TRADITION ENVIRONMENT FLAVOUR BUSINESS NEWS

eLocal
Pic, courtesy: Keystone Foundation

VOL 4 ISSUE 4, 0CT 15, 2010, The Nilgiris District, India.

A Burning Issue
Forest fires are dreaded by the Department officials and
naturalists alike. One fire takes out innumerable amounts of
natural vegetation and forest cover. But fire is not the only threat
to our last forests. An expert’s perspective.

Last Forest: A perspective

Todas: by Dr Anthony Walker
Animal Trophies: A deadlock
Personality - Yash the golfer
Snapshot: Kodanad view point
Food column: Ruth N Davidar
Tea & Tourism: ‘Good for you’
History:Mountain Home School

editor’s note

As we observe yet another Wildlife Week, hopeful that our pack of ‘humans,’ who destroy, then conserve, continue in earnest to end
destruction and uphold preservation. Protect our wild life. Protect our forests. We never fail to admire the animals we encounter in the
wild. They are absolutely fabulous. Shining, healthy skin, glassy eyes, the humble yet majestic look, ready to leap away when all you
want is to have them linger, to continue to graze, to raise their head and fondly gaze. We need them around for our own sanity.
I happened upon a barking deer and fawn as I walked a well used path through tea and acacia. Have they ventured too close or
have I ventured too far? The questions have been raised often enough. Let’s fix our minds to make the change, a change for the
better. No cameras please. Store them in your memory. No junk for them. They have their little grass and weeds. Grow them if
you wish. Get rooted to earth and make not a sound. Just watch and take in Nature. Importantly, know the animals around us.
Introducing 6 interesting species found in the Nilgiris (pgs 5-10). You might spot them around. If you do, there are two reasons:
we have disturbed their natural habitat or they have grown in numbers. If it is the latter, there is yet the hope of their survival.
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
environment

A burning issue
Dr L Rasingham, Keystone Foundation

Every year, at least 1000ha of forest is destroyed by human-induced fire.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is among the great wildlife destinations of south
India, with good number of protected area networks that hold many forest types and
interesting plant and animal species.
The range of topography and climate has resulted in sharp gradients of vegetation
composition, ranging from thorny scrub forest, dominating the north-eastern region
and intergrading westwards into dry and moist deciduous
forests and wet evergreen forests towards the Wayanad
region.

Pics, courtesy:Keystone Foundation

A shola (montane evergreen forest) - grassland mosaic
dominates the higher altitudes. Most of the major
vegetation types of peninsular India occur in the NBR
and covers two of the ten biogeographical zones of India
and with only 0.15% of India’s land area, contains 20% of
all angiosperms, 15% of all butterflies and 23% of all
vertebrates that are found in India. The deciduous, moist
evergreen forests and the grasslands are an extremely
biodiversity rich, mountainous eco-region and are possibly
one of the best locations to observe mega fauna like Asian
elephants, Indian gaur, Spotted deer, Sambar, Nilgiri Tahr
and Sloth bear. These forests also hold healthy populations
of two globally endangered big cats – the Tiger and
Leopard.
In recent decades the forest areas of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve have drastically reduced
due to the developmental & tourism activities, expansion of agricultural lands and
invasion of exotic plants. In a recent survey, a total of 223 species of flowering plants
belonging to 56 families have naturalised under different types based on their occurrence
and utility in the NBR alone. This poses a threat to natural forest species. An example
is Wattle - fast proliferating plant (pic inset). Another threat to the forest biodiversity is
the deadly forest fire. Every year, at least 1000ha of forest is destroyed by human induced
forest fire. Restoring the degraded landscapes and planting the native species is
immensely important for the present era. Nurseries have therefore become an important
part of restoration and help create awareness.
Keystone Foundation has initiated nurseries for native species in 7 various localities
which cover the entire landscape of the NBR. Supporting the raising and planting of
native species has been an effort of Keystone Foundation in the last 10 years to spread
awareness on the diversity and richness of the region.
Dr Rasingham is a botanist and is based at Keystone Foundation, Kotagiri.

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TheLocal weekly updates.

The 4 weekly updates that were published over the last month have been well received - the burglary
issue and the mental illness perspective, in particular, invited sharp responses from the readers - issues
that are mostly ignored are being brought to the fore. The ‘legal scenario’ interview was appreciated too.
Do write to us if you feel a certain subject is of importance and needs to be addressed through your local
paper. If you wish to receive the weekly updates, or would like someone to receive one too, please
forward the email ID to thelocaleditor@gmail.com.
The weekly format supports colour advertisements, short video clips - the store interiors, a new product
etc. Contact: 97905 90570.
 personality

The golf circuit for young ones is hotting up in the Nilgiris. First time
participant Yash Yohaan Prasad is our personality of the month.

A litle way into the conversation
with the as-he-calls-himself,
‘amateur golfer’ and Yash and his
interviewer realise that one knows
a lot more than he is expected to
and the other a lot less about this
once-reserved-for-older-people
game.
‘I use a 5-iron or a 7-iron stick
when I am on the fairway,’ says the
young lad, matter-of-fact. ‘For long
shots I use a big club,’ he happily
chats away.
When did you start to play golf?
‘When I was very small, about 6
years I think,’ saysYash. Well he is
still very small! 12 years and
studying at Riverside School in
Kotagiri.
Yash likes golf for two reasons apart
from enjoying the game. He gets
to amble across spectacular terrain
with a breathtaking view and a
chance to interact with interesting
people. Not surprising that he says,
he likes to play for the fun that the
game brings. Did you feel pressure
at the Highfield tournament?
(results published below)
‘No, I try not to play under any
pressure and walking on the course
is always relaxing.’
Tiger Woods and an Irish player
(whose name he can’t recollect at the
moment) are his favourite players.
When is the right time to start? ‘Its
never too early.’ What if one never
learnt to play golf? Can one begin
late? ‘Sure, but my dad says its best
to start playing a game early so you
don’t find it too hard to adapt, as
an adult.’ The uninitiated can learn
the game from you? ‘I can explain
the fundamentals. After that you
can develop your own game,’ says
the self assured young lad.
‘I’m waiting to pitch myself against
granddad who is due to visit us
during my holidays,’ concludes Yash
excitedly.

Highfield Open Golf Tournament Highfield Nilgiri Open Golf Tournament

Nakul Prakash, Vivekalaya Matriculation, Surya Kandavadivel, Riverside Public
<< home page
Coimbatore School, Kotagiri. (in pic)

Boys Under 19 - First: Nishant, Stanes, Coimbatore. Second: Naman Malik, Army School, Wellington. Third: Sameer
Behl GSIS, Ooty &Sujit Matthew GSHM. Under 16 - First: Nakul Prakash, Vivekalaya, Coimbatore. Second: Surya
Kandavadivel, Riverside, Kotagiri. Third: Alham Manulla Kancwala GSIS, Ooty. Under 13 - First: Ninad Chaddha,
Army School Wellington.Second: Rahul Nahar, Vidhya Niketan, Coimbatore. Third: Kathiresan, Lawrence School, Ooty.
Under 10 - First: Shivkaran Kandavadivel, Riverside Kotagiri. Second: Akshath, Stanes, Coimbatore. Third: Navjot
Singh, Airforce School, Coimbatore. Girls Open Championship - First: Rhea R, Lawrence School, Ooty. Second: Sheen
R, Lawrence School, Ooty . Third: Nisarat Tong-Akka, GSFS.

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flavour

Vitamin A, the vision vitamin, is found largely in animal foods like whole milk, ghee, butter, egg yolk
and liver. Being fat soluble, it concentrates in the fatty components of foods, which is why it is found
in the cream of milk, for instance, and not in egg white. Indian diets are typically vegetarian, so how
is the daily requirement for this vitamin met? Enter carotenoids, the gaudy pigments that colour
carrots. Several hundred carotenoids are found in Nature, but the one most beneficial to man is beta
carotene because it is converted to vitamin A in the human body.
Increasingly, though, other carotenoids are under scrutiny because of their ability to mitigate the risk
of lifestyle-related illness such as heart disease and cancer. Among them is lycopene, a carotenoid
found in tomatoes, watermelon, pink guavas, pink grapefruit, red peppers and papaya. Fruits let to
ripen on the plant tend to have more lycopene. Neither does processing—think tomato ketchup—
appear to destroy lycopene. Indulge! The writer is a registered Dietitian & Author of Indian Food Sense

RECIPE

Tarbooz ka Sharbat
Red Alert. Ruth N Davidar
(Watermelon Refresher) Get red coloured vegetables and fruits
Serves 6. to your table, give yourself the much
needed Vitamin A.
Preparation Time :25 minutes
Cooking Time :Nil
Chilling Time :2 hours minimum

Ingredients
2½ kg/5¼ lb/About ½ large watermelon
60 g/2 oz/4 tbsp granulated sugar
15 ml/½ fl oz/1 tbsp lime or lemon juice
8 ice cubes
A few drops of rose or kewra essence
(optional)
Pinch of salt
Crushed ice
6 sprigs of fresh mint
Wash the watermelon and cut away the
rind. Remove as many seeds as possible.
Chop coarsely. Place half the amount of
watermelon, granulated sugar, lime or
lemon juice and ice cubes in a mixer/
blender. Blend at the lowest speed for 15
seconds. Open the jar and stir the contents.
Blend once again for 15 seconds. Pour into
a tall jar. Repeat with the remaining half of
the same ingredients.
Add the essence, if using, and salt. Stir
well. Cover and chill for at least 2
hours.To serve, pour into 6 tall,
thin glasses and top with crushed
ice decorated with a sprig of mint.
(Adapted from Indian Food Sense Indian Food Sense may be ordered
Abbreviations: kg = kilogram; lb = pound; directly from the author at a special
g = gram; oz = ounce; tbsp = tablespoon; price of Rs 200/- contact the author:
ml = millilitre; fl oz = fluid ounce
rndavidar@gmail.com
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advertisement

Its not uncommon to see an old student of the Nilgiris revisit

with his family, relive the good old times and show them his
favourite haunts. Its certain, you will see them at Blue Hills for
a meal.
Blue Hills Restaurant, Commercial Rd, Ooty. Multi cuisine restaurant Modernised kitchen Tasty biriyanis
 tradition

Sacred Buffaloes, Dairies and Dairymen in South India Anthony R. Walker

contd. from previous issue

Toda herdsmen supervising their buffaloes as the animals
drink from the salt pits Photo: Pauline H. Walker
Removing a male calf from its mother
When a male calf is to be removed from its
mother, most likely to be sold to a butcher in one
of the Nilgiri markets, the dairyman adopts a
slightly different ploy than that for a female calf as
described in last month’s issue of The Local. He
keeps the male calf and proposed surrogate together
for several days in the same calf shed. Each morning
and evening before he begins to milk, the dairyman
rubs salt, butter and lemon grass into the skins of
both calves before bringing them to suckle at the
dam’s teats. Again the salt and milk are pacifiers,
while the lemon grass prevents the dam from
distinguishing between her own calf and the
surrogate. After following this strategy for four or
five days, the herdsman may remove the male calf
permanently, while its mother continues to suckle
the surrogate as if it were her own.
Caring for the Calves
Toda herdsmen do not permit very young
calves—less than about forty-five days old—to leave
the confines of the hamlet. Instead, once the herd
has left for pasture, these youngsters are shut up in their special sheds to prevent
harm befalling them. At this age,Todas say, a calf that drinks water may sicken—
even die. Older calves, strong enough to graze alone and to drink water with
impunity are permitted to wander more or less at will within, or close by the
hamlets, although they are likely still to be under the watchful eye of a Toda
youth.
Pasturing and Penning the Herds
Adult buffaloes graze over the Nilgiri toplands during the day, tended or
untended. If there is any danger that they will stray into newly-planted forest
land, or otherwise cause damage for which their owners will be held responsible,
the usual solution is to have a responsible Toda youth keep watch over them.
Otherwise, they are free to roam as they please. At any rate, towards dusk the
buffaloes wander back to the hamlet of their own accord. Their young calves are
now released from the sheds to suckle, the milking procedure repeated, the young
calves safely locked up for the night, and the remainder of the herd penned.
Buffalo pens are generally situated in some sheltered spot within the
hamlet. Frequently they are cut into a hillside, but they are never roofed. With
minimal protection, these hardy animals are easily able to tolerate the cold of
Nilgiri nights, when the temperature may drop well below freezing point.
Special events in the pastoral life
Among traditional Toda buffalo pastoralists of the Nilgiri Mountains in South
India, daily work with the herds (described last month) involves milking,
sometimes processing that milk into butter, buttermilk and ghee, and ensuring
the animals are properly pastured and their young calves protected. There are (or
used to be) a few additional activities, occurring from time to time, such as
providing salt for the herds, driving the animals to more luxuriant pastures, and
setting fire to old grasses so that new, more succulent ones may speedily replace
them. Todas still give salt to their buffaloes; only a few continue to drive their
herds to dry-season pastures, while the custom of firing the grasslands must have
ceased upwards of three-quarters of a century ago.
Giving Salt to the Buffaloes and Migrating to Seasonal pastures
Several times a year, Toda provide salt for their herds, maintaining that this is
necessary to ensure the animals provide a plentiful milk supply. The herdsmen
dig pits, fill them with water to which they add salt, and then drive the animals
up to these drinking places.
During the dry months from December through March, nighttime frosts
and a piercing daytime sun shining in cloudless skies causes much of the grass

Dry-season hamlet (with two newly-built

houses) located in the middle of a pristine
Nilgiri shola Photo: Tarun Chhabra

<< home page next page >>

The Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak) is also commonly called the “barking deer” due to the
bark-like sound that it makes as an alarm when danger is present. It is also called “Karkar”. Some-
times these deer will bark for an hour or more. This species is one of eleven different species of
Muntjacs spread across Asia. The Indian Muntjacs specifically are widespread throughout Southern
Asia, but are one of the least known Asian animals.The Indian Muntjac has a short but very soft,
thick, dense coat, especially those living in cooler regions. Coloration of the coat changes from dark
brown to yellowish and grayish brown depending on the season. The body length of Muntjacs varies
from 35-53 in and their height ranges from 15-26 in.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Toda herdsman milks his buffalo as docile calf lies nearby
Photo: P.K. Nambiar
cover in the principal Toda settlement areas to become
brown and shriveled—poor fodder even for the hardy
Toda buffaloes. To alleviate this situation it was once
common for Toda herdsmen to drive their animals
to temporary pastures located in the far southwest of
the plateau—the area of the mountains that receives
the greatest annual rainfall—or else to other, scattered,
places, where localized climatic conditions prevent
the grass from becoming as parched as on the main
grazing grounds. When the herds were (a few still
are) moved for the sake of better pasturage, whole
families (but seldom the inhabitants of an entire
hamlet) accompany them and live for two-and-a-half
to three months at a seasonal settlement, replete with
all the amenities—dwellings,dairy,buffalo pen or pens
and calf sheds—that are found in a regular hamlet.
Over the last more than half-a-century, large-scale reservoir construction
and forest-planting projects, dwindling buffalo numbers and the introduction
of crop cultivation—by Todas themselves, or by others to whom they lease
their land—has almost ended the traditional seasonal migrations. Only two
or three of the fifteen Toda patriclans continue the practice.
Firing the Pastures
In the old days, before the Toda herdsmen and their families left in February
for the dry-season pastures, they would burn off their regular grasslands to
facilitate the growth of new grass during the first rains of March and April. By
the time the buffaloes returned, towards the end of May, from their temporary
grazing grounds, their regular pastures would once more be covered with fresh
green grass.
Grassland burning has long been prohibited by the Forest Department,
but its historic importance is such that at least one scholar specializing in the
human geography of these mountains attributes the great expanse of plateau
grasslands not to natural causes, but to millennia of human burning activity.
Dairymen-priests: The Ritualization of the Dairying Enterprise
The dairymen who tend the temple buffaloes constitute, in effect, the
Toda priesthood and occupy important ritual positions in Toda society. But
unlike the priests of some other religious traditions, the Toda office is not one
that necessarily binds the holder to a life of permanent abstinence. A dairyman-
priest may relinquish his position whenever he wishes, or when those who are
supporting him (the owners of the buffaloes in his charge) see fit. All that is
necessary is for the priest to purposely defile himself—for example by entering
a domestic house, attending a funeral, or touching an object or person less
pure than himself. With such actions he instantaneously reverts to lay status
and may resume priestly office only through re-ordination.
Dairymen-priests are responsible for the care of the buffaloes in their charge,
for milking them and for processing that milk into butter, buttermilk and
ghee inside sacred dairy buildings, which are the Todas’temples. Several of the
more sacred of these institutions, including all those located in what Toda call
“head” or “chief ” hamlets, and others that are so holy that they are located
outside of domestic settlements altogether, are worshipped as divinities in
themselves. Contd in next issue

Calf sheds, back-to-back, in a Toda hamlet

(the barrel-vaulted homes are seen behind the
gable-roofed calf sheds Pic:Pauline H. Walker
<< home page next page >>

The chital or cheetal, also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is the most common deer
species in Indian forests It is found in the wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and
India, and on the Veliki Brijun Island in the Brijuni Archipelago of the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia. They
are found in small numbers in Pakistan as well. Its coat is reddish fawn, marked with white spots, and
its underparts are white. Its antlers, which it sheds annually, are usually three-pronged and curve in a
lyre shape and may extend to 75 cm (2.5 ft). It stands about 90 cm (3 ft) tall at the shoulder and masses
about 85 kg (187 lb). Its lifespan is around 20–30 years.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

 local issue

Deadlock.
Animal trophy possession - the new hunting ground, for many.

‘I had no idea, whatsover.
Fortunately for us, a senior officer
in the department, who was known
to me, brought the matter to my
notice during a casual meeting,’
states a former Manager of an old
club in Munnar who got to
accidentally hear of the Forest
Department directive that all animal
trophies were to be declared and
registered. This was in 2003.
With one of Nilgiris’ oldest clubs, this
was not the case - its Secretary had
heard of the directive and acted
swiftly, intimating concerned
officials,in writing, that the club was
in possession of trophies most of
which were perhaps a century old
and that they be registered. In 2006,
the department issued them licences
for a little less than half the original
number applied for. A representative
of the club stated that they were told
by the department officials that the
remainder did not require
registration since these did not come
under the purview of Schedule I
animals at that point in time.
Late last year, the club was ‘raided’
by officials, who, according to the
unsuspecting members, came armed
with a truck, photographers and
media personnel. The unregistered
trophies were unceremoniously
carried off and charges were pressed
against the club for unlawful
possession, allegedly, of a Schedule
I species of antelope which amounts
to a serious offence!
Game hunting and trophy hoisting was a as follows: “The hunting trophies in the
legacy that was gifted by the British. They Reading Room [of the Nilgiri Library] were
brought with them this pastime sport. They presented by Major General H R Morgan,
also brought with them trophies of hunt in March 1897, as a souvenir of his son, the
exploits f rom elsewhere. It is not late Mr Rhodes Morgan,”...(Ootacamund
uncommon to find lion head or Thompson - A History, p 237).
gazelle on the walls of old clubs in the The official list on the details of ownership
Nilgiris, animals not found in these parts. of trophies in the Nilgiris, presently,
Post the 1972 Wildlife Act, which names a total of 26 institutions/
banned game hunting and revoked individuals whose trophies are
s h i k a r licenses, the activity of registered. What of the rest? How
making and the preserving of •n of many are unaware? How much
trophies ought to have also of awareness is enough and what will
stopped. Unconfirmed make awareness exercises effective?
reports have it that a prominent H o w e v e r, there are some other
taxidermist was in business questions that: Is everybody really
until the late 90s, in adjoining unaware? Will harassment
Mysore district. follow voluntary disclosure?
Two reasons Does the department act on
prompted the wildlife certain tip-offs and not others? Are
officials to enact this rule some institutions above the law? And
of declaration and some individuals? Who is expected to
registration - to ensure be an expert on the subject, the
complete elimination of government or the governed?
hunting (which can only Why wasn’t the Schedule I species
be termed as poaching, noticed at the initial count, at the
today) and to prevent club in question? Are we losing
sale and exchange of sight of the original purpose for
trophies for commercial which this Act was implemented?
gain. Will the century-old confiscated
Until the now infamous- trophies decompose before these
for-various-reasons raid on questions are answered? Worse, will the
one club, other institutions, matter die out, adding to this legacy that
including the Nilgiri Library, for we will inadvertently hand future
instance, were unaware of the rule. generations - that of unanswered questions
According to a member, the committee of and slippery truths. What is certain is that
this 150 year old institution hastily got for one more time, it’s the animal that is
about declaring their ‘legacy’, the orgins of caught, unawares, in the line of fire.
which is recorded in Frederick Price’s book The Local Correspondent

Penalties: (Section 51 of Wild Life Protection Act 1972) Any person who contravenes any provisions of chapter V-
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 A i.e. Prohibition of trade or commerce in trophies or animal articles, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a
term which shall not be less than Three years and also fine not less than Ten Thousand rupees.
Trade or Commerce in wild animals, animal articles and trophies: All the wild animals, animal articles and trophies shall be the property to the State
Government. No person is entitled to hunt any wild animals. No person, without the previous permission in the writing of the Chief Wild Life Warden or the
Authorized Officer, acquire or keep in his possession, custody, or control, or transfer to any person whether by a way of gift, sale or otherwise or destroy or
damage. At the commencement of this Act, If any person possesses any animal specified in this Act or any uncured trophy derived from such animal or salted
or dried skins of such animal or the musk or a musk deer or dorm of a rhinoceros shall declare and obtain the permission from the Chief Wild Life Warden or
the authorized person. After the commencement of this Act no person shall acquire, receive, keep in his control, custody or possession sell, offer for sale or
otherwise transfer or transport any animal specified in the Act or any uncured trophy or meat derived from such animal or the skins or musk or horn without
the previous permission in writing of the Chief Wild Life Warden or the Authorized person. Dealings in trophies and animal articles without license is
prohibited.
Power of entry, search, arrest, and detention: Any authorized person under this Act is entitled and has power of entry, search, arrest and detention of any
premises. He can stop vehicle or vessel. He can enter any premises. He can seize any captive animal - wild animal, animal article, meat, trophy or uncured
trophy or any specified plant or part of derivative thereof forms the possessor.
<< home page next page >>

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra), Krishna Mrigam is a species of antelope found mainly in India,
and also in some parts of southern Nepal, and Pakistan, though it has also been introduced in Texas
and Argentina. It is one of the fastest of all terrestrial animals reaching to speeds of up to 80 km/hr
and is one of the few antelopes where males and females have distinctive coloration, as the male
bucks are a distinctive black and white and have long twisted horns, while females are fawn coloured
with no horns. In its scientific name Antilope cervicapra, ‘Antilope’ from ‘anthalops’ (Greek) a horned
animal; ‘cervicapra’ from ‘cervus’ (Latin) a deer and ‘capra’ (Latin) a she-goat.

Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

 snapshot

Kodanad View Point provides a majestic view of the

Mysore Plateau and the picturesque Thengumarahada. You
can spot the meandering Moyar river in the distance. More
than the breathtaking view, one gets to see almost
everything intrinsic to the mountains and plains - the ravine,
the valleys, the cliffs, the rock, the waterfalls, the mountain
range, the foothills, the forests - all spread like a postcard
before you. Somebody rightly pointed out, ‘Your guide to
Geography lessons.’ Take off on this 16 km drive from
Kotagiri, on a warm, bright morning!

snapshot brought to you by:

MAS
Warehousers
3 DECADES OF WAREHOUSING

<< home page next page >>

The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the
southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is
the state animal of Tamil Nadu. It is known locally as the Nilgiri Ibex. In the Tamil Language it is called
“varaiaadu”, the term being composed of two Tamil words, wurrai a precipice, and aadu, a goat. The
Nilgiri Tahrs are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane. Males are larger than the
females, and have a darker color when mature. Both sexes have curved horns, which are larger in
the males, reaching up to 40 cm for males and 30 cm for females. Adult males weigh 80–100 kg and
stand about 100 cm tall at the shoulder.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
 news & events

Tea & Tourism - building greater synergies.

‘Tea for Health’ is the slogan and the
underying theme for this year’s Tea and
Tourism festival. According to the
Executive Director of Tea Board, R
Ambalavanan I.A.A.S, this theme aptly
describes the intrinsic values of tea.
‘Antioxidants in tea make it a healthy drink.
Isn’t this a better way to project Nilgiri tea?’
explains the official who is at the forefront
of quality measures in the industry.
Notwithstanding the constant challenges
in maintaining good quality in tea
production and manufacturing, ‘overall,
the standards of Nilgiri tea has greatly
improved in recent years’.
Projecting tea alongside tourism is a move
that was first initiated in 1994 with the
intention to complement these two main
growth drivers of the local economy.
‘As a first time initiative, this year, we have Innovative:
sent invitations to large exporters of Logo for the Tea &
various commodities like rice grains, Tourism festival.
wheat etc,. to interest them in also dealing
in Nilgiri teas. The role of the Tea Board
will be to facilitate licences for these
buyers and factories to enter into a long
term relationship.
Vistors to the 3-day program, arranged
at HADP open air stadium, were
introduced to the various types of Nilgiri
tea including the high quality silver tip
varieties.
The programs from the 15th -18th, Oct
2010 included cultural programs and a
visit to a tea factory.
The Local Correspondent

Promotional feature

Riverside Tea Plantations - An entrepreneurial success story

The Riverside Factory was started in 1962 by T.M. Selai Gowder regarded as one of the
early entrepreneurs of the Badaga community, in the Nilgiris. The factory ranked among the
first 5 bought-leaf tea factories in the Kotagiri area. In 1964, it switched from manufacturing
orthodox teas to CTC to fulfill a growing demand for regular teas. The quest for quality was
uncompromising.
The top selling teas at the auctions, Riverside Tea has won several awards, including the
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the counter. The refreshing packaging, designed by a professional agency The Little Big
Company, best complements the product. Contact: Nitin Lakshmanan 94430 23759.

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The Four-horned Antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis) also known as the Chousingha is an ante-
lope found in open forest in South Asia. Its primary distribution is in India extending South of the
Gangetic plains down to the state of Tamilnadu. Four-horned Antelope stand just over half a metre
tall at the shoulder and weigh around 20 kilogramsIt has a yellow-brown coat with the underside and
insides of the legs being white. Its legs are thin and have a black stripe running down the forelegs.
Four-horned Antelope live in dry deciduous forests and are solitary creatures. Although many people
say that these are mute animals, they can be heard while communicating as an alarm call which
sounds like a husky ‘phronk’.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
 history

A significant event in
Anglo-Indian history.
The founding of HMSI was a landmark in the history of the
community. Mountain Home School, Coonoor, a result of the
Society’s far-reaching initiative.

"Twenty nine years ago, a few Anglo
Indian ladies were at Grassmere...
each was full of a great thought, but
just as things nearest our hearts are
only too often farthest from our lips
each felt diffident to tell the others
what was uppermost in her mind.
Reserve, however broke down upon
nearer acquaintance with one
another and almost unconsciously,
they found themselves talking of how
they and their Anglo Indian sisters
were neglecting their opportunities
and their undoubted call to help in
the evangelisation of India." Dr Eva
D'Prazer, Dr Nina Ottmann, Miss
TM Mergler, Miss V Marcar and
Miss May Trutwein, were the
Protestant Anglo Indian ladies who
while on holiday in the Nilgiri Hills
met for prayers. It was during one of
these meetings that they decided, "to
form themselves into a band, pledged
to write and speak to others on the
special place Anglo Indians ought to
be filling in the mission field." Thus
in 1904, these women became the
founders of the first national Anglo
Indian Mission Society. The ladies
meeting in each others homes soon
realised that there were many like
minded ladies who were also mission
conscious. This led to the formal
inauguration of the Women's Home
Missionary Society(WHMSI) on
June 28, 1905.The Methodist
Church at Richmond Town
Bangalore, was the chosen venue.In
1909, the WHMSI called itself The
Home Missionary Society of India
(HMSI) when they accepted men as
members.The founding of the
HMSI has since become a significant
event in Anglo Indian history. It
stood as a good example of what
Anglo Indians had done by uniting
and consecrating their lives to the
service of the Lord. The organisation
had done much for the upliftment of
the Anglo Indian community and the
evangelisation of India.
As HMSI enters the 21st century it
Visionaries: The founders of HMSI
continues to build on the vision of the
founders - ‘to rouse' the community to
evangelise that part of India and the world
where God has placed them and to care
for and encourage their children to carry
on its vision responsibly. They the HMSI
as always, live up to their motto “If any
man serve me, follow me."
Similarly, Mountain Home, as it nears its
hundreth year, lives up to the vision of its
founders, empowering its students with
the power of knowledge.
A picture from the 60s: Old students and
beneficiaries of the HMSI vision, Ms Enid
Scott (right) and Ms Molly Thacker returned
to serve as teachers in Mountain Home.

Mountain Home School & Junior College

Balaclava, Coonoor; The Nilgiris District,
South India. Ph +91-423-2206471

Estd: 1911

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The Sambar (Rusa unicolor) is a large dark brown, maned Asian deer. It attains a height of 102 to
160 cm (40 to 63 in) at the shoulder and may weigh as much as 546 kg (1200 pounds), though more
typically 162-260 kg (357-574 pounds). The coat is dark brown with chestnut marks on the rump and
underparts. The large, rugged antlers are typically rusine, the brow tines being simple and the beams
forked at the tip. In some specimens the antlers exceed 101 cm (40 in). The Sambar inhabits much
of southern Asia (as far north as the south-facing slopes of the Himalayan Mountains), mainland
Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula), southern China (including Hainan
Island), Taiwan, and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia.
Source: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia