A.Dharmalingam, Journalist of the Nilgiris
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A. Dharmalingam Journalist of The Nilgiris Developments in Post-Independence Decades Edited by Dharmalingam Venugopal Nilgiri Documentation Centre 2013 (ii) Published by : Nilgiri Documentation Centre John Sullivan Memorial Kannerimukku Village Kotagiri The Nilgiris - 643 217. Cover photo by : R.A.Das Contents of the book may be reproduced with due acknowledgement. Price: Rs.250/- Printed by : BB Printers, Chennai-5. (iii) Foreword I do not believe I ever met A. Dharmalingam. I say this rather tentatively as I, in my ninth year at that time, spent nearly a month in Ooty in 1954 with my parents. It is impossible that my father, the late Devadas Gandhi, who was Managing Editor of ‘The Hindustan Times’, would have failed to meet this unusual fellow-walker on the street of ink. And I as one, who had attached himself to his father's hands, going wherever he went, sitting by his side wherever he settled down for a chat or a coffee, or just to take the beauty of the Nilgiris in, must have been an impish and irritating interference in their conversation. And A. Dharmalingam would not have missed the chance to spend as much time as he could have with this visitor who was also a friend of his own editor, Kasturi Srinivasan. Reading this little book on the engaging life of this field journalist is an absolute delight. It brings to life more than one man's story. It opens up as if through a mist, the kind one sees of any morning in the Nilgiris, the rich and riveting life in those hills, and then again, not just as A. Dharmalingam saw it, but as he recalled it from his own reading and research. This book is both a biographical study of a most fascinating person and a geographical biography of an area, the Nilgiris. Dharmalingam was not just knowledgeable about the place he belonged to but was in love with it, in awe of it. One might say he was obsessed with it. And what an enchanting obsession that was! Apart from a most heart-warming memoir by his son, Dharmalingam Venugopal, the volume contains a careful selection of his writings on the place, giving us glimpses of visitors to it. It also offers through cameos and vignettes word-pictures of the little events and occurrences in the tract which have long since left active public recalling and narratives. (iv) The circumstances of a tragic plane crash in 1950, the "Late Blight' on the hills' potato crops, the revival of Toda embroidery, are only few of the exquisite depictions which tell us of how time and the Nilgiris have engaged each other. I congratulate Sri. Venugopal on compiling this study of his father, which if not done now and by his hands of filial understanding, may never have come to be done. And certainly not with this compelling appeal. Gopalkrishna Gandhi Chairman, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai Chairman, Governing Body, Indian Institute of Advanced Study Former Governor of West Bengal (v) Preface Every profession has a set of universal values. So does journalism. Journalistic values are the same whether one reports international or local news; political or 'page three' news; defence or development news. Today these values have come under severe pressure what with ‘paid’ and ‘planted’ news doing the rounds globally. The very purpose and principles of one of world’s oldest professions has come under question. Mahatma Gandhi, one of greatest journalists ever lived, said, 'In the very first month of Indian Opinion, I realized that the sole aim of journalism should be service'. In recent years Mark Deuze, has listed 'five ideal-typical traits or values” of journalism as public service, objectivity, autonomy, immediacy and ethics. Tan Hongkai, a Chinese reporter writes, “I think journalism anywhere should be based on social justice and impartiality, making contributions to society as well as taking responsibility in society. Whether you are capitalist or socialist or Marxist, journalists should have the same professional integrity.” My late father Andi Dharmalingam conformed steadfastly to the purpose and principles of true journalism for nearly fifty years in the Nilgiris. He could have moved on to the state level (with ‘The Hindu’) or to the national level (as suggested by the legendary editor of ‘Indian Express’, Frank Mores) but my father was contend to think globally but act locally. He reported news truthfully, accurately and fearlessly. As John Burns of ‘New York Times’ said, 'I have to be accurate; I don't have to be impartial'. He feared no one but was never impolite or rude. He spoke his mind naturally and spontaneously no matter how big or important the person being spoken to. As Helen Thomas says, 'I do not think a tough question is disrespectful'. This volume has two purposes. One, it will hopefully make a happy reading for the thousands in Nilgiris and elsewhere to whom my father had endeared himself during his lifetime by his service, honesty and integrity. Secondly, the collection of his articles presented here covers the developments in the Nilgiris in the immediate decades after independence, a period on which not much literature is available. (vi) . “Dedicated to My dear mother who was a simple, yet a noble soul” (vii) Acknowledgement I gratefully acknowledge ‘The Hindu’ for providing me with copies of father's articles and news items from their archives. I am extremely grateful to Shri.Gopalkrishna Gandhi, former Governor of West Bengal and Chairman, Kalakshetra Foundation for his kind and generous foreword. I am thankful to Mrs. Kamala, Ooty for providing editorial support for writing the biographical sketch of my father. I thank all those who provided bits and pieces of information about my father. I acknowledge the contribution of my family to bring out this publication. This book is dedicated to my dear mother . (v) CONTENTS Introduction ........................................................................1 Andi Gowder ........................................................................3 Andi Dharmalingam .............................................................5 Dharmalingam and I ...........................................................14 Exceptional Encounters .....................................................18 Selected articles by A. Dharmalingam Air-India Plane Crash ........................................................................28 Lac Cultivation and Its Importance...................................................33 Welfare of The Todas ........................................................................36 Teak in Nilambur ..............................................................................42 The Potato in the Nilgiris...................................................................45 The Pasteur Institute .........................................................................49 A Marvel of Engineering Skill............................................................52 The Wynaad Colonisation Scheme..................................................57 Staff College at Wellington Training For Defence Services .............61 Research in Nutrition Valuable Work at Coonoor ............................66 Paper from Eucalyptus Bark.............................................................72 Arts College for Ooty .....................................................................75 Age-long Dispute Among Badagas Settled ....................................80 Ooty to Mysore by Road...................................................................82 Kundah Hydel Project.......................................................................86 Lovedale School Centenary .............................................................89 The “Neilgherries Library” ................................................................93 Tourism In The Nilgiris necessity for promotion...............................96 Water supply in Ootacamund Improvement Scheme .....................98 Accommodation in Ooty Urgent need for Tourist Home ..............100 Ootacamund Season A Retrospect .............................................. 102 Potato Blight in Nilgiris Heavy Loss to Growers ............................104 (vi) Major Industries in Nilgiris steps to Redress Backwardness .......107 Ootacamund Municipal Dairy Farm ...............................................109 Fruit and Vegetable Cultivation in Nilgiris ......................................112 "Kedu" Ceremony Todas to consider discontinuance....................115 Toda Embroidery ............................................................................117 Welfare of Tribals effect of Govt. Scheme ......................................119 Misery Stalks Nilgiris Potato Growers' Condition...........................121 Industrial Potentialities of Nilgiris District .......................................124 Second Phase of The Kundah Project ...........................................127 Nilgiris Farm Project: Survey to be made ......................................136 Indo-German Farming Project in Nilgiris........................................137 Indo- German Farm Project in Nilgiris Inaugurated .......................139 Development of Nilgiris: Indo-German Project ..............................141 Indo-German Project In Nilgiris ......................................................143 'Kurinji' The Wonder Plant...............................................................144 Evening College at Ooty.................................................................146 A Governor Incognito .....................................................................148