A slipping foothold
The Irulas, classified as a particularly vulnerable tribal group, live scattered in small pockets across Tamilnadu state. Foraging for edibles, fishing, hunting small animals and birds for their daily food, life for the Irulas once largely revolved around forests and scrub surrounding their hamlets. Over the years, forest cover has shrunk - taken over by the growing suburbs and occupied for farming or construction. Access to forests is increasingly restricted and hunting prohibited. Lakes are now auctioned for private use, restricting the Irulas' access to fishing. Their traditional lifestyles are undergoing a change, threatening to erode the wealth of their knowledge and skill, passed down over generations. The Irulas now rely on daily wage work on farms, brick kilns or government public works, earning meagre wages that do not match the changing aspirations. (See Published stories for in-depth content)
V. Govindaraj, 48, looks for edible plants and small animals in thick bushes of the scrub forest near his hamlet Bangalamedu in Thiruvallur district.
The root of the 'kaattu vellikizhangu' reveals itself after K. Krishnan, 50, identifies its climber and digs the ground. The thickness of the climber stem indicates how deep to dig and how big a tuber to expect.
A spread of different edible roots, tubers and small fruit from the scrub forest near Bangalamedu. Many of these are not commonly known or used outside the Irular community.
G. Manigandan peels a 'thaamarai kizhangu' or lotus root. These roots are cooked and consumed.
An Irula girl observes Govindan, an Irula elder, look for edibles. Children learn the traditional ways from an early age, by accompanying their parents on hunting and foraging trips to the forest during the weekend or school holidays. Children learn to identify edible from harmful plants and ways to satisfy thirst and hunger.
K. Krishnan, 50, bites into the 'nadhelli pazham' or 'thappattikalli' fruit that stains his mouth pink. The children in the hamlet have named it the "lipstick" fruit.
Karthiga, a healer from Dargas Irula hamlet in Thiruporur looks for fresh herbs and medicinal plants in the open fields around her hamlet. The Irulas rely on traditional remedies for most ailments, including snake and insect bites.
Krishnan quickly breaks the teeth and feet of a rat he has caught, to prevent it from biting or escaping. Irulas hunt for rats in paddy fields. Rats are a staple diet. They also use the salvaged paddy stored away by the rats. Younger irulas are not keen on rat hunting, considering it undignified and prefer rice from the ration shop.
Rats are a common pet among the Irulars, who adopt baby rats if they find them while hunting for rats in paddy fields.
'Dolkattai', a traditional percussion instrument used in Dargas Irula hamlet. It is a mud-pot sealed on either end with animal skin, usually goat and monitor lizard skin. With a ban on hunting, and monitor lizard being on the endangered list, these instruments are not being made anymore.
An Irula man uses the 'ootha' a device to fish in shallow lake beds. Post sunset, when the fish stop moving and are closer to the water surface, Irula men place the ootha's wide mouth over the fish. They then remove the trapped fish through the cone's narrower end and transfer them into water-filled containers or plastic bags. Night time fishing is fraught with risks of snake and venomous insect bites.
Valli holding a young venomous snake called Suruttai. Irulas need to procure licenses to catch snakes legally. Valli learnt to identify snakes, their habits and habitats from her parents at a very young age. Before her father's demise, their family used to supply and release venomous snakes as per the requirements of the Madras Crocodile Bank near Mahabalipuram, for research and anti-venom preparations.
'Ootha' a traditional fishing device made of straw and dried sticks used by the Irulas.
T. Sakthivel, 23, painstakingly ties the ends of the net made of tangus nylon to attach it to a string to hold the net together. Nylon nets are cheaper compared to the stronger but more expensive silk net.
A group of men prepare the 7metres long and 6ft high net. A net of this size could cost the families upto Rs. 5000. Each net is for fishes of a specific size only. 2-3 families jointly own such nets and share the cost and labour in procuring and preparing the net.
An Irula man from Thiruporur town handles a fishing net at the back waters near their town. Large parts of this salt lake have been leased to companies for salt pans. Lakes are auctioned off by local panchayat for private use, which restricts access and limits quantity of fish the Irulas can catch.
An improvised fishing tool made with thermocol, nylon thread and hook. A piece of lead keep the device from floating away.
Irula children playing with metal and fibre drums which have replaced their traditional percussion instruments made of mud and animal skin.
M. Mariamma, 30, with her documents. As Scheduled Tribes, Irulas are entitled to many benefits. But the paper work involved in securing the same is not easy.
Young girls Kavya and Adilakshmi play cricket in behind the Cherukkanur Irular Colony in Thiruthani. Aspirations are changing.