Distinctive Socio-Economic Life of Kattunayakkan Tribal Community

Abstract

Kattunayakans, one of the 75 “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups” (PTGs) in India, are settled in parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, they inhabit the Gudalur and Pandalur taluk in the Nilgiris and Tirunelveli District. Traditionally, the Kattunayakans have been hunter-gatherers. They get their name from the words ‘kadu’ (forests) and ‘nayakan’ (leader/chief) connoting that they are the lords of the forest. They are also referred to by different names like Jenu (honey) Kurumbas and Thenu (honey) Kurumbas in different regions because of their expertise in honey collection. The Kattunayakan language which is referred to as nama basha (our language) by them is basically of the South Dravidian family, like most of the tribal languages.