Kurumba: A Tribe that is Endangered

Lisa Roy

Kurumba: A Tribe that is Endangered

Throughout history, tribal people have always faced discrimination. Their basic human rights have always been violated at every stage of their lives. Among many tribal communities, Kurumbas, a tribe from southern India are about to become extinct and need adequate recognition to preserve their identity.

The tribe from southern India, Kurumbha; Image Source- Pinterest

The southern part of India is densely populated with ethnic groups and tribes. The Nilgiri district is located in Tamilnadu, a southern Indian state, and is named after the Nilgiri range, which stretches across the borders of Karnataka and Kerala.

Four indigenous tribes occupy the majority of the Nilgiri hills. These tribes primarily include the Kota, Toda, Kurumba, and Irula. The Kurumbas live in the Tamil Nadu district of Nilgiri, in the subdivisions of Coonoor, Kotagiri, Kundha, Gudalur, and Pandalur. The Kurumbas are thought to be very old Nilgiri hill dwellers.

The origins of the various Kurumba groups are debatable, but the Kurumbas of Nilgiri district claim to have traced their origins and migration to the borders of Kerala's Waynad and Attapady and Karnataka's Gundalpet in and around the Nilgiri plateau. Only these Kurumba groups from the Nilgiri district are Scheduled Tribes.

Even today, they have a notorious reputation, even though the closest they come to sorcery is their fine knowledge of medicinal plants. The Kurumbas did not have a god or any religious beliefs. This tribe, like most other indigenous tribes, practices ancestral worship and prays to natural elements such as rocks, trees, and animals. They worship through songs, folklore, and legends.

The Kurumba tribe's oral culture is the main foundation of their culture, through which they preserve their collective memory. But unfortunately, this tribe is losing its number rapidly and is all about to go extinct.

The Kurumbas were among the first known inhabitants of the Western Ghats, collecting and gathering forest produce, primarily wild honey and wax. They, who live in the Nilgiri mid-ranges or blue mountains, have an enigma of their own. Several factors contribute to the popularity of the tribal people. Like the mountain ranges, the word ‘kurumba’ is found in the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The tribes are sometimes referred to as Kuruba and are sometimes confused with other tribes with similar names, such as Kuruman.

They are thought to be the descendants of the Pallavas, whose rule was at its peak in the seven various groups including those driven out and dispersed by the Chola king Adonda after losing power to the Kongus and Chalukyas. They established scattered settlements in the Nilgiris and Wayanad, as well as in Coorg and Mysore. When we say Kurumba, we mean the Kurumbas of the Nilgiris. There are several groups within the tribe. The number of tribe members ranges from three to seven in various ethnographic accounts. Various groups include Urali, Beta, Alu or palu, Jen, and Mullu.

Among all these, the most popular is the Alu Kurumbas. History states that these Kurumbas served not only their tribe but also other Nilgiri tribes, such as the Badagas and Irulas, as sorcerers and priests. Their abilities were so strong that the Kurumbas were revered and frequently punished for illnesses and deaths in other tribes that believed it was the Kurumba's spell at work. Several such incidents occurred in the nineteenth century when other tribes massacred the Kurumbas. The Kurumbas are said to be named after the Tamil word for mischief, kurumbu.