Irula people: Difference between revisions
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|related = [[Soliga tribe|Soliga]], [[Tamil people|Tamil]], [[Yerukala people|Yerukala]] |
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'''Irula''' is an ethnic group of [[India]]. They inhabit the area of the [[Nilgiri mountains]], in the states of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>Perialwar, R. (1979), Phonology of Irula with Vocabulary, Annamalai University</ref> A [[scheduled tribe]], their population in this region is estimated at 25,000 people.<ref name="worldbank_rat">[http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/OPPORTUNITIES/GRANTS/DEVMARKETPLACE/0,,contentMDK:20214659~menuPK:214469~pagePK:180691~piPK:174492~theSitePK:205098,00.html World Bank grant to improve standard of living for rat-catchers]</ref><ref name="ashanet_irula_project">[http://www.ashanet.org/projects/tamilnadu/irulas/Irulas.html Irula Project Proposal and site report]</ref> People of Irula ethnicity are called ''Irular'', and speak [[Irula language|Irula]], which belongs to the [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] family. |
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== Etymology == |
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''Irular'' means "people of darkness" in Tamil and Malayalam, from the root word ''irul'', meaning "darkness".<ref>{{cite web|title=Irular in India|url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16971/IN|work=Joshua Project|publisher=[[Frontier Ventures]]|accessdate=2016-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jef/papers/Vol6-Issue1/Version-2/G06124649.pdf|last=Gnanamoorthy|first=K|journal=[[IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance]]|issn-2321-5933|volume=6|issue=1|p=46|title=Present Situation of Irular - A Primitive Tribe}}</ref> |
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== Distribution == |
== Distribution == |
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Irular live in two [[South India|south Indian]] states – [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]]. In Tamil Nadu they live in the [[Nilgiris district|Nilgiris]], [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]] and [[Erode district|Erode]] districts. In Kerala they live in the [[Palakkad district]] and [[Attapady]] and [[Walayar]] [[panchayat]]s. |
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live in the [[Nilgiris district|Nilgiris]], [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]] and [[Erode district|Erode]] districts. In Kerala they live in the [[Palakkad district]] and Attapady and Walayar [[panchayat]]s. |
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They live in |
They live in four [[taluk]]s in Coimbatore district, namely [[Coimbatore-South taluk|Coimbatore South]], [[Coimbatore-North taluk|Coimbatore North]], [[Avinashi taluk|Avinashi]] and [[Madathukulam taluk|Madathukulam]]. The Coimbatore district houses 4254 Irulas in 40 settlements comprising 139 villages. Nearly 100 Vettakada Irula settlements are found in the forest areas or in the deep mountainous jungles. There are 4 tribal settlements in the Siruvani Hills comprising 14 villages.<ref>[http://www.the-criterion.com/V4/n2/Das.pdf Dr. Pauline Das, The Irula Language and Literature]</ref> |
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The Census of Kerala identified 756 Irulan individuals from 189 families, who lived in 9 settlements covering .23 km² in the state.<ref>Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department (2004) "''Population of Important Forest Dwelling Tribes in Kerala''" retrieved 4/4/2007 [http://www.keralaforest.org/html/management/tribaldev.htm]</ref> |
The Census of Kerala identified 756 Irulan individuals from 189 families, who lived in 9 settlements covering .23 km² in the state.<ref>Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department (2004) "''Population of Important Forest Dwelling Tribes in Kerala''" retrieved 4/4/2007 [http://www.keralaforest.org/html/management/tribaldev.htm]</ref> |
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Revision as of 17:44, 5 June 2016
 A group of Irula men photographed (1871-72). | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 25,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | |
| Languages | |
| Irula language | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Soliga, Tamil, Yerukala |
Irula is an ethnic group of India. They inhabit the area of the Nilgiri mountains, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India.[1] A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at 25,000 people.[2][3] People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian family.
Etymology
Irular means "people of darkness" in Tamil and Malayalam, from the root word irul, meaning "darkness".[4][5]
Distribution
Irular live in two south Indian states – Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu they live in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Erode districts. In Kerala they live in the Palakkad district and Attapady and Walayar panchayats.
They live in four taluks in Coimbatore district, namely Coimbatore South, Coimbatore North, Avinashi and Madathukulam. The Coimbatore district houses 4254 Irulas in 40 settlements comprising 139 villages. Nearly 100 Vettakada Irula settlements are found in the forest areas or in the deep mountainous jungles. There are 4 tribal settlements in the Siruvani Hills comprising 14 villages.[6]
The Census of Kerala identified 756 Irulan individuals from 189 families, who lived in 9 settlements covering .23 km² in the state.[7]
Economy
Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has been snake and rat catching. They also work as labourers (coolies) in the fields of the landlords during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. Fishing is also a major occupation.
Rats destroy a quarter of the grain grown on Tamil Nadu-area farms annually. To combat this pest, Irula men use a traditional earthen pot fumigation method. Smoke is blown through their mouths, which leads to severe respiratory and heart problems.[2]
Language
The Irula speak the Irula language as a mother tongue. A member of the Dravidian family, it is most closely related to Tamil, Yerukala, Sholaga and other Tamil languages.
Anthropology
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Early 20th century anthropological literature classified the Irulas under the Negrito ethnic group.[3][8] Unlike the tribes in the Andaman Islands who have retained their language, Irulas in Nilgiris have adopted the local regional languages such as Tamil and Telugu.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Perialwar, R. (1979), Phonology of Irula with Vocabulary, Annamalai University
- ^ a b World Bank grant to improve standard of living for rat-catchers
- ^ a b Irula Project Proposal and site report
- ^ "Irular in India". Joshua Project. Frontier Ventures. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
- ^ Gnanamoorthy, K. "Present Situation of Irular - A Primitive Tribe" (PDF). IOSR Journal of Economics and Finance. 6 (1): 46.
{{cite journal}}: Text "issn-2321-5933" ignored (help) - ^ Dr. Pauline Das, The Irula Language and Literature
- ^ Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department (2004) "Population of Important Forest Dwelling Tribes in Kerala" retrieved 4/4/2007 [1]
- ^ Giving Irulas their due
- ^ Keystone Foundation (2006) "People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" retrieved 3/26/2007(NBR)"People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve"