THUDI - REVISITED

THUDI – The Beat
By Nithil

You must be wondering! Why I have titled this article as THUDI ? May be wondering what it means ?
“Wait let me explain it”.

THUDI means ‘The Beat’.

It was a journey through wilderness in search of an unknown civilization found in The Nilgiris. The Nilgiris is situated at the confluence of three states namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and karnataka. The journey took me to the place were the Western and the Eastern Ghats meet.
This place has been inhabited by indigenous people who have been living here time immemorial. This can be proved by the findings of aborigines in the hilly terrains. They were mostly Cists & Dolmens. Observing these remains you are taken back to a completely new age – probably times when the Dinosours ruled the World. It might look like I am exaggerating a little bit, but believe me its not. I am talking about people who are the descendents of these long lost tradition who have carried the unique features from genealogy to literature and culture.


Finding my way through thick jungles I barely had a clue what was in store for me. It looked like a treasure hunt. Passing through rivulets, escaping the leech bites, listening to the call of the nightingale and following the Malabar Squirrel…. Ummm!!! Finally it was time for me to encounter the ‘REAL PEOPLE’.
Yes, I mean what I said ‘REAL PEOPLE’. They look like the true descendants of the Earth.

The meeting opened up a lot of Questions in my mind. I had a bell ringing in my head questioning the very existence of my life. What am I doing? Were I? What’s happening to the World? Is my existence a hindrance to God’s original plan when he created this Universe!!!

Amazing!!!! May be I am just not getting the right word to express what I felt. The Paniyas for instance look like the direct descendants of the Tribes in Africa (Researchers have traced the first MOMMY to the existing African Tribes), and Yes! Now you guys must be wondering why people look different. The difference in skin texture, color and the different races has been attributed to the climate and ‘The basic theory of USER and NON USER Theory of evolution’.

Now you must be wondering why I am so excited about what I saw. The things that fascinated me most was the simple life they have. They depend on the resources provided by Mother Earth, combined with the physical abilities which are very naturally part of every human being, they make merry living. The thought that crossed my mind when I contemplated on this was “How dependent are we on gadgets”. We need washing machines to wash our clothes, Air Conditioners to pollute the already existing dilapidated air and not to mention our dependence on Cell phones YUCK!!.


I felt very small and weak in front of them. They are the true descendants. They have a peaceful yet satisfied life. No needs except for the basics of existence.
That is what is called THUDI – The Beat. Their everyday existence is managed by the distant sounds of nature, the beautiful environment they have and the unique ways of their life in tune with their surroundings.

Can you in your wildest dreams think about living or rather going back to such a state?
NOOOOO…..
Yes, probably at least once in your lifetime you should to experience the solitude, the peace and happiness in living a life of the ORIGINAL PEOPLE. I have never felt so fruitful in my life when I met these very simple and happy people. I left with the thought of being Born Again like Them!!!!!

NARIKURAVAS

NARIKURAVAS

NARIKURAVAS

NARIKURAVAS

NARIKURAVAS

NARIKURAVAS