A view into the life and culture of the
Todas, a primeval race of people living in the inner Nilgiris, secluded safely in
the folds of the Western Ghats. This is what dentist turned accomplished
ecologist , Dr Tarun Chhabra offered us in his day-long
workshop at GSFS. His non-profit trust EBR - Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge –
is institutional in the ecological and cultural restoration of the Upper
Nilgiris.
He
took us back in time, exploring the Todas’ ways of life, pastoral culture and
their intricate relationship with the environment. Dr Chhabra’s research and
photography skills showcased his extraordinary documentation of the lives of
the Todas and other tribes of the Nilgiris, such as the Irulas, Badagas,
Kurumbas, Kotas and so on.
Our
knowledge of flowers, plants and trees are quite limited; but this practicing
dentist showed us that there’s more to the flora and fauna of the Nilgiris, and
the close-knit community living of the Todas. The tribals use specific plant
species in their rites of passage, in the construction of their traditional
dwellings and dairy-temples and even for denoting a person’s age, wisdom and
anxiety levels accurately. They have also used the flowering cycles of plants
to even denote the different stages of each season.
In
the workshop, yesterday, we were witness to the artistic expressions of Mother
Nature – photographs of the rare Cobra Lily and the family of Impatiens, which
are endemic to the Upper Nilgiris. He also explained to us the seeming resemblance
between various animals of the Nilgiris to those of the Himalayas.
We
were awestruck to see how a dentist so passionately and meticulously documented
decades of life of the Todas, especially their ecology and anthropology. The
systematic planning and execution of his research transported into an ancient
world, untouched by civilization and technology.
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Mrs. Neetha Natraj
Dean- GSFS
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Address by
Dr. Tarun Chhabra
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