VOL 4 ISSUE 6, DEC 31, 2010, The Nilgiris District, S India.

TRADITION ENVIRONMENT FLAVOUR BUSINESS NEWS

“A hundred times every day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the
labours of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the
same measure as I have received.” - Albert Einstein

N Mohanraj, Conservationist, Pamela Clarke Educator, Nagaraj, Volunteer-Animal Welfare, S Vasanthakumari,

Counsellor - Domestic Violence, N Manigundan, Counsellor - HIV/AIDS, D Venkataraman, RTO - Road safety,
Ayesha Zackariah - Social Welfare, KJ Raju, Social Activist, T Mohandas, Social worker, Latha Jebakumar - Social
Welfare, J K Mohankumar - Community farming, Lathika Rao, Counsellor-Special Education, Inspector S Velumani,
Special Branch - Intelligence, Dr Sheela Nambiar - Women’s Healthcare, T Narasimhan, RTI Activist, Muralidhar
Rao - Social Welfare, G Venugopal,Basketball coach - Sports,R Swaminathan, Special Officer, Pandalur Indco
Factory -Tea, Rajiv Srivastava I.F.S - Wildlife Conservation, Dr Valsa Koshy, Clinical Psychiatrist - Mental Health, S
Amaiyyappan, Chief Education Officer, Dr Ilona Otter, Veterinary Surgeon - Animal Welfare, Dr Christudas and
Jennifer-Bunshaw-Christudas - Social welfare, Dr B Suresh, Educationist, Deputy Supdt of Police, N Dharmaraj -
Law & Order, Dr HO Bulchand - Social Welfare, Mala Ramaswamy, Volunteer - Special Education, Vanya Orr -
Community farming, Suresh Belliraj - Education, Rebecca Parkes - Women’s Welfare, Indra Koitra - Social Welfare,
Srimathi Sridhar, Volunteer - Special Education, Marie Marcel Thaekekara - Social Welfare, Ron Atkin - Social
Welfare, Geetha Srinivasan - Social Activist, N Parameshwari, Social Worker - HIV/AIDS, Dr V Balasubramaniam
- Community healthcare, Prof. Rose N Pereira - Education, Dr Sridevi Ramachandran - Women’s Healthcare . . .

The Local is an online edition bringing news and views on the Nilgiris district.Published on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgiris. Editor: Edwin David
 ‘People make
the difference.’
Heritage Inn has been at the forefront of
the hospitality sector - redefining the
business hotel experience - in the region,
since 1994.
‘One of our oldest clients is TCS (Tata
Consulting Services) with whom we share a
longstanding relationship, one that goes
beyond corporate discounts or locational
advantage,’ states K Ramachandran, Asst
General Manager of this compact business
hotel in the heart of Coimbatore city. ‘A
business traveller expects promptness, a
keen understanding of his or her
requirements and most importantly,
courteous interaction from the staff.’
Heritage Inn has, for over 15 years,
constantly worked on improving the
experience, ‘the touch points’. ‘Even when
someone is on the phone talking with the
guest, others around ensure that the
environment is undisturbed, the employee
getting to diligently record the customer’s
Hotel Heritage Inn, Sivasamy Rd,
requests,’ the manager explains, adding
Ramnagar, Coimbatore, S India- 641 009.
‘we have consistently invested in ongoing
Ph: 0422 - 2230011/ 2239200 / 2231451
training, both internal and external, in
www.hotelheritageinn.in
order to deliver the best one-to-one
experience that our customers can get from
the staff.’
Managing Director, Rtn J Ravi believes, ‘It
is people who make the difference. No
matter, the best of luxuries and comforts
(Heritage Inn’s facilities are perceived as 4
star) our edge, we realised very early on,
was service.’
Heritage Inn has 63 centrally air conditioned
rooms. Guests are served a complimentary
breakfast. The hotel has a conference hall
to seat 35 delegates, a banquet hall to
accomodate 100 guests and a business
centre called Summit for 10 members.
24 hr room service, broadband internet
connectivity, a well equipped bar, two large
restaurants, including one at the roof top
and personalised attention, make this hotel
a business traveller’s delight.
A hotel that makes the difference.

Hospitality first
Letters of appreciation(above). (Pic right)
Directors, Rtn. J Ravi & Bhanumathi
Ravi, J Suresh Babu & Shakila Suresh
- the family that manages the enterprise

Heritage Inn is situated 12 kms from the Coimbatore airport and is 2 kms from the Coimbatore city railway station. The hotel is within walking distance from main business and shopping centres in the city.
 editorial

It’s our turn.

In the course of our opinion poll, on PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN
2010, we came across several, working in different spheres - domestic
violence, HIV/AIDS, education, special education, healthcare, mental illness,
waste management, the environment, we also found them in government
departments such as the police, road transport, forestry, education and
health.
All the individuals, those featured in the list on the cover page and some of
them, whom we decided to focus on in the cover story, have gone the extra
mile this year, having put in that much more to make our lives and the lives
of those around us - our co-species included - better, safer, happier and
more meaningful.
Equally, there are features on enterprises that you will find interesting to
read. These enterprises are driven by people who thought a little beyond
the usual - the hospital, the retailer, the artists, the teacher, an adman, a
web developer, a business hotel, a property developer, even a school - all
inspiring stories.
These spirited souls inspire us enough to reflect inward. They inspire us to
do something ourselves, and leave a mark.
May this year ahead of us be an inspired one - by hope, courage and sensitivity
to one another. Let us believe that if its got to be, then its got to be upto
me. I can make the difference, in whatever I do. As the young school boy
says, ‘I don’t have to be a Prime Minister to make a difference.’ Ed/-

snapshot

3 decades of Warehousing
MAS
Warehousers
An awe inspiring view: Emerald, enroute
Avalanche about 12 km from Ooty, via Fernhill. MAS Warehousers Private Limited, Kotagiri Road, Bandishola; Coonoor, Nilgiris
 ‘It is important to Cover story
be observant of the
person’s inhibitions If the person living with HIV hasn't arrived at the Anti-retroviral Treatment (ART)
and keenly empathise Centre at the Government Hospital, Ooty, a phone call will go out from its counsellor,
with the concerns, anxious to know why the individual hasn't turned up? (there is a high
especially during the probability that the person diagnosed with the condition, may never
first visit to the ART’ return for reasons that are varied). ‘The news is traumatic and it
- NManigundan, HIV greatly depresses the individual,' says the G H counsellor, N
Counsellor. Manigundan. ‘It is important to be observant of the person’s
inhibitions and keenly empathise with the concerns, especially during
the first visit as alienation in society and within the family slowly
creeps in and discrimination at treatment centres become stark.’ A
HIV+ person is allegedly kept at a 'safe' distance, something that nearly
everyone at the recent grievance redressal forum conducted for people living
with HIV, at Ooty, had complained of. Speaking of this man who is making the difference,
N Parameshwari, a HIV counsellor herself, with several years of experience, states, ‘ The
ART counsellor is liked by everyone. He makes each one feel as if he or she is his own
family member.’ 'Our role is to give hope to the individual, hope and timely medicine,’
says Manigundan. But prevention, for this committed government employee, is his
greater concern - 'We must discourage irresponsible behaviour.The number
‘Too many are being of new occurrences of HIV must be brought to nil.' He is right, because
ensnared into this the number of cases in the Nilgiris is on the rise. There is, indeed, a
habit. Its not good crying need for awareness campaigns across sections of society, one
for our youth to with a hands-on approach that goes beyond the annual procession
be enslaved by on World Aids Day.
alcoholism.’ One local, a resident of Kairbetta, near Kotagiri, is hands-on with
- KJ Raju, Social his drive against alcoholism, which he has been quietly going about
Activist. for over a decade. This school teacher, K J Raju, in his most recent
campaign, in September, earlier this year, encouraged 30 youngsters to
take a pledge not to touch liquor. Even during festivities. ‘Too many are being ensnared
into this habit. Its not good for our youth to be enslaved by alcoholism.’ His point is not
They made to be ignored. The root of much of the problems that local society faces today, finds
manifestation in this addiction. Domestic violence is one. By November 2010, the
a difference number of domestic incident reports filed in the Nilgiris, had crossed 100 with a troubling
majority of the cases, attributed to alcohol-related violence against women. One
in 2010 individual’s resolve, in trying to provide a place for distraught women at the receiving
end of an alcoholic, is commendable. The short-stay home she manages at
Ooty has been home to several hundreds. Food, shelter and security is
‘We would rather what the abused women - hailing from all walks of life - are grateful
not have the family to her for. Counselling too. ‘We would rather not have the family
separated due to a separated due to a legal process, which is the easier way out. And
legal process, which this time away from home has a healing effect,’ says the senior lady.
is the easier way out. However, some do return and they are welcomed unconditionally
...And, this time away by this quiet social worker, S Vasanthakumari who will try to provide
from home has a the healing touch yet again, before resorting to legal measures with
healing effect.’ the help of the District Protection Officer and the police. ‘She is like
S Vasanthakumari, my mother’, says one inmate, tearfully...•
Counsellor, ...‘The school teacher’s advice to the group of youngsters in our village, was clear -
Domestic Violence. abstain from trying out even the first glass of liquor, convincing them that they were
made out for better things and encouraging them to worship their work instead,’ says
Shri A Kumar, who is the temple priest at Allakarai village, near Coonoor. The resolute
youth have now, of their own accord, gone to neighbouring villages and secured pledges
from others like them, to abstain from or give up alcohol and get to work. ‘Don’t be idle.’
Unemployment is dangerous. In a majority of the recent burglaries, both in Coonoor and Ooty, the
suspects, according to investigating agencies, were youth. Unemployed youth are not just a threat
to any society, they are also a burden. One woman has understood this more than most of us. She
has helped turn around an entire colony, long considered a crime bed and a slum-like locality in
Ooty, giving its youth education and providing them a means to employment.This quiet, unassuming
English teacher-reformist, Ayesha Zackaraiah, embarked on her social obligation more than a
decade ago. Today, this far sighted local funds and facilitates high school education for hundred
young children in Ooty. They study at St Joseph’s Boy’s School and Bethelehem Convent. Her greatest
contribution over the years goes beyond. The senior lady has introduced religious studies and good moral values for these
young minds. ‘Unless one understands one’s own religious tenets correctly, how will one appreciate others? We need
education, but we also need tolerance and harmony.’ Its not hard to see the difference that she’s making.
There are others working with young children too. 2611 plastic bottles - strewn carelessly near picnic spot Lambs Rock
- were salvaged by 24 enthusiastic school students of Guernsey, Coonoor. Their ‘Anna’ has to be credited for this. J K
Mohankumar works with Earth Trust, the organic farming NGO and spearheads the successful ecoclub initiative in
contd on pg 10
 Investing in good health.
A knee replacement surgery is not a simple procedure. It At the same time, this organisation is equally busy
requires experienced surgeons. It also requires a highly meeting its social obligations - the annual free
sterile environment, a well equipped, 100% sterile laparscopic surgeries (for nearly a decade now),
operating theatre. Not to mention skilled support staff, participatory hospital to the chief minister’s free
both pre-operative and post operative nursing care and insurance scheme, special discounts for
the like. government employees, on site periodic health
When Nankem Hospital conducted the first such camps for poorer sections - all of which means
procedure - knee replacement for an elderly gent from well for a cross section of locals in the Nilgiris.
Coonoor - earlier this year and followed it up by more, For this first family of healthcare, in the district -
not many knew about this - a major breakthrough in the Dr Chandrashekar’s father the late Dr N
healthcare scenario, locally. Kappinipathy was among the earliest doctors in
Indeed the story of this over three-decades old medical the Nilgiris and now his son, Dr Vivekanand
institution is not entirely known to all - even those who Chandrashekar is specialising in Reconstructive
may be closely associated with its entrepreneurial couple and Microvascular (plastic) surgery - bringing
Dr. NK Chandrashekar and Dr. Anusuya Chandrashekar. quality healthcare, close to home has been a
‘I have always believed that it is the responsibility of any collective vision, a self imbibed value. In the
medical institution to meet the needs of the community entrepreneur-doctor’s words, ‘When it matters
it serves and to provide as comprehensive as possible, most, we would like to be there for you.’
the healthcare requirements of the local populace, be it
emergency services, diagnostics or surgical procedures,’
says Dr Chandrashekar, an ophthalmic surgeon.
At Nankem, over the years, securing advanced equipment
has always been a concerted investment plan. To the
extent that ‘supply’ has always been ahead of demand. ‘I
would rather not wait for a situation where so-called
demand is at a point where it justifies the inclusion of
high-end equipment, at the cost of timely healthcare. Take
our mammography, digital X Ray or CT Scan - we do far
less number of scans daily, to break even with the costs
of these expensive machines, but that is alright,
considering the number of patients who have not had to
go down to Coimbatore for lack of the facility here.’
The only hospital in the private sector to have these
machines, Nankem has also led from the front with regard
to certain specialities as well as in bringing in top surgeons.
Among others, is the senior paediatric surgeon, Dr
Brahmanandam and reputed pathologist, Dr Geetha
Jayaram (who heads the sister concern Ramakrishna
Diagnostic Centre at Ooty) - both are one of their kind in
the region. Dr Anusuya’s reputation in the sphere of
women’s health, goes beyond the confines of the district.
These top practitioners are part of Dr Chandrashekar’s
long term plan to bring to the Nilgiris the most advanced
healthcare set up (a new wing is nearly complete). This
will include a day-care-surgery centre, complete with 15
surgery cubicles - one could come in the morning,
complete the procedure and return home by evening,
removing the need for overnight admission. A major
stride.
The women’s clinic is perhaps the only centre that takes
on high-risk pregnancy and delivery in the Nilgiris, with
success rates comparable to the best centres in the plains.
With early detection of cancer in women and its
prevention - close to Dr Anusuya’s heart, the centre has
many firsts including hysteroscopy which helps do away Medical pioneers: The enterprising doctor
couple outside the soon-to-be-commissioned,
with unnecessary hysterectomy. modernised wing at Nankem Hospital.

Nankem Hospital, Upper Coonoor, Nilgiris; S. India 643102. Ph (0423) 2231550 Fax: +91-423- 223 8696 email: nankem_nkc@yahoo.co.in

Expressionist.
‘Indeed expressions are what
Deepa Kern’s work is truly
about. The painting of a mother
with her two daughters tells the
onlooker, instantly, that the
three are coping with a difficult
situation...
Every character in The Last Supper painting
slowly comes to life, as one moves from
one figure to the next, comprehending
each of the disciples, making mental notes
and realising how deftly the creator of this
- surely a masterpiece - painting, has
worked. Doubting Thomas’ hand planted
below his chin, the head slightly tilted is
easily recognised. But its not easy, to have
worked on these twelve individuals not
having given them any distinct facial
features - all of them are as if merged into
one single stroke and yet each is uniquely identifiable!
Deepa Kern’s paintings at New York, exhibited at the
India House recently, had special visitors, including the
Speaker of the present Lok Sabha, who, as the local
dailies wrote, was enthralled by what she saw.
‘Exhibitions help an artist to not only express to a wider
audience, one’s thoughts through the paintings, they
also help understand others’ perspectives. This
broadens the painter’s view which, then helps shape
his or her efforts on the next canvas,’ says the soft
spoken painter-expressionist.
Indeed expressions are what her work is truly about.
The painting of a mother with her two daughters tells
the onlooker, instantly, that the three are coping with
a difficult situation, a tragic episode perhaps. The Inca
painting (in pic below) depicts the surprise and the
treachery that led to capture and killing of the tribal
ruler. How did she manage to depict hundreds of
soldiers on the canvas without having to actually draw
them?!...
Deepa’s studio, perched, strategically, one might add,
at the loft of their home in
Coonoor, Nilgiris has
semblances of one who has
been been at work, for long
years - there are paintings that are
over two decades old, including one
of a polo match in progress, another of hillside view
on a sunny afternoon and even one with a test cricketer
(you can say that by the identifiable ‘whites’). There is
also the empty canvas set up in the corner, ready to
welcome the first brush stroke. Paints - large tubes of
them, some of them pressed in the centre, hurriedly
perhaps - in all the possible colours, jostle for space on
a little table in the centre of this room, which resembles
a gallery.
Now, Nilgiri Palette, Deepa’s exclusive art gallery is
open at Gray’s Hill nearby, where visitors may get a
glimpse of her work.
For the painter who took an inclination to art from her
early school days, it has been a long journey. She
believes, the road ahead, in her pursuit of
expressionism through art, will be even more
challenging - and interesting. ‘For me art is a journey.
It’s a discovery, as I go along. I always believe one’s art
is an expression of one’s self - to go into each day with
an open mind. I don’t know what I might paint next,
until I put down the first stroke on canvas.’
If anything can come close to her art, it’s these expressive
thoughts - the philosophy. But isn’t it all intertwined?
Original Art & Paintings, Nilgiri Palette, Gray’s Hill Coonoor 643 101
Ph: + 91- 423 - 2232413 www.deepakern.com

Riverside Public School, San-Tri-Moo; Kotagiri, S. India.
Phone: 04266-274555/6 fax: +91-4266 274777
www.riversidepublicschool.com
Discovering
the Individual.
‘I don’t have to become the Prime Minister to make
a difference. I believe I can make change, however
small, in my own way.’
Gokul is a bright young student, who can make a
conversation most interesting simply because he can
speak on a range of subjects as varied as music and
politics. Credit his school for this.
Started in the year 2000, the aesthetically
constructed Riverside Public School is any student’s
dream come true - serene surroundings, ample
space, personalised desks, teachers and trainers of
all disciplines,school buses to pick them up from
The remarkable aspect of this school,
that is doing things differently, is
that every student is a Gokul -
exploring, discovering, deciding
and pursuing - each with an
independent perspective.
almost anywhere within the taluk’s radius and
of course the hot afternoon lunch - even for day
scholars.
‘I believe kids must enjoy this phase of their life,
the time of learning and discovery,’ says the
chief mentor and founder of Riverside, Suresh
Belliraj. ‘It is important to facilitate them in a
manner that they will, each for themselves,
discover their inherent talents and pursue
them,’ he adds.
Gokul belongs to one of the early batches,
having joined asa little boy. Now in his 12th Std,
its amazing that the young lad has tried a hand
at almost everything that he could have - a green
belt in Karate, he is also an 800m runner. His
‘first love’ is piano, having now gone to higher
grades in music. Incidentally, his association with
music began with the flute, when he was in a
lower class. He is a good orator (not surprising,
considering his conversational skills). He is a
fairly good Bharathanatyam dancer! Has gone
on to a bigger stage as well, representing the
school at national competitions - has written a
novel of 50000 words which was shortlisted
from over a lakh budding writers from across
the country...
The remarkable aspect of this school, that is
doing things differently, is that every student is
a Gokul - exploring, discovering, deciding and
pursuing - each with an independent
perspective.
‘I want to study law but I believe I can do well in
music too.’ Will decision making be a challenge,
with so much choices and so much freedom, in
a manner of speaking?
‘I don’t think so,’ says a senior teacher. ‘Our
children are also exposed to the tenets of
leadership, early on, one of which is to be
decisive, to know when to draw the line and in
which direction to head. Our role is to facilitiate
and channelise.’ What does Gokul like most
about school? ‘My teachers!’
The student of the year knows that he is
fortunate to have gone through the portals of
an institution that chose to rewrite the school-
going experience. Have you ever been
punished? ‘Yes. With one hour at the library.’
A visiting parent from Tirunelveli, considering
putting his daughter into the school, who
overheard this part of the conversation must
have been relieved. And is likely to have made
up his mind as well.
Nurturing leaders: Gokul is ready to step into the world.
 Feel at Home.
After 60 years, Modern Stores
retains its modernity and range
(with over 20000 different stock items)
without compromising its traditions
of personal touch with customers.
Who can forget the high counters of this
confectionery store on Commercial Street, Ooty,
with the slightly stern look of an elderly
gentleman peering down, above the large glass
bottles filled with chocolates, asking the ‘regulars’
- school kids, on their break - to place the coins
on the counter for him to count so he could tell
them what all they could buy within that amount?
‘Some little chaps would happily knock off a few
sweets and run away’, says Muralidhar Rao,
whose father, he laughs, ‘would never mind that.
‘In fact, two old students, now grown-ups, came
to the new store recently and confessed to dad
that they would pinch goodies while he was
looking the other way.’ Its seems the senior man
replied saying, ‘I know’...
Phone: 0423-2442678/ 2447353 e-mail: modern1951@yahoo.com
Founded in 1951, Modern Stores is now 60!
What makes it modern, even now, is the range of
items that one can expect , beyond its much-loved
homemade chocolates. ‘You can find almost
everything at Modern,’ says a regular shopper.
With a cross section of customers, including locals
and visitors to the district (a large chunk of first
timers land up here by word-of-mouth), Murali,
as Mr Rao’s son is known to all their customers
took on day to day management of the store a
few years ago. They chose to relocate to a larger
premises on Garden road, a move that was
imperative in order to meet growing demand.
Today, the store is able to house over 20,000
different stock items which range from stationery
to cosmetics, personal care products to pet food,
even bicycles, trekking equipment, home
furnishing and more.
‘Everytime a customer asks us for a product that
we might not have, (which is unlikely) we do a
little study, identify the manufacturers or the
wholesalers and test some samples before we
make our minds up, to stock it.’ Customers are
assured of the quality of any product they pick
up from Modern Stores, but more important is
the personal guarantee that this father-son
combination brings to the business.
Going ahead, Modern Stores plans to start up its
own modernised baking unit that will bring its
own brand of bread and fresh pastries. Plans also
to brand certain grocery items are on the anvil.
Despite its growth and transition to a technology
driven retail entity the traditional values of
personal customer touch remain
uncompromised.
You will still find the smiles on entry and exit. You
will still smell the fresh chocolates but you will
spot the new technology as well - a surveillance
camera, particularly above the chocolate counter,
which, according to Murali, simply means, ‘smile,
you are in front of a camera!
Father-son combination: Janardhan Rao and Muralidhar Rao
‘I love my Maths
teacher’
If you walk in to one of Jeyamathy Jayabalan’s
sessions, expecting a maths workshop to be
rather serious, you’re in for a surprise - you will
be greeted with lots of excitement, chatter and
even the occasional laughter - every adult in
the room will sound like an animated child!
Indeed, making maths enjoyable is the primary
goal of this enthusiastic teacher of maths.
‘Tell the little children that Maths is all around
us. It even finds its way into English,’ tells
Jeyamathy to the group of teachers attending
this one day workshop at Brindavan Hr Sec
School,Coonoor - one of the schools in the
Nilgiris that she visits from Chennai. ‘Words like
tri-pod (triangle) or binocular and bicycle
(meaning having two elements),’ she Making math easy: J Jeyamathy with a fraction-circle, handy.
continues, encouraging the teachers to make
students look at Maths as an integral part of
everyday life. ‘Maths is all around us. It even finds
‘Children want to enjoy everything that they
its way into English - words like tri-
do, why not enjoy maths as well, ‘ Jeyamathy pod (triangle) or binocular and bicycle
beams. In fact, many little children can help (meaning having two elements).
their mothers understand how to shop more
intelligently. Here’s how: the child takes a bar teaching mathematics by making the teachers as
of soap on the shop counter, looks at the price, well as the students explore and find the
quickly converts the equation to paise per gram mathematical concepts by themselves.’
and tells mom whether this soap has greater
Jeyamathy works with teachers of Stds 1 - 5. ‘It’s
value for money over the other!
important to catch them young. When they get a
‘Arithmetic is different from Mathematics,’ little older, the children are already fixed in their
says the master teacher. Arithmetic is simply approach.’
four operations, while Mathematics is analysis.
The cheerful teacher feels she still has more to do.
Creativity is key. In maths, you can arrive at a
Her inspiration comes from what she has achieved
solution in several different ways.’ To
with several thousand young minds - ‘As I look back
emphasise this point, the teachers are shown
on my journey, I can see excited faces of math
what is called a fraction-circle. Fraction-circles
teachers who have taken to this way of teaching. I
are circles cut into equal circle parts. ‘One-sixth
also see the bright faces of the children who have
added six times will give one, but why not also
experienced math as an enjoyable subject.’
arrive at one through a variation of fractions?
Principal of St HIlda’s School, Ooty, Mrs P Clarke
It’s easy,’ she smiles, displaying the fragmented
puts it aptly when she says, ‘children call out to
object in her hand and helping the teachers to
Jeyamathy on her entering campus, shouting to
find for themselves, the solutions...
her “Come to our class, come to our class!” Not
Schooled in Sivakasi, Jeyamathy’s family has surprising then, if the old refrain of ‘I hate maths’
always been avid puzzle solvers, riddle experts is being replaced with ‘I love my maths teacher.’
and cryptic clue finders!
Her future goal: to take math learning to countries
But her inspiration came from her mentor. of Africa. Its a social calling. ‘I have to get a grip on
‘Mr. P.K.Srinivasan, the Curator of Ramanujan the language, but math transcends all barriers,’ she
Museum & Math Education Centre, in Chennai, says, having simplified this equation as well.
was a great person who kindled me to work
towards my goal. I always promote his way of jjeyamathy@gmail.com/94449 09263
 Cover story
‘We never thought
he will have so much schools.‘What excites children most is that they can convert all this plastic to constructive
improvement here.’ use,’ says the cheerful social worker. All these bottles were used to build a little polyhouse
- Parent of an autistic for tree saplings! ‘He is a very hard working person and I have always seen him as an
child, of her child’s inspiration to young children,’ says P Anbalagan, a former colleague. Look at the all
special education round impact - children embraced responsible behaviour, they helped construct from
centre and its team. destructive waste and importantly the tourist location got clean.
Children with special needs is a subject that many would rather not talk
about. Even those parents blessed with a special child find it hard to
accept, turning despondent at times and largely incapable of meeting
the child’s needs which are different from children not having to
cope with challenges - challenges like Dyslexia, Autism, Cerebral
Palsy and Down-syndrome. ‘My son has shown remarkable change
in the last two months,’ says a mother of her autistic child. ‘We
never thought he will have so much improvement,’ she states, as she
returns from her childs school, Udhavi - the centre of education for
children with special needs. Mala Ramaswamy, Secretary of Udhavi, is
‘Few heads of equally appreciative of Lathika Rao, ‘She brought structure to the program. Her
institutions are individualised curriculum has had a positive impact on the learning skill and development
willing to try new of each child. The Rotary vocational service awarded to her, is a fitting testimony.’ There
ideas and concepts. are 13 children attending this day school in Coonoor and their mentor has won their
She shows openness hearts.
and has a futuristic Yet another educator, a principal of one of Nilgiris’ oldest schools - a
vision.’ - a teacher’s residential girls school, is honoured with the Bannari Amman group
views on high school instituted award, for Best Hr Sec School Principal in the district.
principal Mrs P Clarke. This Principal’s aim is overall development.A national level
basketball tournament feat by the school team, a clean sweep at
State level athletics by this school’s athletes, the highest number of
ranks at the board exams with bestaverages of all time, makes this
award well deserved. ‘Each little child must shine, must be able to
They made discover her abilites and talent’, says the head, now in her tenth year.
a difference ‘Mrs Pamela Clarke is very concerned about each and every child and I find her very far
sighted,’ says J Jeyamathy, maths trainer from Chennai who trains the school’s maths
in 2010 teachers. ‘Few heads of institutions are willing to try new ideas and concepts. She shows
openness and has a futuristic vision.’
The future of our co-species, their well being and their whereabouts are all but forgotten
in this age. Increasing human habitation and greater urbanisation has pushed creatures
of the wild, further away, to the point that now there is conflict. Every so
‘Tracking of often, we hear of a leopard death by poisoning or an elephant hit by a
elephants is speeding vehicle somewhere in this critical zone, the Nilgiris
vital for us to biosphere. One man is making the difference. A longstanding
understand how conservationist, the former PSU employee N Mohanraj was this
it moves, whether year’s most sought after individual by the Forest department and
the animal has been wildlife experts for his experience and know how in Global
able to adapt to the positioning systems (GPS) devices and radio collaring. ‘Tracking of
translocation...’ elephants is vital for us to understand how it moves, whether the animal
- N Mohanraj, has been able to adapt to the area of translocation (an activity that has
Conservationist greatly helped reduce conflict in recent times) or if there are other factors influencing the
track it follows,’ explains the unassuming man. ‘Radio collaring has brought a deep
understanding, locally, of animal behaviour.’ Its made all the difference.
Its not just with wild animals that people made a difference. This year over a thousand
stray dogs were captured unharmed and administered anit-rabies vaccination, neutered
and released. This impact is several fold. Animal welfare organisation IPAN (India Project for
Animals and Nature) has been at it for years but this time around, with their newly inaugurated
International training centre for veterinarians, near Coonoor, the results are remarkable. Not a
single rabies case reported in 2010.The skills of one man, notwithstanding his being a background
role - the work of dog catcher/handler, having led this large scale capture is a feat worth recognition.
What a difference. Both to man and man’s best friend. ‘He’s been with us for over 10 years and
is very dependable. A recent training in Delhi, helped him improve his knowledge and skills while
dealing not only with dogs but larger domestics as well,’ says Nigel Otter, Founder IPAN. ‘Nagaraj is
our Man Friday.’
If this effort has made the streets safer for us, another individual is also pitching in on the same turf - road safety. ‘This
RTO is extremely strict,’is the standard response you will get in the periphery of the transport office in Ooty from both
employees and members of the public. ‘Leave the vehicle here, go bring the license to show it to me,’ he advises a
youngster who has not carried his license with him. The courtesy that this government official exudes is
disarming but the underlying message of no-nonsense cannot be missed.
concluded on pg 14
 A prospective buyer from Hyderabad - now an
owner of property at Hillsborough, having built
her home there, recently - had exclaimed, ‘you
made our decision-making easy.’

Enterprising family
Entrepreneur-brothers: The Sanchetis, Khivraj (front),
Amarchand and Kailash.

Vitrag Infrastructure; 16, Post Office Road Coonoor 643 101 Ph: +91-423-223 2712

Every enterprise that this business family has undertaken, has been
built on relationships - for almost half-a-century - beginning with the
Nilga brand that the late G Simrathmull bought over from the Bailley
Bros in the 60s, to the construction enterprise managed by the third
generation Sancheti brothers. Today, the trio better known by their
first names Khivraj, Amarchand and Kailash are at the helm.
‘We didn’t promote any of our development projects, it was our client-friends who did it for us,’ says Kailash
referring to the first property development of Vitrag Infrastructure, Hillsborough, near Coonoor. Each new
relationship brought with it another and before long, a whole new community had decided to build their
homes on this pretty hillside, enroute Kotagiri.
Spectacular view was not to be the only factor that interested people in the properties that the brothers
developed. ‘Buying land is not an easy task, even if you are a local. There are several factors to consider -
titles, sanctions, water availability, proximity to town, availability of public transportation and security aspects.
But, importantly, development of the land, providing roads, bringing in water and lighting, all make for a
hassle free acquisition of property.’ The view is incidental.
Apparently, a prospective buyer from Hyderabad - now an owner of property at Hillsborough, having built
her home there, recently - had exclaimed, ‘you made our decision-making easy.’ It has been a good decision,
after all. Those who have built a house on the developed property, now visit their ‘place-in-the-hills frequently
happy to get away from the bustle, even if for two days.
These relationships have facilitated more projects in the recent year, one at Karamadai, another, again on
the picturesque Coonoor-Kotagiri stretch. ‘Palm Meadows, at Karamadai is a 14- acre property. The choice
was determined by its proximity to Coimbatore as well as the cool and quiet confines of this small town at
the foothills.’ Again, connectivity, access to hospitals and schools alongwith ample space around were the
primary factors in selecting this property for development.. As a rule, Vitrag Infrastructure is known not to
buy land because it is cheap. ‘There is bound to be a compromise on one or the other factor, if land is
coming cheap,’ states Kailash, representing the family’s underlying ethos of delivering value-for- money.
‘Even if our price is higher, we try to deliver the inherent value proposition to our clients - which will also
include price appreciation,’ the brothers jointly reaffirm.
It is such values that have held the business family in good stead, even in its oldest venture - plantation gear
and all weather proof apparel - Nilga, which today has made a breakthrough into plantations of East Africa.
‘Some of our planter friends, now based overseas, have chosen to import our Nilga range of
tea plantation apparel,’ says oldest brother Khivraj.
A fitting testimony to the business principles of three
generations, carefully nurtured and passed down to the trio’s
father, late Shri Madanchand, and cherished by these
entrepreneurs, who can succeed in almost any venture - even
school uniforms and clothing retail - relying on the family
asset of long term relationships. vitraginfra@gmail.com
Palm Meadows, Oonipalayam Road, (after Christ-the-King Engg College), Karamadai.
Online impact.
You can see the school’s main building in front and
its basketball court below. Turn slightly and the
dormitories come into view. Behind you is is the
dining hall and right next to it the chapel - you are
viewing all this, virtually, without having to visit
the school!
Vinod Abraham is an accomplished web-
developer. His objective to help parents across the
country - and the world - to get a 360 degree view
of this client’s school campus through their
website, has been amply met with the technology
he has used - panoramic views.
‘I have enjoyed computer applications ever since I
was in school myself,’ says Vinod who is today, true
to internet based enterprises, managing a broad
spectrum of clients based in India and overseas. ‘I
had not met my Dubai customers, initially, but
today, we have a keen relationship, built over the
last three years - Cynthya Technical Works LLC,
Dubai is one of his earliest customers.
Vinod started his enterprise Vinjet Solutions in
2007, at Ooty. His services include website
‘Anyone can get on to the worldwide
web. The interesting element of
having a website is that an enterprise
can reach beyond its geographical
confines.’
Vinjet Solutions, 13714/I, Pebrook,
Coonoor Road, Ooty 643 001
Ph: + 91-98943 00083
www.vinjetsolutions.com
development and management software
development. He has also been engaged, for the
last couple of years, in research and development
in the area of anti-piracy.
How does a website benefit an enterprise and what
kind of business should opt for this ‘online’
alternative? ‘Anyone can get on to the worldwide
web. The interesting element of having a website is
that an enterprise can reach beyond its geographical
confines.’ He is right, since schools, hospitals even
charities, which do not, in principle, advertise, a
mechanism such as the internet, helps convey
information that enable people to make an
informed choice.
Over a decade ago, the famed founder of Microsoft
Corporation had written in his book ‘Business at the
Speed of Thought’ - knock down the walls of your
company and electronically build new business
relationships and new markets...
How long does it take to develop a website for
‘Vinjet Vinod’ - the enterprising young man is
referred to thus by some of his old clients. ‘Usually,
a regular site, with what we term static pages, will
take less than a week - provided the information
and graphic requirements are in place. For an
interactive site, including video uploads, 360 degree
views, flash images and so on, anywhere between
2-3 weeks will be required to host the website on
the internet,’ he says.
Results for some of Vinjet Solutions’ clients have
been rather remarkable. In the initial weeks after
launching their site, the Kerala-based Jerusalem
Retreat Centre received over 500 responses a day,
for their counselling!
What are Vinod’s plans, going forward? ‘I am
working on movie making and am developing
special effects for television ads. Interesting growth
plans for this fledgling enterprise that chose to break
down its own barriers, opting instead, to have an
overview of the rest of the world which, considering
where Vinod is based - in high elevation Ooty - is
not hard.
The school website, incidentally, in the virtual view,
also offers a glimpse of the tall eucalyptus dotting
the hill on which the campus is perched.
Its easy to tell who took the pictures...
Online solution provider: ‘Vinjet Vinod’ enables enterprises to reach
out to a global audience through his web-development.
Natural strokes. Tiger painter-campaigner: Sumi at the NDTV save-the-
tiger campaign where she displayed her paintings and
customised tiger t shirts.
‘Sumi Thiagu’s tiger paintings are a very
important step in the conservation drive,’ says
Rajeev Srivastava IFS, Field Director Mudumalai
Tiger Reserve, referring to her initiative
towards NDTV’s ‘Save the Tiger campaign’ at
Ooty this year. ‘Children take interest in a
serious issue if it is presented in a creative
manner.’
Tiger paintings is but a recent foray for Sumi
who received the Kalashetra Award in 2007 for
her landscape paintings.
Much of this budding artiste‘s work who, in her
own words, was a ‘late comer to art,’ relates
to the natural wonder of the Nilgiris. ‘I feel
Nilgiris can be represented in so many
wonderful ways, in all its moods and flavours,’
Sumi feels.
Some of her iniital works include paintings of
the Botanical Gardens, with its traditional
green-yellow concrete benches - a sojourn of
many a romantic couple over decades. The
painting is complete with the depiction of the
... if one had to look at Sumi’s paintings
stylish silver chain links that very gracefully years on, the real scenario, at a point in
used to denote a do-not-cross-the-line time, not so long ago, will have been clearly
message without having to say so. In fact, if documented - frozen in time ...
one had to look at Sumi’s paintings years on,
the real scenario, at a point in time, not so long otherwise. ‘Nothing is simple, but everything can
ago, will have been clearly documented - be simplified.’
frozen in time, so to speak. When the Interesting advice from this fast- gaining-acclaim
authorities chose to remove the creepers that painter, who doesn’t believe she is ready to teach
covered an entire building - a longstanding art as yet. ‘That is a different challenge altogether,
trademark of the gardens’ entrance - Sumi, she says in a self effacing manner. For now, the
saddened at their decision, decided to preserve focus is on bringing out more facets of the district.
the memory through her painting - it took her Her series on flowers of the Nilgiris, all- season
about a week to complete that rendition - all flowers, has caught the attention of nature
through visualisation. ‘Art is about enthusiasts, ‘Sumi’s work is bold. Her use of
visualisation. And moods.’ To draw is one thing, colours reflects her inner character,’ says Prema
but to be able to recreate or kindle an emotion Ramakrishnan, an admirer.
is the challenge.’ Boldness is an essential ingredient for an artist to
The late starter has had two art masters till now help deal with criticism - something that painters,
and she continues to learn newer techniques, the world over, must deal with. It requires dogged
enhancing her capabilities. resilience.
Special requests are coming in. One holiday Sumi’s resilience augurs well for causes like tiger
resort, asked if she could create a mural - one conservation as it is, for changing traditions fast
with natural forest depiction. Another being replaced by modernity. or even heritage
suggested a series of paintings of traditional sites and spaces, which, by her work, draws our
Badaga culture, including their customs, attire, attention towards, evoking emotion and action -
way of life, festivals etc. Hailing from this the NDTV save the tiger campaign at Ooty,
indigenous community of the Nilgiris herself, garnered over 500 signatures in a single day!
that must be rather simple for her? She thinks sumithiagu@gmail.com/94426 74433

This RTO will drop all
paper work and head
off to distant Gudalur
or Kotagiri on
receiving a complaint
that school children
are being crammed
into a van - apparently
25 children in one van.
The major tragedy
averted on the Ooty-
Coonoor highway when
the road began to show
cracks can be attributed
to his, (the district SP’s)
team’s quick response
and diversion of traffic,
not willing to take any
chances.
They made
a difference
in 2010
‘...he will go back the
next day, find the person
who has wounds and
take him to the
government hospital.
Beggar children are duly
admitted in Hobart
School. If the kids run
away, like they
sometimes would, he
would find them and
bring them right back.’
Hebron school vice-
principal, on T
Mohandas.
to do what must be done without
but their work has left a mark on 2010, inspired us to enter the coming year with hope and courage...
Cover story
R Venkatraman will drop all paper work and head off to
distant Gudalur or Kotagiri on receiving a complaint
that school children are being crammed into a van -
apparently 25 children in one Tata Sumo. The driver
was chargesheeted a case filed and the vehicle handed
over to the nearest police station for this gross
violation. ‘We are only doing our duty and I hope the
public understands this.’ In a surprise check recently
on around seventy vehicles, only one driver was found
under the influence of alcohol. A marked change from
yesteryears!
The stronger the army, the greater the peace, is an old refrain. Its true of
the police force in recent times, especially over the year gone by. The new
Superintendent of Police is keenly involved in day to day law and order and
key policemen in his team are pitching in ably.
The major tragedy averted on the Ooty-Coonoor highway when the road
began to show cracks can be attributed to his team’s quick response
and diversion of traffic, not willing to take chances. On the
wireless, one man’s voice is unmistakable, the special branch
inspector, his key role in intelligence with speedy response
to instructions from the district police headquarters
cannot be ignored. His is a pivotal role in mobilisation
and deployment. With 4 telephones around him and a
huge notepad for jottings, the pain balm on his shelf, kept
handy, is understandable. Influenced greatly by his
superintendent uncle ‘serious Chinnasamy’, when he was a
boy, P Velumani, the tough, tall cop smiles in deference, brushing aside
acknowledgement by saying ‘this year has been fairly trouble free.’ He, as
with the department, is certain that the burglaries cases will be solved sooner
than later. ‘We have arrested the Mary’s Hill (Ooty) gang. The Coonoor
cases (helmet robber) are being investigated with the help of a special team.’
Crime, as is widely known, has its manifestation in unemployment. To
conclude this tribute by tying it in with the initial paragraphs that involved
youth and gainful employment, in barely six months, this lady
in Coonoor, spearheading the corporate social responsibility
of a tea industry conglomerate, has helped provide free
education and certification to 151 young men and women
all ready now to be employed in various vocational fields.
‘The Tahsildar just called with opportunities for data
operators,’ Latha Jebakumar excitedly tells her team, the
good news. This on the day of the first batch passing out
of the institute in earlyDecember.
Lest we forget the lesser fortunate, the destitute and those left
to beggary and wretchedness, reports have it that many such are transported
up from various urban outgrows in the plains and left here to fend for
themselves. Such a situation notwithstanding, it is heartening to know that
they are not alone. One man goes beyond the ‘night-soup rounds’ that Hebron
and Hildas staff and students undertake of which he is a part - ‘T Mohandas
will go back the next day, find the person who has wounds and take him to
the government hospital. Beggar children are duly admitted in Hobart School.
If the kids run away, like they sometimes would, he would find them and
bring them right back.,’ says, Tom George, Vice Principal, Hebron School,
Ooty, appreciative of this energetic individual - his colleague
at Hebron - who, he states, is always up and about helping
people!
Those whose names have figured in ‘people who made
a difference in 2010’ will not know that they were
nominated till this article is published. It is certain that
every one of them will state that they have not achieved
anything extraordinary. Many, in fact, are not even
prominent or well known. Which makes all the difference-
expecting anything in return. Name, fame nor acknowledgement
 ‘A well packaged product is
a silent salesman.’

Adman-Designer.
His office is a minimalist’s delight - a polished wooden table to hold up an i Mac, a traditional glass-paned
cupboard that showcases some recent designs - including an attractive logo and packaging for a tea
manufacturer - one single-toned poster of ace basketballer Michael Jordan, on the wall opposite his work
table and ample quiet - except when his little son walks in to provide a ‘chatter break’ to the creative team
of this accomplished film maker-adman-designer, Deepak Bhojraj.
What Deepak has achieved, thus far, is huge.
The corporate presentation for the Murugappa Group is one of his early creations - a challenging one it
was to be - to try and include the conglomerate’s various business verticals - in a all-in-one short movie.
‘A movie clip or an ad spot takes hours, even days to conceptualise, shoot, edit and deliver. Something
that one cannot comprehend when viewing the final output, which is over in about 20 seconds,’ explains
Deepak. Creativity is key, but technology delivers.
An ad film he made about five years ago, for a leading textiles client was much talked about for its cutting
edge technology. ‘The Pothy’s Silks advertisement, on TV, showing the character wearing a fine white silk
saree, took 54 cameras to deliver the from-all-angles look. The entire film fraternity had turned up to see
the high technology at work.’ Deepak was to become among the first in thecountry to incorporate the
time-slice technology! Why go to such lengths, to promote a product or to create a corporate image,
even a film promotion - where, one must put more into a short clip, without giving away the story? ‘While
doing the promos for the Mani Ratnam produced Raavan, we were told to bring in very little effects but
to deliver the maximum impact.’
With his packaging and logos, Deepak is equally keen to deliver impact - ‘What’s the point in having a
good product - quality tea, for instance - but unattractive packaging?’ he says, showing us for example,
a redesigned tea packet, beautifully crafted in blue with the company’s logo in stylish silver lettering.
‘Tea boxes on a retailer’s counter are several. You’d want a shopper to easily spot and select your product,
from the rest.’
The local, having made his mark in the world of advertising - Deepak was based in Chennai, until about a
year ago - set up his office in Ooty, which now takes on a whole gamut of design related work ranging
from school magazine and souvenir designs to logo creations and packaging for local, national and
internationally based clients. Rising Apple is the advertising agency. The Little Big Company (creatively
named) is the management firm. His movie making work, from here, remains undisturbed - even
movie posters and publicity for big studios is designed from right here, in Ooty - unthinkable for the
industry where movie posters are not designed anywhere outside Chennai - its the sheer strength of
his client relationship at work...
Technology forms an integral part of Deepak’s work. The print quality on the ace
basketballer’s poster is superb. Deepak says, ‘the vibrance that the high-end printing
machine (on which this poster has been printed) has delivered, serves us as a constant
reminder that quality is an achievable end.’ Good news for his clientele, that this
adman’s competition is himself, constantly trying to raise his own standards, striving
for the best turnout.
Its not surprising that the team delivered a perfect turnout that amazed even the spit
and polish army brass, locally. The job: a box, to house the the newly recruited army
man’s beret, scarf, insignia and belt - a matter of personal pride to the new entrant
at the Madras Regimental Centre in Wellington. The box, with its wooden finish,
the regiment’s insignia embossed on the cover, carries an inset poster on the
history and achievements of the centre. So much for impact...
Rising Apple, Hindustan Mahal; Coonoor Rd, Ooty - 643001. India Ph (0423) 244 2659. www.risingapple.in
 Making the difference: (Pic top left) students from the Guernsey school, Coonoor who participated
in the 16 week plastic collection campaign, the entire ‘waste’ was finally put to use - they built a
polyhouse. (Pic top, right) T Mohandas distributing food and blankets to beggars in Ooty. (Pic
bottom, left) Nagaraj in action, capturing a stray, for anti-rabies vaccination. (Pic bottom right)
conservationist, N Mohanraj ‘walking’ an orphaned elephant calf at Mudumalai.

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Contd from previous issue local traditions
The Most Sacred Cattle “Bells”
Some Toda dairy-temples possess ritual artefacts of the very highest sanctity. These are metal objects (iron, silver and gold are reported) that
are attached to the rear wall of the dairy’s inner room and are covered with ferns to protect their purity. Generically they are termed mone”y,
which in Toda (as in other southern Dravidian languages) means a “bell”—as this writer was informed (but with no way to confirm that information
for himself) and most of them are not actually bells.
The fact that these mony—bell-shaped or not—are hung (encased in rattan strips so that the general public cannot see them) around the
necks of temple buffaloes to be sacrificed at a funeral ceremony and that one of them used to be hung around a buffalo’s neck at the highest
grade of Toda dairy (the institution is now defunct) when the temple herd was being moved, suggests that these sacred objects may indeed have
their origin in cattle-bells.
Among the most sacred of the dairy appurtenances (see last month’s article for an account of the others) is another earthen vessel that is not
kept inside the building at all, but is buried in the ground some distance away. The purity of the entire dairy-temple is believed to be linked to the
condition of this pot, known as the mu. Any time the building is defiled by contact with impure people or objects, the mu has to be excavated and
a series of complex purificatory rites performed.
On the left hand side of the inner room is the fireplace where the officiating dairyman-priest cooks his food. This fire, unlike that in the outer
room, is usually kept alight throughout the period during which the dairy is in use. Should the fire happen to die out, the dairyman must light it
with fire produced by friction, using the dairy’s firesticks. Ordinary matches or lighters, defiled by their association with the impure world outside
the dairy, are not permitted within any part of the dairy, whether it be the outer or inner room. The dairyman lights the fire located between the
beds of the outer room using a firebrand taken from the inner room.
One- and three-room dairy-temples
The Todas build certain of their more sacred dairy-temples as single-room structures. In this case—with only a sanctum sanctorum and no
relatively less-sacred sleeping quarters—at night the officiating dairyman-priest must occupy a special hut, located nearby. As for the relatively
rare three-room dairies, these are found in hamlets that double as male funeral places. Usually the funeral places—for males and females
respectively—are located at some distance from the domestic settlements, but where a hamlet is also used as a male funeral place, one of its
dairy-temples must have three rooms. This is because, at one point in the obsequies, the male corpse must be laid inside the temple and yet the
sacred dairying equipment must be protected from the virulent death pollution. The two requirements are fulfilled by having a middle room that
serves to separate the corpse, in the outer room, from the sacred dairying equipment located in the innermost one.
From Sacred Milk to Non-sacred Ghee
The principal objectives of the sacred dairy operations of the Toda people, who live atop the Nilgiri Mountains in South India, are for a
dairyman-priest—male (never female) of greater ritual purity than ordinary males—to milk the temple buffaloes in his charge, and to process
their milk inside the dairy-temple, producing butter, buttermilk, and ghee.
The milk drawn for a dairy is sacred, whatever the grade of buffalo from which it is derived. Of the milk products, on the other hand, buttermilk
and butter have much less sanctity and ghee none at all. Thus it is possible to interpret the entire dairy ritual (though this is not an indigenous
exegesis) as a procedure for diluting the extreme sanctity of the milk in order that its final product, ghee, may be consumed by everybody within
and traded with anybody outside of the caste.
The Ordination of a Dairyman-priest
The rituals associated with the induction of a dairy-man priest, as also those associated with his office once he has been so inducted, vary
according to the traditions of the different patriclans that own the temples and also with the position of a particular temple within the hierarchy
of such institutions that the Todas recognize. Such is the complexity of the Todas’ sacred dairy cult that only broad generalizations are possible in
an article of this nature.
The principal purpose of the ordination rites for a Toda dairyman-priest is to raise the ordinand to a level of ritual purity consonant with the
sanctity of the dairy-temple at which he is to serve. For the lowest grade temples—for which the rites are the simplest—the induction process
begins around first light when the priest-designate, without having eaten, proceeds to the dairy at which he will serve. Here he bows to the
threshold, then washes his hands with water handed to him by the outgoing dairyman (if there is one) or else he cleanses himself at the dairy
stream. Ablutions completed, the ordinand changes dress inside the dairy-temple’s outer room. Removing his secular clothing (white loincloth
and embroidered cloak), he dons the priestly black loincloth that Todas call a tueny, which he must wear whenever engaged in the ritual work of
dairying. (Especially in the early morning chill, he may don a second black cloth as a shawl.) Now properly attired, he proceeds to the dairy stream,
where he assembles seven leaves and a handful of shoots from the Yellow Bramble shrub (Rubus elipticus). These shoots he pulps on a stone at
the edge of the dairy stream; then, taking some of the pulp, he dips it into the water, after which he squeezes the juice three times onto one of
the leaves. Next, he raises the leaf to his forehead before drinking the infusion and finally, throws the leaf backwards over his head. He repeats
this sequence of ritual acts with each of the remaining six leaves. This accomplished, the ordinand collects together all the pulped shoots he has
used, dips them into the dairy stream once more and rubs his face and body with them three times before putting the pulped shoots into his hair
at the back of his head.
At this point the dairyman-priest designate is deemed to have acquired a state of ritual purity sufficient for him to begin the final rites of his
ordination. He returns to the dairy-temple at which he is to serve. Here the outgoing dairyman will have set an earthen pot called a mu: in the
Toda language (or, if the newly-appointed dairyman is opening up the temple afresh, he will himself collect this pot from where it has been
buried). He now ritually sweeps the temple entrance with as few strands of a grass
called kakarx (Eragrostis nigra), following which he bows to the mu: This ritual
sequence he performs three times before entering the dairy-temple. Dairyman-priest seated beside his dairy’s entrance and
Proceeding now to the threshold of the inner room, he bows and enters dressed in prescribed ritual attire. Note the sun, moon
the sanctum. Here he salutes (by raising his extended right hand to his and buffalo head reliefs; also the date of the temple’s
forehead) or touches the various dairy appurtenances, culminating with reconstruction (with stone to replace wood walls), viz.
the pot in which he will churn milk. This last act makes him a fully- 1 January, 1967 (Photograph: Pauline H. Walker).
qualified dairyman-priest. He now rekindles the fire inside the inner
room, using firesticks to produce a spark by friction, since profane
matches or lighters may not be brought into the sanctum. He
then leaves the dairy to milk the buffaloes in his charge.
The overall intention of these ritual minutiae is clear: to
raise a man of the impure secular world to a sufficiently
Sacred Buffaloes, Dairies
high level of ritual purity to permit him to enter the pure
and sacred realm of the dairy-temple. This is achieved,
and Dairymen in South
first, by requiring that the ordinand drink, as well as wash
himself, with water from a sacred source—the dairy India By Dr Anthony R. Walker
stream, and, second, by bringing him, stage by stage,
into contact with the sacred objects with which he
will be associated during the period of his priesthood.
But why a particular kind of leaf, and why seven of
them, why throw the leaves over his head and why
put the shoots in his hair? For the Toda all such ritual
acts are of the utmost importance; failure to
perform them is thought to nullify the efficacy of
the ordination ritual. On the other hand, few—if
any—Toda are able to interpret the precise
symbolism of these acts and of the materials they
use for them. For them, “necessary ritual act” is
sufficient both as justification and interpretation.

Contd in next issue

 history

Focus on co-curricular activity:

(top left) a program sheet from 1913,
showing the sequence of events, (top
right) the school’s present day junior
choir. (Pics below) outdoor games, rock
climbing...

‘Rocking’
since 1911!
Mountain Home School
has a long tradition of
co-curricular activity for
its students that includes
music, literary events
and outdoor activity.

Mountain Home School and Junior College
has over decades, encouraged students to
develop skills in music, singing, literary
events and outdoor activities like trekking
and nature camps.
Music has a long history.
It is interesting to note that the School choir
performed the Annual Christmas Carol
Service at the All Saints Church, Coonoor,
for the first time in the year 1934. 76 years
later, to date, the school still performs at
the church, the choir still enrapturing the
mass each Sunday and of course the Annual
Christmas Service.
Estd: 1911 The School also encourages the students in
outdoor activities like camping, trekking
and rock climbing to encourage the
students to develop physical strength. Field
trips are organized to enable research and
documentation. The students await these
outdoor activities.
The students are encouraged to excel in
art and craft too. From Class 8 and above
they are encouraged to maintain a log of
their work and at the end of each year
which are displayed at the Annual
Exhibition.
Each class enacts a 40 minute drama which
would invariably include singing to the
accompaniment of music. Drama, elocution
and poetry writing skills are honed on the
literary front.

Mountain Home School & Junior College, Balaclava, Coonoor; The Nilgiris District, South India. Ph +91-423-2206471