Jenu Kuruba Tribe
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TH
Context: Tension erupted in Nagarhole Reserve, Karnataka, as 52 evicted Jenu Kuruba tribal families attempted to reclaim ancestral forest land under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
About Jenu Kuruba Tribe:
Origin:
• The Jenu Kuruba (meaning “honey collectors” in Kannada) are a forest-dwelling PVTG primarily in Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka.
• They are also known as Then Kurumba or Kattu Naikar, living in small forest hamlets called Hadi.
Habitat Status:
• Found across the forest belts of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Features of the Jenu Kuruba Tribe:
• Livelihood:
• Traditional livelihood includes honey collection, tuber gathering, and minor forest produce harvesting. Post-eviction, many work as plantation labourers, often in coffee estates, facing deep poverty and poor access to services.
• Traditional livelihood includes honey collection, tuber gathering, and minor forest produce harvesting.
• Post-eviction, many work as plantation labourers, often in coffee estates, facing deep poverty and poor access to services.
• Social Life:
• Semi-nomadic with a decentralised community structure led by a headman (Yajamana) and ritual chief (Gudda). Their decision-making is localised, independent of external religious or political authorities.
• Semi-nomadic with a decentralised community structure led by a headman (Yajamana) and ritual chief (Gudda).
• Their decision-making is localised, independent of external religious or political authorities.
• Culture & Belief System:
• Rich oral traditions: songs, dances, and myths revolving around nature, marriage, and rituals. Deep reverence for sylvan deities, nature spirits, and ancestral forces—distinct from mainstream Hinduism. Religion includes practices rooted in animism with Hindu overlays in festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Navratri.
• Rich oral traditions: songs, dances, and myths revolving around nature, marriage, and rituals.
• Deep reverence for sylvan deities, nature spirits, and ancestral forces—distinct from mainstream Hinduism.
• Religion includes practices rooted in animism with Hindu overlays in festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Navratri.