Nilgiris: Archaeology & Tribal Wisdom | Sudhakar Nalliyappan | TEDxKids Club CBSE School

Beyond the mountains and forests of the Nilgiris lies a story written not only in ancient remains, but in generations of tribal knowledge. This fascinating journey explores archaeology, indigenous wisdom, and the challenges of uncovering history in the heart of the forest. When the past meets the people who have lived alongside it, history comes alive in unexpected ways. Sudhakar Nalliyappan is a heritage researcher and Founding President of Yaakkai Heritage Trust, Coimbatore. He holds Master’s degrees in Tamil and Business Administration and is trained in archaeology and conservation techniques. His work combines field documentation, heritage management and community-oriented research. He served as Photo Documenter (3D Scanning) for the Loose Sculpture Project of the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (Coimbatore Region, 2024–2025) and is Principal Investigator of Pilot Project EAP1685, Dharmapuri. He co-authored Neelamalai Tholliyal, an award-winning and academically significant Tamil volume documenting archaeological and ethnohistorical heritage, including memorial stones, rock art, megalithic contexts and ritual traditions. He has documented over 30 historical and five prehistoric discoveries and published research on memorial stones and rock art in academic journals, including the Epigraphical Society of India. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx