“Someone is pounding on a door within you and hoping for an answer. They want to tell us the secret tale of ourselves. The stories we have never told”.

After days of anxiety, we were finally given confirmation of our reservations to enter the Manakudy tribal settlement (Kerala Forest Dept- Kallar division) on 10 October 2015.

We were a team of seven including our guide, who proved invaluable with his knowledge of the tribals, terrain and the medicinal plants of the region. Once we reached Kallar, we made the introductions with him and then we were off. Our first destination was a settlement inside the forest. We reached there by car. KSRTC operates bus services up to Kaithode, just past a place by name Chonampara.

A view from Kallar (Top); A tribal member with enumerators (Bottom)

We got down at Manakudy, our destination, without much delay. We walked past tribal settlements and began exploring them one by one. Along the way, we could see tracts of rubber plantations. The tribes work for the planters. Our guide, who himself a ‘Kaanikkaran’, took us to his newly constructed house. A concrete building made with hollow bricks. It seemed odd in that forest area. Soon we came across a stream where we rested for a few minutes to quench our thirst. After some thirty minutes of walk, we were in front of a very old tribal house, built of bamboo and reed. The plinth is slightly raised, the floor rectangular and there was a long open veranda in the front. 

The head, Muthiamma, graciously accepted our request and welcomed us. We sat in the veranda and muthiamma started narrating the age-old tales of Kaani in her “malampasha” (tribal language). The first story was about “Rot Mesthiri” followed by “Perachi” and a “thumpithullu” song. Her family consists of six members including two children. However, she charged us Rs.150 for her song and Rs.50 each for her stories.

Impressed by stories and her song we thanked them and set out to the nearest Kanipat. On the way, we could see trenches to keep away boars and elephants that come to graze. Our guide, who himself a healer, explained to us about various medicinal plants and root vegetables. We reached the next house in which work was still going on. After formal introductions, the leader of the group accepted our plea and started narrating stories foretold by his ancestors. They explained to us of the Kaani traditions-their marriage, “chattpaat” and the legend behind the origin of Kaani tribes. We left there by noon and set out to look around the indigenous plants and trees.

Karimaruthu (TerminaliaTomentose), Vellamarthu (Tpaniculata), Chadachi (Grewiatilliciefolia), Poovam (Schleicherasop),Anjili (Artocarpushirsute), and Jack (A.Integrifolia), Vanda etc. are the indigenous trees in Kallar. Then comes the feeding time- Blood sucking Leeches. A couple of those did get into our shoes. Our guide took them out with his bare hands. The six hours of journey into the heart of a forest was in fact a newest experience; still the unexpected growth of the tribal economy left us in deep thoughts. We went through the materials collected as far and packed our bags for the return journey .The most distinguishing feature about this journey was, after all, the development of the Kanikkar tribals. Brick houses replacing bamboo houses, Children going to schools, modern machinery and gadgets, English-speaking natives etc. were shocking.

Winds of change: an old hut (top); a newly constructing house (bottom)

The Tribal Welfare Department has taken considerable efforts for the development of Kanikkars. The Kaani tribals are coming into the mainstream society faster than what we have thought of. Without the help of mediators, they have learnt to market their products and excel in their trade. However, the “Kaani stories” remain unknown to the outside world. No one has bothered to maintain a printed version of these tales. Tribal folktales have several elements that mainstream people have to emulate. The noble values and attitudes can be contributed to the present-day world at large.