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Although in numbers the Todas are by far the least among the
native dwellers of the Nilgiris,
yet by reason of their antiquity, peculiar features, dwellings, modes of
life and livelihood, the greatest interest attaches to them.
Their Origin
Many theories as to their racial origin have been advanced; that, on
account of their peculiarities of features and dress, they are of Roman
descent; and even that they are of the lost tribes of Israel. But Dr.
Cardwell's theory that they are a Dravidian race of Scythian origin driven
from the plains by Aryan invasions is the most generally accepted.
But the Todas themselves believe that God dropped a pearl on the
Nilgiris, out of which sprang the mother Goddess, Thakkirsi, who, with a
tap of her cane, created, out of the dust of the hills, the first Toda and
his Buffalo. The influence of this legend on the Toda life and religion is
profound, for their entire social and religious life revolves around their
buffaloes and it is only with much reluctance that a Toda can be forced
out of, what he believes, in his birthplace in the Blue Mountains (The
Nilgiris).
But whatever their early history, they have been regarded by other hill
tribes as lords of soil, and accordingly collected, and still in a measure
collect. As a consequence, perhaps, the Todas are most dignified in their
bearing. They are well build, and of medium height; the men averaging five
feet four inches, and the women, five feet. They are being almost European
contour, with decidedly Roman noses, bright hazel eyes, good teeth, and an
abundance of rather coarse but glossy black hair, which is worn in a crop
by the men but in thick ringlets by the women. The expression of their
countenance is open, fearless, and agreeable, and their smile pleasant,
though rather vacant.
Way Of Life
The Todas lived in a village, which is called as "Mund". The
dress of the Todas is simple but picturesque. They wear the traditional "Puthkuli",
a unisex garment of coarse, white cloth embroidered in red, blue and black
with Toga-style.
Their houses are igloo-like oval-pent-shaped huts made of bamboo and
dried grass fastened together with rattan, and thatched. The entrance is
small and access to the inside is possible only by crawling. Inside is a
single large room with an elevated sleeping platform on one side and space
for cooking and the kitchen shelves on the other. Outside the one-roomed
house is a raised platform for sun basking.
The Toda temple in each Mund is similar to these huts, though they may be
slightly bigger and have walls of stone slabs instead of wooden planks
plastered with dung and clay as in the case of the dwellings. Toda women
are not allowed anywhere near these temples, or near the other Toda
cathedral (which are called as "Boa"). Only four of these tall,
conical structures remain today and are hence of much interest to the
visitors. But the Todas themselves do not consider these temples very
important.
Culture
Todas wealth are measured by Buffaloes they have, and, hence, all
misdemeanors have to be compensated for ion heads of buffalo stipulated by
the caste council; buffaloes are sacrificed at funerals so that the dead
man may continue to live in comfort in Amnor (the underworld), bamboo milk
container and churners are the main object of worship in the Mund temples
and the main prayer of the Todas, when translated, means "May all be
well with the male children, the men, the buffaloes, the female calves and
everyone".
Marriage Ceremonies
Besides their simple lifestyle that has, for centuries, revolved around
their magnificent, long-horned buffaloes, the Toda System of Marriage has
also generated much interest. Marriage ties are very loose and frequent
exchange of marriage partners (for a price, of course, to be paid in
buffaloes by the man who covets another's wife) and extra-marital sexual
liaisons are a way of life. Significantly, there are no words in the Toda
language for 'adultery' and 'illegitimate'.
The Toda culture recognizes only the 'social' father accords the newborn
with the sub-caste and caste affiliations of this father who is wedded to
a woman on the new moon day of her seventh month of her pregnancy in a
quaint ceremony called "Purshutt".
The woman chooses the 'husband' and the caste council and the 'marriage'
is said to have been performed after the presentation of a miniature bow
and arrow by the man to the woman. Thereafter, the man is accepted as the
'father of all the children the woman gives birth to, even if it may be
after her 'husband's death. She may, of course, opt for a change of
partner, in which case the new man in her life will present her with a bow
and arrow and her 'husband' with the stipulated number of buffaloes.
The Todas, only about a thousand of whom are left today, are a simple,
good-natured clan, all and aristocratic in bearing, copper-toned and
sharp-featured. The men tend to the Buffaloes and the women crafts fancy
ringlets and silver jewellery and embroider shawls and bed and table lined
for the tourist market.
The lure of the modern world is beginning to catch up with the Todas.
Concrete structures are beginning to replace the traditional Toda huts and
many of their youth are stepping out of their Munds to mingle with
civilized people, to study and work in offices. But they are a fiercely
independent people, proud of their heritage of history and culture. At
social gatherings of the Todas even today, the traditional rites are still
observed and the laws laid down by the elders are still followed.