About 250 persons of a family of six generations are waiting for the forthcoming Friday to celebrate the 110th birthday of Rujjammal, believed to be the oldest woman in the Toda tribal community of Pudumand, about 40 km from here.
Rujjammal, healthy and active even at this age, had 10 daughters and five sons, of which only five daughters are surviving, family sources said.
The family’s youngest is a sixth generation one-and-half-year-old boy, sources said.
Of the 60 munds (small hamlets) in the area, each has a member from the Rujjammal family, who would assemble on January 25 at her house to celebrate the birthday, they said.
The grand old lady easily recognises members of her family and visitors. She does not sit idle and is seen cleaning her house and nearby area, sources said.
According to sources, Todas are the most ancient tribe in the Nilgiri hills. They have their own language and worship nature. There are about 1,900 Todas in the district.
