Kurumbas (tribe)

Kurumbas (or) Kurumbar (Tamil: Kurumbans, Kurumbars) (Malayalam: Kuruman) (Kannada: Kuruba, Kurubaru) are a designated Scheduled Tribe or an indigenous community in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris).^[2] The Nilgiris district is home to six tribes. The Kurumbar are one of the earliest known inhabitants of the Western Ghats, who are engaged in the collection and gathering of forest produce, mainly wild honey, wax and elephant husbandry. Non-Nilgiri Kurumbar peoples are generally shepherds. They are historically same but culturally different from each other. Nilgiri Kurumbar peoples speak Kurumba language (Tamil-kannada mixed language). New alphabets are released for Kurumba language by some Government Teachers.^[3]

Kurumbar

Total population
88,750[1] (2011 census)
Regions with significant populations
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu-Nilgiris
Languages
Kurumba languages
Religion
Hinduism, Animism
Related ethnic groups
Dravidians, Tamil

Nadukarkal (Ancestors stone) plays a main role in Kurumbar deity. Also, the main deity of the tribe is Lord Shiva under the name of Bhairava.^{[citation needed]} They also worship animals, birds, trees, rock hillocks, and snakes, along with the other Hindu deities.^[4][5] Kurumbar are partially sanskritised to believing in Hinduism.^[6]

There are several divisions of Kurumbas: Jenu, Betta and Alu. Each of these divisions speaks their own Dravidian language. Jenu Kurubas are primarily found in the northern part of the Nilgiris, in the Mysuru district of Karnataka.^{[citation needed]}

Kurumbas (Nilgiris) are one of the six ancient tribal groups in Tamil Nadu. According to the Madras Census Report of 1891, the Pallavas were Kurumbas.^[7] Hunting and collecting forest produce are the two main means of living for the Kurumbar tribe. However, the restrictions to protect native forest and wildlife have forced them to find work outside the forests.^{[citation needed]}

Traditional Kurumbar thatch-roof houses, Tamil Nadu