CHOLANAIKKAN TRIBES : GEOGRAPHY
NEWS: Education comes home to
bed-ridden tribal girl in Kerala
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Kerala's Literacy
Mission has provided home-based education to a bedridden tribal girl from the
Cholanaikkan tribe, demonstrating an inclusive approach to learning.This
initiative highlights the state's commitment to educational inclusion for
marginalized and isolated communities.
About the Cholanaikkan Tribe
1. General
Characteristics
- The Cholanaikkan are considered one of the
most isolated tribes in India.
- They inhabit the forests of Nilambur Valley
in Malappuram district, Kerala.
- The tribe refers to themselves as Malanaikan
or Sholanaikan.
- Also known as the Cavemen of Kerala, as they
are India’s only cave-dwelling community.
- The name ‘Cholanaikkan’ is derived from:
- Shola/Chola – meaning deep thicket in the forest.
- Naikan – meaning king.
2.
Demographics and Population
- They are a very small tribe, with an overall
population of less than 400 persons.
- The tribe has been facing population decline
in recent years.
- Their social structure consists of smaller groups,
known as Jenmam.
- Each Jenmam group consists of 2 to 7
primary families.
3. Settlement
Patterns
- Nomadic lifestyle: They do not have permanent dwellings.
- They prefer to stay near water sources for
survival.
- Their habitats include:
- Natural caves (some members still live in caves).
- Temporary, self-built structures in
the forests.
4. Livelihood
and Survival
- Forest-dependent lifestyle: They
do not cultivate crops due to the constant threat of elephants
trampling their produce.
- Their primary means of survival include:
- Scavenging the forest for
food and resources.
- Hunting small animals and
collecting honey, roots, and tubers.
- Their forest area is completely protected,
meaning:
- Outsiders are not allowed to gather forest
produce.
- Direct contact with the Cholanaikkan tribe is
restricted to protect their way of life.
5. Interaction
with Wildlife
- They coexist with wild animals in their
natural habitat.
- Commonly sighted animals in their region include:
- Elephants (a frequent presence in their living areas).
- Tigers (occasionally spotted).
- Antelopes (very common in the region).
6. Language
and Cultural Identity
- Their language is loosely classified as Dravidian,
but it is not directly linked to any modern Dravidian language.
- The tribal names used among the Cholanaikkan
are unique and indigenous:
- They do not have names from Hindu mythology
or other mainstream traditions.
- This suggests that they have remained isolated
for a long period.
7. Tribal
Classification
- The Government of India classifies the Cholanaikkan
as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) due to their:
- Extremely low population.
- Isolated way of life.
- Limited interaction with the outside world.
- Complete dependence on the forest for survival.
Significance of Kerala’s Literacy
Mission for the Cholanaikkan Tribe
- The initiative to provide education at home
for a bedridden tribal girl represents:
- Efforts toward inclusive education for isolated
communities.
- Preservation of the cultural and linguistic
heritage of the Cholanaikkan tribe.
- Improvement of literacy rates among Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
- It highlights Kerala’s commitment to uplift
marginalized communities without disrupting their traditional
lifestyle.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/education-comes-home-to-bed-ridden-tribal-girl/article69263061.ece