Soliga
Encyclopedia
A Soliga is a member of a tribe in India
that inhabits the Biligirirangan
and associated hill ranges in Southern Karnataka
, mostly in Chamarajanagar
District, bordering the Erode district of Tamil Nadu
(a neighbouring state). Most of them are concentrated in and around the BR Hills in Yelandur
and Kollegal
Taluks of Chamarajanagar. Their population numbers close to 20,000, although the population in and around Biligrirangan Hills is only 2,000.
They speak Soliganudi, an ancient Kannada. They used to practice shifting cultivation
, but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi (=Finger millet
, Eleusine coracana) for subsistence, although their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, nellikai (gooseberry, Emblica officinalis
), bamboo, Paasi (Lichen). They are increasingly being brought to the 'main-stream' with an active Government and NGO initiative. Many have been given lands closer to 'civilization' and most of the forest-dwelling population have been brought together into clusters called Podus. Most of the forests they stay in comes under protection. The Biligirirangan Hills are a Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1973, the Malai Mahadeswara Hills is a Reserve Forest, and Bandipur is a National Park. There is a lot of man-animal conflict with their increasing population and needs. Recently, their rights on harvesting NTFP is being sought to be withdrawn citing conservation concerns, sparking a debate about the rights of indigenous people.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
that inhabits the Biligirirangan
Biligirirangan Hills
The Biligiriranga Hills, commonly called B R Hills, is a hill range situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu in South India. The area is called Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary. It is a protected reserve under the Wildlife...
and associated hill ranges in Southern Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, mostly in Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar
Chamarajanagar is a town in the southern end of Karnataka, a state in India. It is also the headquarters of the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka. It is named after Chamaraja Wodeyar IX , king of Mysore, who was born in the town...
District, bordering the Erode district of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
(a neighbouring state). Most of them are concentrated in and around the BR Hills in Yelandur
Yelandur
Yalandur is a small taluka town in Chamarajanagar district in the Indian state of Karnataka.It has historic and cultural importance in this region- Geography :Yelandur is located at . It has an average elevation of 555 metres ....
and Kollegal
Kollegal
Kollegal is one of the major taluks in the Chamrajnagar District of Karnataka State in the south of India. Kollegal is well known for its silk industry which attracts traders from all over the state.-History:...
Taluks of Chamarajanagar. Their population numbers close to 20,000, although the population in and around Biligrirangan Hills is only 2,000.
They speak Soliganudi, an ancient Kannada. They used to practice shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
, but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi (=Finger millet
Finger millet
Eleusine coracana, commonly Finger millet , also known as African millet or Ragi is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. E...
, Eleusine coracana) for subsistence, although their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, nellikai (gooseberry, Emblica officinalis
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
), bamboo, Paasi (Lichen). They are increasingly being brought to the 'main-stream' with an active Government and NGO initiative. Many have been given lands closer to 'civilization' and most of the forest-dwelling population have been brought together into clusters called Podus. Most of the forests they stay in comes under protection. The Biligirirangan Hills are a Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1973, the Malai Mahadeswara Hills is a Reserve Forest, and Bandipur is a National Park. There is a lot of man-animal conflict with their increasing population and needs. Recently, their rights on harvesting NTFP is being sought to be withdrawn citing conservation concerns, sparking a debate about the rights of indigenous people.
External links
- Indian tribe secures unprecedented rights to tiger reserve Survival International
- The Soligas of Karnataka and their intimate relationship with nature on Biodiversity of India wiki