pic, courtesy: N Mohanraj, WWF Nilgiris
VOL 4 ISSUE 3, SEP 15, 2010, The Nilgiris District, India
Heavyweights discuss serious issue
Donated blood 63 times: Personality
Toda tradition: by Anthony Walker
Places of interest - Exotic orchard
A decade of ‘retailing’ happiness
Built in 1900, this fruit station
has had distinguished visitors like
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt
Indira Gandhi, Sri Kamaraj and
countless dignitaries from within
the country and abroad. Its set-
ting is modest and the environ
rejuvenating. see photo >>
Toda tradition
Among the traditionally pastoral
Toda community living atop the
Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil
Nadu, South India, the buffaloes
they herd are divided into domes-
tic and temple animals. Ordinary
laymen (not women) tend the
former, milking them in the
morning and evening. read more >>
see more >>
Elephant translocation: Photo feature
Foodsmart column: Ruth N Davidar Photo feature brought to you by
Hotel Preethi Classic Towers, Ooty.
School nearing the 100 year mark
Corporal punishment - local issue
The Nilgiri Cane What will end corporal punishment?
There is a mention of the Nilgiri cane if one were to study the subject
of canes and whips a shade deeper, attributing the origins of this light,
thin swishing rattan cane which delivered maximum impact with little
effort, to parts of Eastern India. It is said that the Europeans took this
‘handy’ tool back home with them to discipline their horses and their
students. Caning of 'errant' students used to be a norm in the Nilgiris,
particularly in the older institutions, surely a legacy passed down from
British (and Irish) times and the then founders of these schools.
The cane has been spared in these times, for obvious reasons, but
the child has not been spared other forms of punishment - slaps,
kneelers, benders, standing on the chair, running laps around a
building, read more >>
Promote your business online. Get in touch
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Sacred Buffaloes, Dairies and Dairymen in South India
Anthony R. Walker
Milking the Buffaloes: Domestic and Temple Among
the traditionally pastoral Toda community living atop
the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu, South India,
the buffaloes they herd are divided into domestic and
temple animals. Ordinary laymen (not women) tend
the former, milking them in the morning and evening.
Special dairymen-priests are responsible for the temple
animals. The tasks of lay and priestly dairymen follow
the same, relatively simple, pattern. We will begin with
those of the former, discovering subsequently how the
work of the latter is embellished with—anything but
simple—ritual activity.
Before the Toda herdsmen begin their milking, they
release the calves from their special sheds to suckle first
and then drive them away from their mothers’ teats with
a small rattan herding stick. The calves will be permitted
to return once the milking operation is finished.
The milk is drawn into a cylindrical vessel, traditionally
a two-noded section of a giant bamboo stem that Todas
obtain from the outer slopes of the Nilgiris. These
bamboo containers are still used, but many of the
herdsmen now prefer brass or zinc substitutes.
Buttermilk Coagulant If the dairyman intends to churn
his milk to make butter (subsequently, perhaps, to be
contd. from previous issue
clarified into ghee), he will pour a little
buttermilk obtained f rom his previous
churning into the bottom of his milking vessel
to act as a coagulant. Even when milking the
domestic herds, Toda view this procedure as more than
utilitarian. Indeed, if a dairyman does not intend to churn his
milk but to drink or sell it unprocessed, he will substitute a little
water for the buttermilk coagulant. He describes his action as
“so:sturm” (the colon here indicates a long preceding vowel), a
word that we might translate as “custom”, but a “necessary ritual
act” is the better gloss. It seems that besides its utilitarian function,
the buttermilk coagulant (for which the Todas have a special word,
pep) symbolizes continuity from one milking to the next.
Manufacturing Butter and Ghee Todas churn their milk in a
bulbous, short- and wide-necked red clay pot that sits on a ring
of woven rattan, or else some other forest creeper. These pots
were once obtained from neighbouring Kota exchange partners
(mentioned last week), but for a long time now they have been
purchased for cash in the Nilgiri markets.
pics: Anthony Walker
The traditional Toda churning stick (still used) is produced from
a length of rattan, with the working end split, bent, tied and
heated to form five rounded “fingers” that assume a lotus-like
form. There are small and large versions of the churning stick,
depending on the quantity of milk to be churned. The small
contd overleaf
back to home page
Sacred Buffaloes, Dairies and Dairymen in South India
contd. from previous page
stick is twirled by using the palms of both hands, while
the larger one requires the use of a rope pulley. The
initial products of the churning—butter and
buttermilk—are stored in red earthenware pots, similar
but smaller than that in which the milk is churned.
Both products are among the Todas’ favourite dietary
items. Most butter, however, is turned into ghee (clarified
butter). Women, who are not involved with churning
the milk itself, may lend a hand in the manufacture of
ghee. The butter is set inside an earthen cooking pot
and heated over the household fire. Once it has liquefied,
a few grains of rice or millet are added to the pot to
absorb some of the proteid constituents of the butter.
Later this specially-soaked grain will be relished as
another favourite Toda delicacy. Once the butter has
clarified, it is stored in a special, single-noded, bamboo
container, which Todas call a po:lmachok.
In days gone by Todas used to churn most of their milk.
This was because butter and buttermilk were major
ingredients of their daily diet, and ghee their principal
commodity for exchange with other traditional Nilgiri
communities. But for most of the 20th century and
into the present one, Todas have mostly sold unprocessed
milk for cash. Consequently, whatever churning they
now do is mostly to satisfy their own domestic
requirements for butter, buttermilk and ghee.
Introducing Surrogate Calves to Keep a Buffalo in
Milk: Toda herdsmen have evolved an
ingenious way to keep a buffalo in milk, even
though she has lost her calf or, in the case of
a male offspring, is about to have it taken from
her.
When a calf dies, it is imperative quickly to introduce a
surrogate so as to keep its dam in milk. The dairyman skins the
dead calf ’s carcass, cleansing the inside of the hide with salt before
hanging it from the roof of the calf shed. When milking time
comes round, the dairyman selects a surrogate calf, rubbing salted
water, milk and lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates) onto its back
before wrapping the dead calf ’s skin around it, securing it firmly
around the belly with a length of rope woven from forest creepers,
and, finally, rubbing further saline water, milk and lemon grass
onto it.
Todas maintain that the salt and milk pacify the buffalo when
she licks the calf, while the lemon grass prevents her from sensing
that this is not her own offspring. As the surrogate calf ’s head
remains uncovered, the dairyman must take care to prevent the
adult buffalo from smelling this part of its anatomy and thereby
detecting the stranger. He achieves this by introducing the calf
pics: Anthony Walker
to the teats from the buffalo’s rear, not her front. After three or
four days of such subterfuge, the buffalo grows accustomed to
the stranger calf, disguised as her own offspring. The herdsman
now hastily removes the dead calf ’s skin as the surrogate is suckling
and, from then on—so Todas say—the buffalo will accept this
surrogate calf as her own. Contd in next issue
read previous issue
back to home page
 Interview
contd. from p 1
raising arms in the air for long durations, sit ups and twisting of the ear. At
least, so allege some parents of children studying in the various local schools,
today.
‘If a teacher has to slap a
'I ask my child, every evening, after she comes home from school if her
teacher punished her'. This mother of a little girl studying in a school in child, then he/she has funda-
Ooty, adds, 'I don't know if the child is telling us everything because she is, mentally failed.’
at times, petrified at the prospect of going to school'.
There are other parents who are equally concerned. One chose to take up the
matter with the school authorities to report that a hostel warden was alleg-
edly being excessively ‘brutal’ with their boy - a Std 10 student, apparently
struggling to cope with his curriculum and barely managing to pass in some
subjects; the student alleged that he, along with others would be slapped by
the warden publicly. The school, when confronted, denied the allegations.
And, it seems, other parents whose children either witnessed the episodes of
corporal punishment or were subject to physical punishment themselves,
declined from coming forward to jointly protest for fear of their child being
victimised or 'failed'. This parent waited till the end of the academic year
before he secured admission for his son, in another school (within the Nilgiris).
The Government order, post amendment to the Education Act which ear-
lier permitted 'six cuts on the hand', now restrains teachers from punishing
students,. It is over three years since that G.O. But what of ground reality?
A Government school teacher in Kotagiri did affirm that no caning or ‘kneeling
punishment’ is being meted out now in her school, except for an occasional
rap on the head for gross misbehaviour. Government orders apply to all schools,
nonetheless.
Some private school teachers and heads of instutions, when contacted on the
subject, were cagey and defensive. 'Its not easy to maintain a class of around
50 students by just telling them to be quiet', says a senior teacher in a
private school. The views of at least one principal who agreed to speak on the
subject, are insightful (see interview). Perception is larger than reality. ‘If a child carries the im-
But it is not as if all parents are of a common opinion. Some say it's best the age of likely punishment in the mind, that is deterrent
teacher punishes the child because only then will he 'study, get good marks enough. Actual punishment need not be delivered.’
and a good job'. Child psychologists disagree saying that the trauma, how-
Administrator of a local school, British-born Mr H Jenkins
ever invisible leaves an indelible impact on any child. Children subject to looks like the sort who could deliver a sharp ringing-in-
aggression at an early age may tend to be aggressive when they get older. It is the-ears type of slap, but he only looks like that.
not uncommon to hear of college professors being beaten up by students on
riotous campuses -an alarming trend in recent times. ‘Children respond intelligently to the way adults react.
They are highly observant and can pick up your emotions
Blogspheres, currently, are rife with allegations of corporal punishment in a easily. It is important to feign anger but never to be
local school, going to the extent of naming the principal and teachers and enraged. We are talking of little children here. Never hit
student involved in an alleged violent situation. Some even describing the anyone when you are angry’, says the erstwhile boxer.
scene. Several are unaware that the Juvenile Justice Act 2006 restrains the Mr Jenkins agrees that it is not uncommon, in these times,
media from reporting names and revealing identities of the individuals af- that a teacher might raise a hand or one’s voice to ad-
fected, at the cost of damage to reputation and the stigma involved. How- monish a student, but believes that there is a subtle
ever opinion and comments are being freely exchanged with some for and difference between a ‘rogue’ individual and a far-sighted
others against. But the matter remains unresolved. Should corporal punish- disciplinarian. ‘While I believe it is wrong to hit a child,
ment die a natural death, it will not be on account of legislation or even let’s understand that in those times, when I was a stu-
opinions in isolation. It will come about through participation. Greater dent, most of us got whacked or smacked (there is a
involvment of teachers and parents - erstwhile students themselves - with distinct difference between the two), it was not per-
positive engagement, can bring rational solutions. At least one private school sonal. The teacher never broke one’s spirit or made the
in Ooty states that it does not encourage corporal punishment in any form. child feel anything but justified by the punishment.’
'Community service is the punishment'. A ‘Whether those of us who got punished are better hu-
solution? mans today I can’t say. None of us can. Likewise, if one
didn’t get punished, it is far from true that such an indi-
vidual is anti-social or deviant or a misfit in society
today.The jury is always out on that, but I personally
believe that corporal punishment in any form, is unac-
ceptable. If a teacher has had to slap a child then he/she
has fundamentally failed.’
The Principal advises that parents are a part of the pic-
ture too. ‘Parents and teachers must always remind them-
selves that their two roles are so finely interspersed - the
Corporal punishment in Nilgiri schools teacher is the parent at school while the parent is the
teacher at home. Both have common objectives - to
A perceptibly large scale issue. help the child develop into a responsible and humane
individual in society and it is important to come together
on this issue at the earliest.’ back to home page
read previous issues of The Local: www.scribd.com/thelocalarchives

pics and information, courtesy: N Mohanraj, WWF Nilgiris

local environment

Translocation:
A valuable exercise in conservation.

Two pachyderms were translocated from

Hassan, Karnataka, to the Bandipur
Tiger Reserve adjoining Mudumalai in
the Nilgiris. The exercises were carried
out on separate days in the early part of
June 2010, jointly by the Forest
Department and the WWF (World
Wildlife Fund).
Elephant translocation is a delicate but
definitive exercise, as the pictures
suggest. 1. Experienced mahouts set out
in search of the wild elephant. 2.
Veterinarians reviving the tranquilised
animal after it has been securely tied.
3&4.The elephant is led off to a waiting
truck. 5. Jostling and pushing involving
men and trained kumki elephants to get
the radio collar on. 6. Setting the collared
elephant free into the Bandipur Reserve.
Translocation is an imperative exercise
in conservation, helping remove animals
threatened by depleting forest cover and
extensive urbanisation. Relocating them
to natural habitat helps avoid risking
exposure to the grave prospects of
conflict, accidental injury or death.
Radio collaring of the elephant (pic left)
in this exercise, will help assess its
movements and understand if the new
habitat has been accepted as it is
customary that some wild animals tend
to retrace their way to where they came
f rom. (notwithstanding that the
distance to Hassan is 250 kms from
Bandipur).
According to latest updates, one
elephant has travelled to Nagarhole
while the other chose to remain in the
Bandipur-Mudumalai area.
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to home
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pagepage
Photo feature brought to you by Hotel Preethi Classic Towers, Ooty.
Kallar Fruit Station, a veritable paradise.
A two km drive off the last hairpin bend on the Coonoor-Mettupalayam Road, takes
you to the Kallar Fruit Station where fruit trees, birds, butterflies and the sound of
gurgling water greet you on arrival; you may visit between 10 a.m-4 p.m on
weekdays. Do carry a picnic basket :-)

Ample stream water flows though this tranquil

orchard. In fact, the place is a combination of
rocks trees and water. The name Kallar (water by
the stones) is apt! Fruits are named with the help
of tin plates which also carry the botanical names.
The layout is neatly planned, each new turn
bringing with it enchanting fruit trees and shrubs.
Saplings can be bought at the fruit station. Click on
inset below, to watch a 1 min video clip.

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 Seville Orange Marmalade
When Good Looks Fail to Allure Ruth N Davidar

Ingredients: Approximate Yield 3

kg/6.6 lb 1½ kg/3 lb/About 14
medium Seville oranges 250 g/8
oz/2 lemons or 4 limes 1¾ litres/3
pints/7 cups water 3 kg/6 lb
granulated sugar
15 g/½ oz/1 tbsp butter

Wash and dry the Seville oranges.

Thinly pare the outer rind of each
orange—not the white pith—using
a potato peeler or lemon zester. Finely
shred or mince the rind. Do likewise
with the lemons or limes. Cut the
oranges and lemons or limes in half.
Extract the juice, cover and
refrigerate. Save the pips. Roughly
chop the pith and membranes of the
oranges and lemons or limes. Place
the pips, pith and membranes in a
clean, coarsely-woven muslin cloth
and tie up the ends. Place the muslin
bag and shredded rind in the body
of a large pressure-cooker. Pour in the
water, and set aside for at least 12
hours or overnight. Place the
pressure-cooker on the fire. Close the Which low-hanging, luscious fruit fails to tempt man a sour medium is also beneficial in promoting the
cooker and bring to maximum and monkey alike? The answer must surely be the absorption of calcium, magnesium and iron
pressure over high heat, then lower Seville or marmalade orange (*Citrus aurantium*var. consumed in the same meal.
the flame and pressure-cook for 15 *aurantium*). The tree is highly ornamental—it Besides, marmalade oranges are a good source of
minutes. Remove from the fire and makes a very pretty picture of golden-orange fruit phytochemicals, compounds found in plants that
set aside until the pressure inside the contrasting with dark green leaves—guaranteed, have been the focus of healthy eating for about a
cooker dissipates. Open the cooker. of course, to stay that way. decade now. Phytochemicals are not nutrients and
Remove the muslin bag and place it
So, why does the marmalade orange not find their absence from our diet will not cause disease.
in a strainer over the cooker. Allow as
much juice to drip back into the cooker greater acceptability as a fruit? Probably because So while they are not exactly essential for our
but do not squeeze. Remove the it cannot be peeled and eaten like its other citrus health, eating foods that contain them could help
muslin bag. Add the orange and cousins, and processing is essential to render it fit keep lifestyle-related disorders such as heart
lemon or lime juice and sugar to the for consumption. Besides, its pulp is sour and rind disease and cancer in check. Marmalade oranges
cooked extract and rind. Stir over low bitter. Typically in India, that means converting it contain the phytochemicals limonene and
heat using a wooden spoon until the into a pickle. But the best in these oranges can only bioflavonoids; limonene is especially abundant in
sugar dissolves, then raise the flame be brought out in marmalade, where the tart pulp the rind.
and maintain a steady boil until and fragrance of the essential oils trapped in the Another compound, pectin, is essential from the
setting point is reached—a spoonful rind combine to evoke a flavour that cannot be cooking point of view. Marmalade will not set to a
of marmalade lifted up and allowed replicated with any other fruit. wonderful jelly-like consistency without it. Few fruit
to drop back into the cooker will fall Divine flavour apart, since all parts of this orange have it, but the citrus family does. It is abundant in
in sheets or clinging drops. At this are utilized to prepare marmalade, we might as well the white membranes covering the segments, the
point, pour some marmalade on a get into the territory of its health benefits. spongy white pith and the pips. Pectin is water
chilled saucer (the plate should be Marmalade oranges contain the nutrients beta soluble, so soaking and cooking help to extract more
placed in the refrigerator at the carotene and vitamin C, which if lacking in of it. So, what is pectin? Nutritionally speaking,
start of cooking), and push your
our diet could adversely affect our vision, pectin is a soluble fibre that regulates the absorption
index finger through it. The
skin, skeletal and immune systems. of fat and sugar from the gut, thereby lowering
marmalade will wrinkle Moreover, the tartness of the naturally- blood glucose and blood cholesterol levels. So the
indicating that it is ready. occurring citric acid in these oranges is next time, you are offered marmalade oranges,
Remove from the fire, and let it
protective of vitamin C which is easily take them. You may yet become a fan of this seldom
stand for about 5 minutes to
destroyed when exposed to light and sought-after fruit. Ms Ruth Davidar is a registered
distribute the peel evenly. Bottle
prolonged cooking at high temperatures; dietitian and Author of Indian Food Sense.
and seal while still hot.

Indian Food Sense may be ordered directly from the author at a special price of Rs 200/-
contact the author: rndavidar@gmail.com
back to home page
St Joseph’s Boy’s Hr Sec. retains Inter School shield
Wellington:'For the 22nd year, in succession, St Joseph’s Boys Hr Sec School Coonoor won
the English Speaking Schools’ Association of the Nilgiris organised Inter School Athletic
Meet championship. Stanes Hr Sec School, Coonoor were placed runners-up. St Judes,
Kotagiri won the overall trophy in the Girls divisions, with St Hilda’s School Ooty being
placed second, overall. In the Girls Divn. 5 meet records were broken, four of them by St
Hilda’s athletes. In the Boys Divn. 6 meet records were broken this year.

Rotary Club of Ooty Town

SP advises youth against alcoholism
Ooty: The newly installed Superintendent of Police Mr Kaliraj
Maheshkumar I.P.S, in a recent address to students and staff
of Merit Swiss Asian School of Hotel Management, co-
organisers of a voluntary blood and body donation camp, stressed
on the need to abstain from alcohol for an important reason -
blood donation. ‘I know of a case, in a previous tenure, where
the brother of the accident victim whom we were transporting
to hospital had the same blood type with which we could have
saved the bleeding individual, but couldn’t when we realised
that he was an alcoholic.’
The meeting was attended by office bearers of the Indian Red
Cross Society - Nilgiri chapter, who jointly conducted the cam-
paign with the management school. 30 students volunteered
blood at the event held on their campus.
UPASI: New office bearers announced
Coonoor:At the Annual General Meeting of UPASI held on 14
September 2010, Mr. C N Nataraj has been elected President and
pledges action against VSA.
Ooty: Members of the Rotary Club of Ooty
town stressed the need for an awareness
campaign, particularly among retailers of volatile
substance such as strong adhesives and corrective
inks, to refrain from selling these products to
school students.
Mr. Muralidhar Rao, President of the Club,
himself a retailer, stressed that the problem of
VSA (Volatile substance abuse), as reported in
The Local weekly update, Sep 9, 2010, is
rampant and decisive action needs to be taken
early.
Among the ideas that were suggested at the
recent meeting held at the YWCA Anandagiri,
the members also recommended that the district
administration should intimate the heads of
various institutions about the situation and that
on-campus awareness programs be conducted
for teachers and students alike.
09, 2010, Nilgiris.
TheLocal- WEEKLY UPDATE,
Sep

Mr. D Hegde, Vice President for the year 2010-11. purchase of Fevibond tubes by local schoo
ntly in over-the-counter
e in the district on the
Unnatural increase rece
Mr. Nataraj, a coffee planter from Chikmagalur District in Is volatile substance abus dability make this also varnishes, lacque
Karnataka, is connected with the Coffee Industry and served on was wrong
giris: ‘I knew something d up at 8
counter and its affor young. Most adhesives, glues, rubb
option viable among the apparently glue and shoe polis
the Committee of Karnataka Planters’ Association and was its en these school boys turne ers of teachers in local schools are being in a compounds contain to
ed the shutt
m before I had open unaware of the issue, let alone
y shop, waiting there to buy
20 pieces behavioural hydrocarbon. It is em
Chairman during 1998-99. He has been in the UPASI Executive the glue.’
position to spot symptomaticlocal school cause of mortality an
changes in the child. A the situation, younger population.’
tials shop in
Committee since 1997-98 and has represented India at the World Suresh, who runs an essen do som e Principal when informed of aign will help
oono or then deci ded to alarming VSA is also being r
believes an awareness camp d students
and came up with
but is wary if hitherto uninforme elsewhere in recent m
Spice Conference as Vice Chairman of the Spices Board. He is a vestigatio ns
distributors
sults: It seems some local sive might venture an attempt out
of curio sity. based in Kochi, wr
f a particular brand of adhe s in a Indian Express’ onlin
permanent invitee of the Turf Authority of India. The retailer who sold 20 piece the a clinical p
ad rece ntly stop ped single morning has remo and quoting g boys w
ved
ocking it on being tipped products from his shelf this that youn r the glu
Mr D Hegde, a tea planter with 34 years of experience, is a Director ff that young students feels it necessary to fix woul d smea
dical wh
were buying the glue not problem soon. There ares get a perio the P
of The United Nilgiri Tea Estates Co. Ltd (Chamraj Group). He o paste items but to get estimates that over 1500 shopct. earlier this year,
in the district sell this produ had to restrain sta
‘high’ by sniffing or prod uct
was Chairman of the Nilgiri Planters’ Association (NPA) and The nhaling the substance! In a detailed repo rt in Dec
s,
sellin g the
me rampant.
A prominent retail outlet 2008, The Dept. of Paediatric . beca comp
Planters’ Association of Tamil Nadu (PAT) during the years 1994- n Ooty town, has issued Indira Gandhi Med ical Instt
e sniffing,
The seve rest
substance a
clear instructions to storective Shimla, had recorded: ‘Glusubstance out of a massive car
96 and 2002-04 respectively. He has been in the UPASI Executive personnel not to sell corre
i k t g adhesives to students.
‘We
(VSA ) refer s to the
ile
more commonly called volat deliberate due
Unco
to
nfirm ed repo
Committee from the year 2000. Mr Hegde has also served as
back to home page
Honorary Wild Life Warden.
 Promotional feature
How they got into the business is a progressive

pic, courtesy: Arijith Chakravarthy, Light & Life Academy

story that goes back to the 50s when Praveen’s
family dealt in stationery goods in Ooty town. His
father is better known by the popular Vijay
notebooks that were manufactured in Ooty years
ago. ‘I remember using the notebooks when I was
studying in Rex school,’ says Praveen adding that
the uniqueness of those notebooks was that each
book would have a different cartoon figure on the
cover.
Indeed the drive for uniqueness or differentiation
has been the inheritance of the young entrepreneur
who, notwithstanding his management degree, has
retained a practical hands-on approach to business.
With evident results.
‘I have been coming here for about ten years’,
A decade of sharing joy. says an old student of a day school in Ooty, now a
Vibes touches 10 years and probably ‘a million hearts’ with its business person herself. ‘Each time,I find something
unmatched range of cards, gifts and the inimitable smiles of its owners. new and unique. It is true that at Vibes, you will
find what you will not find elsewhere.’
Without exaggeration, you are likely to find in town and I bargain hard with our suppliers so To reward this unstinting loyalty, the husband and
yourself choosing a gift article from at least that the prices are kept reasonable.’ wife team have thought out a loyalty card program
one hundred thousand items at this in-the- Customers find this combination heady. It is that will keep the customers smiling and coming
heart-of-town basement store. common to see ladies, of all age groups, spend back over and again to experience this unique
Being helpful, Praveen Nahata will query considerable time at the far section of the store, proposition of value-for-money and variety.
you, who is the gift planned for, what tastes pondering over this fashionable earring or that What will the store be 5 years from now? Five
the person has, the age group, and soon trendy bracelet - fashion jewellery is the high more outlets or 5000 sq ft?
enough, you have found just the right option. point of this gift store. ‘6000 sq ft’ is the pragmatic answer.
At the right price. ‘Its very fulfilling for us to see our customers ‘I just require a little more space to retail novels
‘Price has been our focus over the years. We spending hours at the store, taking their time to and books’, says Praveen who has recently added
have been stringent on two aspects: value select what’s best’. Praveen adds, with a touch a personalised gifts section and apparently rates
for money and variety’, says the young of humour, ‘inspite of taking 2 hours on their Archies and Landmark as his two most admired
entrepreneur who manages the store along selections, our customers will want the billing in 2 retail formats. Rashmi also adds,‘We would rather
with his wife Rashmi.‘Variety goes hand in hand minutes and we can readily oblige - the store is be a one-store format, like a famous old-time idly-
with price. I make it a point to regularly scout computerised with all its products bar coded and chai restaurant in Pune, (where she hails from),
the markets for unique items that will not be tagged.’ because this way, we can always give our full
available attention to
anywhere else Vibes 87/B3 KCR Arcade, Walsham Road, Ooty - 1. +91-423-2445923/3642 praveenvibes@gmail.com each customer.’
Personalised gifts Greeting cards Fashion jewellery Toys & Games Music CDS & DVDS
back to home page

out that our blood groups matched. I donated Personality

Donated blood 63 times.
Recently, TheLocal office received a call, urgently
asking for O+ blood. Some quick calls later to
locate a donor and we were directed to Mr I
Francis or ‘Blood Francis’ as he is affectionately
called by his colleagues. ‘Call him, he will definitely
help’, said a mutual contact.
Within 15 mins, a donor was standing at the
hospital’s reception in Coonoor, asking to meet the
family of the patient and the doctors in charge.
‘I can be contacted at anytime, day or night to
donate or to mobilise our 150 odd donors of the
Voluntary Association which we, a small group
of enthusiasts, formed in the 80s inCordite
Factory,’ says Mr Francis, aged 57.
When did he start donating blood? ‘A friend’s
brother was in desperate need of blood and I
volunteered to check my blood group; it turned
blood, he recovered and everything turned out fine.
It was the mother’s reactions that touched me. She
thought if I had not volunteered, her son might
have died. This stayed in my mind and I slowly
realised that notwithstanding the results (survival
and recovery of the patient), giving blood must
always be an involuntary act. What troubles me
most is a death due to lack of donors.’
The list of donors that he maintains is meticulously
prepared with age, blood group type and donor
contact details.
This unassuming donor and recipient of several
commendations and awards, has donated 63 times
till date and believes that he will continue to do so
till he keeps good health. His appeal to youngsters
is ‘We need your full involvement. Become a donor,
today’. Service oriented: Ready to donate blood 24/7 .
In case of emergency call I Francis at 9786945622. Francis’ nameplate carries ‘blood’ as identification.

Mountain Home
School reaching the
100 yr milestone.
Mountain Home Block
constructed in 1897
A series on one of the district’s oldest institutions, primarily dedicated
to the upliftment of the Anglo-Indian community in India.
The history of Mountain Home School takes
you to Alma Cottage in Tent Hill, Coonoor,
where members of HMSI (Home Missionary
Society of India) first started a Children’s Home
in 1911. The Society then purchased Forest View
in 1912 for a sum of Rs.10,000. In 1920,
Mountain Home block was purchased (see box)
giving the school its present name.
Forest View came to stand as a monument of
the long term vision of the Protestant Anglo-
Indian community at the turn of the 20th century
as it represented HMSI activity in the region.
The determination of the founders was to take
care of Anglo-Indian children in need, and do it
independently of any support from outside the
community; it brought a sense of belonging,
ownership and independence to the community
that made Bishop W. F. Oldham say when he
heard of HMSI vision for a Children’s Home,
“The chief reason for my rejoicing in such a
movement is that this Society will help to
demonstrate, will help to prove, an independence
that is worthy of the community. I want to say,
you cannot direct your efforts in a more promising
channel than caring for the children. If there is to
be any substantial result as the outcome of your
activities, it will be in the endeavouring to save
and bring to the Master, the children of the
community.”
Estd: 1911
Mountain Home School & Junior College
Balaclava, Coonoor; The Nilgiris District,
South India. Ph +91-423-2206471
email: mountainhomeschool@ymail.com
History
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
If a school student has to be
hospitalized as a result of being beaten
by his/her mentor for a minor
misdemeanour, if petty officials use
abusive language and in other ways
According to school records, Forest View, at one
harass members of the public, if
time, held classrooms and dormitories and was power-hungry office bearers in an
rented out as well, especially for the Anglo-Indian organization rig elections to
members of the faculty; it was also used as a continue to wield clout, then where
dining room until very recently. are we heading?
In 2007, the building was irreparably damaged The above are only isolated examples
in the monsoonal deluge and a decision was of the increasing instances of the
taken to rebuild the entire structure as part of misuse of power in our district.
the Centenary Projects undertaken by the Needless to say, the victims are more
often than not, women and children.
HMSI. Today it stands rebuilt. It now houses
Hegemony, exploitation and the rule
the chapel, dedicated to the Glory of God on 27
of might over right are not new
September 2008, the KG Block and a Multi- concepts. But surely, in a democratic,
purpose hall on the first floor. civilized and educated society, those
in position of power should realize
pics & info, courtesy: Mountain Home School
that great responsibility goes with it.
The Mountain Home Block , the oldest We may pride ourselves that ours is a
building on the Mountain Home school violence-free district, but violence is
campus was constructed in 1897 by Mrs not confined to (bomb-blasts and
and Mr Minchin. gun-shots) physical violence alone.
It was sold to Saheb Maharban Dostan The above-cited incidents are all
Sri Sri Sri Hari Hara Maharaj Doe Rajah examples of violence and “ the stupor
of power.”
of Kallikote and Atagad in 1909.
As Chinua Achebe, the award-
The HMSI (Home Missionary Society
winning Nobel Laureate said: ‘This
ofIndia) purchased it in 1920 from world (read country, district,
Saheb Maharban Dostan Sri Sri Sri organization, institution, even home
Ramachandra Mardaraj Deo for the sum if you like) belongs to the people of
of Rs. 20,000. the world; not to any little caucus.’
Indu K Mallah, Ooty
President, HMSI, Mr Richard H Thomas giving away back to home page
prizes for outstanding performances in sports and games.
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