Knowledge Systems of Some Scheduled Tribe Communities of South India

The Todas of Nilgiris

One of the most studied communities, the Toda were pastorals, with herds of buffaloes, some of which were considered ‘sacred’ and formed the nucleus of their religious beliefs. They considered it beneath their dignity to cultivate land. Wealth of a family was measured by the number of buffaloes he had. Milk from their buffalo herds and tributes from other communities in the region constituted their means of livelihood. Milk itself was considered a sacred substance, to be reserved for the males of the tribe. But it could be converted into buttermilk, butter and ghee, which were marketable. Their homeland, the high ranges of the Nilgiris, were encroached upon by British holidaymakers, tea planters, traders and associated servants. The Toda became an object of study by anthropologists and others. Now, their social structures have been altered, and they are engaged in all sorts of economic activities. They cultivate various horticultural crops in their lands. Many are employed in the estates. Some are educated and have government jobs. The association with buffaloes and sacred dairies is not broken because of the religious significance, and because they are ‘tourist attractions’. Though not found in Kerala, they consider the Malleeswaran Peak in Attappady one of their deities. Though they have a well-developed language with oral literature of their own, they use a special language, similar to Malayalam, for secret sacred rituals and “magic” (sorcery). They dread the Kurumba of Attappady, and the associated Kurumba of Niligiris, as sorcerers.