All about Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder, the great Badaga Leader

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Badagas of the Blue Mountains…..their unique history, origin, culture, customs, rituals, language and lifestyle !!

Weblog of Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash [bjaypee@gmail.com]

Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder

[above - text] From the book ” A BADAGA - ENGLISH DICTIONARY ” by Prof.Paul Hockings and Christiane Pilot-Raichoor

4th December 2008, was the115th birthday of the great Badaga leader

Rao Bahadur HB Ari Gowder….

Bowing our heads in silent reverence for all that he had done to our community…

so that we can hold our heads high !

We pay our homage on the 37th death anniversary [28-06-08]

Ad put in ‘The Hindu’

Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder, the first Badaga graduate, first Badaga M.L.C & M.L.A for a long time who had brought many reforms in/to Badaga Community including ‘prohibition’ (no alcohol - kudi) to Nilgiris in British days itself. Ari Gowder lead the Indian contigent (yes, “INDIAN CONTIGENT) to World Scouts Jumboree held in Europe in the 1930s.

Being a great philanthrophist he had done a lot for the betterment of Badagas. He was the one who established Nilgiri Co-Op Marketting Society at Ooty, to save the small farmers-especially Badagas- from the exploits of middlemen & traders at Mandis in Mettupalayam. He was the President of NCMS for more than 30 years, till his death and NCMS was considered one of the best co-op societies in India during his days. His statue has been erected in the NCMS compound in appreciation of his great work.

Since he donated the land, the road in front of Mambalam Railway Station in Chennai (Madras) is named after him (known as Arya Gowder Street). Both were held in great esteem and considered as the ‘ Uncrowned King ‘ of Nakku Betta by Badagas.

A POSTAGE STAMP IS LIKELY TO BE RELEASED IN HIS HONOUR BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA !

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Medal Awarded to Ari Gowder in 1935 and 1937 by British Raj

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Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder

[Uncrowned 'King' of the Nilgiris]

Compiled by A.Kari Gowder and published ( May 2006)

" Prongadu Seeme Welfare Association "

C-10 Hope Park, Kotagiri, Nilgiris - 643217, Tamil Nafu (India)

Born -: 04 - 12 - 1893 : Died -: 26-06-1971

Parents - Rao Bahadur H.J.Bellie Gowder and Lakshmi Nanji Ammal

Brothers - : Haldorai, Bhoja Gowder, Raju Gowder and Joghee Gowder, Sister- Mrs. Idy Ammal

Wife - Gauri Ammal

son - Bhojraj

1. Ari Gowder was born in a wealthy family. (Eldest son of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder)

2. He was the first Badaga graduate.

3. He was not associated with any political party but was a true representative of the people, a powerful orator and welfare minded social reformer

Compiled by A.Kari Gowder and published ( May 2006) by

" Prongadu Seeme Welfare Association "

C-10 Hope Park, Kotagiri, Nilgiris - 643217, Tamil Nafu (India)

Mrs. Gauri Ammal , wife of Ari Gowder

(Original painting by a Britisher [1917?)

Mrs.Idy Ammal, sister of Ari Gowder

Ari Gowder 's son H.A.Bhojraj who was the first Badaga to win the South India Golf Championship

Ari Gowder's son Bhojraj, Daughter -in- law Rukmani (Daughter of Kundah Ketchigatti B.K.Bella Gowder) and grand children Nandini, Jaiprakash and Tara

Ari Gowder's grand daughter Tara with her husband Wg.Cdr.Bellie Jayaprakash (Grandson of Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder and son of Ari Gowder's sister Mrs.Idyammal)

>Photos : (Courtesy Rao Bahadur Ari Gowder Family) -

Digitised by Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash

End of an ERA

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No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

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