Muthuvan Tribe

Muthuvan Tribe Latest News

A rare convention of the Muthuvan community has taken on a novel mission to protect their language and culture, organising a three-day special conference as part of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

About Muthuvan Tribe

• The Muthuvans, or Mudugars, live on the border hill forests of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• There are two different groups among the Muthuvan, and they speak slightly two different dialects. Hence, they call each other Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.
• They are known for coexisting with the wildlife with their traditional knowledge and understanding of hills.
• They have expertise in traditional medicines which are very effective and these medicines and the medicine men are confidentially preserved and passed on to the generations.
• Social Organization: 
  • The Muthuvan have six clans known as Koottams. Each koottam is again divided into sub clans. 
  • The functions of these divisions are mainly for marriage alliance, to keep up the social status, and to indicate descent and ancestry. 
  • The Muthuvan adhere to community endogamy and clan exogamy. 
• These tribal people follow a unique system of governance called the ‘Kani System’.
  • Under this system, each village is headed by a ‘Kani’, who is responsible for the administration of the village.
  • They have various punishment methods for breaking their traditions and moral standards.
• Religion and Beliefs: 
  • They are animists and spirit worshippers and also worship the forest gods.
  • They believe that the spirits of their ancestors are to be the first migrants to the hill forests.
• Occupation: 
  • Virippukrishi (a form of shifting cultivation) is their traditional means of livelihood, and they cultivate a wide variety of food grains that are used only for consumption. 
  • Ragi (Little Millet), Maize (Sorghum), Thina (Italian Millet), Varagu, Chama Rice, Tomato, Carrot, Sweet Potato, Potato, Cheeni Vala, Toppi, Mocha, etc., are principal food crops cultivated by the Muthuvan community.

Source: TH

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