VOL 3 ISSUE 2 TRADITION I CULTURE I FLAVOUR I BUSINESS I NEWS AUG 10, 2009

Potato: Farming this Alcoholism: upto 20% of

unassuming tuber was a alcohol drinkers become
tradition, until recently. A alcoholics. A perspective
review on p 10, 11 from a social worker, p 4

A
eLocal
U N I Q U E P E R S P E C T I V E O F T H E N I L G I R I S
Next issue: Heritage abused

Honey
Hunters.
The Local Correspondent

The Kurumbas have been

traditionally forest dwellers.
Their skills at honey hunting
have been globally renowned
but their’s is an uphill
challenge.
pic, courtesy: Keystone Foundation

Raliah dam: One of the lifelines of the
Nilgiris, Raliah dam caters to the drinking
water supply of Coonoor town.
Constructed in 1941, it took a little less than
3 years to put up this sizeable dam which is
set in pristine surroundings in the beautiful
mountain ridges along the Wellington-
Coonoor hill tracts. The area is off limits to
visitors due to obvious reasons of water
contamination. However, with prior
permission f rom the local municipal
authorities, small groups can visit the site.
Student-tourists upbeat inspite of being stranded in a
KSRTC bus near Gudalur, due to heavy rainfall.
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Raliah dam
The total depth of the dam is 58 ft. Water,
this July, rose to around 40 feet. According to
the caretakers, this year’s rainfall has not been
as plentiful as in July, last year, when the dam
had overflowed.
Work on Raliah dam was inaugurated by the
then Minister for Local Administration, Shri
B Gopal Reddy in the presence of Municipal
Commissioner, Mr S Devagnanam and Mr
Samanna Naidu Municipal Chairman,
Coonoor, on 16th July 1938.
The only heavy rain spell that the
district received in July was around
the 2nd week. It was on one of
these days (night rather) that the
Bangalore- Ooty buses were
stalled near Gudalur for 4-5 hours
due to road blockades caused by
mudslips on the ghat section. The
engineering students, here on a
planned two-day trip, took to ‘Uno’
the elimination card game, keeping
themselves and co-passengers
upbeat. What they liked about the
Nilgiris? Its weather!
2
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anytime between 10 am to
10 pm. New Quetta Stores,
No. 587 Commercial Road,
Ooty - 1. Ph: 98652 45603.
Visit us also for a range of fine
crockery and gift exclusives.
Artificial jewellery
Badaga song & dance: If most Badagas can
sing, then every Badaga can dance, records Mr
Dharmalingam Venugopal in the book, The
Nilgiris, published by the Nilgiri
Documentation Centre. The dances, he further
states are a combination of graceful steps,
gentle jerks, quaint turn and half-turns of the
body, hands, wrists and palms. The dancers are
at their best during festivals and marriages
with men and women, young and old,
matching step with each other. The ballads of
this indigenous community are equally
captivating. Charles Gover (1871) writes, ‘It
is quite certain that few nations can boast of
better songs as far as words may go.’
Info and pics, courtesy: Nilgiri Documentation Centre
3
travel
5 must-visit tourist
spots in Ooty.
In about half a day’s time, with a
small car or taxi handy, one can
get to the essence of Ooty’s
tourism identity. (The 6th one, is
the proverbial icing-on-the-cake).
Pykara Lake:
21 kms from Ooty, on the Ooty-
Mysore Road, is the Pykara lake.
It is considered sacred by
indigenous tribes. Great for
boating. Thank God for digital
cameras.
Ooty Lake:
The glittering jewel of Ooty, the
lake is a treat to behold from afar!
Total extent: 65 acres. Officially
opened to boating since 1973.
Botanical Gardens:
In the heart of Ooty town, this 55
acre expanse is the ‘lungs of the
town’ and its resident population.
Its layout was completed in
1867. 2000 varieties of flowers,
is fascinating and overwhelming.
Tea museum & Tea factory:
Enroute Doddabetta, the tea
manufacturing experience here,
is total - from leaf to cup, as they
say. The museum is a history
buff’s delight!
Doddabetta Peak:
Standing at 2623 msl (metres
above sea level) Doddabetta is
10 kms from Ooty. The name
means ‘big mountain’ in the local
language. Surrounded by dense
shola (forests) the peak offers a
truly far-sighting experience.
The Bee Museum &
Green Shop
At hill bunk on the Mysore Rd,
your understanding of local
traditions, one of which is
honey hunting, is complete with
the visit to the Bee Museum.
Honey lovers, celebrate. The
range of fresh forest produce
available here, will stun you.
‘I can’t explain why I decided that I must
volunteer at the museum but I simply knew
that I must do what I can now, to be of help.’
Pushpinder can pass off as a tourist at first
sight - a visitor at the very same Bee museum
that she and her husband (then a student officer
at the DSSC, Wellington) had visited early last
year. Her enthusiasm is equally remarkable -
like the one that a visitor feels for the very first
time, when experiencing a new thing!
‘I think the culture and traditions of the local
communities is fascinating. I am also happy that
while the communities have preserved their
cultural ties, they have also embraced
development. Gomathi, who works with me
here, a member of the local Kota tribe, is today
an MA in linguistics!’
Capt Pushpinder Khajuria was formerly a
military nurse. Due to her husband’s various
posting (a Lt Col in the Indian army) she decided
to retire from active duty to be with him. ‘My
husband is a very understanding person, like a
friend’.That fact, TheLocal correspondent can
vouch for - the gentleman, it seems, stepped
into Keystone Foundation in Kotagiri, shortly
before they had to leave Wellington for their
next posting, and left their car keys on the table
much to the surprise of everyone there, saying,
‘my wife will be back after a month.She is going
to volunteer at the museum and will need the
car to move about.’ The interesting part-
Follow your heart. Keystone didn’t know about this!
But that is Pushpinder - ‘pushy’as the Keystone
folk affectionately call her. She had her way.
The Local Correspondent ‘Life is uncertain. Suddenly, you get a nagging
feeling that something must be done and then
Pushpinder Khajuria it happens - you follow your heart.’
becomes a volunteer at the The resolute lady knows what uncertainty is
Bee Museum. Just like that. about. Her younger brother died tragically, of
brain haemorrage.
A decision at the drop-of-a- Nothing is permanent.Nothing will last forever.
hat! But yet, its a conscious We know, nevertheless, that her work at the
decision. museum will.
Train timings:
Mettupalayam-Ooty: 1. When was the Head
Dep:7:10 am Post Office, Ooty, opened?
Arr: Ooty-1200 noon. 2. When did the district get
Ooty -Mettupalayam: its first adhesive stamp?
Dep:3:00 pm. What was the cost of
Local trains: stamp for postage from
Ooty to Coonoor-9:15 am, Ooty to Madras?
12:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 6: pm. 3. What is the hobby of
Coonoor to Ooty-7:45 am, stamp collecting called?
10:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm. 4. Which country has the
The Postal services largest postal network?
DISTRICT HELP-LINES
in the Nilgiris is over 5. How many post offices
call 108 in any
POLICE emergency
180 yrs old. Em-
ploying over 120
are there in the Nilgiris?
6. What extent of area
postmen and does the Postal service in
Police: Ooty - (0423) 100,
Coonoor - (0423) 2221836, women, some of the Nilgiris, cover?
Kotagiri - (04266) 271100, the department’s 7. Which was the first
Gudalur (04262) 261246. post offices in the dis- stamp, based on the
Please add the area code if dialling from a trict, are virtual heri- Nilgiris. In which year?
mobile phone or from outside the circle tage sites. The Local quiz. answers on p 13

India has over 55, 000 liquor
outlets including shops, bars
and restaurants.
Source: Business Today, Jun 2009
The mean age of initiation of
alcohol use has decreased from
23.36 years during the 1960s,
to 19.45 years in the 90s.
About 80% of alcohol
consumption is in the form of
hard liquor or distilled spirits,
showing that the majority drink
beverages with a high concen-
tration of alcohol.Source: IAPA
Beer, targeted mainly at young
drinkers, considering their higher
disposable income is today
growing at a sales growth of 10%
p.a. 70% of beer sales comes in
the ‘strong’ category, or the so-
called higher octane beverages.
Source: Business Today, Jun 2009
Nilgiris’ TASMAC sales target
ranked 20, among the districts
of Tamilnadu. Its achievement of
sales target was at 84%, in 05-06.
Source: TASMAC figures for Mar 2006
Social drinking, over time, has been
ingrained into society as acceptable but it will
alarm the uninformed that 2 out of every ten
‘drinkers’ will become an alcoholic!
All alcoholic beverages contain a chemical
called ethyl alcohol, a powerful drug which
depresses the central nervous system and
slows down brain activity. Needing no
digestion, alcohol is straightaway absorbed
by the walls of the stomach and small
intestine. Once absorbed it travels to all parts
of the body - stomach, heart, liver, kidney and
the brain. The potent consumable depresses
the part of the brain that manages inhibitions
making the person feel relaxed and carefree.
Alcohol, in fact, reduces the functioning of
the brain and does not add to its ability to
think or communicate better.
It is important for us to acknowledge that
alcoholism is not a sin, a moral weakness or a
crime. It is a disease - a progressive disease
that leads to severe physical, emotional and
social problems, affecting each and every
member of the family with the same intensity.
Alcoholism can be treated. With some careful
planning, the family can help the alcoholic
member out of the situation. On occasions to
help in de-addiction programs at TTK
The family of the
alcoholic, needs to
be counselled.
4
issue
Hospital, I was made aware of vital do’s and
don’ts, (from TTK pamphlets) for the family,
when dealing with the situation :
Don’t treat the alcoholic as a child.You wouldn’t
if he/she were suffering from some other
disease. It is important to acknowledge the
condition as a disease and a disease that can
be treated.
When the question of ‘how
shall I stop?’ occurs, the
knowledge that the family of
an alcoholic has, of the illness,
will be of immense help. But,
most families are ill prepared
to help at this stage.
Don’t check to see how much the alcoholic is
drinking and don’t try to search for hidden
liquor. Worse, don’t pour the liquor away. The
alcoholic always finds ways to get more.
Don’t argue or nag them about the drinking
especially when they are drunk. Don’t try to
reproach or preach to the alcoholic. It will
aggravate the problem.
Alcoholics Anonymous through a leaflet
campaign stresses that alcoholics suffer guilt
anyway. Reminding them of failures, neglect
of family and social discord is wasted efort - it
only accentuates the problem. Look for the
signs of a chronic drinker wanting to stop and
take it from there. The first signs of wanting
to give up, come at the end of a desperate
period. It may come during the remorse of a
hangover or a personal crisis that brings
realisation. When the question of ‘how shall
I stop?’ occurs, the family’s knowledge of the
illness will be of immense help.

No longer However, the family, deeply traumatised by

the turn of events already, is isolated from
the individual, sometimes taking on the blame
bottled up. for the situation. The wife, for example,
thinks ‘Is he drinking because I am not upto
his expectations?’That is untrue. Nobody can
be responsible for the condition of an alcoholic,
Mohini Ramalingam except the individual. However, most women

There must be strong political will to address the issue of
alcoholism. It is well known that an alcoholic can destroy his
family. We have several hundred families in the district, that
are severely affected by the problem.
As long as the revenue to the
Government is linked to
consumption of liquor, there will
always be apathy by the
administration. It is for people to
realise for themselves about the
dangers of addiction and to abstain.
K J Raju, Science teacher & Social worker.
Sports is the alternative. Young people must take on sporting activity not just as
a career but as a way of life. Even then, the individual must watch out for the
personal choices he/she must make. I know of excellent racers on the National
circuit who might have gone on to much higher accomplishments but who went
under due to bad company and
eventually, the drinking habit getting My point of view...
the better of them. I lost a friend, and
fellow motorbike racer in a road
accident,in Chennai. This was just
after a ‘party’ to celebrate his
achievements. Emmanuel Clarke,
Professional Motor racer, Asian circuit.
5
issue
suffer the brunt of the situation drawing upon
themselves intense negativity. A defence
mechanism builds up, at times, with the wife
covering up for the husband. They cry a lot

Information and pics, courtesy: Golcha Investments

and eventually stretch their capabilities to
impossible levels to cope with family
responsibilites. The extreme case is when the
woman has to go out to earn for the family,
the alcohlic having absolved himself of all
responsibilities.
Children of alcoholic fathers develop various
personality types - rebellious, placating or
responsible. For instance, a case study that at
TTK had this little girl getting up in class at
11 on specific days saying that she had to go
home. The reason? It would be ration
collection day and she knew that her father
would be drunk at home and the mother
would be sitting and crying. Somebody had
to get the rations! Responsibility, early on.
My personal experience of interacting with
counsellors at TTK Hospital in Chennai, a
Research Institute and de-addiction Centre,
was an eye opener. It is a literal haven for
families of alcoholics. It helps families come
to terms, rid themselves of guilt, anger and
shame which many find dreadful to cope
with. The reminder that alcoholism is a
progresive disease, if not treated early, can
become terminal, is stark. On the other hand,
it is reassuring.
The first step to the family’s recovery
happens when members reassure themselves
that they were not responsible for the alcoholic
being in this state. This realisation puts
everyone in a comfortable frame of mind.The
recovery of the patient begins only after the
family stabilises its emotions and feeling on
the issue.
The TTK Clinical Research foundation at
Adyar, Chennai, founded by Mrs Shanta
Ranganathan, like several other organisations
engaged in the research and remedy of
alcoholism, is a ray of hope for every alcoholic
and his/her family.
The writer, a local, is engaged in voluntary service in
the sphere of alcoholic de-addiction. Family members of
alcoholic persons may contact her for guidance on her
mobile no: 9894224311.
The intricate
connections between
golfing and investments
are fascinating.
Jinesh Golcha
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My point of view...
Until recent times, alcohol
was unheard of in the villages.
Intoxicants are shunned by the
local community. It is
unfortunate, today, that even
young men are taking to
alcohol. Among other reasons,
gainful employment is the key
to keeping the youth away from
such habits.
Smt Akkama Devi, Former Member
of Parliament.
Two influences in a child’s life are
critical - the parent and the teacher.
Both have challenging examples to
set for the child. Parents, however,
have a greater role to play by not
encouraging alcohol in the home. It
is important that a child should see
us practice what we preach.
Llewellyn Xavier, Educationist
The views expressed by the individuals in the opinion section, are their own.
The Local disclams liability of any kind whatsoever, on account of the same.

Recipe
VepampuRasam
(Neem flower)
Tamarind of one lime sized ball
3 Red chillies, broken into two.
Neem flower (vepampu), 4tbsp
Oil, 2 teaspoons salt.
Extract the juice from the
tamarind, pouring water into it,
until you get a thin flowing
liquid. Add salt to taste.
Set aside.
In a kadai (pan), heat the oil, fry
the chilli and neem flower. Fry it
well till it turns dark. Set aside.
Heat the tamarind water and
add the fried ingredients into it.
Rasam is now ready to serve.
Note:VepampuRasamisespecialygood
for digestion. It is also highly
recommended for women folk,
immediately after childbirth. If you have
aneemtreeinyourgarden,freshflowers
maybecollectedbyplacingafreshwhite
towelunderthetree.Theflowersmustbe
sundriedandstored.Inanycase,neem
flower is available at most departmental
stores.
Recipe sent in by a subscriber of The
Local, Mrs Mahalakshmi Chandrashekar,
Fraser Town, Bangalore.
Editorial
Reason to
cheer
It’s amazing to see so many people, amidst
us, taking up voluntary work. It is a joy to
see young children learn about our culture
through the activities of the Bharatiya
Vidya Bhavan. The selfless work of
volunteers there, shows that we still have
time for one another in the fast-changing
social environment of today.
Talking of the social enviroment, an
alarming trend is taking place with the
6
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average age of initiation into alcohol, for
instance, rapidly decreasing. The article
written by the volunteer engaged in de- Unscramblethewordsbelow
addiction, is a ray of hope for alcoholics.
There is reason to cheer when we look at
to discover nature’s gifts!
the impact that a handful of committed
NGOs and their volunteers have achieved RAGENO
in the sphere of tribal welfare. Of particular
CEPHA
mention is the work of Keystone Foundation
amongst the marginalised communities such ERPA
as the Kurumbas. This issue’s cover page
and the centrespread is a tribute to the COVDAAO
indigenous people of the Nilgiris and an
TRJAUFIKC
appreciation for their timeless traditions,
especially as examples to all of us, of how to SLMUP
live with just enough.
It is all so inspiring that one is compelled, at
times, to follow the heart and volunteer for a in my
cause just like Pushpinder Khajuria did at
the Bee Museum in Ooty! Harsha Bellie answers on p 14
7
Bhavan aims at rekindling the spirit of
culture nationalism and Indian culture among the youth
through its activities.
The Nilgiris Kendra was inaugurated in May
2004 by the then Governor of Tamil Nadu Dr.
Ram Mohan Rao.
Mrs Sridhar explains how the local chapter
began with just 15 members, crediting the
acclaimed Bharatanatyam artist, Mrs Nalini
Prakash for her efforts towards bringing
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to the district.
Today, there are members from across the
district with a total of 10 office bearers; the
chairman of the Nilgiris Kendra, presently, is
Dr. M.R.Srinivasan, former Chairman of the
Atomic Energy Commission, a resident of Ooty.
The activities of the Kendra include Indian
music, dance and instrumental (mridangam)
music classes, which are conducted 3 times a
week. Presently, 30 students attend these
classes, we learn. Art classes are also conducted.
An annual summer festival of music and dance
is conducted for 3 days in which leading artists
are invited to perform. It was through such an
event in May, earlier this year, that Yoshita’s
mother came to know of the activities of

Namaskaram! Deepa Rajagopal

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Nilgiri chapter is young and vibrant.
‘What is the significance of a namaskaram before
we begin a dance performance?’ The first
question we ask a cheerful Yoshita who had
recently joined Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Bharathanatyam dance classes. The act of
touching the ground and placing one’s fingers
on closed eyelids, before beginning to dance, is
a symbol of obeisance to Mother Earth - to
seek pardon for stamping on the revered one
while dancing,explains Akshaya, the little girl’s
instructor in simple, understandable terms to
us and the keen young minds we encountered
on a foggy evening in Coonoor on the first floor
of an unassuming building that you can miss if
you didn’t check for directions!
But that has been the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
story, universally - unassuming, unpretentious
but extremely intense in its objectives of
preserving timeless traditions and values and
enabling people from diverse backgrounds
to find expression through art & dance form.
Advertisement
Yoshita’s mother Mrs Sophia Dennis is thrilled
that her daughter is learning Bharathanatyam.
‘I am originally from Chennai. I always wanted
to learn Bharathanatyam but couldn’t when I
was my daughter’s age, due to various
circumstances but I am really happy that she
has this opportunity!
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was founded in the
year 1938 by Dr. Kulapathi M. Munshi. One
of the premier cultural organizations in the
country, the Bhavan aims at bringing about a
cultural awareness among people by inculcating
moral values in daily life while enabling a ‘revival
and renaissance of Indian culture’, state the two
senior ladies of the Nilgiri chapter, Mrs.Shrimati
Sridhar and the Kendra’s secretary Mrs. Usha
Sriram, who, along with the other members
help organise regular discourses by spiritual and
eminent scholars on various topics related to
Indian culture and values.
A non political organization, Bharatiya Vidya
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, locally.
The Thiagaraja festival is celebrated annually
and leading musicians are invited each year to
sing the Pancharathna Krithis.
The Coonoor office of the Bhavans also houses
a library which has over 2000 books on Indian
culture, history and philosophy and a variety of
books for children. It is open on all days from 4
to 6 p.m and on Saturday and Sunday from 2
to 6 p.m. A seminar cum workshop for school
teachers in the Nilgiris was sponsored by Orient
Longman in which activity-based learning
methods were taught to teachers. Mrs Shriram
states with delight, that the program attracted
over 100 teachers from the district. Every year
the local Bhavans Kendra honours a prominent
local who has made valuable contributions in
any field, with the Kulapati Munshi Award.
Last year’s recipient of this award was Mr. G T
S Pandiaraj whose iconic status in the tea
industry is common knowledge. A scholarship
programme is proposed this year. According
to the lady representatives, it will ensure
educational aid to 30 underprivileged children.
For details, readers may call: (0423) 223 4770 / 94436 09669

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 pics, courtesy: Keystone Foundation

Faceless. Fearless.
Indigenous communities have displayed a great
synergy with their natural habitats, where a
harmonious interplay exists. Honey hunting by the forest
dwellers is one such fascinating example.

Hunter- gatherers in tropical forests have been harvesting honey from the wild, using traditional skills and techniques
perfected by several generations. But their lifestyle is threatened as they face pressure from the modern world. Defores-
tation, changes in land use (such as monoculturing) and loss of bee habitat have affected honey gathering. In South and
South-East Asia, honey is collected from the wild, from the nests of the 'Apis dorsata' or giant Honeybee. It can produce
upto 20kgs of honey in a year. Apis dorsata are found in and near forests. A colony of bees can build a comb measuring
upto1.5 metres hanging from a rock face or branches of tall trees.
In India and Thailand ‘bee trees’ can host over 100 colonies, 10-20 colonies per tree are quite common. In Indonesia,
Vietnam and parts of India like in the Sunderbans of West Bengal, the government, through forest departments controls
honey hunting by issueing collection permits. In the Nilgiris, Kurumbas Irulas, even Todas and others collect honey with no
encumbrance. Honey cropping in most places is done at night when the bee is less active and less inclined to attack. The
Alu Kurumbas, like their counterparts in Southern Vietnam and the Melalenca forests collect honey by day. The bees are
smoked out of their hive and the comb is removed by slicing it off, leaving behind sufficient brood comb to allow the
returning bees to rebuild their nests, thus ensuring
Information a betterMsharvest
courtesy: the&next
Rose Pereira summer.
Ms Harsha Bellie
 Advertisement

key elements

Honey hunting - a tradition.

The Kurumba honey hunters form a team before setting out on the
honey-hunting expedition. The chief hunter fasts and prays beforehand.
He is mainly assisted by his brother-in-law who secures a vine ladder to a
tree or a peg. It is believed that he would not harm the chief hunter by
cutting the vine or letting go as this would make his sister a widow. One
member of the team positions himself halfway down the cliff face, to secure
or steady the swinging vine ladder. The men below build a fire; the smoul-
dering smoke chases the bees away from the hive. As the chief hunter
descends, he sings the honey song, invoking the bees as his sister-in-law or
mother-in-law, imploring them not to sting or bite him, their ‘brother-in-
law’. He slices through the honey comb, mainly the lower or middle por-
tion which falls into a container that he deftly holds below it.

The land under potato cultivation, from
approximately 20000 hectares in the
1970s, has dwindled to 4500 hectares or
so today, threatening the status of the
potato in the Nilgiris as a symbol of
economic prosperity and traditional
values.
Not so long ago, as one approached Ooty
from Valley View, one would have found
fields covered with lush green vegetation,
topped with pale white or pink flowers.
The locals would have informed you that
these were patches of potato or ‘gaasu’ as
it is known in the native Badaga language.
Most of these potato fields today have
given way to the demands of urbanisation
and those that are left, jostle for space
with other vegetables like carrot, cabbage
and cauliflower taking its place. Tea of
course, has literally muscled out the potato
in the vast hinterland.
The unassuming tuber has made an
incredibly long journey from the high
altitude mountains of the Andes from
where it originated, to India. The
Portuguese would have introduced it in the
1600s together with other newcomers like
tapioca, chilli and tomato.
John Sullivan, the founder and developer
of Ooty is credited with bringing it to the
hills in the 1820’s. Early records show that
the potato was first planted at Stone Hill
and then at Wellington. Its ensuing success
attracted the attention of the local farmers.
The Nilgiri Documentation Centre records
that by the 1850’s the potato was replacing
the traditional millets of the Badagas,
becoming their mainstay crop. Demand, at
the time, was spurred, according to local
historians, by the Irish Famine. The
Government also made an effort to import
good seed potatoes, into the Nilgiris from
Europe and Australia.
As in most agrarian communities, farming
operations involved the entire family. The
planting activity was turned into an occasion
by the women who sang songs during the
In the balance.
J Pillai
10
local issue
process. Cow dung, of which there was a
plentiful supply, was used as fertiliser
(there was little or no use of pesticides
until the 60s). The surplus crop would be
packed in mud and stored in deep pits,
partly for seed and partly for own
consumption.
In 1917 the Agricultural Research Station
was established in Nanjanad, a prominent
Badaga village that was a major hub of
potato cultivation. Later, a subsidiary of
the Central Potato Institute, Shimla, was
set up in Muthorai, 6kms from Ooty. The
‘Great Scot’, in fact, is a breed that was
developed locally. The potato was to usher
in an era of development and prosperity
that saw the local community progress
from, as local historians record, straight
from the ‘mud lamp to the electric bulb!’
The onset of World War I is said to have
increased potato production in the Nilgiris.
The end of the war, however, witnessed
a corresponding slump in demand.
Disease is said to have set in gradually,
playing a destructive part in the ensuing

The future of the Ooty potato hangs in the balance, with several
factors weighing against its sustenance. A Potato Museum
may well be its final destination if there is no timely
intervention.

Painting is my hobby. My first painting, if I can remember, was when I was in school. My art
teacher taught me the rules: First choose a picture. Cut it neatly and place it under a tracing
Time paper. Trace the outline and then use the tracing paper to carefully draw the outline of the
on our picture on the drawing board or sheet. If it is a deer, ( one of my early paintings), make sure you
hands mark the finer edges like the tip of the nose, the pointed ears and the hairs on its tail. Now, you
are ready to begin. Choose the right colours and start off.
Readers write The basic rule, however, is the most important - you must have the time. Sarasu Bellie
 11
local issue
decline of the once famous economic driver. 45000 hectares. Small growers gravitated Sullivan’s gardener
Chemical fertilisers began to find their way towards the bought-leaf tea sector, where
into potato fields with the Nanjanad mix (a even a holding of about 1 to 1.5 acres of grows 5 pound potato.
fertiliser developed in Ooty) becoming land was sufficient. In potato, at least 5 acres The first mention of potato in Nilgiris
popular at the time. However, the soil began is considered viable. Farmers like Mr was made by Rev. James Hough
to feel the strain gradually losing its fetility. Lingaiah (see box) cultivated potato on 30 in1824. He alleged that Sullivan’s
The 1960’s saw the beginning of the end. acres. Today, few have that sort of holding. gardener, at Stonehouse, had staked
The increased usage of chemical fertilisers Fragmented share of land among the natives, a claim for having grown a single
did improve the yield but also brought with due to family sub-divisions over the years, potato weighing Five pounds! He
it a host of other unforeseen problems as has attributed to the lack of viability. concluded “though I saw none quite
farmers put aside the traditional methods of There are other problems too. Mr K Satish so large yet what I did see were very
cultivation. The potato crops were hit by Kumar, one of few young entrepreneurs in fine.” These potatoes were evidently
diseases like the late blight . Dr. F G W Jones agriculture today, hailing from among the meant for the domestic consumption
detected the presence of the Potato Cyst Kannada speaking families, long settled in of Sullivan’s household. The credit for
Nematode(PCN) in Ooty. the Nilgiris, who have been very successful active propagation of potato,
The Tamil Nadu Government, realising the at crop farming, says that the biggest however, should go to Maj.(later Col.)
potential danger, amended the Destructive challenge today is shortage of labour. Add Crew, the military Commandant of
Insect Pest Act 1919, to ensure strict to that cost of fertiliser and pesticide and Nilgiris with whom Sullivan had a feud
checking of movement of potatoes grown in even fairly large size holdings are barely throughout his career in the Nilgiris.
infested areas prior to marketing. To restrict profitable to farm. Maj. Crew in 1832 established the
the spread of the PCN to other areas, There can be to two likely conclusions to this Government Farm (present day C.S.I.
potatoes grown in the Nilgiris were and still piece - just as tea enjoys corporate presence, College of Engineering) at Ketti where
are not allowed to be sold as seed potatoes. large business houses could look to mass he introduced potato. Maj. Crew was
A new PCN resistant variety like Kufri production of potatoes. Branded potatos, also in-charge of the maintenance of
Swarna was developed by the Central organically or naturally grown, may well be roads to all nooks and corners of the
Potato Research Station in an effort to get endorsed by a health conscious [global] district and this facilitated him in
the rapidly declining local potato cultivation consumer. A Potato Museum could otherwise promoting potato in the
back on its feet. However, these measures be the final destination for the famous Ooty neighbourhoods of Badaga domains.
proved futile. The production of potato kelangu considering its historical import in this The Badagas were traditionally
continued to fall with the total area under part of the world. There is, incidentally, one familiar with wildly obtained
cultivation dwindling by nearly 75% in a already in the Peruvian capital, the homeland tubers(neggilu gaasu) and also
span of 3 decades, as pointed out in the of the potato. Consider the aside in the right consumed them. But they also took
introductory paragraph. hand corner which suggests that the to this new kind of cultivated tuber,
The final nail in the coffin was the tea boom indigenous folk were already familiar with readily. They began to identify it by
of the 80s. Today, tea is grown on over 80% wildly obtained tubers (neggili gaasu) long the same native parlance, though
of cultivable land in the district covering before British advent in the Nilgiris. dropping the prefix and called the
potato ‘gaasu’. When cabbage came
H B Ari Gowder’s far-reaching efforts to be introduced by the Europeans, a
The Nilgiri Co operative Marketing Society launched in1935, under the leadership of the illustrous H. euphonic touch was added and a new
B. Ari Gowder (Nilgiri’s legislator ‘par excellence’) transformed the paradigms of Badaga socio- name “gosu” was invented for it which
economic modes. By his exemplary commitment to the welfare of his people, Ari Gowder set the has interestingly enough become
stage for assiduous cultivation of thrift in the management of resources in everything relating to naturalised in Tamil too!
potato cultivation which, by this time, gained the status of agricultural operation. For the next quarter Info, courtesy: Rev Philip K Mulley
of the century or so, these co operative enterprises, while based on a staple product of those times,
provided a new forum for social solidarity. Though the total extent of potato-cultivated area came to
be less than halved in time to come, the methodology and experience gained by ordinary Badaga
farmers stood them in good stead when they came to shift their enterprises to tea, in recent times.

The last of a generation of farmer-entrepreneurs

‘We never used any form of chemical fertiliser or pesticides for as long as we could do without
it. I remember the women-folk would sing while they worked the fields. ’ 90 year-old K M
Lingaiah began his association with the soil at the age of 11. His knowledge of potato farming,
in fact, any form of vegetable farming, is fascinating. He grew potatoes on thirty acres in Nedugula,
a sizeable Badaga village about 10 kms from mainland Kotagiri. ‘The British were a friendly lot,
having a great amount of respect for the community. They introduced good business practices
among local farmers. Potatoes and other ‘English vegetables’ were their gift to the district. ‘ The
sizes of potatoes, he says, were the size of his palm. ‘I recall sacks of potatoes being taken, by
bullock carts, to the railway station in Mettupalayam, right after the auctions at the nearby
Mandi. They were meant to go to far-off places. We knew that it was all going off to ports like
Bombay and Calcutta and then onto container ships.’
True to his philosophy, the robust ‘Ayya’ as everyone in the 300 neighbouring houses call him,
does not touch a single tablet!

Grace Opticals’ high-end
eyewear for the elderly
‘Colani Eyewear is now available in Coonoor,’
reported The Indian Optician in its April 2008
issue. Luigi Colani the Italian designer is known
for his work across the spectrum, from cars to
coke cans.‘Bio design’is what his work is widely
acclaimed as.
Benny John, a second generation entrepreneur
who is actively assisting his father who started
Grace Opticals, is taking the enterprise to its
next level of business development - the firm
now enjoys exclusive distributor rights in India,
for the famed Colani eyewear and extends the
spectacle frames to select stores within the
country.
According to Mr John, the retail store at Mount
Pleasant, near Coonoor, stocks an attractive
range of high-end spectacles for the elderly.
12
Promotionalfeature
The letter holder alongside was created by a trainee at the
KRICET (Kingsbury Research in Child Education &
Training) program.
‘Making something useful, out of
old clothes, for example, is a trait
which if encouraged in adults can
become a lifetime value when
passed on to little children’, says
Mrs Shoshanah Xavier, Principal,
Kingsbury Montessori School,
Ooty.
The KRICET program is aimed at
inculcating the Montessori way of
teaching in anyone who interacts
with children - teachers, counsellors
and even housewives.
Take an Informal Montessori Course and help shape the think tank of our world- its children.
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Note: 200-500 sqft of space required in Coonoor, for conducting the informal KRICET
sessions. Please contact Mrs Xavier on the tel. no mentioned above.

The teacher who took us around the World.

Mrs Cecily Clare Chippendale taught us how to study. She taught me how to teach. Rose Pereira

“Shee-long, capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long,
capital of Meghalaya, Shee-long, capital of
Meghalaya…” droned the monotonous voice
of the uninspired child, learning by heart, her
Geography lesson.That was in the suburb of
Calcutta where a friend and I had gone to
visit her mother. Instantly, Mrs Chippendale’s
memory flashed across my mind, taking me
back to 1964, when I was a class VII student
at St Joseph’s Convent in Coonoor.
Cecily Clare Chippendale or C3 as she signed
her name, was my class teacher. She taught
me English, Maths, History & Geography; its
her Geography classes that stood out vividly
in my memory. A good teacher, is a lasting
experience. I relive the wonder and thrill of
her classes when I read William Dalrymple or
watch National Geographic or Fox History.Her
classes were an odyssey, a journey of discovery
into the country or continent that was her
teaching point. She used stamps, postcards,
pictures, maps and the atlas to take us around
the world to give us a glimpse of a country, its
mountains or plains, its rivers, its natural wealth,
the people and their culture.The topper in class
was given stamps of different countries!
I remember our ‘journey’ into the Congo, to
the Pyrenees and the Andes. Our study of
Switzerland ended with an exhibition put up
by us students. Mrs Chippendale gave us a
teaspoon of condensed milk and a piece of
chocolate – products that Switzerland was then
famous for, apart from watches. When we did
Japan, we reared silk worms in class. She made
words like Savanaah, veldt, prairie and steppes
come alive in our minds.
Most memorable was her class on rotation and
revolution of the earth around the sun and its
significance. Using the electric bulb as the
stationary sun, she moved a hand held globe
around it to make us understand how seasons
change, how and why days become shorter than
nights in winter and why it’s frozen and cold
around the poles. We got to see the slant rays
of the sun (the bulb) falling on the two ends of
the globe and the direct light around the
equator.The tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
were more than just lines on the map and
vernal and summer equinoxes became all too
clear. Stories of the northern lights and of the
land of the midnight sun held endless
fascination, also the hot springs in which the
Maories cook their food. She made each lesson
a living experience activating your mind, your
imagination and curiosity. Wherever possible
she reduced things to a formula. The climate
of the Mediterranean was W6, i.e., warm wet
winters with westerly winds. She was great at
teaching spelling too-Med-it-er-ran-ean spells
Mediterranean-her voice still rings in my ears.
What I value most was that there was no rote
learning-she taught and we had to make notes.
We even referred to books other than the
prescribed text. Mrs Chippendale taught me
how to study. She also taught me how to teach.
The writer is Professor of English at the Providence
College for Women, Coonoor.
13
local impact
Eating with
our fingers
was a very
‘Indian’
experience.
Nia Tilley
SARAS Trust, in Ooty, has been a focal point
for several foreign volunteers who take time off
from their studies to do a year of social work
among underprivileged groups in the Nilgiris.
This correspondent of TheLocal decided to
follow up on the story of SARAS (July 09
issue) by talking to two young German
volunteers who were nearing completion of a
year of social work in the Nilgiris.
Helen Keymer (Weimar) and Anna Krings
(Solingen) are two young women who have a
mature approach to life.They demonstrated an
open mind and an eagerness to learn and
understand the ways of a foreign country and
were willing to immerse themselves in the
ethnicity and culture of India. According to Mrs
Vasanthakumari, the head of the Trust, the two
volunteers took an active part in various projects
conducted by the organisation. At the
Government Primary School in Upper Bazaar,
Ooty, they taught the school children Spoken
English and Drawing.
Spirituality
Travel is exciting, new insights, new sensory
delights, beautiful nature all around, diverse
people.
All these experiences can be rated and stored in
CDs and pretty albums. But these are all external
visuals. What of the journey inward? Are you
ready to delve into your innards? To discover the
real you, not the carefully coiffured person you
present to the world.
The REAL you is the mind and ego working
overtime. Exit societal norms and religion; begin
to explore spirituality and existence. I entered
spirituality by accident, attended a class to clear
my lungs and ended up cleaning the muck
accumulated by eons of my existence on planet
earth. Bear with me, I am learning to conquer
fantasy by accepting reality. I have not conquered
fear, fear is an essential part of my existence but
I have learnt how to handle it. I thought I knew
what silence meant, but discovered a whole new
realm. I now know that worry is unessential for
our lives. I discovered that the most potent
weapon on earth was not the nuclear bomb, but
own favourite teashops to savour the Nilgiris
tea. They were, however, taken aback when
they first arrived, to see a profusion of posters
on every available space in Ooty town. They
were also dismayed by the garbage and the
open sewage drains that they encountered.
Besides volunteering in the Nilgiris, they were
able to travel extensively throughout India to
places such as Dharamsthala, Rishikesh and
Rajasthan.This experience has taught them to
be independent. The sight of beggars and
homeless people sleeping on the streets has
touched them deeply.
The volunteers have decided to specialise in Social
Anthropology,Sociology and Asian studies when
they go back to Germany and hope that these
studies will be useful when they revisit India to
continue their social work.
Despite the lack of proper educational tools and
a language barrier, they were able to make a
difference in the lives of the children. The local question
‘The children are friendly and they have a My child says that she is being
willingness to learn.’ frequently punished in class. It is mostly
Among other projects, Anna and Helen also caning that she and some other children
receive, from a particular teacher.
participated in the HIV awareness programmes
Sometimes, she refuses to go to school
conducted by SARAS.They were accompanied
citing flimsy reasons. Do we have legal
by the local staff to various villages in the interiors recourse? N.M.C, Ooty.
to spread awareness on HIV.They did their bit
by distributing pamphlets and attempting to As per the Tamil Nadu Education
Rule, corporal punishment is totally
communicate with the people.They also spent
time with the inmates at the Home. Though prohibited. The Rule makes it clear that
schools shall not cause mental and
the language barrier posed a challenge,
preventing them from probing deeper into the physical pain to the child. Physical
punishment is not only a violation of
women’s problems, they however managed to the basic fundamental right, it is also a
understand real issues, they pointed out. dangerous practice that can cause
‘Indian food is great, despite the spiciness and severe physical injury or mental trauma.
oiliness’. Helen says that she loves masala dosa It is noted that such punishment goes
and feels that eating with her fingers brings her against the child's dignity and it is not
closer to her food. They have so familiarised in tune with the UN Convention of
themselves with Ooty that they even have their the RIghts of the Child. An aggrieved
person can take legal recourse under
the Juvenile Justice Act 2000, under
Section 23, in which any person
committing such an offence shall be
unconditional love, a difficult concept, but I am still
punsihed with imprisonment which may
learning. I thought life was peppered with pieces extend to six months or fine or both.
of suffering, and was told there is no suffering Under the Indian Penal Code, the Penal
on planet Earth! I discovered they were actually Section 323 states that penalty for such
lessons for improvement. We are all unique a crime may extend to one year
beings. Unique beings with massive inputs of ego. imprisoment or fine of Rs 1000/- or
I am learning to be grateful for everything I have in both. Under Section 325 punishment
my life. is imprisonment which may extend up
I am, today, eternally grateful to my Spiritual leader, to 7 years and the individual shall also
my Guru, for my improved health and wisdom. be liable to pay fine.
My journey inwards has been a guided tour. A
cleansing of chakras and a vacuuming of energy We sugggest however, that you first
bodies. We have seven of them- chakras! This contact the school management so that
guided journey was a precious gift to connect to they may reprimand the teacher
the infinite energy source; stirring within me, concerned. If you are unsatisfied with
emotions long forgotten. Instilling inside, a new the action taken by the school, you may
intelligence, still in its infancy. A few mystical choose to proceed with legal action.
experiences, to indicate to me that the path is
inward and a realisation that spirituality is for Advt. Latha Balasubramanium &
everybody, not just a select few. An open mind Advt Aruna Ravikumar barnie@sancharnet.in
is the only qualification necessary to awaken to tribe
answers to the local quiz on p 3 6
this new dimension! 4. India 5. 182 6. 2549 sqkms 7. 1981on Toda
Radha R 1. 1826 2. 1854, an 8 anna stamp 3. Philately
 14
Advertisement traditions
Smart school bags
NilgaApparel, introduceditsspecialrangeofschool Customised, Keystone Foundation
bagslastyear.AccordingtoMrAmarSancheti,who light weight
school bags
sets up Nature
overseestheeducationalinstitutions’requirements Interpretation Centre
on behalf of the company, their longstanding Material: Canvas
experience with canvas, especially the rainwear No of compartments: 2 at Sathyamangalam.
which they supply to the tea industry, had inspired Extra features: adjustable straps,
school logo in tag format
them to venture into school bags. Sumin George
Sizes: Small, medium, large
The bags are light, equipped with adjustable straps Price: On request
andhaveneatlydesignedcompartmentsiforbooks The Elephant Valley Eco-tourism project,
and sports kit separately. an initiative of the Sathyamangalam Forest
Vaishnav Anil, a Std 5 student of Riverside Public Division, is a unique venture and the first of
School,Kotagiri,whichhasrecentlyincorporatedthe its kind within a territorial division.
smart school bags, says ‘ It is spacious. I can put 30.8% of the forests in India come under
everything in it, including my water bottle!’ the protected areas and 51.6% remain
Theschoolbags,accordingtoMrSancheti,are100% within the jurisdiction of the Forest Divisions
water-resistant and have the capability to keep out as Reserve Forests under territorial divisions.
water even in a heavy downpour. Sathyamangalam has 1455.31sq.km. of
forests within its boundaries. The Elephant
Contact:NilgaApparel,NKNComplex,Bedford,Coonoor,Nilgiris-643101. Valley Interpretation Centre portrays images
Ph(0423)2230224 email:vaishali.ent@gmail.com and information which speak about this
bountiful region, its natural heritage,
Nilga, as a brand, was registered in the year 1942 by the London based geography and people.
Bailey Brothers, having an office in Coimbatore. Primarily engaged in the This building was built in 1973 and referred
manufacture of raincoats, the brand derived it’s name from the Nilgiri Tahr, to as the 'Tool Shed' since it was used as a
a unique deer breed renowned for its resilient all-weather coat. shed for maintenance and repair of the coupe
vehicles of the forest division. Fuel wood
Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaims liability of any kind whatsoever, arising out of the readers use, or inability to use coupes were stopped in 1975, further to
the material contained in it. Adequate care has been taken to compile stories for the reference of our users. TheLocal makes
every effort to maintain accuracy of the information but does not accept responsibility for any and disclaims responsibility which selection felling was stopped in 1980,
for any loss or damage which may arise from the information provided. All opinion expressed in the issue in the form of after which the 'Tool Shed' was utilised as a
articles or any viewpoint is solely that of the individual or advertiser concerned and TheLocal accepts no liability thereof.
None of the Authors, Contributors, Sponsors or anyone connected to TheLocal can be liable for any reproduction of the storehouse for forest produce that were
material. procured by the LAMPS Society. It later
LetterstotheEditor came to be used by the Special Task Force
during their combing operations in the
Sir, I was delighted to have The Local back at my doorstep! Living in a concrete city like Bangalore, your Sathyamangalam forests. After the
magazine for me is the much-needed breath of fresh air that rejuvenates and reconnects me to the place I operations were discontinued the 'Tool
love. Thenewformatiscompact.Theback-burnercoverstorywasaneye-openerthatmademeimmediately Shed' was abandoned.
checktheweightofmydaughter'sschoolbag.IthoroughlyenjoyedthestoryoftheSullivan'sBungalowand It is with the co-operation and
was quite disappointed with myself that in spite of being a thoroughbred native of Nilgiris, I had not seen understanding of the Tamil Nadu Forest
it yet! It’s a must-see on my next visit! Thank you for uncovering such beautiful memories for us with every Department, Sathyamangalam division,
edition of The Local. Keep up the good work.All good things will last to the very end. that this center has been revitalised as an
Valentina Hubert, Koramangala, Bangalore interpretation centre. Keystone Foundation,
Letters to the Editor may be emailed to thelocaleditor@gmail.com or posted to the address mentioned on p16.
a Trust working in the Nilgiri Biosphere
Reserve on issues related to forests and
Stanes Higher Secondary indigenous people has designed and
Former President Event of the month
installed the information.
School, Coonoor completes its
150th year celebrations (1858- Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, to Thumbithakadu, a value addition centre
2008), with the unveiling of a unveil statue of located at Hasanur has come forward to
statue of its founder Thomas Thomas Stanes. renovate the building and run an eco-shop
Stanes. The bust of the
renowned educationist will be and café. Funds for the renovation of the
unveiled by former President centre were also made available from the
of India, Shri APJ Abdul Kalam Village Forest Council of Gedessal. The
at the school premises on 14th Interpretation Centre will be managed and
Aug 2009. According to school maintained by the Village Forest Council of
authorities, members of the Gedessal. The revenue generated from the
Alumni Association and local
dignitaries alongwith senior centre will be utilized for conservation
students of the school, will activities undertaken by the village forest
observe the historic event. orchard. councils.
answers to the jumble on p 6 Orange, Peach, Pear, Avocado, Jack Fruit, Plums. Trees in my
The writer is an Addl. Co-ordinator at Keystone Foundation
15
traditions A free help-line
for English!
(But is there a catch?)
When a retired Professor of
English decides that he simply
can’t retire, he decides that he
will extend himself to those who
need help in the English language
and literature. On phone or in
person, in an impromptu and
informal fashion. He insists that it
be free of any charge.
‘What’s the point in keeping it to
myself’, says the die-hard
teacher in Dr. D Krishnaraj.
There is a catch. He also decides
that if you may decide to extend
anything for his assistance, you
may do so in favour of the 150-
year old Nilgiri Library!
Call the professor on his mobile
no. 94430-95691 keeping in
mind, however, that it is not quite
a 24 hr help-line!

Interpretation Centre,
Sathyamangalam:
This facility was for sometime
used by the Special Task Force
during their combing operations
in the Sathyamangalam forests.
It is, today, a storehouse of
information on the natural
heritage of the region.
Information & pics, courtesy: Keystone Foundation

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Mind-body connections. The Local Correspondent

‘Who is fitter, mom or dad?’ A surprise
question to Mrs Nalini Prakash’s son as he
walked in while we were all in the midst of an
informal interview on a Sunday evening at
their home in Upper Coonoor. ‘Dad, I think.’
And then he looks at the internationally
acclaimed Bharathanatyam artiste, his mother,
and says in hasty afterthought, ‘actually it’s
my mom!’
Art and dance, we deliberate, is a highly
disciplined form of human expression that not
only brings out the best in an individual, ‘it
helps connect the mind with the body’ says
the experienced artiste, going on to elaborate
upon the intensity of a dance performance:
‘You are totally in it while on stage.The varied
steps, the co-ordinated movements-your
hands, feet and the eyes are all doing separate
things but conveying a central message.
Ultimately, the audience’s involvement is
critical. My guru, Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy
is fantastic. The way she carries the audience
with her is a wholesome experience’. But its
an exhausting one as well. ‘This is why dancers
need supreme fitness and discipline.’
A disciplined life in Ms Nalini began when
she was 3, the age when she started to go for
dance classes. ‘Its interesting how I actually
was good at sports as a little girl in school and
Published on behalf of The Local Media Publishing Co,. by Edwin David from 10/363-Y-1, Indiranagar; Avk Post, The Nilgiris. Printed at Satya Press, no. 50 Kariappa Street; Purasaiwalkam, Chennai - 7. Editor: Edwin David
yet had this ‘pull’ towards classical dance. I
remember waiting for the school bell to go off
and would ride hard on my cycle straight down
Cathedral Road (in Chennai) all the way to
Mylapore to Sudha aunty’s home to get there
on time. 100 mts, by the way, was my favourite
athletic event’, she says looking in her husband’s
direction. Mr Prakash Rajubettan, an
entrepreneur-agriculturist and son of the late
Mr B Rajubettan the pioneer of the Nilgiri tea
industry, has built himself a reputation as an
avid sportsman, cricket being his forte. Again,
an early start for him too; it seems he was the
first one from his school to be selected for the
district team. And he too looks supremely fit.
The two of them have created simple
homegrown examples for both their son and
daughter by being role models of discipline
and devotion. Matters related to spirituality
find their way into our discussions. It is related. Expressing emotions through the body is
The mind and the body connection subject is the base of dance/movement therapy and
revisited. ‘Dance/movement therapy has great is being used as alternate therapy for
healing abilities. It is non-verbal therapy different sections of people including the
which heals the mind and the body,’ says Ms medically ill. It is also very successful in treating
Nalini who is presently pursuing a Masters depression’, she adds.
degree in Dance Therapy in Philadelphia, U.S. It was an uplifting experience for us to have
‘Even before it can speak, the fundamental met the family. Last question to the energetic
means of communication for an infant is couple: If you both ran a 100 mt race now,
through the movements of its body. who will win? ‘I will’, they both reply in unison.