Badaga Hattis
Encyclopedia
Source: Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash in http://badaga.wordpress.com/badaga-villages-nakku-betta-hattis/

Badaga Hatti, is a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

 or hamlet spread around the Nilgiri Hills,a Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...

 district, in Southern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. The 'hattis' are inhabited by approximately 3 lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...

 Badaga
Badaga
Badaga may refer to:*The Badaga people, an indigenous people inhabiting the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu, India.*The Badaga language, spoken by the Badagas....

 speaking people.

It appears that initially when the Badagas established their hamlets, they took two very important factors into consideration. Being very environmentally conscious, they chose a) direction - always or to a very great extent facing the east [ ‘Hothu (sun) uttua (rising) pakka (side)’] and b) Water source - near a stream (halla) or spring (huttu neeru).

Every hatti had a suthugallu (sacred triangular shaped stone) at the base of a bikka mara (tree) around which important meetings (Kootu) took place. For the most sacred of all Badaga festivals Hethai Habba - always held on a Monday (sovara), the collection of money (Hana kattodu) took place at the suthugallu in an eloborate ceremony on the preceding Friday (belli).

The houses of each village were laid out in parallel
Parallel (geometry)
Parallelism is a term in geometry and in everyday life that refers to a property in Euclidean space of two or more lines or planes, or a combination of these. The assumed existence and properties of parallel lines are the basis of Euclid's parallel postulate. Two lines in a plane that do not...

 rows, each row facing the east. The houses had common walls (Gode mane) possibly as a measure of security. Every house had exactly the same configuration of Bayilu (entrance), Nadu Mane (central-living/dining room ), Oge mane (Inner room) which also doubles up as the kitchen with a beskatti (large basket) above the hearth
Hearth
In common historic and modern usage, a hearth is a brick- or stone-lined fireplace or oven often used for cooking and/or heating. For centuries, the hearth was considered an integral part of a home, often its central or most important feature...

for drying, Pillay (bathroom) and Ereh (a separate room adjacent to the bayilu). Of course, there was an attic on top of beskatti( kitchen having a hearth) the entry to which is from the nadumane.

A cluster of villages, which need not be close or adjacent to each other, is called a Seeme. The Nilgiri Hills - Naakku Betta, was divided into four Seemes and all the hattis were brought under them. What is the basis apart from the geographical consideration (which is not true always) is not known. But one unfortunate fallout was that each Seeme considered itself to be superior and hence there was a lot silent bickering. This carried on till a strong leader like Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowda and after him his son Rao Bahadur Ari Gowda tried to unite all the Badagas so that their problems could be sorted out and properly represented to the Government of the day.

Badagas, generally, refer to their village or hamlet as ‘ HATTI ‘ spread around ‘Nakku Betta’ (the Nigiris). Nakku Betta literally means four (Nakku) Mountains (betta) though there are many hills around which the villages are located. It appears that initially when the Badagas established their hamlets, they took two very important factors into consideration. Being very environment conscious, they chose a) direction – always or to a very great extent facing the east [ 'Hothu (sun) uttua (rising) pakka (side)'] and b) water source – near a stream (halla) or spring (huttu neeru).Every hatti had a ’suthugallu’ (sacred triangular shaped stone) at the base of a ‘bikka mara’ (tree) around which important meetings (Kootu) took place. For the most sacred of all Badaga festivals ‘Hethai Habba’ – always held on a Monday (sovara), the collection of money (Hana kattodu) took place at the suthugallu in an eloborate ceremony on the preceding Friday (belli).

The houses of each village were laid out in rows, each row facing the east. The houses had common walls (Gode mane) possibly as a measure of security. Every house had exactly the same configuration of Bayilu (entrance), Nadu mane (central-living/dining room ),Oge mane (inner room) where cooking also takes place (kitchen) with a large beskatti (basket) above the hearth where drying takes place, Pillay (bathroom) and Ereh (a separate room adjacent to the bayilu). Of couse, there was an attic on top of beskatti( kitchen having a hearth) the entry to which is from the nadumane. Again, we will discuss about a typical badaga house separately.

A cluster of villages, which need not be close to each other, is called a ‘Seemay’.

The total number Badaga Hattis varies from 300 to 400. Rao Bahadur H.B. Ari Gowder http://badaga.wordpress.com/all-about-ari-gowder/ is known to have sent his assistant Haika Mathi in 1940s and 1950s to all over the Nakku Betta to know about the villages and the problems of Badagas, but,unfortunately there are no written records available / traceable. Nakku Betta literally means four (Nakku) Mountains (betta) though there are many more bettas (hills) around which the villages are located.

Prof. Paul Hockings may be one of the earliest to mention the number and names of the hattis in his books.

In a laudable effort, Mr. K.H.Madha Gowder edited “NAKKU BETTA” magazine, had attempted to record all the hattis in one of its issues in late 1970s. I have preferred to use the names as known to Badagas. For example, Jakkada for Jagathala or Manjidha for Manjithala or Pedduva for Pethala
I. ‘ Thodha Naadu Seeme ‘

(Supposed to be our “Dodda Ooru”. Also known as ‘Raja Padagiri Seeme’) The boundaries are from Solur to Kookkal Thore

1. Kada naadu 2. Kei Kauhatti 3. Baralatti 4. Kuntha Chappai {correct name given by KK Bellie} 5. Edu hatti 6. Kodu mudi 7. Thore hatti 8. Hanni Kore 9. Kavilorai 10. Kavaratti 11. Kara pillu 12. Kallatti 13. Soluru [Sholur] 14. Thalai male 15. Kengal 16. Bara mannu 17. Kengamudi [Kenguvamudi?]18. Ajjoor 19. Thatha benu 20. Kurumbedi 21. Alattane 22. Maasigan 23. Dhavanea 24. Mynale 25. Moregallu 26. Kendore 27. Beragallu 28. Ullupatti 29. Hosa hatti 30.Batta kore 31. Mavu kallu 32. Malli gore 33. Thatneri 34. Panju mora*(People in this village claim to be not of Badaga origin but a Malaivedan origin) 35. Bikke Kandi 36. Bekkodu 37. Kokkulu 38. Bendatti 39. Osa hatti 40. Bana hatti 41. Honnadale 42. Thegili 43. Omeyaratti 44. Jakkalorai 45. Madithore 46. Thummanada 47. Kappachi 48. Muguttuva 49. Nelli Mandu 50. Karakkallu 51. Nanja nadu 52. Ode hatti 53. Melur 54. Akoni 55. Kada sole 56. Hosa hatti 57. Poose kunnur 58. Konagatti 59. Ebbanad [Ebbu nadu?] 60. Kagguchi 61. Kalingana hatti 62. Kookal 63. Seegola 64. Aalatti 65. Mel Kau hatti 66. Kambatti 67. Thummanatti 68. Billi kambai 69. Thooneri 70. Ooru malai 71. Mara kallu 72. Kuruthu kuli 73. Hullathi 74. Bikkatti 75. Athi kallu 76. Thattaneri*(People in this village claim to be not of Badaga origin but a Malaivedan origin) (Repeat?) 77. Osa hatti (repeat?) 78. Motha kambe 79. Moragutti 80. Jeenatti 81. Bikke mora hatti 82. Uyilatti 83.Kookal Thore 84. Melatti 85. Nadu hatti 86.Thambatti 87.Dheenahatty

II. ‘Porangadu Seeme’

Also known as ” Aaila Baila Seeme ” ( Porangadu 19 Ooru ). From ‘Hubbathalai‘ to ‘Hulivare‘ constitute the boundaries.

1. Thatha Nadu 2. Ora sole 3. Gundada 4. Pudiyangi 5. Marle Kambe 6. Batta Kore 7. Arakkambe 8. Mel Ane hatti 9. Kil Ane hatti 10. Dhimbatti 11. Kada kodu 12. Sippili kambe 13. Kanneri mookku 14. Ali Ooru [Hayoor?]15. Are hatti 16. Samil Dittu [Thanks to Bellie Sundaram Krishnamoorthy for giving the correct name] 17. Jakkalode 18. Kade kambatti 19. Kappatti 20. Kanneri 21. Nara giri 22. kunni hatti 23. Beraganni 24. Sundatti 25. Selakkore 26. Ker bettu 27. Betlada 28. Bendatti 29. Meedenu 30. Ker kambe 31. Lilli hatti 32. Bamudi 33. Neduguva 34. Bandime 35. Kodamale 36. Pedduva 37. Byangi 38. Kallatti 39. Hakkeru 40. Yeda palli 41. Eethore 42. Bettatti 43. Osatti 44. Katta bettu 45. Hubbathale Ooru 46.Honnore 47. Attave 48. Natta kallu 49. Kerbennu 50. Kathigatti 51. Eruppu kallu 52. Pudu mandu 53. Thotha mokke 54. Keraiyada 55. Jackanarai 56. Sakkatha 57. Kesalada 58. Aravenu 59. Thumbooru 60. Kallada 61. Bangalada 62. Thinni ooru 63. (H)Onnatti 64. Thooneri 65. Sulli goodu 66. Edukkore 67. Kengare 68. Hullathatti 69. Kottuvana hatti 70. Mel Odenu 71. Kil Odenu 72. Banni ooru 73. Bebbenu 74. Konavakore 75. Kakkul 76. Dhabba kambe 77. Thogalatti 78. Denadu 79. Ane ode 80. Thalore 81. Yettkallu 82. Odeyaru hatti 83. Mudia kambe 84. Selave 85. Kurukkathi 86. Kavilore 87. Selakore 88. Kottanalli 89. Thumbi male 90. Jakka kombe 91. Avvur 92. Bellada 93. Osatti (repeat?) 94. Embimora hatti 95. Bikkatti 96. Bagumudi 97. Dhodda mane hatti 98. Kagakkuthore 99. Koon sole 100. Jakkada 101.Odanatti 102.Bearatti 103. Malliore 104. Kakakore 105. Kil Bikkatti 106. Mel Bikkatti 107. Hubbathale Hatti 108. Kari mora 109. Kechigatti 110. Nadu hatti 111. Bettatti (repeat?) 112. Manjida ( recently added ) 113. Hayoor [Bellie Sundaram Krishnamoorthy feels this is same as 14.Ali Ooru - I fully agree. Hayoor or [H]Ali Ooru mean the same – Old Village]

III. ‘ Mekku Nadu Seeme ‘

Also known as ‘ Asala Bisalagiri Seemay ‘ and (Meekunadu Seeme 9 Ooru).

Limits from Ketti to Keeyur

1. Porore 2. Sogathore 3. Sakkalatti 4. Kethore 5. Denale 6. Dhoddani 7. Kil Odayaratti 8. Kodangatti 9. Kekkatti 10. Emakkatti 11. Ker kandi 12. Ellanalli 13.Hullada 14. Ketti Ooru 15. Achanakal 16. Halada 17. Theda hatti 18. De hatti 19. Sora gundu 20. Kerada 21. Ken Kundhe 22. Kammandu 23. Mel Odayaratti 24. Thambatti 25. Adikaratti 26. Ane hatti 27. Mutti nadu 28. Oranai (Kattery) 29. Kattery 30. Nadu hatti 31.Thooratty 32. Kenduva 33. Koderi 34. Mel Koderi 35. Oor thittu 36. Allattane 37. Manja kambe 38. Denadu 39. Mynale 40. Kokkalada 41. Maasi kandi 42. Bengal 43. Kothi ben 44. Hulikkal 45. Panne bennu 46. Melur 47. Attu Bayilu 48. Porthi 49. Bembatti 50. Belitho 51. Ithalar 52. Pudugatti 53.Thodhale 54. Dhodda appukodu 55. Umar kandi 56. Angidi hatti 57. Byge mandu 58. Osatti 59. Kallakore 60. kariyalbe 61. Nunduva 62. Muduguva 63. Balakore 64. Meekeru 65. Manu hatti 65. Thangadu 66. Oranai 67. Kanneri 68. Mandhane 69. Godalatti 70. Bikol 71. Kasole 72. Mel Osatti 73. Kil Osatti 74. Haraguchi 75. Bellada 76. Nai hatti 77. Are hatti 78. Aadakore (Thulidale)

IV. ‘ Kundhe Seeme ‘

Also known as ‘ Eera Jilla Seeme ‘

1. Kinnakore 2. Osatti 3. Bikkatti 4. Hiriya Seege 5. Mel Kundhe 6. Attu Mannu 7. Mulli Male 8. Nadu hatti 9. Kechigatti 10. Kerabadu 11. karia male 12. Kandi bikke 13. Manjooru 14. Mani Kallu 15. Kil Kundhe 16. Thooneri 17. Matta Kandi 18. Bakore 19. Mullegooru 20. Osa hatti 21. Bikkatti 22. Kunjanare 23. Gundinaali 24. Mukki Male 25. Gai kandi 26. Edakkadu Thale hatti 27. Edakkadu Nadu hatti 28. Sundatti

Added :

1. Kora Kundhe 2. Emarald (thanks to rajunandha )
3. Hayoor (which is next to Kannerimukku in Kotagiri (thanks to mithun matha dharmaraj )
4. Thorajada 5. Kombukorai (thanks to N Bellie )
6. Thambatti added to ‘Thodha Naadu Seeme’ (thanks to Jagadeesh)

[Ganesan Lingan from Porthy Village Mekku Nadu seeme adds :-I just gone thru the Badagas website to know our hatties and seeme’s, I saw all the hattis and seems in one place and really enjoyed reading each and every hattis. I would say this is definitely Great effort! And really appreciate able.I just wanted to you know that Emerald is not a badaga village( as per my knowledge) and fully occupied by other communities except one or two badgas having provisional stores and houses along with that,. So please request you the remove the Emerald from our hatti list.And also I found Osa Attu Bayilu (New Attu bayilu near kai kandi) missing from Meeku nadu.There are two Attu Bayilu one is Palliya (old) Attu bayliu and other one Osa attu Bayliu.Also Bigada missing from Thodha nadu Seeme (not sure about seeme).This village spotting near Ithalar… This is a beautiful very tiny village located in center of the tea estates].

Source: Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash in http://badaga.wordpress.com/badaga-villages-nakku-betta-hattis/
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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