KERALA, the smallest State of the Republic of India with Government Reserve Forest, and 1,265-5 square miles of private an area of 15,000 square miles including 5,318 square miles of forest, is the home of forty eight distinct tribes presenting many interesting aspects of aboriginal life. There are autochthons who are still very primitive, and though in early years they were described a 'Wild Tribes, none were classified as 'Criminal Tribes'.
DEFINITION of tribe (what is a tribe) is a very manifest question. In Kerala you have the conspicuous fact that large numbers of primitive aborigines have inter-mixed and fused with advanced societies, that external features such as, prognathous (projecting) jaw, brachycephalic (short) or dolichocephalic (low vault and backward direction of brain) head, and mesocephalic or leptorrhine (narrow) or platyrrhine (broad) or archaic types of nose cannot be made the basis for a finding. Even short stature, inverted thick lips, long arms, dark complexion and curly or wavy hair cannot be the criteria for a decision. Habitual existence in forests far away from educational institutions, advanced society, industry and commerce cannot again by itself be the basis. Polygamy, polyandry (fraternal-husbands being brothers or cousins, and patriarchal-husbands not related), marriage by capture, purchase, exchange, and service are popular among primitives, but these cannot be the exclusive arguments for a ruling. Prior to declaring a group as a tribe, it is necessary to investigate the social dis-criminations they have been, and still continue to be subjected to, the exploitations and victimisations they endure, past and present customs, and the extent to which all these are non-acceptable to modern society. Religious conventions, existence of taboos, sororate and levirate marriages have also to be taken into consideration prior to a decision. It would be necessary to conduct an exhaustive inquiry as to whether any peculiar culture and customs are being fostered by them. The existence of discrimination, culture, and customs, combined with the fact that they are nomadic, primitive and still observe taboos and conventions likely to be described by modern society as derogatory and anti social is proof to confirm a group as tribe. If habitations are far from civilisation, and if the external features of a tribe are present, these will certainly strengthen the decision.
SETTLEMENTS of tribes in Kerala are on the Western Ghats, and the low lying hills that form the eastern boundary with the adjoining States of Mysore and Madras. They are seen in the Kasargode, Hosdrug, Manantody, Thaliparamba and Cannanore Taluks (Cannanore District); Badagara (Kurumbranad), Eranad and Vythiri Taluks (Kozhikode-Calicut District): Perintalmanna (Valluvanad) and Chittoor Taluks (Palghat District); Udumbum-shola, Meenachil, Devikulam and Peermede Taluks (Kottayam District); Pathanapuram and Pathinamthitta Taluks (Quilon District); Nedumangad and Neyattinkara Taluks (Trivandrum District); Moovattupuzha and Thodupuzha Taluks (Ernakulam District): Mukunnapuram Taluk (Trichur District) and the Eastern Taluks of Alleppey District. But for a few locations requiring very long walks, all others are easily accessible. The larger settlements are in Vythiri Taluk (Calicut District); Attapaddy Valley (Paighat District); and Chirakal, Manantody Thaliparamba and Kasargode Taluks (Cannanore District). The generic name for tribes in the erstwhile Travancore Cochin State was Kattu-Jathi and in Malabar 'Kattu Kuruman', both these names connote 'people of the forest'.
POPULATION of tribes in Kerala according to the 1956-57 report of the Commissioner, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, New Delhi, is 1,34,757 and this forms 0.99 per cent of the total population of the State. In India the Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive Islands with 64-11 per cent of the total population as tribes have the highest percentage; next is Manipur State with 33 63 per cent and Tripura comes third with 30-09 per cent.
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