EBR along with TNS has been supporting numerous Toda cultural projects. Some recent projects include the building of a sacred buffalo pen at Inkity, which was supported by Mr Aroon Raman and Mrs Jenny Pinto. Earlier, the sacred buffalo pen at Konawsh was redone with special stone pen-posts; this was enabled by grants from WWF-India and the Dancing Star Foundation. EBR has also supported myriad cultural ventures ranging from migration to seasonal hamlets, rebuilding and rethatching of dairy-temples, to giving sacred buffaloes to clans.
Preserving Toda Cultural Heritage
The Todas—the indigenous people of the Nilgiri Hills of southern India—are synonymous with their herds of buffaloes. The majestic countenance of the Todas along with their unique barrel-vaulted huts and temples, also their equally striking herds of buffaloes with their large size and often massive, upward pointing horns, have attracted the curiosity of outsiders ever since the Nilgiri Hills were ‘opened’ up two-centuries ago.
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The Todas
The Toda culture, and to a large extent, their economic sustenance, revolves around their buffaloes. The Toda temples are basically divided into five existing grades of sacred dairies that have corresponding grades of sacred buffaloes associated with each. Only the man who becomes the priest by undergoing elaborate ordination ceremonies in the forest—that often vary according to the grade or level of sanctity of that temple—can milk the sacred buffaloes associated with his temple grade. By incorporating a mind-boggling array of rituals that vary from one grade to another, the dairyman-priest then milks the sacred herds and processes the milk into butter, buttermilk, curd, and ghee (clarified butter). In case a particular grade of temple has no corresponding grade of buffaloes remaining, then they cannot substitute with other grades of sacred buffaloes, and they would then have to borrow from another clan that has the same grade of buffaloes, or else, the temple would have to be closed down. Similarly, if a particular grade of temple becomes defunct due to some reason, then their corresponding sacred herds cannot be utilised anywhere else.
Toda Cultural Projects
Our Toda cultural project aims to preserve and revitalize the rich traditions, arts, and heritage of the Toda people for future generations.
During the past decade, Todas from the orthodox community have begun pursuing modern education—completing high school and even graduating at the university level. EBR is at the forefront of this endeavour—with several of them studying at prestigious boarding schools, like the Riverside Public School, the Cliff Preparatory School and the Woodside School, on full scholarship. Unique Public School, Ooty also provides two free seats annually to Toda kids based on our recommendation. Numerous other students are being fully or partially supported at many other schools. At the college level, we have supported, or are supporting, Todas who are the first lawyer, several nurses, two engineers, teachers and many other graduates. We are thankful to these schools mentioned above, along with many donors like Mrs Mariam Ram, Mr Aroon Raman, Mr Srinath, Mr Arvind Sethi, Mr Rudy Gopalakrishnan, MMMRF, DSF, Dr Arundhati Das and other philanthropists, thanks to whom over thirty-five Todas are being supported.
As mentioned, TNS was instrumental in obtaining the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) patent from the Govt. of India. EBR and TNS regularly sends women artisans to workshops and events nationally. At many functions, we organise stalls where Toda embroidery products can be sold; the traditional barrel-vaulted structure that was erected by the TNS within the Govt. Botanical Garden in 1996, continues to function as an outlet.
Toda Livelihood Support
