rarephotos

Rare Photos

A picture can tell a thousand stories  

Photos, other than credited to the original owners, are by  Bellie Jayaprakash 

Dedicated to the memory of the Great Badaga Leader Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder

Website of Wing commander Bellie Jayaprakash 

Also see https://www.badaga.co

bjaypee@gmail.com

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Click on the following links to know more about

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• •  Origin of Badagas

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•  Badaga Hattis & the SEEME they belong to

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  •  History of HETHAI AMMA  

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  •  Badaga food habbits, recipes etc

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  • Names of birds, animals, insects etc & human anatomy in Badaga

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  • Rare Photos

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  •  Badaga Language

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•  Hethe Habba

Pic by Royal Geographical Society

Bellie Jayaprakash notes : This photo taken in 1908, while showing many men, shows only two women. 

Notice the roof of the house in the background- the complete absence of tiles (Odu). This type of house was called 'Hullu Mane' [grass house]

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'Badaga Death' page from CUSTOMS OF THE WORLD BY WALTER HUTCHINSON 1931

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The title of this pic(1919) on ebay sale is “A badaga with four wives “. Really ??

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The Native tribals of Nilgiris including a Badaga (but who??)

Badaga Temple (1873) from www.adivasi-tee-projekt.org/GAL-02B.HTM

The above picture  is from  Badagas and Irulas of Nilgiris(MGMB Vol.II No.I) - by Thurston.E

 Badagas(at the left), in their DHODDA KUPPACHA (a flowing gown like attire) dancing to Kota music.

 From : ‘Counsel from the Ancients - A study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’

Badaga gathering (I have no idea about the occasion or the exact place and date at which this photo was taken. From Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder family archieves)

Rao Bahadur H.J.Bellie Gowder’s wife Mrs. Nanji Hethe with the wife of British Governor of Madras in 1920s. (This photo was taken at Hubbathalai Hatti when the Governor along with his wife had paid a visit on Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder’s invitation).

Nanji Hethe with another (unknown) Hethe

Nanji Hethe with her first grand daughter Radha (Photo taken about 65 years back)

This colour painting of Mrs.Gauri Ammal, wife of Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, was done by a British Painter in 1917(?). Photo by Bellie Jayaprakash

My parents

This photo of (15 years old) Mrs.Idyammal, daughter of Rao Bahadur H J Bellie Gowder & sister of Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder with her husband Mr.B K Bellie Gowder (Beratti) was taken in 1927. Mr.B.K.Bellie Gowder was one of the few educated Badagas who studied upto VIII in St.Antony’s School, Coonoor and completed his SSLC (School Final) from St.Michael’s High School, Coimbatore in early 1900s. There was no ‘regular’ high schools in Nilgiris in those days.

Mr.B.K.Bellie Gowder in 1969 (just before his death). Water Colour painting by his son ,Bellie Jayaprakash (that is me)

Mrs.Idyammal, now 95 years, photo taken on her birthday on 02-09-2006 (probably one of the oldest Badaga ladies).

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This photo taken in 1908, while showing many men shows only two women. Notice the roof of the house in the background- the complete absence of tiles (Odu)

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page from CUSTOMS OF THE WORLD

BY WALTER HUTCHINSON 1931

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The title of this pic(1919) on ebay sale “A badaga with four wives “. Really ??

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The Native tribals of Nilgiris including a Badaga (but who??)

Badaga Temple (1873) made out of grass called ‘Hullu Gudi’

From www.adivasi-tee-projekt.org/GAL-02B.HTM

The picture of a Badaga Man [see the Badagaru Seele he has wrapped around that has distintive borders and has not changed in centuries ].

(From ” Badagas and Irulas of Nilgiris(MGMB Vol.II No.I) - by Thurston . E)

Badagas, in their DHODDA KUPPACHA (a flowing gown like attire) dancing to Kota music.

Photo drawing from : ‘Counsel from the Ancients - A study of Badaga Proverbs, Prayers, Omens and Curses’

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder [Hubbathalai]with his bride Gauri [Jakkadha] - 1920

(Notice the typical Badaga Jewellery the bride is wearing)

Badaga gathering

(I have no idea about the occasion or the exact place and date at which this photo was taken. From Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder family archieves)

Hubbathalai Hatti Dhodda Mane

( Ths is the view of Edha Mane or Inner room. All the edha manes were of the same design in typical Badaga Homes in olden days)

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

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

Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder’s wife Mrs. Nanji Hethe with the wife of British Governor of Madras in 1930s.

( This photo was taken at Hubbathalai Hatti when the Governor along with his wife had paid a visit on Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder’s invitation to open the first school built by Bellie Gowder. The British guest was presented with the lock - made of pure gold - that he unlocked to open the school building)

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

Nanji Hethe with her first grand daughter Radha [daughter of Mrs.Kade Idyammal (Photo taken about 65 years back)

This colour painting of Mrs.Gauri Ammal, wife of Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, was done by a British Painter in 1917(?). Photo by Bellie Jayaprakash

This photo taken in 1927 of (15 years old) Kade - later on Mrs.Idyammal, daughter of Rao Bahadur H J Bellie Gowder & sister of Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder with her husband Mr.B K Bellie Gowder (Beratti)

[Parents of the author of this website Bellie Jayaprakash]

Mr.B.K. Bellie Gowder was one of the few educated Badagas who studied upto VIII in St.Antony’s School, Coonoor and completed his SSLC (School Final) from St.Michael’s High School, Coimbatore in early 1900s. There was no ‘regular’ high schools in Nilgiris in those days.

Mr.BK Bellie Gowder in 1969 (just before his death).

Water Colour painting by his son, Bellie Jayaprakash (that is me)

Mrs. (Kade) Idyammal, now 96 years old.

(Photo taken on her birthday on 02-09-2006 -probably one of the oldest Badaga ladies).

Young Men Badaga Association 1941 - 42

[ photo courtesy ; Badaga Welfare Association, Madras -Silver Jubilee & Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder Centenary Celebations souvenir 1993 ]

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47 Comments so far

Its great to see these rare collections. Keep up your good work.

Comment by Sivakumar 11.05.06

An effort that needs an applause. Great job. Please keep the good work so that the present generation like me would know how my ancestors lived.

Comment by Mala Krishnan 11.16.06

Priceless pictures; some of them very interesting.

It is like an online museum  Keep up the great work!

Comment by Naveen S 11.28.06

This is great.I love to see more.

 Comment by gokula krishnan 12.12.06

Impressive …!

I ‘m excited to see these pics.

Thanks for organising the contents and providing the links for all related sites. Nice work…!

May God bless you with good health and long life to keep up the good work.

Comment by Haldurai Raman 12.17.06

GREAT EFFORT. INFORMATIVE TO ALL BADAGAS. KEEP IT UP

Comment by N Bellie 01.06.07

Wonderful collection of articles about our culture. I was wondering if there was any effort being made to conserve our culture and traditions. I see a lot of disturbing customs like dowry and such starting to develop that are not ours and are starting to kill our system. Yours is a great effort and keep up the great work. Would love to see more in future. I have some videos of hettai abba that I’ll post a link to very soon.

Comment by Meenatchi 01.08.07 

Hello Meenatchi,

As I have always claimed elsewhere, we Badagas are slowly losing out our identity as a simple, straight forward and strong believers of our great traditions.

How many of us can really claim, “I AM PROUD TO BE A BADAGA”?

Anyway, it is the encouraging words from people like you that make me more determined to do something for our community that was initiated by my grand father Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowda and uncle Rao Bahadur Ari Gowda.

I will be grateful if you can send me the vedio link to Hethai Habba.

Comment by Bellie Jayaprakash 01.08.07

Great work!

Very much informative for the current generation like mine. Keep Going!

Comment by Kasthuri 01.11.07

Great Effort

I am very excited to see these pics.There is no words to write my feelings. Great Work.

Ninga Makkai Hattiga Obba Idhalai Pothu, Nanga Baduga Samthayava Munthuga Ethi Bappathuga!!

Great Job.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees Keeeeeeeeeep It UP.

Comment by Ravi Balraj 01.24.07

The picture collections are excellent…I really appreciate …Good job, I wish you all the best.

Comment by R.SANJIV RAJ 01.25.07

Thank you Sanjiv,

This site is an ‘one man’ effort to do something for the community.

Proud to be a Badaga & Proud to be an Indian.

Comment by JP 01.28.07

It is really interesting (to see these photos). I am a Badaga. Happy to see my great community online. I too would like to do something for my community. NA ELLA GU VENDI KEETOOMBUDU ENANDALAE NANGA GOSU MATU ADUNEGA BADUGUDEGE AADU VO…..EKANDALAE NANGA MATTU TA AA MATA ADUDHUGA MUDADHARA…..ELLANDALAE NANGA VODA NANGA BADAGU SAMUDAYAVEA MUDUDHU OOITRA…..

Comment by NEETHI RAM 01.28.07

Really super…. Photo gallery… technology marileyu.. nanga kalachara marule… i am very proud to say this…

Comment by Badugu Thamma

Comment by Badugu Thamma 02.09.07

I ‘m excited to see these pics.

Thanks for organising the contents and providing the links for all related sites. Nice work…!

May God bless you with good health and long life to keep up the good work.

Comment by Magesh Chandran 02.22.07

Excellent collections! please keep it growing..!!

Comment by Logesh 02.27.07

Excellent work…These pictures are memorable……………..

Comment by Premnath Bojan 02.28.07

I am excited to see these pics. Great collection of rare photos, history and description of Badagas.

Comment by sathishkumar,n.h. 03.02.07

Really nice sein such old memories (photos). recollecting my oldern days with my grandpa & grandma….

but one question….what about the present snaps and collections ?

Comment by ramesh 03.12.07

Its really a wonderful work…….belive me, being faraway from home the website gives me a feeling that world is too small..I have no words to express my feeling I go thru when I’m on the site.It has been a every day rotuine to just go thru.

Comment by shanmugamraju 03.13.07

Hi ALL YOU FLKS who have such kind and encouraging words to say.

I feel really humbled. Hope with all your kind cooperation, we will bring back the great glorious days of our Hethais & Ayas.

Ramesh, more present day snaps & articles will appear soon. Some have already been put on other pages like ‘Recipes, Jewellery’ etc

Hi Shanmugamraju, thanks again for those wonderful sentiments.

Comment by JP 03.16.07

i am impressed,very impressed,you made me home sick………i am far away from home.will wait for more to come from you.

Comment by prakash 03.26.07

 This is an excellent useful site.. The coverage appears to be arround Ketti Villages mostly.. Spread your wings to all parts of Nilgiris and this will become a rare site ever made

Kudos to all involved !!!

Comment by NAGULAN jOGHEE 04.13.07

Thank you Nagulan joghee,

This site is an ‘one man effort’….unfortunately not many come forward with their contributions about Badaga. Earlier one Surendran also complained about this site being ‘too Hubbathalai based’.

Hope to ’spread my wings to all parts of Nilgiris’ and add more and more.

Incidentally, if you go through the page on ‘Badaga Jewellery’, I have mentioned about Kothiben (Bengal Mattam) Karuppi Hethe & Kadaga during one of my ’spreading wings towards Kundhe’

Comment by Bellie Jayaprakash 04.13.07

GOOD JOB …………

Comment by manju 04.17.07

First time seeing this. Feeling happy to see this.

great job.

Comment by Rajesh 04.21.07

I am speechless to see my ancestors in their traditional setup . Thats great.

Comment by Naveen Krishnan 05.24.07

This is great.Thanks a lot for all this info.Keep up you great work.

Comment by Karthick Boja Subramani 06.10.07

Hats off to your efforts in building this wonderful site! The above pics are excellent.Cheers

Comment by Nithya Priya Jagdish Halan 06.21.07

Grrrrreat work

So happy to see all the photos and really proud of Hubbathalai as I to belong to the same village.

Can do a lot of things. Hats off to you

Comment by H.R.Eswarran 06.22.07

PROUD TO BE AN BADAGA

Comment by DINESH 07.05.07

NICE COLLECTIONS

Comment by DINESH THUMMANATTY 07.05.07

This is great thing …..I love all this photos..which are valuable

Comment by rakeshbabu 07.10.07

Very surprising to see these things..Please give information about kukkal Hethai….

Comment by Karthick kukkal 07.11.07

This is really wonderful and we would like to congratulate on bringing out these rare photographs of our community which would help us to teach the generations to come in a long way. Real good work. Hats off.

Comment by vaniaravind 07.22.07

A real visual treat. Great to see these pictures. They are truly priceless. My early childhood and education was in the Nilgiris. I have travelled by the train many times. Great to see the pictures of the railways.

Comment by Jayanth 07.30.07

I was very much impressed to see the GOOD-OLD PRECIOUS photographs and our acheivements in those olden days. Proud to be a badaga

Comment by Rajeshkumar Maniraj 08.08.07

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder’s funeral on 28 June,1971 at Hubbathalai Hatti

 Responses to “Photos - End of an Era”

• 1. rakesh babu Says:

     1. realy superb,,,

  2. Rajkumar Joghee Says:

     1. …….AMAZING PHOTOS. APPRECIATE THE PAIN OF COLLECTING THESE RARE PHOTOS WHICH YOU NEVER FIND NOWADAYS. …..

  3. Jagdish(r.jagdish@asianppg.com) Says:

     1. Really amazing photos..I was born here in my grandparents house..In Sep’1971..

     2. I’d spent all my years in Hubbathalai , the very same ground shown in the photo..

     3. Some of the bulidings still exist..I’ll show this to all , when I’m back at Hubbathalai..

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Proud to be an Indian. Proud to be a Badaga