Kadu Kuruba
Encyclopedia
The Kadu Kuruba are the original inhabitants of the forests of Nagarahole and Kakanakote
in the Western Ghats
of Southern India. The name comes from the Kannada kadu (forest), and Kuruba
, a caste which is a sub-set of the Dhangar
caste.
Originally, the Kadu Kuruba economy was based on collecting food from the jungle and hunting small game. Today, however, most of the Kuruba are small-scale farmers. Those who live in the uplands occupy higher and cooler slopes, and some still practice small-scale "slash and burn" cultivation, even though it is prohibited. However, with the increasing population and deforestation, these Kuruba have been forced to the lower elevations of the plateau. There, they earn a living mainly by working on tea or coffee plantations. The Urali Kuruba (a dialect branch) traditionally worked as blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, and basket makers. Presently, they have given up all these trades, except for basketry. They now supplement their income by working as agricultural laborers in the estates nearby
Kakanakote
Kakanakote is situated at a distance of 73 km from Mysore in Karnataka state, India. It is a thick forest of the Western Ghats, and a famous place where a large number of wild elephants can be found...
in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
of Southern India. The name comes from the Kannada kadu (forest), and Kuruba
Kuruba
Kuruba / Kuruba Gowda or Kuruma is a caste of Hindus who mainly were shepherds in the past. The community is present in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. They are known as Dhangars in Maharashtra, Kurumba / Kurumans / Kurumbar in Tamil Nadu, Kuruba Gowda or Halumatha Gowda in...
, a caste which is a sub-set of the Dhangar
Dhangar
The Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra...
caste.
History
After the fall of the Pallava empire many Kuruba settled down in south India as small landowners and farmers, while some took to hiding in the forests of south India and adopted a forest lifestyle. They developed their own culture and traditions different from other Kuruba due to their prolonged isolation.Current situation
Forcible eviction of the Kurubas started in the early 1970s. They were driven out of their ancestral lands deep inside the forest, and forced to live on the roadside or plantations on the periphery. These indigenous people lack land rights and are remain marginalised even to this day.Originally, the Kadu Kuruba economy was based on collecting food from the jungle and hunting small game. Today, however, most of the Kuruba are small-scale farmers. Those who live in the uplands occupy higher and cooler slopes, and some still practice small-scale "slash and burn" cultivation, even though it is prohibited. However, with the increasing population and deforestation, these Kuruba have been forced to the lower elevations of the plateau. There, they earn a living mainly by working on tea or coffee plantations. The Urali Kuruba (a dialect branch) traditionally worked as blacksmiths, potters, carpenters, and basket makers. Presently, they have given up all these trades, except for basketry. They now supplement their income by working as agricultural laborers in the estates nearby