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A lone struggle.

OCT 10, 2009VOL 3 ISSUE 4

Conservationists view:Mr ERC Davidar shareshis experiences in a livelyimterview. p16

Responsible tourism: A localhotelier explains his contribu-tions towards the eco-balance,but is industry doing enough? p6

LocaleA 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

TRADITION I CULTURE I FLAVOUR I BUSINESS I NEWS

Next issue:Tea sector surges

piccourtesy:NRavi,W

WF,Nilgiris

Well meaning efforts, on all fronts, are futile if theyare disjointed, making it a lonely battle foranimals in the wild. p 10, 11.

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Snapshot- shola-grassland: A combination of tropical evergreen forests co-existing alongsideundulating grasslands is what is widely termed as shola-grasslands. These small patches of forests arefound in hollows, shelters and small declivities, ie,. in isolated pockets. Grasslands dominate. The sholasstay within a restricted boundary. Neither do they spread into the grassland nor does the grass spreadinto the forest. A number of climatic factors are respnsible for this: a short period of drought, winter frost,wind velocity, fire and a sharp diurnal temperature fluctutation.

travel

Source: The Local Dec08

Kumaraiahkeeps calling me to Masinagudi,but I havent gone in a while. He visits mewhenever I go to the hills. But while there,Im restrained a bit because Kumaraiah likesto take hold of my leg and pull it you see!see p 16 for more...

Advertisement

The Monte Carlo range of winter wear at the Woolen Store,Commercial Rd, Ooty, is available in select colours for both

semi-formal and casual wear.

Enquiries: (0423) 2442214

Considerable time seemed to have goneinto this issue of TheLocal. It was, webelieve, mostly due to the nature of storiesthat we chose to draw your attentiontowards, especially the one on the state ofour wildlife. The primary aspect in thatstory is that of the well meaning yetdisjointed efforts on the part of the variousorganisations and agencies involved.

Towards a more holistic approach, wehope this story will at the least allowconcerted effort to happen, before it is late.

Readers of the Local have been concernedabout the alcoholism issue affecting thepeople of the district. At several forums,

where we have had the opportunity, inrecent weeks, to convey the urgency ofthe problem, people have expressedsolidarity and would wish to contributetheir efforts. We believe, preventivemeasures are of utmost importance at thispoint. Should any of us wish to engage inthe school related campaigns, for instance(see article on p3), please get in touch withthe paper; we will be happy to have youas an integral part of this awarenessprogramme. Incidentally, members of theNithyananda Ashram, Bidadi, oninvitation, introduced a meditationprogram to inmates of a deaddiction centrein the district, recently. (see special sectionand article, p12, 13). Regards, Editor.

Editorial

pic, courtesy: Senthil,Compads

Gudalur RoadNilgiris in a nutshell When next at Thalakunda, enroute toMysore, take the lower road. No strain of36 hair-pen bends, the road takes its cuefrom the gentle contours of the Pykara river.

Water cascades obediently at KamarajSagar and Pykara Dam and skips free in

waterfalls by the road.

Broccoli-blue and cabbage-green patchworkoverlays the rich red soil, farmed by locals.

Anumapuram's little township marks thestart of tea plantations, terraces interspersed

with water-meadows, clouds-clad hills above- each glance framing a picture by landscapeartist Constable.

After Naduvattam, (which means centralpoint) tea is displaced by giant eucalyptus,the forest backed by dramatic rock-facesoverlooking Gudalur. Theppakadu's junglecompletes 'Nilgiris in a nutshell'.

30 mins added to your journey: countlessamazing pictures to your memory.

Priya Varghese

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Some delightfulview-points,enroute Gudalur.

Some of Gudalur roads touristspots and magnificient view pointsare just off the main road!

Needle Rock View Point:

Frog Hill View:

The hill is in the shape of a hugefrog. Frog hill view point is 14 km.from Gudalur on the way toUdhagamandalam.

Train timings:

Mettupalayam-Ooty : Dep:7:10 am Arr: Ooty-1200 noon. Ooty -Mettupalayam : Dep:3:00 pm.Local trains : Ooty to Coonoor-9:15 am, 12:15pm, 3:00 pm, 6: pm. Coonoor to Ooty-7:45 am,10:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm.

travel

Students of Govt.High School,Kattabettu begin to ask somequestions. In journalistic spirit.

Why isKattabettuJunction dirty?

We know thatthe main area in Kattabettu(a junction enroute Kotagiri) is very dirty,

with so much being dumped all over theplace said the young boy (in pic, right)shortly after the journalism workshop

HELP-LINESDISTRICT

POLICE

Police: Ooty - (0423) 100,Coonoor - (0423) 2221836,Kotagiri - (04266) 271100,Gudalur (04262) 261246.

call 108 in any

emergency

Please add the area code if dialling from amobile phone or from outside the circle

T h e L o c a l q u i z o n S h o l a - g r a s s l a n d s1. When was the presence ofshola-grasslands first documented,by whom? 2. What is the averageheight of a shola tree? 3. What ve-locity do winds across the grass-lands touch? 4. What is the aver-age day-night temperature in thegrasslands? 5. Average night tem-perature within the shola? 6. Whatis the primary benefit of a shola?

1.In1603,byFr.Fenicio2.Notmorethan20metres3.80-120kmsperhour4.-2degcentigradeatnightand25degcentigradeduringday5.17-20degcentigradeatnight.6.Waterretention-Itisaperennialsourceofwaterinthehillsandtothesurroundingplainsbelow!

conducted by TheLocal at their schoolWhat must we do to create awarenessabout this problem?, he asks.

Just stating that open garbage is bad, maybe dismissed as your own opinion. Ascertainfacts that might, for instance, link thegarbage to onset of sickness in the peopleresiding in this locality - ask the local doctorfor his/her assesment on the matter. Find

out from the veterinary personnel if theyhave come across, for example, cases of cowshaving consumed plastics and being put todistress on account of it. See if water wayshave clogged on account of waste beingdisposed of carelessly... When people arepresented with an opinion that is based onfacts, their acceptance of the opinion isgreater since there is credibility - advice that

was extended to the young minds, who, theteam from the local felt, keenly grasped thenuances of journalism during the brief

workshop.

Their attention was also drawn to theproblems of alcoholism within the district.Quite a number of children of this Std 9 &

10 group, stated that they were aware ofalcoholics in their neighbourhoods. Theyvowed to present facts to the family of thealcoholic, facts that were published in theAug 09 issue of TheLocal. The childrenand their teachers, in this context, expressedeagerness to find out if the liquor shop atKattabettu junction was within 100ft of thetemple there, which they learnt is a violationof the law.

Subscriptions to The Local, are opened effective October 09. Please subscribe/renew your subscription through the following methods: Demand draft/localcheque favouring The Local Media Publishing Co,. (or) by a Money order to TheEditor, The Local Media Publishing Co,. 10/363-Y-1, AVK Post, Nilgiris - 643202.Call: (0) 97905 90570. 1 Year subscription: Rs. 180/- for 12 issues, incl.postage & handling.

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8 km on the Ooty-Gudalur road,from here, one can see almostevery part of Gudalur andMudumalai wildlife sanctuary,Gudalur town, Bandipur and partsof Mysore. On the other side onecan see a part of Kerala.

Letters to the Editor

Readers who wish to send letters tothe Editor may do so by post to thefollowing address 10/363-Y-1,Indiranagar, AVK Post, Nilgiris - 643202. Alternatively, you may also emailthelocaleditor@gmail.com. In caseof any queries or clarifications call:(0) 97905 90570.

Statutory disclaimer: TheLocal disclaimsliability of any kind whatsoever, arising out ofthe readers use, or inability to use the materialcontained in it. Adequate care has been takento compile stories for the reference of ourusers. TheLocal makes every effort to maintainaccuracy of the information but does notaccept responsibility for any and disclaimsresponsibility for any loss or damage whichmay arise from the information provided. Allopinion expressed in the issue in the form ofarticles or any viewpoint is solely that of theindividual or advertiser concerned and TheLocalaccepts no liability thereof. None of the Authors,Contributors, Sponsors or anyone connected

to TheLocal can be liable for any reproductionof the material.

Situated a little beyond Pykaradam (21 km from Ooty) theplacid Pykara lake is surroundedby forests rich in wildlife habitat.The boat house and restaurant ismaintained by the TTDC.

Pykara Boat house:

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tribute

4

They say, whom the gods love die young

Aeschylus, where is the wisdom you spokeof when you wrote even in our sleep pain

which does not forget, falls drop by drop uponour hearts, until, in our despair against our

will, comes wisdom through the awful graceof god ?

Shri H.R.Gopalakrishnawas a scion of theclose-knit family of the late Rao BahadurH.J.Bellie Gowder, the late Rao BahadurH.B. Ari Gowder and the late Shri H.B. RajuGowder (our father), a family of community-leaders, social reformers and philanthropists.

An ardent sports person (which was notsurprising-coming from a family of sportsmenas he did) he went on to graduate from theMadras Christian College in 1962 during

which time he continued to show his prowessin sports, captaining the college hockey-teamin the early 60s. Under his captaincy, MCC

won the intercollegiate hockey trophy afterthirteen years. During one tournament, theheadlines in the papers screamed Gopubeats Munir Sait hands down with hisfamous scoop (the goal keeper went on torepresent India at the 1968 Olympics inMexico where India won the bronze medal).Shri H.R. Gopalakrishna was still in college

when our father passed away in 1962. Hehad to shoulder the family responsibilities

and took over the family business as theeldest son, consolidating and managingBarnie- a boutique tea estate in those days.He was one for experiments and associatedhimself with the likes of Dr. K.S.Venkataramani, Director of the Research

Station at Cinchona, during its years ofinfancy, and who pioneered the vegetativepropagation of tea. One of the more populartea clones Sundaram , is even today seen in

various parts of H.R.Gopalakrishnas estate.In his quest for improvement and in wantingto adopt the cutting-edge in technology, ShriH.R Gopalakrishna was one of the earlyadopters of CTC in the manufacture of teain the region; the factory became one of the

very first to do so, reaping the benefits ofquality and price.Shri H.R Gopalakrishna was innovative inhis approach to problem-solving and during

those days of severe power shortage he usedthe car engine from his Vanguard, a straight-6, to run the factory alongwith an oil engine.

All this while he continued to take an interestin hockey and was part of a team called theCousins Seven which was the leading teamin the district for several years.

Shri H.R.Gopalakrishna is survived by hiswife Indrani, his son Yudhishter, his daughterHarshini and their families.In the increasing desertification of life and

K.L. Saigals Diya Jalao

Din soona suraj binaAur chanda bin rainGhar soona deepak bina

Jyothi bin do nain

Diya jalao, jag mag, jag mag (The day is empty without the sun,And the night without the moon;The house is empty without the lamp

And the eyes without their light.Light lamps across the world)

As my son Digvijay says He has gone to abetter place. If all of us lived our lives with asmuch dignity as he did, maybe we too willget there.

its values, Shri H.R. Gopalakrisha remainedan oasis of enduring values. Like our father,he was a committed family man and he willbe greatly missed by his own family and theextended family.Gopus sharp intelligence, sense of humour,and repartee were celebrated by all thefamilies; his witticisms regaled many a familygathering. He had an abiding love of musicparticularly Hindustani semi-classical andclassical music. Some of his/our favoritepieces have a haunting poignancy:

A sisters KanneeranjaliWith the family: late Mr H RGopalakrishna (second from left)with his family members.

H R Gopalakrishna (Gopu) 8.4.1941 - 29.9.2009

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5

I am not a climate change scientist, but asociologist who used to be a climate changeskeptic, sometimes plain sarcastic at thephenomenon. In my skeptical moments Ihave felt that a clique of climate changescientists were just eager to establish theirnew science and in doing so, ended upscaring the rest of us. Remember the media

told us there was hole in the Ozone?But during my transition from a non believerto a believer in climate change, I wasconvinced of one thing- understandingclimate change, even if riddled byuncertainty, offered the best chance for the

world to attain some state of environmentalsustainability. If you told the world that itsown food, land and water securities were atimmediate stake rather than simply statethat tigers are getting extinct or that forestsare being felled then perhaps a culture ofsustainability can be incorporated into itsconsumptive excesses. In the last two years,

I have been trying to understand whatclimate change entails, what its symptomsare and how science, policy and publicengage with it. And to readers of TheLocal,I would like to extend pertinent informationon the subject, using instances from theNilgiris, wherever possible.

The Green House Effect: besides oxygenand nitrogen, the two major gases thatconstitute the atmosphere, there are minoror trace gases. These are what is calledgreenhouse gases such as ozone, water vapor,methane and carbon dioxide (CO

2) whose

effect facilitates life on our planet. The earthreceives energy f rom the sun, and the earths

surface reflects some of the sun's radiationback to the atmosphere. As they absorb suchenergy from the earths surface, thegreenhouse gases also radiate energydownwards and in the process warm theatmosphere. This makes life possible on ourplanet. Now life has become challengingbecause one green house gas, CO

2that is

also produced by humans especially whenthey burn fossil fuels (fuels with high carboncontent and a significant source of energy

when they are burnt), has increased involume. This is enhancing radiation or thegreen house effect. Our planet is warming

and thus climate is changing.The noticeable symptoms are glacial meltand sea level rise that scientists and policymakers, notably the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC), the Peace Prizewinning institution, are stressing upon. Now,the melting of Himalayan glaciers and theflooding of Gangetic India; or the Maldivesand lower reaches of Bangladesh going

under sea level are large catastrophiceventualities being projected. Localsymptoms that we are familiar with is our

winter last year which set in at Ooty in midDecember whereas it should have set inearly November. It set in late, was short,mildly intense and then it warmed again.

The south west monsoons failed and set inmuch later than the metrology departmentsprediction for the country. In Ooty it set inlate around mid June and fizzled away. Andthen there were brief sometimes intensephases of rainfall ever since. But as some ofus may have realized the most frequentsources of rains of recent have been onsetsof depressions in Indias western coast. Andsometime during early and mid September,

winter skies were visible for a few days.The evenings got cold and ground frost was

evident in the mornings. Whether it was anearly sample of winter or if it was it ourshortest winter we dont know. Patterns areerratic and extreme. They are linked toclimate change. My farmer-friends too

believe that something is fundamentallywrong. There could also be biotic symptoms.As high elevation Ooty get warmer, lowerelevation plants could climb up.Parthenium, for instance, was recentlyspotted in Ooty town. While it could also bea case of general weed invasion in a locality,

we dont know anything for sure as yet. Wecan only observe. Science must subject ourobservations to scrutiny and verification.Science needs to do its own thing too andcommunicate to us, the local citizens, aboutmeteorological and botanical symptoms ofclimate change. Shorter term predictions orweather models consisting of monthly orbimonthly weather forecasts must beprovided to our tea and vegetable farmersbecause long term forecasts e.g. normal or

Climate change comes home.Siddarth Krishnan

Continued on p 13

Spot the problem:A parthenium plant (pic, centre) was spotted in Ooty by a local, recently. Itspollen is known to cause severe allergic reactions like dermatitis, hay fever and asthma. The pollenquickly disperses with the wind. Picture taken outide Spencer Building in Ooty.

THE obnoxious weedPartheniumhysterophorus is a thermo insensitive herb. It is a prolific seed producer with seeds having long storage life and can quicklydisperse through wind. Vegetative generation occurs fromthe crown. The concept of One year seeding, seven years weeding' is true for Parthenium. It produces about5000-10000 seeds per plant, which are viable even at immature stage. In dry summer months Partheniumappears in a rosette form. But during rainy season it growsup to 90 cm. height, with profuse flowering and green foliage. It flowers throughout the year. It causes contact dermatitis in livestock and is reported to be poisonousto sheep. Humans are also affected by this weed with respiratory malfunction and dermatitis. Main toxin responsible for the effect is Parthenin.

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environment

6

The Kurumba Village Resort is built onapproximately 5% of a total land area of 10acres of an old but still productive cardamom-nutmeg-pepper estate on the slopes of theCoonoor-Mettupalayam Road.We hear from some of our guests that theirlittle children are thrilled on seeing nutmeg

for the very first time, exclaims second-generation-hotelier Sanjay Narayanan, whoshared his perspective on the subject ofresponsible tourism in a recent interview.

Was social responsibility covered as a topicin hotel management school? Not when wedid our course, says the resort ownerreferring to the early 90s when he and hispartner-old schoolmate, Sanjay Avatramani,pursued their catering degrees together. It isprobably taught now but I would be happyto invite young entrepreneurs-to-be to visithere and study what we have been trying toincorporate at our property with regard toenvironmentally-friendly practices.

Planting a Resort.Understanding the essence of responsible tourism from an environment-conscious hotelier. But is enough being done by the hotel industry?

Kurumba Resort is one of few in the regionto install a sewage treatment plant,something that they had planned for at thetime of inception itself. The water that isgenerated from daily utilisation in thebathrooms, wash areas and the kitchen istreated and reused daily for the nutmeg

plantation, says Mr Narayanan. The watersource at this luxury resort is generatedinternally from a well on campus, makingthe cycle of use and reuse optimum.

What is the essence of responsible tourism?All tourism must anyway be responsible. Itis not necessary to be regulated by anyoneif we understand that it is in our owninterests to preserve and protect ourenvironment. The 10-acre area is unfenced.There was no need to fence our property.

We do have a chance sighting of somewildlife in the summer months, crossing overon the opposite hillside, but we have neverfelt inclined to cordon off our perimeter.

The presence of rare birds on the campus was an accidental discovery. We weresurprised to see at least 30-40 differentspecies when we first explored the idea of aholiday resort in this 90 year old estate; akeen birdwatcher can spot many more. Wehad then decided that we must plant trees

that will retain and enhance the bird life ofthe area. Around 2000 trees of differentvarieties were planted here in 2004- theyear in which we formally opened the resortto tourists.

Why is there a recent lack of goodwill forresorts in particular and tourism in general,

with the sentiment being that the industryis losing focus and that it is short term in itsoutlook with almost everything that is beingplanned and executed, seeming haphazardand opportunistic? I am not sure if any oneof us hoteliers is adequately qualified toanswer a broad question such as thisbecause it involves several componentsincluding the Government agencies withsectors such as public transport,infrastructure etc., but we must all primarilyunderstand that over several decades,tourism has been the mainstay of the localeconomy just as it is elsewhere, in otherleading tourist destinations of the world. Itis not correct to label it negatively.

To a question on what extent of revenue isgenerated annually by the local tourismindustry, the hotelier states that he is notaware.

Whether the Nilgiri Hotels and RestaurantsAssociation will have this information is also

unlikely as the membership of this can-be-influential body is not representative of thesector, having only less than half the hotelsand resorts in the district, as its affiliates.

This is the time when the hotel industryneeds to reflect inward, rally itself togetherand revisit its pivotal role in Nilgiri tourismby integrating with concerns of theenvironment or else it could find itselfuprooted by the rapidly increasingmomentum of conservationism in the regionno matter how well planted it might be.

Recipe Dhal Ladoo

!/2 kg Green Gram Dhal!/2 kg Sugar powdered!/4 kg Ghee50 gms Cashewnunts brokenand Cardamom powdered

Roast the dhal on a low flame until goldenand a fine aroma arises. Cool and powderthe dhal. Fry the broken cashew in ghee andmix with the dhal powder. Next mix thepowdered sugar and cardamom with the dhalpowder. Take small portions of the mixtureadd hot ghee and make into balls of requiredsize. Dhal ladoo is ready to be served.

Recipe sent in by subscriber of TheLocal, Mrs Vijayalakshmi Ramachandran, Ooty.

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7

Botanical Gardens

Layout completed: 1867

Varieties of flowers: over 2000Total area: 55 acres

Garden Road, Ooty.

Choose from an exclusive variety of sweaters at the Woolen store, Commercial Road, Ooty. The Monte Carlo range of winter wear is availablein select colours for semi-formal and casual wear. You could also visit our branch at Botanical Gardens, while there. Enquiries: (0423) 2442214

Advertisement

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Not so long ago, when people traveled bythe public transport system from Ooty toBangalore, it was with great anticipationthat they crossed the Mudumalai-Bandipurstretch - will they be lucky to sight a wildanimal? Today, hordes of cars pass throughthe sanctuaries at tearing speed, only toscreech to a halt or honk with misplacedexcitement at seeing deer or elephantherds, unmindful of the repercussions.

pics:StaffPhotographer

Wildlife sighting.By chance!

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keyelements

Advertisement

Three little piggies...Life goes on, as it always has, for our animals ofthe wild. For us, have road, will travel, mightseem a fair perspective but it is not without its

responsibilities. Not many really care aboutspeed regulations. Which is why today, afterseveral gruesome accidents, involving wildanimals, access through this jungle road at theMudumalai Wildlife Sactuary is nowrestricted. Probably, till at least when we canself-regulate our actions. The piggy family isoblivious to the situation. Theyre off, as thestory goes, one to the market, one to school andanother, to meet a little friend down the road...

It is also not uncommon to see many peoplefeed monkeys and deer while the onlookersvie with each other for photography ops.

It can only be the fervent appeal to all, localsand tourists alike, to show restraint duringtheir transit through these two sanctuaries,the last of the homes for our wildlife.

Remember and remind others too, that junglesafaris, if at all, must be guided by appropriateauthorities. It is foolhardy and irresponsibleto venture too close to animals of the wild. Atbest, they deserve the privacy and space thatthey need.

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cover story

10

Are we really on track?

The Local Correspondent

Nilgiri wildlife: Sheer numbers of wild animals are clearly up butthe good tidings carry an ominous shadow - porous borders, illequipped and proportionately under staffed enforcement agencies,increasing man-animal conflicts, an apathetic local population,disconnect within NGOs and of course the looming threat of poachersand their invisible support systems.

Committed: The Nilgiri Forest department and its management teamsare highly committed to conservation but protection and preservationmust be a partnering effort feel senior officers like Dr Rajiv Srivastava(inset) who believes that self-regulation and cooperation are criticalfactors, going ahead. (Top) Elephant tracks leading into a far off fence.

piccourtesy:NRavi,W

WF,Nilgiris

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Objectives of the NWLEA, regarding translocation of animals: towards preservation of wildlifeand conservation of nature and natural resources of the Nilgiris, the association, in its constitution(1977) states, (Pursuance of) introduction, preservation and management of species of wildanimals and birds not resident in the district and the acquisition, import and exchange of anyspecies of wildlife in or out of the district; Section of the Indian Wildlife (Amendment) Actregarding destruction or damaging of wildlife habitat: Sec 27 (4) states No person shall teaseor molest any wild animal or litter the grounds of the sanctuary.

The Governmentof Uttar Pradesh has soughtclearance from the Centre to allowunrestrained hunting-down of the Nilgaibecause the over 3 lakh population of thisanimal of the wild, is causing damage to 60-70% of the pulses output in the State, statesan article in Business & Economy (Oct 09).Is this the correct approach to the situation?

The question was asked of an erstwhile shikari,a prominent environmentalist and a top forestofficial, all based in the Nilgiris. The responses

were disparate.Dr Rajiv Srivastava the present Field Director,Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, is positiveabout the future of the wildlife in the regionbased on the present state of affairs- increasein numbers. While we cannot share exactfigures for obvious reasons, it is a matter ofsatisfaction for everyone that our census ishealthy. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is, infact, one of the model regions for tigerconservation in the country.

Today, much of the state of wildlife in the

Nilgiris is dependent on timely, consensualand long term decisions. Mainly consensual.

The Nilgiri Wildlife and EnvironmentAssociation (NWLEA), a partly government- partly public represented body, was formedin 1972, after the introduction of the Indian

Wildlife Act, which, among other things,prohibited hunting - an activity that theassociation called NGA (Nilgiri GameAssociation) was engaged in. The NGA

wound up and its members paved the way forthe NWLEA with a fresh agenda -preservation of wildlife and environment.Former member and office bearer of NWLEA,

Mr Chandru Raju Bettan feels that the needof the hour today, greater than ever before, ismanagement of wildlife and not conservation.One of the countrys most revered wildlifeexperts (see interview p16) says that If our

wildlife is left entirely to the Government, soonthere may be nothing left of it. His messagecannot be misunderstood. Considering hisexperience and expertise, the message is wellplaced. In the departments own admission, theborders of the wildlife sanctuary and parts ofthe reserved forests all across the district, areporous. The senior government officer with theaccumulated experience in his present, ratherchallenging position, has made headway into

what is called social fencing, which meansengaging forest dwellers and those on theperiphery of the forests to act as informantsand guardians in the drive to protect the forests.However, a more preventive approach isrequired. One that is inclusive. The obvious

What is required today, ismanagement of our wildlifeand not conservation. - Mr ChandruRajubettan, Fmr. Secretary, NWLEA(Nilgiri Wildlife & Environment Assn)

A former member of the NWLEAand one of its earliest office bearersMr Chandru Raju Bettan, recalls ameeting he attended in Delhi, of theIndian Wildlife Board chaired by thethen Prime Minister Mrs IndiraGandhi, where as representative ofthe Nilgiri-based organisation he hadstated that wildlife must continue tobe managed and not just conserved;the idea was unacceptable to themembers.Problems of growth in large numbers(like the one being faced in the caseof the Nilgai in UP) are but inevitable

if timely and careful removal of ageinganimals, planned castration and aconstant study-based strategy,including relocation is not regularlyresorted to, cautions the erstwhileshikari, adding, As locals, we do notraise our voices anymore like we didearlier. As for the NWLEA, I felt ithad lost its voice and its waylong ago.

disconnect, at present, evoked responses asdisparate as culling to castration to plainprotests against the harming of animals whenthe question of the UPNilgais was posed tothe opinion makers and experts, locally.

Why mustnt a partnership develop withserious researchers, whose study of short andlong term aspects of the social implications asthe one presented in UP, be pivotal in avoiding

future stand-offs?Mr N Mohanraj, senior representative of

WWF (World Wildlife Fund), having doneextensive study on elephants, reiterates thatthanks to pioneering work of naturalists likeMr ERC Davidar and his documentation ofelephant corridors, policy making on the partof the government is now concerted, althoughstaggered. He agrees that the problems aremultifarious and need greater cooperation andinformation sharing from all agencies involved.

Wildlife research findings are mostly vested.In Dr Srivastavas opinion, research by itselfis not enough, the findings must be shared.

The threats to wild animals, in the meantime,are constant - both casual and serious. Casesof people venturing illegally into the forestsand drunken driving related accidents stilloccur. Litter is growing while enforcement ispoor, inspite of clear directives of the law (seebelow). As a solution, the recent closingdown of a now busy, highway at night isconsidered by many to be short termpromising great repercussion. Piloting oflorries and bus fleets at night, could beadopted to regulate speeds and spirits butfor that, the departments, on both sides ofthe State borders do not have the

wherewithal. Patrolling could deter litteringbut resources are constrained. The issue ofpoaching, on the other hand, is serious - atleast one forest personnel, after the Singaraelephant poaching incident of July last year,admitted that What we come to know of, wedo, but sometimes we may never get to know.Everything can be cleared off quickly. Thebiggest problem by far, however, are theunderlying changes taking place in theanimals habitat, mostly from proliferationof the fast spreading exotic weed lantanacamara. According to wildlife researcher, DrR. Krishnamani of The Rainforest Initiative,nearly 50% of forest area in and around the

wildlife sanctuary could now be infested withthis plant which, he says, is a double edgedsword - its ingestion causes sickness inanimals and the fast spreading plant (birdscarry its berries over distant areas) with itshardy nature, is steadily displacing much

needed grass cover. This, he says, could alsobe one of the critical factors leading to wildanimals spilling into human habitats insearch of food.

Nilgai,primarily found in North-Central India,was supposedly a feral population of theCoimbatore and Salem Collectorates (ACMcMaster. Higginbotham, 1871.) It is notclear when and why it completely vanishedand if it was a resident of the Nilgiris at all,as is believed by some. In fact, the Nilgaidoes not find mention in the earliest annualreports of the NWLEA as being sighted inthis region!

If translocation of the hapless species fromUP to the lower plateau of the Nilgiris, willbe beneficial to both regions, it is a matterthat can be studied. There will have to beconsensus and timely conclusions for it maynot be long before we are faced with a similarpredicament here. But who will lead the way?

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special section

Paramahamsa Nithyananda is the livingenlightened Master of the 21st century.He hails from India, the spiritual hub of theworld and home to the oldest living civilization

Vedic civilization. He was born inTiruvannamalai, home to the spiritual energyfield of Arunachala in South India. Right froma young age, he was an intense seeker for theultimate truth in life enlightenment. This ledto his intense training in yoga from the age ofthree, which prepared his body to hold thetremendous energy of enlightenment. As ayoung boy, his keen interest in meditation,sincere devotion to traditional rituals and deepstudy of scriptural truths are supported bythe guidance of great spiritual masters. Thisintense seeking led him to the deep spiritualexperience of enlightenment at an early age.The enlightened consciousness steered

Nithyananda to discover the purpose of hisavataric mission. He then left home on hisspiritual journey as a parivrajaka sannyasi,traversing the length and breadth of India fornine years. With a strict vow of not touchingmoney, his travels through the thousands ofvillages in India gave him a hands-on indepthunderstanding of the real needs of the commonman. This practical understanding of peoplesissues was supported by his deep spiritualstudies of the teachings and techniques fromVedanta, Tantra and other metaphysicalsciences. The intense spiritual journey ledNithyananda to the ultimate flowering of theconsciousness and the deep realization of hisavataric mission. Nithyananda Mission todayis one of the fastest growing movements formeditation, yoga, healing and spiritual sciences.Its worldwide presence includes numerousashrams and thousands of centers spreadingParamahamsa Nithyanandas timeless messageof attaining the ultimate state - livingenlightenment or jeevan mukti. The Missionuses various dimensions and paths to thus raisehuman consciousness to divine consciousness- meditation techniques, yoga, spiritual healing,traditional rituals, darshan (touch of divineenergy), holistic education, practical life skills,social services and many more. The 100%

volunteer run mission incessantly worksblissfully to spread the inner science ofenlightenment by delivering physical health,mental wellness and spiritual awakening forall beings irrespective of their race, gender ornationality.

In real life, we always look to express ourlove towards others in some tangible way.Only if love is demonstrated in tangible form,it is considered to be love nowadays.One thing: true love is like a communion. Itis a kind of resonance between two beings.

It can be felt without any expression. Itdoesnt need communication because it isalready happening as a communion.If you really love a person, then your verybody language will show it. It will be toomuch to express in words. You will feel thatany words are inadequate and will only bringdown the love that you feel. But if you areusing words, then somewhere the love hasnot really happened. When you have tospeak to express love, then somewhere thereis a lie in it! You are using the words just todecorate the lie.Real love liberates because it doesnt compel

you to express it all the time. It just is. Reallove also gives you the freedom to freelyexpress what you want to express. You caneasily express anything like disapproval oranger and it will not be mistaken for reducedlove.Not only that, with real love, there will be nodomination or power play in relationships.Each person will be like a beautiful flowerthat has blossomed to radiate its uniquefragrance, thats all.

With real love, there will be no fear orinsecurity either. In normal love, physicaldistance between two people causes a lot ofinsecurity and a lack of trust.

A small story:A young soldier went to his senior officerand said, Sir, my friend is not yet back fromthe battlefield. I request permission to go

Spirituality for all

Expressing lovefor one another isa deep radiatingfeeling, beyondwords or actions.

out and get him. The officer said, Permissionrefused. Your friend is most probably dead.I dont want you to risk your life going there.

The young soldier went all the same andcame back mortally wounded and carryingthe corpse of his friend. The officer was

furious. He shouted, I told you he was dead.Now I have lost both of you. Tell me, was it

worth going out there to bring a corpse?On the verge of dying, the soldier replied, It

was, Sir. When I got there he was still alive.He said to me, I was sure you would come.Real love doesnt look for utility. It operateson sheer trust and is also beyond space andtime. These days I see people gifting eachother with so many things to show theirlove. Gifting has become an expression oflove. If the gifting happens as causelessoverflowing, it is okay. But if it is a conditionto be fulfilled, it becomes a problem! Then

it becomes a poor substitute for real love.As long as real love is there, no relationshipcan become boring. One of the ashramitesasked me one day, Everyday you see all ofus, all our mistakes and confusions. It is thesame thing for you every day. Are you notbored by us? It was a very honest question!I told them, For enlightened beings, justbecause of their very love, they feeleverybody is unique. They do not look atpeople as mere numbers. They see eachone as unique. That is why, with so muchpatience, masters continue to work witheverybody. If it were just a matter ofnumbers, it would be very different.

When you have this love, your inner spaceis such that there is no logical reason behind

your actions. You will just feel connectedand you radiate love, thats all!

Meditation program conducted at de-addiction centre:Members of the Nithyananda Ashram introduceda simple meditation technique (Mahamantra) to the inmates of CIDSA, a de-addiction centre in Coonoor (see story,facing page). The half hour meditation includes a steady chant at an audible level - this technique is said toenergise the individual, allowing deep concentration. Sr. Kanika Mary of the de-addiction centre said that thisexercise showed remarkable change in the inmates : I found them active after the session. Days later, it alsoseemed like their ability to concentrate had improved.

To watch video clips of ParamahamsaNithyanandas talks, log on to http://youtube.com/lifeblissfoundation. Readersmay also log on to www.nithyananda.org

Excerpts from the book, Guaranteed Solutions.

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I had my first drinkwhen I was 18-a friendintroduced me to it. Initially, it was once amonth but soon it became once a week. Andthen, when would drink with friends, I wouldbe the one to invariably get drunk . On someoccasions, my family members would cometo know and hence I would try to hide mybreath or come home late but when I was

drunk, they would get to know-My familythen decided that if they got me married,my problem of drinking would sort itself out-

They got me married, early.

A former alcoholic, in a deliberate attempt toreach out to the present inmates of CIDSA, arehabilitation home locally, unhesitantly poursout his lifes experiences with alcohol and howit engulfed him and his family. Today, he isreformed. He is fine inspiration to othersensnared by the problem of alcoholism.

My drinking, after marriage only got worse-My father stopped talking to me-youngerbrothers began to avoid me. I started to drink

every day-my two little daughters wereafraid to come to me. I did not even know, atone stage, which classes they were in. I hada thriving business. It did not last for toolong-I started to drink during the day-I

would go to the shop having already had alot to drink-my customers fell out, one byone.Whatever money I had, I used it todrink-if I had ten rupees or if I had thousandrupees, it would all go into buying a bottle-If Idid not have enough money, I wouldborrow-I even had credit arrangements withthe liquor shop. I would be found lying drunkon the roadside, during day or night.

My wife stopped going tofamily functions-she could not bear the shame-I tell you, thewife of an alcoholic suffers twice as much asanyone else. One day she took unwell and

was admitted late at night, to a local hospital-I had not returned home yet. A neighbourinformed me in the morning about theepisode of the previous night-I went to thenearest liquor shop, had some more to drinkand came back home and slept. My wifereturned home, treated... T e s t i m o n y o f a n a l c o h o l i c

...Months later, she accidentally came acrossa rehabilitation centre attached to St

Josephs Convent in Coonoor. I dont knowhow and when I complied to come to thede-addiction centre but I did. It has sincebeen a long but meaningful journey back tothe mainstream.. Today, I am respected inmy family, my business is revived, our

relatives and the community we live in havenot only accepted me back, they have alsogiven me a prominent place in society - Ipresently head a local welfare association!My brothers now look to me for advice (myfather died long ago). My daughters aredoing well in college. My wife has been mybiggest source of support. Take heart. It isimportant to understand that getting out ofalcohol is important, but staying out, is morecritical...

First hand account: The inmates of CHIDSA, Coonoor,

listening intently to a former alcoholic who shared experiencesof his amazing recovery.

Centre for IntegratedDevelopment and SocialAction (CIDSA), wasestablished in 1997.

It is a deaddiction-centre withmedical treatment and

counselling provided. Theprogram is residential, with thealcoholic and his spouse stayingtogether. The total duration forthis program is 10 days.

For more details contact: (0423)2236604. The de-addictioncentre is managed by the sistersof St Josephs Convent, Coonoor.

Climate change.Contd from p 513% deficient monsoons this year, cannotbe entirely relied upon any longer.Mitigation and adaptation are political andscientific buzz words. I'll dwell uponadaptation which entails how humans canadjust to climate change. For instance floodor drought proofing - laws could banresidence and cultivation in low lying areas.A flash flood here could be disastrous.However much our governments arefascinated by the market; citizens' welfareneeds to be a non negotiable constitutional

duty. Amartya Sen has said, 'droughts orfloods need not necessarily cause human

misery. Inefficient and indifferentadministration and governance does.In the Nilgiris, tea factories and automobilesare big carbon emission sources. Whilefactories must adopt environment friendlytechnologies and energy sources, thegovernment needs to subsidise the effort. Aclean and efficient public transport systemthat caters to different types of tourists mustbe designed. We locals need to walk the talk.As for adaptation, planters and small growerscould talk to UPASI for scientific input onthe links between climate change and

perennial cropping. Agriculture collegescientists could engage with our vegetable

farmers. Poor and vulnerable people livingnear canals need to be evacuated and settledin publicly built quarters or colonies. Thestate meteorology department in Chennaineeds to open shop in Ooty and help inbuilding local climate models and mustconstantly impart accessible and reliableinformation through various channels. Weas average citizens with abilities to consumeand waste at ease, need to do our bit becauseevery bit matters. It is appropriate toconclude with the Mahatma's advice - 'Bethe change you want to see.

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local enterprise

14

Mrs Geetha Jaiprakashs responses toeach question, in an impromptuinterview, recently, are as clear cut asthe apparel that she designs.

Why did you take interest in dressmaking? There was nothing much elsethat we could do then to keep usoccupied, she replies matter-of-fact.Her tutor was the Polish-born (late) MrSimenes (legendary tailor of yesteryears).

What was special about Mr Simenes?

He was exacting and he always taughtus through practical experience,reminisced Mrs Jaiprakash. He wouldfirst get us to learn to make a dress forourselves. Its a separate matter thatinitially, it all came out nearly undone,she laughingly shares.I did not imagine that much later, I

would actually start up a boutique.Fine Things came into being after severaltimes of having persuaded her husbandto approach the building owners in anupcoming complex at Bedford, inCoonoor, to book a small space for her

venture. Today, some fifteen years later,the enterprising lady is delighted toshare that she also has customers frombeyond the district who just call up tosay, stitch me a dress with a fabric of

Fit and fabric are the keyelements to a good apparel.

Legal Provisions regardingremoval of a liquor shopfrom a locality.

Continued overleaf

Call 97905 90570or email yourqueries to thelocaleditor@gmail.com

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A perfect fit

Sir,Your quiz on the Nilgiri MountainRailway (NMR) in the Sep 10, 2009 issueof The Local has made me overcome myinertia and write to correct somemisconceptions about the NMR.

While alternate biting teeth is aningenious expansion, actually the Abtsystem is named after Roman Abt, aSwiss locomotive engineer who workedfor Niklaus Riggenbach at his works inOlten and later at his IGB rack locomotivecompany. The Abt systemusing solidbars with vertical teeth machined intothem is cheaper to build than theRiggenbach systemwhich uses a ladderrack, formed of steel plates or channelsconnected by round or square rods atregular intervals.

Also, while the NMR is the only rackrailway in India, it is by no means theonly one in the world. For example, theSnowdon Mountain Railway to thesummit of Snowdon, the highest peak inEngland and Wales, is very similar,though it runs over a shorter distanceand uses a narrower gauge (800 mminstead of 1000 mm).

Yours sincerely,

J Mukund,Coonoor

Letters to the Editor

Thank you for your clarification. It willcorrect the record for certain historicalreferences, locally, that, as you said,have ingeniously expanded Abt as wepublished in the Sept 09 issue.

It is equally interesting to learn thatthere is a similar type of railwayelsewhere, albeit of a narrower guage.

Editor.

Correction regardinginformation on NMR.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve(NBR) wasconstituted on 1st Sep 1986 under UNESCOSMan and Biosphere Programme. It is thefirst Biosphere Reserve in India. The totalarea of NBR is 5520.40 sq.km and falls inTamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. TheKerala part of the Reserve consists of1455.40 sq.km. The forest tract in the Keralapart of NBR consists of the forest areas ofWyanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Silent ValleyNational Park, Nilambur South, NilamburNorth, Palakkad, Mannarkkad , Kozhikodeand Wayanad south divisions. The NilgiriBiosphere Reserve was incorporated intothe world network of Biosphere Reservesby UNESCOon 10.11.2000.

S a ar... post! With this announcement,rushing footsteps fight to get to the preciousbit of communication first. Every member ofthe household rushes for the letter hoping itmight be for them and eager to know from

whom it is. After its contents are shared andthe letter has gone through all the hands, itis tucked into the old letters pile for futurereading...

All of this happened when the Post & Telegraphs departments systems were attheir peak of service. Alas, now in the 21st

century, no one bothers about the postmanscall as only telephone bills, some magazinesetc., are delivered at the door step and arepicked up by the household helper.

The art of letter writing is dying. Few havethe time anymore, or the patience, to write afull length letter in their own hand writing.People have been led to using machines,gadgets and cell phones, which, thoughconvenient, have led to physical and mentallaziness. We do not want to sit and devote

time to give our side of news to our dear ones.The attitude is, why waste time, paper andenergy. Send an email instead or easier still,an SMS.

When a letter is written, it conveys the news.It also conveys the concern, the love andaffection to the receiver. Letters can be

written to people who celebrate joyousoccasions. It can also be written to those whoare in sorrow and are bereaved. A letter tothose on their sick bed is perhaps the bestmedicine. Most letters are preserved. Ifloneliness creeps in, these preserved letters

are retrieved, giving timely solace. On theother hand, envelopes bearing beautifulstamps are carefully put away.Philately is highly educative and stampcollecting is an inexpensive hobby. Letters of

world leaders such as Pandit Nehru, PresidentAbraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill and

many others are published in book forms andsome of the originals are preserved inmuseums too.

A l e t t e r a m o n t hDeena Michael

Readers write

Preserved:An old letter preserved by the writer.

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local issue

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your choice! Obviously themeasurements and the tastes of eachcustomer are all put away in Geethaslittle book and her sharp mind. Sharp,because the entrepreneur with nobusiness school background, has a keen

eye for changes in trends. Now that youasked, I think it is something that we(referring to her small team of a storeassistant and an experienced tailor) learntover the years, by observation andinteraction with our customers.Keen as ever, the lady is observant ofthe requirements of a defence officers

wife who had walked in while we werehalfway through our interview - Wecould alter the garment, slightly, if youprefer, she says across the compactshowroom.Salwars are mostly stitched to order.

Some readymade pieces are also ondisplay for those who might want topick something on the run. How longdoes it take for someone to pick a dress

or a dress material? Sometimes in a fewminutes, sometimes a few days! Geetha,

you tell me what is best for me, saycustomers who naturally warm to thishands-on lady instantly. I try my bestto suggest what might be good for the

client. Each individual has a distinctrequirement. The shoulders, the heightand even the way one carries herself -all important while designing a salwar.I learnt early that fit and fabric are keyto an individuals clothing. You couldhave a great finish but if the fabric isnot up to the mark, it will have been a

wasted effort.Would you think you made the rightchoice of career, in hindsight? I think I

would have been happy doing anything.Even agriculture! My family istraditionally agriculture-based.

Would you encourage youngsters to takeup apparel design and manufacture?Certainly, yes. It is very fulfilling to getthe perfect fit. Time and again.

Individualistic:

Geetha Jaiprakash, a firstgeneration entrepreneur,has fashioned a nicheenterprise for herself whichis an inspiration to youngfolk, today.

Subscriptions to The Local, are opened effective October 09. Please subscribe/renew your subscription through thefollowing methods: Demand draft/local cheque favouring The Local Media Publishing Co,. (or) by a Money order to TheEditor, The Local Media Publishing Co,. 10/363-Y-1, AVK Post, Nilgiris - 643202. Call: (0) 97905 90570.1 Year subscription: Rs. 180/- for 12 issues, incl. postage & handling.Local

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Two sidesof the coin

Published on behalf ofThe 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

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Kumaraiah keeps calling me toMasinagudi, but I havent gone in a while,shares Mr ERC Davidar, the widelyacclaimed naturalist and wildlife expert.He visits me whenever I go to the hills.But while there, my sons restrain me a bitbecause Kumaraiah likes to take hold ofmy leg and pull it you see! (see pic, p 2).

Now, if the famed naturalist was pullingmy leg by not disclosing that his friendis an elephant or if he simply overlookedthe fact, I will not be able to tell but this isthe essence of the revered mans fascinatingpersonality - one minute, deep in seriousand contemplative thought and the nextmoment, jovial, having just cracked ahilarious joke even if it were on himself orone of his own. An old photo album that

we were sifting through at his home inDavid Nagar, Padapai near Chennai,showed a picture of one of his brothersalongside a deer that he had shot.Thats my brother and this shot was afluke. There is long silence. Why was ita fluke? (I was too curious to let it pass).He had gone to answer Natures call andthe deer walked right into him. You know,

we all called it the sh#@ shot, says thesenior man amid uproarious laughter!

Mr Davidars game reputation was wellknown in those circles. He, alongwith hissoul mate and friend, the late RichardRadcliffe (of the Nilgiri Wildlife andEnvironment Association, NWLEA)

were considered the best shots of theirtime. They were, it seems, called in by theadministration once, to put away a rogue.

We relentlessly tracked it knowing that ifit crossed over at the border, the Maharajaand his entourage would get into the fray.However, the shikari turnedconservationists reputation for intrinsicknowledge and exhaustive documentationof several important wildlife species ofSouth India is twice as large. Hisdocumentation of elephant corridors is thesingle-point source of information forresearchers and government agencies alike.His books on the Chital, the Nilgiri Tahrand even a childrens special called Peckythe Woodpecker, are gripping.Favourite animal? The Nilgiri Tahr!Forgettable experience? An angry bisonhad gored him and then pounded his ribson one of his lone nature expeditions. Didhe think he would survive? The pointlessquestion is dismissed with silence.

What is the state of our wildlife today?

What can I say now? What is certain isthat if our wildlife is left entirely in thehands of the Government, there may soonbe nothing left of it. Such a seriousassessment can only come from a man ofhis stature. The forest department is ill-equipped to tackle todays challenges, MrDavidar states, with resignation in his

voice. Tackling poachers, for instance,requires more. I used to encounter thesedangerous elements on numerousoccasions. Regarding research, public-private partnership is important. Its theonly way we can know more, sooner.

The role of organisations like NWLEAis also vital. (Mr Davidar was instrumentalin framing the associations bye-laws andits regulations. He was Hony, Secretaryof this influential body for several years).

I realise that here are more than two sidesto this timeless coin - the eldest son of athen High Court Judge, Mr Davidarbecame a lawyer and practised in Ooty

with King & Partridge, before pursuinghis lifetime passion that is wildlifeconservation. I am master of none, MrDavidar grins, but I recognise that smileby now - he is only pulling my leg.

wildlife

The iconic naturalist, sharesserious thoughts on the issue of

wildlife, but not without thetouch of his large- hearted and

sometimes cynical, humour.

email: glendale@dataone.in