Description

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Context

In Tamil Nadu's Kunnapattu, Irula families that have lived on the property for generations fear eviction and denial of rights, with over half still lacking formal ownership or acknowledgment.

About the Irula Tribe

Ethnic Group	Irula (Dravidian ethnic group)
Region	Nilgiri Mountains, Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)
Community Status	One of India’s oldest indigenous communities
Demographic Rank in Tamil Nadu	Second largest Adivasi (tribal) community
Tribal Classification	Classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu
Self-Identified Names	Erlar, Poosari
Names by Neighbours	Eralollu, Irulas, Shikari, Pujari

Language

They speak Irula, which is related to Dravidian languages like Tamil and Kannada.

Religion

The Irula people do not worship a specific god. They are pantheists who accept the existence of spirits in persons and objects.
Their major deity is Kanniamma, a virgin goddess who is strongly associated with the cobra.

Society Form

Irula dwellings are developed in small settlements or villages known as mottas. The mottas are typically found on the outskirts of steep hills, surrounded by a few parched fields, gardens, woodlands, or plantations.
The Irula people are known for their healing practices, traditional medicine, and ability to trap dangerous snakes.
Cattle production provides another source of revenue. In the forests, people gather wild resources like as honey, frankincense, and firewood.
Irulas' expertise of snakes and their venom is legendary. They can even detect snakes based on their tracks, odors, and droppings.
They use ancient knowledge and techniques to trap snakes, extract venom, and safely release them back into the wild.
The Irula Snake Catchers' Industrial Cooperative Society is the largest manufacturer of anti-snake venom (ASV) in the country. It supplies over 80 percent of the venom used to make anti-venom in India.

Source: The News

Pratice Question:

Q. With reference to the Irula tribe, consider the following statements:

The Irulas are predominantly found in the Nilgiri Mountains, spanning Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu.
The Irulas are the largest Adivasi community in Tamil Nadu.
They are known by various names such as Erlar, Poosari, Shikari, and Pujari.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1, 2 and 4 only
C. 2, 3 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Correct. The Irulas live in the Nilgiri Mountains across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Statement 2 – Correct. They are classified as PVTGs in Tamil Nadu.
Statement 3 – Incorrect. They are the second largest Adivasi community in Tamil Nadu, not the largest.
Statement 4 – Correct. They refer to themselves and are referred to by various names including Erlar, Poosari, Shikari, and Pujari.