Ooty is among the top favourite weekend destinations for those in Coimbatore, but very few know it intimately. We swing by as tourists, rarely stopping by to discover its hidden charms.
We buy everything touristy, including shawls and stoles bearing Toda embroidery, but don’t really delve deep into the history or cultural significance of the pastoral tribe.

Which is why, you must read on. Here is the story of a dentist Tarun Chhabra, who was re-introduced to Toda culture in his mid-20s, while glancing through books in a local library. He went through a transformation and has worked with them for decades now.

Tarun, who is fluent in the Toda language, has also set up two NGOs — Edhkwehlynawd Botanical Refuge Centre Trust, which works to conserve the flora and fauna of the Nilgiris and re-establish native species; and the Toda Nalavaazhvu Sangam.

Dr. Tarun has written many articles detailing the Toda way of life. Recently, his The Toda Landscape: Explorations in Cultural Ecology, featuring more than 400 colour photographs and more than 10 maps, among others, was released.

The book has been published by Harvard University Press and Orient Blackswan under the Harvard Oriental Series. Excerpts from an interview with the author, who despite being an outsider, is practically one of the Todas.

What was the trigger for the book?

Since 1990, I’ve been writing articles and presenting papers on the Todas, but not many of them are accessible to the regular reader. The idea was to collate all the data and information that I had into a book. Anthropologist Prof Anthony Walker was keen that I work on it. He’s kept me busy for some years now, with revisions and suggestions. Finally, he told me it was ready to be seen by a publisher.

Why is this book important?

It’s very important because though the Todas have been studied by many people, the data has not always been documented. This book has new data. We throw the spotlight on the unique cultural-ecological link in the lives of the Todas.

What important aspects of their life are you focusing on?

The Todas lead a life finely attuned to Nature, in a way we never can. The hills are sacred and home to deities, the water is sacred, the trees, the rocks are sacred… They hold Mother Earth very close to their hearts. And that dictates their life. That’s something we all ought to get introduced to.