Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
A
eLocal
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
Next issue: Heritage abused
Honey
Hunters.
The Local Correspondent
Artificial jewellery
Raliah dam
Raliah dam: One of the lifelines of the The total depth of the dam is 58 ft. Water,
Nilgiris, Raliah dam caters to the drinking this July, rose to around 40 feet. According to
water supply of Coonoor town. the caretakers, this year’s rainfall has not been
Constructed in 1941, it took a little less than as plentiful as in July, last year, when the dam
3 years to put up this sizeable dam which is had overflowed.
set in pristine surroundings in the beautiful Work on Raliah dam was inaugurated by the Badaga song & dance: If most Badagas can
mountain ridges along the Wellington- then Minister for Local Administration, Shri sing, then every Badaga can dance, records Mr
Coonoor hill tracts. The area is off limits to B Gopal Reddy in the presence of Municipal Dharmalingam Venugopal in the book, The
visitors due to obvious reasons of water Commissioner, Mr S Devagnanam and Mr Nilgiris, published by the Nilgiri
contamination. However, with prior Samanna Naidu Municipal Chairman, Documentation Centre. The dances, he further
permission f rom the local municipal Coonoor, on 16th July 1938. states are a combination of graceful steps,
gentle jerks, quaint turn and half-turns of the
authorities, small groups can visit the site. body, hands, wrists and palms. The dancers are
at their best during festivals and marriages
with men and women, young and old,
matching step with each other. The ballads of
this indigenous community are equally
captivating. Charles Gover (1871) writes, ‘It
is quite certain that few nations can boast of
The only heavy rain spell that the better songs as far as words may go.’
district received in July was around
the 2nd week. It was on one of
these days (night rather) that the
Bangalore- Ooty buses were
stalled near Gudalur for 4-5 hours
due to road blockades caused by
mudslips on the ghat section. The
engineering students, here on a
planned two-day trip, took to ‘Uno’
the elimination card game, keeping
themselves and co-passengers
Student-tourists upbeat inspite of being stranded in a upbeat. What they liked about the
KSRTC bus near Gudalur, due to heavy rainfall. Nilgiris? Its weather!
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Info and pics, courtesy: Nilgiri Documentation Centre
3
‘I can’t explain why I decided that I must
travel volunteer at the museum but I simply knew
that I must do what I can now, to be of help.’
5 must-visit tourist Pushpinder can pass off as a tourist at first
sight - a visitor at the very same Bee museum
spots in Ooty. that she and her husband (then a student officer
In about half a day’s time, with a at the DSSC, Wellington) had visited early last
small car or taxi handy, one can year. Her enthusiasm is equally remarkable -
like the one that a visitor feels for the very first
get to the essence of Ooty’s time, when experiencing a new thing!
tourism identity. (The 6th one, is ‘I think the culture and traditions of the local
the proverbial icing-on-the-cake). communities is fascinating. I am also happy that
while the communities have preserved their
Pykara Lake: cultural ties, they have also embraced
21 kms from Ooty, on the Ooty- development. Gomathi, who works with me
Mysore Road, is the Pykara lake.
here, a member of the local Kota tribe, is today
an MA in linguistics!’
It is considered sacred by
Capt Pushpinder Khajuria was formerly a
indigenous tribes. Great for
military nurse. Due to her husband’s various
boating. Thank God for digital posting (a Lt Col in the Indian army) she decided
cameras. to retire from active duty to be with him. ‘My
husband is a very understanding person, like a
Ooty Lake: friend’.That fact, TheLocal correspondent can
The glittering jewel of Ooty, the vouch for - the gentleman, it seems, stepped
lake is a treat to behold from afar! into Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri, shortly
Total extent: 65 acres. Officially before they had to leave Wellington for their
opened to boating since 1973. next posting, and left their car keys on the table
much to the surprise of everyone there, saying,
Botanical Gardens: ‘my wife will be back after a month.She is going
to volunteer at the museum and will need the
In the heart of Ooty town, this 55 car to move about.’ The interesting part-
acre expanse is the ‘lungs of the
town’ and its resident population.
Follow your heart. Keystone didn’t know about this!
But that is Pushpinder - ‘pushy’as the Keystone
Its layout was completed in folk affectionately call her. She had her way.
1867. 2000 varieties of flowers, The Local Correspondent ‘Life is uncertain. Suddenly, you get a nagging
is fascinating and overwhelming. feeling that something must be done and then
Pushpinder Khajuria it happens - you follow your heart.’
Tea museum & Tea factory: becomes a volunteer at the The resolute lady knows what uncertainty is
Enroute Doddabetta, the tea Bee Museum. Just like that. about. Her younger brother died tragically, of
brain haemorrage.
manufacturing experience here, A decision at the drop-of-a- Nothing is permanent.Nothing will last forever.
is total - from leaf to cup, as they hat! But yet, its a conscious We know, nevertheless, that her work at the
say. The museum is a history decision. museum will.
buff’s delight!
Train timings:
Doddabetta Peak:
Mettupalayam-Ooty: 1. When was the Head
Standing at 2623 msl (metres Dep:7:10 am Post Office, Ooty, opened?
above sea level) Doddabetta is Arr: Ooty-1200 noon. 2. When did the district get
10 kms from Ooty. The name Ooty -Mettupalayam: its first adhesive stamp?
means ‘big mountain’ in the local Dep:3:00 pm. What was the cost of
language. Surrounded by dense Local trains: stamp for postage from
shola (forests) the peak offers a Ooty to Coonoor-9:15 am, Ooty to Madras?
truly far-sighting experience. 12:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 6: pm. 3. What is the hobby of
Coonoor to Ooty-7:45 am, stamp collecting called?
The Bee Museum & 10:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm. 4. Which country has the
Green Shop
The Postal services largest postal network?
At hill bunk on the Mysore Rd, DISTRICT HELP-LINES
in the Nilgiris is over 5. How many post offices
call 108 in any
your understanding of local
traditions, one of which is
POLICE emergency
180 yrs old. Em-
ploying over 120
are there in the Nilgiris?
6. What extent of area
honey hunting, is complete with postmen and does the Postal service in
Police: Ooty - (0423) 100,
the visit to the Bee Museum.
Coonoor - (0423) 2221836, women, some of the Nilgiris, cover?
Honey lovers, celebrate. The Kotagiri - (04266) 271100, the department’s 7. Which was the first
range of fresh forest produce Gudalur (04262) 261246. post offices in the dis- stamp, based on the
available here, will stun you. Please add the area code if dialling from a trict, are virtual heri- Nilgiris. In which year?
mobile phone or from outside the circle tage sites. The Local quiz. answers on p 13
4
issue
India has over 55, 000 liquor Social drinking, over time, has been Hospital, I was made aware of vital do’s and
outlets including shops, bars ingrained into society as acceptable but it will don’ts, (from TTK pamphlets) for the family,
and restaurants. alarm the uninformed that 2 out of every ten when dealing with the situation :
Source: Business Today, Jun 2009 ‘drinkers’ will become an alcoholic! Don’t treat the alcoholic as a child.You wouldn’t
The mean age of initiation of All alcoholic beverages contain a chemical if he/she were suffering from some other
alcohol use has decreased from called ethyl alcohol, a powerful drug which disease. It is important to acknowledge the
23.36 years during the 1960s, depresses the central nervous system and condition as a disease and a disease that can
to 19.45 years in the 90s. slows down brain activity. Needing no be treated.
About 80% of alcohol
digestion, alcohol is straightaway absorbed
consumption is in the form of by the walls of the stomach and small
intestine. Once absorbed it travels to all parts When the question of ‘how
hard liquor or distilled spirits,
showing that the majority drink of the body - stomach, heart, liver, kidney and shall I stop?’ occurs, the
beverages with a high concen- the brain. The potent consumable depresses knowledge that the family of
tration of alcohol.Source: IAPA the part of the brain that manages inhibitions an alcoholic has, of the illness,
making the person feel relaxed and carefree. will be of immense help. But,
Beer, targeted mainly at young Alcohol, in fact, reduces the functioning of
drinkers, considering their higher most families are ill prepared
the brain and does not add to its ability to
disposable income is today think or communicate better. to help at this stage.
growing at a sales growth of 10%
p.a. 70% of beer sales comes in
It is important for us to acknowledge that
the ‘strong’ category, or the so- alcoholism is not a sin, a moral weakness or a Don’t check to see how much the alcoholic is
called higher octane beverages. crime. It is a disease - a progressive disease drinking and don’t try to search for hidden
Source: Business Today, Jun 2009 that leads to severe physical, emotional and liquor. Worse, don’t pour the liquor away. The
social problems, affecting each and every alcoholic always finds ways to get more.
Nilgiris’ TASMAC sales target member of the family with the same intensity. Don’t argue or nag them about the drinking
ranked 20, among the districts Alcoholism can be treated. With some careful especially when they are drunk. Don’t try to
of Tamilnadu. Its achievement of planning, the family can help the alcoholic reproach or preach to the alcoholic. It will
sales target was at 84%, in 05-06.
member out of the situation. On occasions to aggravate the problem.
Source: TASMAC figures for Mar 2006
help in de-addiction programs at TTK Alcoholics Anonymous through a leaflet
campaign stresses that alcoholics suffer guilt
anyway. Reminding them of failures, neglect
of family and social discord is wasted efort - it
only accentuates the problem. Look for the
signs of a chronic drinker wanting to stop and
take it from there. The first signs of wanting
to give up, come at the end of a desperate
The family of the period. It may come during the remorse of a
alcoholic, needs to hangover or a personal crisis that brings
be counselled. realisation. When the question of ‘how shall
I stop?’ occurs, the family’s knowledge of the
illness will be of immense help.
There must be strong political will to address the issue of Sports is the alternative. Young people must take on sporting activity not just as
alcoholism. It is well known that an alcoholic can destroy his a career but as a way of life. Even then, the individual must watch out for the
family. We have several hundred families in the district, that personal choices he/she must make. I know of excellent racers on the National
are severely affected by the problem. circuit who might have gone on to much higher accomplishments but who went
As long as the revenue to the under due to bad company and
Government is linked to eventually, the drinking habit getting My point of view...
consumption of liquor, there will the better of them. I lost a friend, and
always be apathy by the fellow motorbike racer in a road
administration. It is for people to accident,in Chennai. This was just
realise for themselves about the after a ‘party’ to celebrate his
dangers of addiction and to abstain. achievements. Emmanuel Clarke,
K J Raju, Science teacher & Social worker. Professional Motor racer, Asian circuit.
5
issue
suffer the brunt of the situation drawing upon
themselves intense negativity. A defence
mechanism builds up, at times, with the wife
covering up for the husband. They cry a lot
My point of view... Until recent times, alcohol Two influences in a child’s life are
was unheard of in the villages. critical - the parent and the teacher.
Intoxicants are shunned by the Both have challenging examples to
local community. It is set for the child. Parents, however,
unfortunate, today, that even have a greater role to play by not
young men are taking to encouraging alcohol in the home. It
alcohol. Among other reasons, is important that a child should see
gainful employment is the key us practice what we preach.
to keeping the youth away from
Llewellyn Xavier, Educationist
such habits.
Smt Akkama Devi, Former Member The views expressed by the individuals in the opinion section, are their own.
of Parliament. The Local disclams liability of any kind whatsoever, on account of the same.
6
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Recipe
VepampuRasam
(Neem flower)
Faceless. Fearless.
Indigenous communities have displayed a great
synergy with their natural habitats, where a
harmonious interplay exists. Honey hunting by the forest
dwellers is one such fascinating example.
Hunter- gatherers in tropical forests have been harvesting honey from the wild, using traditional skills and techniques
perfected 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 and
South-East Asia, honey is collected from the wild, from the nests of the 'Apis dorsata' or giant Honeybee. It can produce
upto 20kgs of honey in a year. Apis dorsata are found in and near forests. A colony of bees can build a comb measuring
upto1.5 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 controls
honey hunting by issueing collection permits. In the Nilgiris, Kurumbas Irulas, even Todas and others collect honey with no
encumbrance. Honey cropping in most places is done at night when the bee is less active and less inclined to attack. The
Alu Kurumbas, like their counterparts in Southern Vietnam and the Melalenca forests collect honey by day. The bees are
smoked out of their hive and the comb is removed by slicing it off, leaving behind sufficient brood comb to allow the
returning bees to rebuild their nests, thus ensuring
Information a betterMsharvest
courtesy: the&next
Rose Pereira summer.
Ms Harsha Bellie
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key elements
The future of the Ooty potato hangs in the balance, with several
factors weighing against its sustenance. A Potato Museum
may well be its final destination if there is no timely
intervention.
Painting is my hobby. My first painting, if I can remember, was when I was in school. My art
teacher taught me the rules: First choose a picture. Cut it neatly and place it under a tracing
Time paper. Trace the outline and then use the tracing paper to carefully draw the outline of the
on our picture on the drawing board or sheet. If it is a deer, ( one of my early paintings), make sure you
hands mark the finer edges like the tip of the nose, the pointed ears and the hairs on its tail. Now, you
are ready to begin. Choose the right colours and start off.
Readers write The basic rule, however, is the most important - you must have the time. Sarasu Bellie
11
local issue
decline of the once famous economic driver. 45000 hectares. Small growers gravitated Sullivan’s gardener
Chemical fertilisers began to find their way towards the bought-leaf tea sector, where
into potato fields with the Nanjanad mix (a even a holding of about 1 to 1.5 acres of grows 5 pound potato.
fertiliser developed in Ooty) becoming land was sufficient. In potato, at least 5 acres The first mention of potato in Nilgiris
popular at the time. However, the soil began is considered viable. Farmers like Mr was made by Rev. James Hough
to feel the strain gradually losing its fetility. Lingaiah (see box) cultivated potato on 30 in1824. He alleged that Sullivan’s
The 1960’s saw the beginning of the end. acres. Today, few have that sort of holding. gardener, at Stonehouse, had staked
The increased usage of chemical fertilisers Fragmented share of land among the natives, a claim for having grown a single
did improve the yield but also brought with due to family sub-divisions over the years, potato weighing Five pounds! He
it a host of other unforeseen problems as has attributed to the lack of viability. concluded “though I saw none quite
farmers put aside the traditional methods of There are other problems too. Mr K Satish so large yet what I did see were very
cultivation. The potato crops were hit by Kumar, one of few young entrepreneurs in fine.” These potatoes were evidently
diseases like the late blight . Dr. F G W Jones agriculture today, hailing from among the meant for the domestic consumption
detected the presence of the Potato Cyst Kannada speaking families, long settled in of Sullivan’s household. The credit for
Nematode(PCN) in Ooty. the Nilgiris, who have been very successful active propagation of potato,
The Tamil Nadu Government, realising the at crop farming, says that the biggest however, should go to Maj.(later Col.)
potential danger, amended the Destructive challenge today is shortage of labour. Add Crew, the military Commandant of
Insect Pest Act 1919, to ensure strict to that cost of fertiliser and pesticide and Nilgiris with whom Sullivan had a feud
checking of movement of potatoes grown in even fairly large size holdings are barely throughout his career in the Nilgiris.
infested areas prior to marketing. To restrict profitable to farm. Maj. Crew in 1832 established the
the spread of the PCN to other areas, There can be to two likely conclusions to this Government Farm (present day C.S.I.
potatoes grown in the Nilgiris were and still piece - just as tea enjoys corporate presence, College of Engineering) at Ketti where
are not allowed to be sold as seed potatoes. large business houses could look to mass he introduced potato. Maj. Crew was
A new PCN resistant variety like Kufri production of potatoes. Branded potatos, also in-charge of the maintenance of
Swarna was developed by the Central organically or naturally grown, may well be roads to all nooks and corners of the
Potato Research Station in an effort to get endorsed by a health conscious [global] district and this facilitated him in
the rapidly declining local potato cultivation consumer. A Potato Museum could otherwise promoting potato in the
back on its feet. However, these measures be the final destination for the famous Ooty neighbourhoods of Badaga domains.
proved futile. The production of potato kelangu considering its historical import in this The Badagas were traditionally
continued to fall with the total area under part of the world. There is, incidentally, one familiar with wildly obtained
cultivation dwindling by nearly 75% in a already in the Peruvian capital, the homeland tubers(neggilu gaasu) and also
span of 3 decades, as pointed out in the of the potato. Consider the aside in the right consumed them. But they also took
introductory paragraph. hand corner which suggests that the to this new kind of cultivated tuber,
The final nail in the coffin was the tea boom indigenous folk were already familiar with readily. They began to identify it by
of the 80s. Today, tea is grown on over 80% wildly obtained tubers (neggili gaasu) long the same native parlance, though
of cultivable land in the district covering before British advent in the Nilgiris. dropping the prefix and called the
potato ‘gaasu’. When cabbage came
H B Ari Gowder’s far-reaching efforts to be introduced by the Europeans, a
The Nilgiri Co operative Marketing Society launched in1935, under the leadership of the illustrous H. euphonic touch was added and a new
B. Ari Gowder (Nilgiri’s legislator ‘par excellence’) transformed the paradigms of Badaga socio- name “gosu” was invented for it which
economic modes. By his exemplary commitment to the welfare of his people, Ari Gowder set the has interestingly enough become
stage for assiduous cultivation of thrift in the management of resources in everything relating to naturalised in Tamil too!
potato cultivation which, by this time, gained the status of agricultural operation. For the next quarter Info, courtesy: Rev Philip K Mulley
of 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 to
be less than halved in time to come, the methodology and experience gained by ordinary Badaga
farmers stood them in good stead when they came to shift their enterprises to tea, in recent times.
“Shee-long, capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long, the world to give us a glimpse of a country, its of the sun (the bulb) falling on the two ends of
capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long, capital of mountains or plains, its rivers, its natural wealth, the globe and the direct light around the
Meghalaya…” droned the monotonous voice the people and their culture.The topper in class equator.The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
of the uninspired child, learning by heart, her was given stamps of different countries! were more than just lines on the map and
Geography lesson.That was in the suburb of I remember our ‘journey’ into the Congo, to vernal and summer equinoxes became all too
Calcutta where a friend and I had gone to the Pyrenees and the Andes. Our study of clear. Stories of the northern lights and of the
visit her mother. Instantly, Mrs Chippendale’s Switzerland ended with an exhibition put up land of the midnight sun held endless
memory flashed across my mind, taking me by us students. Mrs Chippendale gave us a fascination, also the hot springs in which the
back to 1964, when I was a class VII student teaspoon of condensed milk and a piece of Maories cook their food. She made each lesson
at St Joseph’s Convent in Coonoor. chocolate – products that Switzerland was then a living experience activating your mind, your
Cecily Clare Chippendale or C3 as she signed famous for, apart from watches. When we did imagination and curiosity. Wherever possible
her name, was my class teacher. She taught Japan, we reared silk worms in class. She made she reduced things to a formula. The climate
words like Savanaah, veldt, prairie and steppes of the Mediterranean was W6, i.e., warm wet
me English, Maths, History & Geography; its
come alive in our minds. winters with westerly winds. She was great at
her Geography classes that stood out vividly teaching spelling too-Med-it-er-ran-ean spells
in my memory. A good teacher, is a lasting Most memorable was her class on rotation and Mediterranean-her voice still rings in my ears.
experience. I relive the wonder and thrill of revolution of the earth around the sun and its What I value most was that there was no rote
her classes when I read William Dalrymple or significance. Using the electric bulb as the learning-she taught and we had to make notes.
watch National Geographic or Fox History.Her stationary sun, she moved a hand held globe We even referred to books other than the
classes were an odyssey, a journey of discovery around it to make us understand how seasons prescribed text. Mrs Chippendale taught me
into the country or continent that was her change, how and why days become shorter than how to study. She also taught me how to teach.
teaching point. She used stamps, postcards, nights in winter and why it’s frozen and cold The writer is Professor of English at the Providence
pictures, maps and the atlas to take us around around the poles. We got to see the slant rays College for Women, Coonoor.
13
own favourite teashops to savour the Nilgiris
local impact tea. They were, however, taken aback when
they first arrived, to see a profusion of posters
on every available space in Ooty town. They
were also dismayed by the garbage and the
Eating with open sewage drains that they encountered.
Besides volunteering in the Nilgiris, they were
our fingers able to travel extensively throughout India to
places such as Dharamsthala, Rishikesh and
was a very Rajasthan.This experience has taught them to
‘Indian’ be independent. The sight of beggars and
homeless people sleeping on the streets has
experience. touched them deeply.
The volunteers have decided to specialise in Social
Anthropology,Sociology and Asian studies when
they go back to Germany and hope that these
Nia Tilley
studies will be useful when they revisit India to
continue their social work.
SARAS Trust, in Ooty, has been a focal point Despite the lack of proper educational tools and
for several foreign volunteers who take time off a language barrier, they were able to make a
from their studies to do a year of social work difference in the lives of the children. The local question
among underprivileged groups in the Nilgiris. ‘The children are friendly and they have a My child says that she is being
willingness to learn.’ frequently punished in class. It is mostly
This correspondent of TheLocal decided to
Among other projects, Anna and Helen also caning that she and some other children
follow up on the story of SARAS (July 09 receive, from a particular teacher.
issue) by talking to two young German participated in the HIV awareness programmes
Sometimes, she refuses to go to school
volunteers who were nearing completion of a conducted by SARAS.They were accompanied
citing flimsy reasons. Do we have legal
year of social work in the Nilgiris. by the local staff to various villages in the interiors recourse? N.M.C, Ooty.
Helen Keymer (Weimar) and Anna Krings to spread awareness on HIV.They did their bit
by distributing pamphlets and attempting to As per the Tamil Nadu Education
(Solingen) are two young women who have a Rule, corporal punishment is totally
mature approach to life.They demonstrated an communicate with the people.They also spent
time with the inmates at the Home. Though prohibited. The Rule makes it clear that
open mind and an eagerness to learn and schools shall not cause mental and
understand the ways of a foreign country and the language barrier posed a challenge,
preventing them from probing deeper into the physical pain to the child. Physical
were willing to immerse themselves in the punishment is not only a violation of
ethnicity and culture of India. According to Mrs women’s problems, they however managed to the basic fundamental right, it is also a
Vasanthakumari, the head of the Trust, the two understand real issues, they pointed out. dangerous practice that can cause
volunteers took an active part in various projects ‘Indian food is great, despite the spiciness and severe physical injury or mental trauma.
conducted by the organisation. At the oiliness’. Helen says that she loves masala dosa It is noted that such punishment goes
Government Primary School in Upper Bazaar, and feels that eating with her fingers brings her against the child's dignity and it is not
Ooty, they taught the school children Spoken closer to her food. They have so familiarised in tune with the UN Convention of
English and Drawing. themselves with Ooty that they even have their the RIghts of the Child. An aggrieved
person can take legal recourse under
the Juvenile Justice Act 2000, under
Section 23, in which any person
Spirituality committing such an offence shall be
Travel is exciting, new insights, new sensory unconditional love, a difficult concept, but I am still
punsihed with imprisonment which may
delights, beautiful nature all around, diverse learning. I thought life was peppered with pieces extend to six months or fine or both.
people. of suffering, and was told there is no suffering Under the Indian Penal Code, the Penal
All these experiences can be rated and stored in on planet Earth! I discovered they were actually Section 323 states that penalty for such
CDs and pretty albums. But these are all external lessons for improvement. We are all unique a crime may extend to one year
visuals. What of the journey inward? Are you beings. Unique beings with massive inputs of ego. imprisoment or fine of Rs 1000/- or
ready to delve into your innards? To discover the I am learning to be grateful for everything I have in both. Under Section 325 punishment
real you, not the carefully coiffured person you my life. is imprisonment which may extend up
present to the world. I am, today, eternally grateful to my Spiritual leader, to 7 years and the individual shall also
The REAL you is the mind and ego working my Guru, for my improved health and wisdom. be liable to pay fine.
overtime. Exit societal norms and religion; begin My journey inwards has been a guided tour. A
to explore spirituality and existence. I entered cleansing of chakras and a vacuuming of energy We sugggest however, that you first
spirituality by accident, attended a class to clear bodies. We have seven of them- chakras! This contact the school management so that
my lungs and ended up cleaning the muck guided journey was a precious gift to connect to they may reprimand the teacher
accumulated by eons of my existence on planet the infinite energy source; stirring within me, concerned. If you are unsatisfied with
earth. Bear with me, I am learning to conquer emotions long forgotten. Instilling inside, a new the action taken by the school, you may
fantasy by accepting reality. I have not conquered intelligence, still in its infancy. A few mystical choose to proceed with legal action.
fear, fear is an essential part of my existence but experiences, to indicate to me that the path is
I have learnt how to handle it. I thought I knew inward and a realisation that spirituality is for Advt. Latha Balasubramanium &
what silence meant, but discovered a whole new everybody, not just a select few. An open mind Advt Aruna Ravikumar barnie@sancharnet.in
realm. I now know that worry is unessential for is the only qualification necessary to awaken to tribe
answers to the local quiz on p 3 6
our lives. I discovered that the most potent this new dimension! 4. India 5. 182 6. 2549 sqkms 7. 1981on Toda
weapon on earth was not the nuclear bomb, but Radha R 1. 1826 2. 1854, an 8 anna stamp 3. Philately
14
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smart school bags, says ‘ It is spacious. I can put 30.8% of the forests in India come under
everything in it, including my water bottle!’ the protected areas and 51.6% remain
Theschoolbags,accordingtoMrSancheti,are100% within the jurisdiction of the Forest Divisions
water-resistant and have the capability to keep out as Reserve Forests under territorial divisions.
water even in a heavy downpour. Sathyamangalam has 1455.31sq.km. of
forests within its boundaries. The Elephant
Contact:NilgaApparel,NKNComplex,Bedford,Coonoor,Nilgiris-643101. Valley Interpretation Centre portrays images
Ph(0423)2230224 email:vaishali.ent@gmail.com and information which speak about this
bountiful region, its natural heritage,
Nilga, as a brand, was registered in the year 1942 by the London based geography and people.
Bailey Brothers, having an office in Coimbatore. Primarily engaged in the This building was built in 1973 and referred
manufacture of raincoats, the brand derived it’s name from the Nilgiri Tahr, to as the 'Tool Shed' since it was used as a
a unique deer breed renowned for its resilient all-weather coat. shed for maintenance and repair of the coupe
vehicles of the forest division. Fuel wood
Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaims liability of any kind whatsoever, arising out of the readers use, or inability to use coupes were stopped in 1975, further to
the material contained in it. Adequate care has been taken to compile stories for the reference of our users. TheLocal makes
every effort to maintain accuracy of the information but does not accept responsibility for any and disclaims responsibility which selection felling was stopped in 1980,
for any loss or damage which may arise from the information provided. All opinion expressed in the issue in the form of after which the 'Tool Shed' was utilised as a
articles 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 the storehouse for forest produce that were
material. procured by the LAMPS Society. It later
LetterstotheEditor came to be used by the Special Task Force
during their combing operations in the
Sir, I was delighted to have The Local back at my doorstep! Living in a concrete city like Bangalore, your Sathyamangalam forests. After the
magazine for me is the much-needed breath of fresh air that rejuvenates and reconnects me to the place I operations were discontinued the 'Tool
love. Thenewformatiscompact.Theback-burnercoverstorywasaneye-openerthatmademeimmediately Shed' was abandoned.
checktheweightofmydaughter'sschoolbag.IthoroughlyenjoyedthestoryoftheSullivan'sBungalowand It is with the co-operation and
was quite disappointed with myself that in spite of being a thoroughbred native of Nilgiris, I had not seen understanding of the Tamil Nadu Forest
it yet! It’s a must-see on my next visit! Thank you for uncovering such beautiful memories for us with every Department, Sathyamangalam division,
edition of The Local. Keep up the good work.All good things will last to the very end. that this center has been revitalised as an
Valentina Hubert, Koramangala, Bangalore interpretation centre. Keystone Foundation,
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to thelocaleditor@gmail.com or posted to the address mentioned on p16.
a Trust working in the Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve on issues related to forests and
Stanes Higher Secondary indigenous people has designed and
Former President Event of the month
installed the information.
School, Coonoor completes its
150th year celebrations (1858- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, to Thumbithakadu, a value addition centre
2008), with the unveiling of a unveil statue of located at Hasanur has come forward to
statue of its founder Thomas Thomas Stanes. renovate the building and run an eco-shop
Stanes. The bust of the
renowned educationist will be and café. Funds for the renovation of the
unveiled by former President centre were also made available from the
of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalam Village Forest Council of Gedessal. The
at the school premises on 14th Interpretation Centre will be managed and
Aug 2009. According to school maintained by the Village Forest Council of
authorities, members of the Gedessal. The revenue generated from the
Alumni Association and local
dignitaries alongwith senior centre will be utilized for conservation
students of the school, will activities undertaken by the village forest
observe the historic event. orchard. councils.
answers to the jumble on p 6 Orange, Peach, Pear, Avocado, Jack Fruit, Plums. Trees in my
The writer is an Addl. Co-ordinator at Keystone Foundation
15
traditions A free help-line
for English!
(But is there a catch?)
When a retired Professor of
English decides that he simply
can’t retire, he decides that he
will extend himself to those who
need help in the English language
and literature. On phone or in
person, in an impromptu and
informal fashion. He insists that it
be free of any charge.
‘What’s the point in keeping it to
myself’, says the die-hard
teacher in Dr. D Krishnaraj.
There is a catch. He also decides
that if you may decide to extend
anything for his assistance, you
may do so in favour of the 150-
year old Nilgiri Library!
Call the professor on his mobile
no. 94430-95691 keeping in
mind, however, that it is not quite
a 24 hr help-line!
Interpretation Centre,
Sathyamangalam:
This facility was for sometime
used by the Special Task Force
during their combing operations
in the Sathyamangalam forests.
It is, today, a storehouse of
information on the natural
heritage of the region.
Information & pics, courtesy: Keystone Foundation
Advertisement
museum, will fascinate the young mind. Visit on any day between 10
amto6pm.Forschoolenquiries,call:9443055529,(0423)2231679
key elements
The Bee Museum,
(Hill Bunk) Ooty-Mysore
Road, Ooty-1.
Ph: (0423) 2441340