The Nelikolu Charitable Trust was established in the year 2003, with a few committed individuals of the Badaga community. The prime objective of the trust is documentation of the Badaga culture, history, language, etc. In this endeavor, the trust so far has published 13 books, few ballads, seven dramas, and many pamphlets.
Through extensive research, the trust could elaborate the established ‘Badaga language is an independent Dravidian language’ (Published in the book titled ‘Badagu Oru Dravida Mozhi” in Tamil). During this endeavor, meetings were held extensively at the village level to sensitize the importance of the mother-tongue. Children were activated to read and write in the Badaga language, which was experimented with modified Tamil letters.
As a result of this study, the trust was able to establish and popularize the following facts:
- Badaga language is an independent Dravidian language and not a dialect of any other language.
- The Badaga religion is a pre-religion with dominance in ancestral worship.
- Many of the hitherto conserved Badaga features of the traditions and culture establish their proto-Dravidian nature in the original.
- Regarding the marriage custom, Badagas follow a strict discipline. Sixteen clans were identified within this community, and marriage among the same sects is strictly forbidden, for the simple reason that all members born in the same sect are brothers and sisters.
The trust was able to revive the good old distinct Badaga calendar system, independent of Tamil Panchangam and the Gregorian calendar. That is, the Lunar calendar system, and the new year commences immediately next to the new moon day that follows from December 21. All these facts have been extensively researched and documented.