Kanikkaran

Location:

• District: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam

• Taluk: (Information not provided)

• Villages: Vithura, Peringammala, Tholikkod, Pangode, Amboori, and Kulathupuzha Grama Panchayats

Overview:

• The Kanikkaran, also known as Kanikar, are primarily distributed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam Districts, with some communities residing in the adjoining regions of Tamil Nadu.

• The name "Kanikkar" is believed to have been given to them by the Sage Agastya, signifying 'hereditary proprietors of the land,' with 'Kani' meaning land and 'Karan' meaning owner.

• Their spoken language displays linguistic features of both Malayalam and Tamil.

Allegiance and Traditions:

• The Kanikkar community historically demonstrated allegiance to the Travancore Kingdom, presenting hill produce annually and receiving gifts from the Raja in return.

Social Structure:

• The 'Kanipat' or 'Kanikudi' serves as the fundamental unit of their social, economic, political, and religious organization.

• Each 'Kanipat' is led by a 'Muttukani' who wields significant authority.

• The 'Vilikani' or Convener assists the headman, while in some areas, the headman is known as 'Muthalpat.'The 'Plathy,' next in hierarchy, holds the role of a magician cum medicine man.

Livelihood and Agricultural Practices:

• In the past, the Kanikkar community relied on hunting, minor forest produce collection, and cultivation for sustenance.

  
  

• Today, they predominantly engage in settled agriculture, cultivating crops like rice, tapioca, arecanut, pepper, ginger, turmeric, and cashew as major cash crops.

  
  

• The 'Agasthyakoodam' peak, home to the Kanikkar, boasts a wealth of medicinal herbs, showcasing their exceptional traditional knowledge of herbal remedies for various ailments.

• While some Kanikkaran communities living in plain areas have experienced improved lifestyles, those in the interior forests, known as 'Malamkanis,' still lack access to basic amenities of life.