Dr. V. M. Parimala
Assistant Professor of History, Lakshmipuram College of Arts and Science, Neyyoor.
Abstract
History is anthropocentric and charm has been added by ‘subaltern study’ which gives much importance to the everyday life of the working masses. The term ‘subaltern’ as a theoretical concept describes the identity of an oppressed and exploited group. Hence it has opened up new vistas of exploration and has accelerated the growth of many a branch of study such as anthropology, sociology, history, economics and politics. The main objective of this publication is to unravel the characteristic features of typical tribal society, their living conditions. The population of Idukki District consists of hill tribes and Scheduled Castes. The most conspicuous among the hill tribes are Muthuvan, Mannan, Malayarayan, Malapandaram, Malayan, Oorali, Paliyan and Ulladans. These tribals live in dense forests. Their family consists of father, mother and children. They adopted hunting, fishing in the rivers, cultivation of paddy and other edible roots. Honey is one of the prominent foods of the Tribal people. For each tribe there is a headman. The advice of the headmen is adhered by the tribes. Their mode of life and dressing are like that of the Keralites. They live in huts called ‘Erumadam’, ‘Chalasi’, ‘Mittam’, ‘Pathis’ and ‘Kudies’ of different shapes to suit the respective clans of tribals.
Introduction
The word society is derived from the Latin word “Societas” which means the way in which men live together ordering their lives according to law and custom, helping each other and working together for common aims. It can also be defined as any group of men and women living together for some special purposes. The culture and customs of the society vary from place to place, mostly depending upon the caste they belong to and the religion they follow.
Tribals
Idukki holds second place in Kerala where majority belong to Scheduled Tribes and castes. There are 245 tribal settlements of which are at Thodupuzha, Peermade, 126 at Devikulam and 34 at Udumbanchola Taluks. Almost all the Scheduled Tribes are living in the extreme remote hilly areas and in the deep interiors of thick forests. About 11,516 Scheduled Tribal families are estimated to be living here. Muthuvan, Mannan, Malayarayan, Malapandaram, Malayam, Oorali, Paliyan, Hill Pulaya and Ulladan are the nine clans that comprise the Scheduled Tribes in the district.
Thodupuzha Taluk, situated in a hilly region, is the natural abode of the aboriginal tribes – such as Malayarayans, Uralis and Mannans whose main occupation is agriculture. A number of tribal settlements have been set up at various places namely, Kannampadi Mullakudi, Kizhukanam, Vairamani, Painavu, Maniyarankudi, Mulakuvalli, Keezhykanam, Perumkala, Pattaikudi, Pazhayari, Vellakkayam, Venmani, Palaplava, Memuttom, Valiyakandam, Pattipalli, Puthadam, Karupilangad, Kunnam, Poochapra, Kolapram, Poomala, Maliyani, Methoddi, Thadiyanalkudi, Kozhippill, Kilivalli, Peringasseri, Moolakkad, uppukunnam and venniyani.
Social Life of the Tribals
The tribals have a different lifestyle. For each tribe there is a Headman. They follow the advices of the headman. The family consists of father, mother and children. Women live a secluded life. Their mode of dress and ornaments are different from that of the inlanders.
Dress and ornaments
The tribal men and women have their own lifestyle. The tribal men follow the Kerala style of dressing, usually, they wear dhothy and shirt. But the tribal women follow their traditional lifestyle. The Paniya women wear a dhoti tying its one end just above their breast. The Kuriechia woman cover their breasts with a piece of cloth, the upper corner of which are fastened to the shoulders. The ornaments that the tribals wear are different. The tribal men wear bangles and rings made up of brass or iron whereas the women wear ornaments made up of coins, seeds and leaves of some plants. They make bangles and rings with iron and brass. Necklaces are made of coins and seeds. Their ear robes are of white metal rings or leaves or strings of beads. Thus the tribal ornaments are made up of their own style.
Houses
The tribal houses in Idukki are generally known as ‘Chalasi’, ‘Mittam’, ‘Pathies’, ‘Kudies’. The Paniyas call their house as ‘Pire’, whereas the Muthuvans and Kanikkars as ‘Kudi’. The huts of the tribals are made up of bamboo and thatched with leaves, straw and grass. The huts generally face east and are rectangular in shape. The huts of the Malapandaram are irregular in shape. The Malayarayans use bricks to construct their houses. But they construct the walls with bamboo. They do not have windows. They make holes in the sides. Some tribals used erumadams on the trees as their houses.
Family life and tribal customs
Most of the tribal families are monogamous. This is the rule that a tribal man does not marry again when the first wife is alive. Among some tribal sects like the Paniya, the married couple is separated within a year or two after the marriage. Soon after the separation the man selects another life partner and jilts her too for selecting the third one. Among some tribals joint family system is also found.
Food
Rice is the staple food of the rich and the poor alike in the district. Some poorer sections use tapioca as a staple food. During the rainy season, majority of people use ‘Vattan Kappa’ or dried tapioca. Sometimes they eat boiled tapioca with fish curry. The people of the district like jackfruit and fish curry during jackfruit season. They also eat herbs, fruits, crabs, prawns and snails.
Amusements
The tribals played or sang a variety of songs for amusement. There are a variety of songs among the tribal communities and the style of presentation of a particular dance differs from one community to another. Dances like kummiyattam and conjandu are adapted differently by the Irulas, Kurumpas, Mudugars, and Muthuvans. Slight difference is seen in the shifting of the feet, hands and body, while performing kummiyattam among these tribal sects.
Despite these slight differences tribal dances are commonly found with the involvement of all parts of the body i.e. head, arms, hip, hands, facial muscles and the feet. Normally the tribal dances begin with a slow motion of the entire body. But gradually body motion accelerates to the waving of all parts of the body with full strength. Tribal dances are usually accompanied with a loud noise of drums and pipes. The tribals assemble for dance during festive occasions.
The Musical instruments
The musical instruments, used by tribal communities differ from one tribe to another. Oralies and Muthuvans of Idukki beat the drum so much similar to chenda. ‘Adichil’, which is a very famous artifact for catching wild animals, is popular among the Muthuvans. It is made of some pieces of wood with strings.
Malayar dance
Malayar women dance and men sing on their festive occasions like Kummikali, Kavarakali and Polikali.
Mudiyattam
Some sects like the Malavendans, perform a peculiar type of dance called Mudiyattam. The women dancers, standing first on wooden platforms, begin their dance with slow movements of the body which culminate in graceful movements of the head. The uncombed hair of dancing women flow down and swing in rhythmic waves.
In the present situation it is accepted that tribal culture is valid as any other culture.Their worldview,attitude towards eco-system,positive outlook towards life etc.are unique that they could live as part and parcel of the nature.
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