fibre biscuits, cheese, olive oils and organicsoya products as well as sugar free items. Thecompany is also a leading distributor in theregion, for non alcoholic beverages fromleadingbrands like Becks of Germany, Elephant gingerbeer (Sri Lanka) and red wines from Australia.In frozen foods, Quest Marketing enjoys aspecial association with Tata subsidiary,Sumeru, Al-Kabeer and Convenio Foods.

Today, Quest Marketing services therequirements of select clientele at Coimbatore& Tirupur as well.

Advertisement

Can we play football, was all that we asked of the full-of-energy Toto (as his folks call him) who instantlyvolunteered to get his football off the loft, dragged us all out onto the lawn outside his home in Lovedale, near

Ooty and began to kick about, in all earnestness, the ball which had literally no air in it! We played on until the ladaccidentally kicked it into the neighbours compound. What next? He quickly fished out a few balloons, made hismother blow them to size and had us all kick them around too until some of them burst... So what next?Mrs and Mr Ashok ___ have no need to worry about that question. This lad with boundless energy always has somuch to do that he perhaps wont even need that cup ofHorlicks, the brand for which he is this years Kid star!We think his spontaneity caught the attention of judges, says the proud father. Mrs Mitchelle Ashok also addsthat he must have had the panelists all in splits of laughter when he replied to a question on what is his favouritedrink. It seems he named 3 other brands alongwith Horlicks! The title was vied for by 129 finalists from across thelength and breadth of the country. His amiable face with a broad smile must have also tipped the balancein hisfavour. Who do you look like? Mamma... and Ashok! We think tactfulness was another criteria that made thisyoung local a deserving winner. YoungShyaam Adrain, on his part, looks up as at us if to say - Whats all thefuss about? I am just being myself!

Ask for our range of products at the following

stores in the Nilgiris:Ooty - Modern Stores,Garden Rd; MV & Co, Nilgiris Dept. Store, Hillbunk, Shivani, Commercial Rd. Coonoor-Bakers Junction, Bedford; Needs, Wellington,Suvedha Stores DSSC, Tulsi Mall, Mt Pleasant.

What next?

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Published on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgir is. Printed at Satya Press, no. 50 Kariappa Street; Purasaiwalkam, Chennai - 7. Editor: Edwin David

Why did the French tourist have to die?Is it enough to close down the one resort

in Masinagudi that took unsuspectingtourists on the reportedly illegal tour ofthe forest? Does the Nilgiris benefit at allfrom this kind of fringe tourism at theoutskirts of the hill ranges? Will there beanother tourist death such as this one?What is the role of conservationists andNGOs in the light of increasing elephantdeaths in recent months?TheLocal questions to Mr N Mohanraj,reputed conservationist and elephantexpert, a few days after the tragic death ofa French tourist, a 66 year old teacher,while she and members of her family weremaking their way through Bokkapuram

on an unauthorised trek through the forest.Some answers:An elephant is a non-confrontationistanimal. It will not attack without havingbeen antagonised, says the conservationist.People have to understand thisfundamental aspect. The extent of landwhich the wild animals earlier traversedhas depleted drastically in recent years.Fences have aggravated the problemfurther, making elephants in particular, tomove into regions hitherto unvisited. Local

plantation owners in the upper plateau, willvouch that wild animals were never sighted

on their estates barely two decades ago.Mr Mohanraj further states that elephantcorridors have been gradually blocked offdue to the mushrooming of resorts acrossthe district and in a random manner. Aneducational institution, he adds, bycordoning off large tracts of area at thefoothills near Mettupalayam, hasinadvertently displaced the pachydermsfrom their natural route. A resort furtherup the ghat section, according to theWWF official, is perched in the peripheryof the Kallar elephant corridor. Withhuman habitat fast increasing, there isgoing to be large scale conflict in future is

his conclusive prediction.What is to be done? Regulation has alwaysbeen the solution to such problems.Enforcement of the rule of law will bringabout the desired results in the immediateperspective, but there are long termsolutions that need to be addressed - thelong proposed flyover at the final hairpinbend near Kallar, for instance. It will takefour years to build this over pass, which, ifsanctioned and duly constructed, will allowthe elephants to pass below, unhindered,

says the veteran. On the subject ofregulation, we debate, self regulationworks, it has greater committment. Peopleof the Nilgiris must think for themselvesif they need to preserve the wildlife of theregion for the future generations.Collective responsibility is the dire need.By placing something that is important tome, am I displacing anything vital to isthe question that every individual must askof oneself, we conclude.

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The Local CorrespondentMan-animal conflict will rise.

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