Kattunayakan

Location:

• District: Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad

• Taluk: (Information not provided)

• Villages: Thirunelli, Noolpuzha, Poothadi, Mullamkolly, and Pulpally Grama Panchayats

Demographic Details:

• Population (KILA Survey 2008): 17,051

• Literacy (KILA Survey 2008): 60.15%

Overview:

• Kattunayakans are distributed across the districts of Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad, with a significant concentration in Wayanad.

• The term "Kattunayakan" is derived from the words 'Kattu' (forest) and 'Nayakan' or 'naickan' (lord), which translates to "lord of forests."

• They are also known as Jenu Kurumban and Ten Kurumban within tribal communities.

• Their language shares similarities with Kannada, and they can converse with outsiders in Malayalam.

Traditional Lifestyle and Occupations:

• Historically, Kattunayakans have been forest dwellers, and their social life and economy revolve around the forest.

• They were skilled in various forest-based activities, such as serving as mahouts and capturing elephants.

• Among tribal communities, they are renowned as excellent honey collectors, utilizing various techniques.

• Traditionally, they were hunters, food gatherers, and practiced sporadic shifting cultivation near their settlements.

• Even today, they rely on non-timber forest produce collection for sustenance.

Social Organization:

• The headman, known as 'Muthan' or 'Muthali,' also acts as the priest within the community.

Education and Development:

• The Kattunayakan community has shown positive responses to quality education, indicating their eagerness for progress.

• The implementation of development programs may further enhance their quality of life.

Significance:

• Kattunayakan is the community with the largest population among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Kerala, highlighting its unique cultural significance and challenges.