Bamboo is etched in the cultural identity of forest-dwelling tribes of Kerala. The ornamented combs of the Kadar and Muthuva communities in the Cochin forests have seen mention in old British records. The wearing of the comb has been found among the Kadars of the Cochin State, the Australians, the Semangs of the Malay peninsula, […]
A sojourn into the lives of the kadar people and their lush forests. Once dubbed ‘the kings of the forest’ by the British officers who had the good fortune to spend time in the western ghats, there is a lot we can learn from them, in conservation, in sustainability, and simply in living a life
The Muthuvar people in the upper catchment of Chalakudy river (tributary of Periyar in Kerala) are unique in more ways than one. Unlike the Kadar people of the region, who were documented in depth by British anthropologists and surveyors, the Muthuvar folk are agrarian. They largely occupy forested valleys in the neighbouring districts of Idukki
Getting shortlisted for the Outlook Traveller Responsible Tourism award under the category of Sustainable Leadership and Conservation got us a bit reflective. The forest produce based enterprise building at Forest Post is an effort to securing Adivasi livelihoods. Although we aren’t sure how much our network of harvester men and women actually understand Forest Rights
One December morning, we take a short jeep ride from Vazhachal for a trek up Iruppupara (literally “the rock for sitting”). The agenda: to document the harvest of wild tubers, as part of the People for Nature Fund Fellowship of Reshmita Raman (courtesy Keystone Foundation, Nilgiris). Her father Raman and uncle Jayan lead us through
A short trek along Choorathala trail in the regenerating buffer forests of Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary in the Karuvannur river basin of the Western Ghats. 26th October 2021; Guest Blog: Dr Sreeja KG This far gone into the monsoon, one can spot signs of a forest readying itself for the summer. The wild ginger shoots had
A friend once suggested I send postcards to the women in these villages, to find out about a harvest season or to intimate them of a production schedule. I just wasn’t sure how many days that would take, or was there a way to ensure it will reach them! And then, would they write back?!
For centuries, the Kadar, Muthuvar and Malayar folk have traversed these mountains and crossed the streams and rivers. In the British times, when the forests were opened up for plantations in the Valparai plateau, the Kadar people were referred to as the Kings of the Forests. Even today, they venture far away from their homes
In 2009, the Kadar, Muthuvar, and Malayar inhabting these mountain slopes claimed their ancestral rights on the forests. This was an important milestone in forest conservation, and is called Community Forest Rights (CFR). These indigenous communities are guardians of the trees, the river and the wildlife. Decisions concerning natural resource use are taken by the
Dear Friend, You are Stepping in to Ancestral Kadar Land Read More »
