Cholanaickans, one of the most primitive tribesmen of India, face exploitation threat

In the gloom of a cave, two young Cholamaickans pose, while others pass their time in a clearing outside: Content in their primitive dwellingsDeep in the deciduous forests that lie between the Nilgiri hills and the Western Ghats, not far from Kerala's controversial Silent Valley, a strange people make an unusual habitat. On rocky, cliff-like promontories on the banks of a tributary of the river Chailyar live one of the most primitive tribesmen of India - the Cholanaickans. Perched on the age-old rocks, the Cholanaickans are unusual in that they live permanently in caves, or what appear to be caves, but are deep crevices and small hollows between boulders. Almost completely cut off from civilisation till recently, the Cholanaickans wore virtually no clothes, and lived entirely off indigenous forest produce. Content in their primeval dwellings, the Cholanaickan caves known as Kallu Arais (or rock caves), were so isolated that during the monsoon, with the river in spate, they became wholly inaccessible.The Cholanaickans number a little more than a hundred and belong to five groups under five chieftains. Each group has a well-defined forest area and such rights are strictly respected. In family matters they follow the patriarchal order of inheritance. If a man has no son his nephew inherits his property. Women have no right to property and no authority in family matters.Preched on a boulder, a young girl plays with her pet parrot, watched by an old woman and a child: Threatened by civilisation Until 1974 the existence of the tribe was virtually unknown. They had not been included in the census or voters lists. Only a few traders had any contact with them. These traders set up camp some 20 km in the interior of the forest where the jeepable roads ended and then covered the rest of the distance on foot.Yet the advent of the modern world has penetrated their curious sanctum, surviving from centuries, with bizarre side-effects: exploitation of this unique tribe in the last few years has been so intense that today every third woman in the settlement is afflicted by venereal disease, and every other man is addicted to cheap, country-made liquor. The invasion of the Cholanaickan preserve has become a human version of the threat to Silent Valley. Although the exploitation of the Valley has become one of the great environmental debates, the future of the Cholanaickans lies sealed by the obsessive motivations of corrupt forest contractors, inept government action and unenlightened anthropology.One reason for their deteriorating state - malnutrition, drunkenness and spreading venereal disease - is their remoteness. Getting to the caves involves first a bumpy, 30 km jeep ride from Nilambur (about a 100 km from Calicut) to the border of the preserve, then an arduous trek of over an hour, before the first of the settlements can be spotted at some distance. A Cholanaickan grins in triumph after finding a beehive attached to a branch The inherent shyness of the tribe of invading humans from the outside world has now given way to plain avarice. Having discovered paper money - which they call Kalalas - the Cholanaickans will often only make an appearance, or agree to be photographed, when rupee notes are dangled before them.Even so, they are terrified of flash bulbs, equating them with lightning from a sinister sky. Whereas a barter system traditionally existed by which members of the tribe exchanged quantities of honey, wax or cardamom for rice, lentils or rags of cloth, today they will go to any length to procure paper money.Even so, recent efforts by the Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies of Scheduled Tribes have succeeded in returning some of the forest wealth to the tribals by creating tribal cooperatives through which they can exchange natural products for rice, salt and sugar. Fellow tribals: Young and old display innocent smiles despite a deteriorating existenceAlthough not recognised as a Scheduled Tribe, they come under the protection of the state's Tribal Welfare Department; yet they have no proprietary right over the land they inhabit. Tradesmen and contractors from Nilambur exploited them without check till the cooperatives were formed. Says Viswanathan Nair, a pathfinder employed by the institute: "The society tries its best to help them barter, and provides them with medicines, but they prefer to stick to their herbal elixirs and balms. Recently we had to force one of them to a hospital in Nilambur because he was suffering from an advanced case of gonorrhoea."A few years ago a full-length documentary was made about the Cholanaickans. But most people are sceptical of any interference - helpful or not - actually aiding their future. The occasional high-minded anthropologist who penetrates their habitat has turned out to have dubious intentions. Recently, one such supplied them ample liquor and cash rewards to parade before his movie camera. Says Balakrishna Menon, a local district collector, of visiting reporters: "Photographers are no different from the others. They are, after all, exploiting these innocent people with their cameras."After a bath in the river, two children dry themselves on rocks warmed by the sun: Close to natureWatching the Cholanaickans go about their daily lives there is no avoiding the feeling that their way of life is doomed. Skinny, underfed Cholanaickan children are the first to appear in "public" view, splashing about in the river, or playing with tame parrots upon the rocks. A bedraggled woman takes out a crude, reed-like flute to play a few plaintive notes. More often than not, they will only make an appearance to beg for money.Or lie stretched languidly upon their stone berths drying themselves after a wash in the river. As they go about their uncomplicated routine, they exude a degree of contentment commensurate with their remoteness and wild innocence. Asked if they would prefer to participate in life outside their forest their answer was a categorical 'no'. "Never," said an emaciated-looking man, "we are better off in the forest and would like to be left alone forever."Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 20, 2013 14:31 IST--- ENDS ---

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Cholanaickans, one of the most primitive tribesmen of India, face exploitation threat

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