This article is reproduced due to readers request
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Many
mistakenly claim that Badaga Origin is nothing but Badaga migration
from Mysore [now in Karnataka state] during Tipu’s time only because of
the name Badaga (meaning northerner). It is very debatable.
Unfortunately many Badagas have believed it in the absence of any
convincing and conclusive evidence to the contrary. But the latest
revelations and links about the language, especially from the epics and
writings during the Tamil Sangam period tell a totally different story
(see below).
I
am firmly of the view that our history is much older- may be a thousand
years or more older – and my initial ‘research’ confirms that. There is
a lot written about the migration from Mysore theory by many
anthropologists, researchers and others. For obvious reasons, most of
them are/were 'outsiders' - like the early European missionaries and
British. The one person who has done a lot to highlight about Badagas,
in 1960s, Prof.Paul Hockings has chosen to go along with his
predecessors in concluding that since Badaga means north[ner], they have
migrated from southern Mysore during Tipu Sultan's rule over Mysore
to avoid being forcibly converted to Islam. Also sited in support of
migration is the resemblance/similarity of Badaga (language) to Haleya
[old] Kannada.
But, B.Balasubramaniam, a highly educated Badaga, in his book“ Paamé ” – The history and culture of the Badagas of the Nilgiris, feels
that Badagas migrated from Southern Karnataka [then Mysore State] about
700 years back, much before Tipu’s time, around 1311 AD during the
plundering raid of Malik Kafir.
I am, also, firmly of the view that Badagas have lived in
the Nilgiris for thousand of years like the Thodas [Thodhamaru ] or
Kothas [Kotharu] and migration theory is an attempt by historians and
anthropologists to explain away a ‘historical puzzle’. The mystery of
migration needs to be solved once and for all.
What
we DO NOT know about Badagas is more than what we know about them. Such
is the mystery of Badaga Origin. Read the complete article here
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