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Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Ooty Toy Train Hits 20 Years As UNESCO Heritage Site
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway in 1915 The Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR), which hit the spotlight when it was featured in the 'Chaiya Chaiya' song from 'Dil Se' (1998), celebrated 20 years of its heritage status on July 15. Considered a marvel of engineering and technology, the NMR, the steepest mountain railway in the country, which was constructed in 1908, was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2005. Also called the 'Ooty Toy Train', it is known for offering a 'fairytale' experience of the Nilgiri Hills. It is the only rack-and-pinion line running the 46km distance from Mettupalayam to Ooty. It remains the most popular among tourists, including foreigners. But charm apart, the NMR journey almost ended in the late 1960s, but it was saved at the last moment by public outrage and media coverage. In 1968, faced with mounting financial losses, the Railway Board announced the closure of all 'uneconomic' rail lines. The NMR fell into this category and was set to be shut down. There was widespread public uproar against the closure. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai As per records with the Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC), a national English daily warned, 'The proposal to dismantle the 70-year-old mountain railway, which occupies a vital position in the slender economy of the Nilgiris district, will upset the economy and may well result in the migration of a large number of people to others parts of the country in quest of livelihood'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring: Request a Free Trial Dexcom Try Now Undo Rani, a Tamil weekly, said, 'Ooty without the railway will be like a flower which has lost its fragrance.' Readers also voiced their opposition. A traveller wondered whether the govt would also consider scrapping the Shimla line, which had been known to be a more significant loss-making route. Dharmalingam Venugopal, founder director of NDC, says chief minister M Karunanidhi , who was then the minister for public works, assured the state assembly that the govt would advocate for keeping the line open. 'Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had assured a local MP that she had instructed the railway minister to consider 'all relevant aspects' before deciding to scrap the line,' says Venugopal. The railway minister announced in the Lok Sabha in March 1969 that 'there would be no dismantling of uneconomic lines in any part of the country'. NMR, a love story NMR has featured as a prominent Tamil film shooting location. One of the earliest Tamil films to showcase NMR was Kamal Haasan and Sridevi's 'Moondram Pirai' (1982). The heartbreaking climax was shot at Lovedale Station. Movie enthusiasts then considered Lovedale station and NMR as characters in the romance drama
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Badaga people demand removal of pictures on them from Ooty photo exhibition
UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Badaga community people have demanded the immediate removal of a series of photographs from a photo exhibition in Ooty -- held as part of the Nilgiris Summer Festival -- as they show them in a poor light. The exhibition, titled 'Remembering and Reimagining,' is considered a visual journey through the history of the Nilgiris. It is conducted by the Nilgiris district administration in the RCTC hall. The series photos and a portion of the text above them outraged the Badaga community. The text reads, 'Many from the community converted to Christianity in the 19th century………' The Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) also demanded the removal of the photos. 'In the name of a photography exhibition as part of the summer festival, misleading, mischievous and demeaning displays were exhibited wounding the sentiments of the indigenous people of the district,' the NDC said in a statement. Operation Sindoor After Pak dials India, both sides agree to stop firing; top military officials to talk on May 12 'Armed forces remain operationally ready': India after ceasefire announcement 'Any future act of terror will ...': India's big stand against Pak 'There is a clear bias towards conversions in the images and the writeup given. This is not only provocative but also an insult to the good work done by the missionaries in the past. An impression has been created that the indigenous people of the Nilgiris have been frozen in history. Some of the accounts are capable of causing ill will among the communities,' said NDC director Dharmalingam Venugopal. The district administration should have been careful and vetted the exhibits before putting them on official shows, the NDC said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 10-Month-old is battling for his life and only you can save him! Give Hope India Donate Now Undo It said those who put up those exhibits should be cautioned for distorting history and facts for their narrow personal goals. 'These offensive displays should be removed forthwith before they cause further damage,' the NDC release said. Activist Yukesh Saravanan from Kannerimukku village said describing the Badagas as followers of a different faith since the 19th century is blameworthy and condemnable. 'The display of pictures is frivolous and exhibits the poor quality of the collection,' he said.
