Irular

Location:

• District: Palakkad

• Taluk: (Information not provided)

• Villages: Agali, Sholayur, and Pudur Grama Panchayaths

Overview:

• The Irular community is primarily distributed in Palakkad District, with a significant concentration in the Attappady region. They can also be found in Tamil Nadu.

• The community has its own distinctive dialect called 'Irula bhasha,' which shares close affinities with Tamil.

Traditional Social Organization:

• The Irular community has a well-defined social organization with various functionaries:

  • 'Ooru Moopan' (Chieftain)

  • 'Bhandari' (Treasurer)

  • 'Kuruthala' (Assistant to Chieftain)

  • 'Mannukaran' (Soil Expert)

  • 'Marunnukaran' (Healer)

• These positions are hereditary, and succession is typically passed down to the son, signifying the community's strong sense of tradition and social control.

  
  
  
  

  Historical Lifestyle:

• Historically, the Irular community engaged in hunting, gathering, and shifting cultivation. However, they have transitioned into settled agriculture and often work as agricultural laborers.

• In the rain-shadow region of Attappady, they cultivate crops like 'Ragi,' 'Chama,' 'Thina,' 'Cholam,' 'Thuvara,' and 'Kadala' through dry farming. During cultivation, they reside in temporary huts away from their hamlets.

  
  
  
  

  Cultural Heritage:

• The Irular community boasts an array of captivating songs and dances that depict various aspects of their lives, including the forest, cultivation, and emotions.

  
  
  
  

  Empowerment and Challenges:

  
  
  
  

• The Irular community has seen empowerment through organizations such as the 'Thaikula Sangham,' which is exclusively for women, and the 'Ooruvikasana Samithi' under the Attappady Hills Area Development Society.However, their livelihoods have been impacted by the influx of non-tribal populations from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.