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{{Short description|Ethnic group in India}}
⚫ '''Irula''' is a ] of ]. Irulas are found in various parts of India, but their main habitat is in the ] district of ]. Their population in this region is estimated to be between 15,000-25,000.<ref name="worldbank_rat"></ref><ref name="ashanet_irula_project"></ref>.
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}


{{Infobox ethnic group
Their main occupations are ] and ] catching. They also work as labourers (]s) in the fields of the landlords during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. ] is also a major occupation.
| group = Irula
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Irulas1871.jpg
| caption = Irula men from the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, c.1871
| total = 213,641
| total_year = 2011 census
| popplace = {{flag|India}}
| total_ref = <ref name="census">{{cite web|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=Government of India|access-date=28 October 2017}}</ref>
| region1 = ]
| pop1 = 189,621
| region2 = ]
| pop2 = 23,721
| region3 = ]
| pop3 = 10,259
| languages = ]
| religions = ],<ref name="censusindia.gov.in">"Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.</ref> ], ]
| related = ], ], ]
}}
⚫ '''Irula''', also known as '''Iruliga'',''''' are a ] ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of ], ] and ].<ref>Perialwar, R. (1979), Phonology of Irula with Vocabulary, Annamalai University</ref> A ], their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people.<ref name="worldbank_rat"></ref><ref name="ashanet_irula_project"></ref> People of Irula ethnicity are called ''Irular'', and speak ], which belongs to the ] languages family.<ref></ref>


== Distribution and Religion ==
⚫ Rats destroy a quarter of the grain grown on Tamil Nadu-area farms annually. To combat this pest, Irula men use a traditional earthen pot fumigation method. Smoke is blown through their mouths, which leads to severe respiratory and heart problems<ref name="worldbank_rat"/>.
The tribe numbers around 200,000 spread across three states: 189,621 in Tamil Nadu, 23,721 in Kerala and 10,259 in Karnataka. Those in Karnataka are named Iruligas. The Irulas are mainly concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu: in a wedge extending from ] and ] districts in the west to ] and ] districts in the south and ] in the north. Small populations live in ] and ] districts and were classified by Thurston as a different population. In Kerala, the Irulas are in ], while in Karnataka they are concentrated in ] and ] districts.<ref name="census"/>


The Irula people practice some sort of ] where they primarily believe in a Goddess named Inga who lives with her 6 sisters worshipped in the form of stones under trees. The Irula people traditionally believe that these 7 sisters created the first Irula man and woman. This traditional concept of 7 Goddesses was ] as ]. The Irula people also believe in Ancestral Spirits, and they traditionally believe that Kannipe (spirits of virgin girls) can possess anyone. These kannipe spirits are worshipped as guardian deities of villages by Irula tribals. The Irula also believe in the presence of evil spirits known as Pe who can possess and haunt people in order to keep these spirits away. A ] is sacrificed and offered to them. Many Irula people worship Hindu Gods and also take part in Hindu festivals. Some Irulas have also been converted to ].
] literature says that the Irulas belong to the ] ethnic group.<ref name="ashanet_irula_project"/><ref></ref> Unlike the tribes in the Andaman Islands who have retained their language, Irulas in ] have adopted the local regional languages such as ] and ].

== Language ==
The Irula speak the ], a ] that is closely related to ].<ref>{{cite web |title=People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |url=http://keystone-foundation.net/web/nbr/ |publisher=Keystone Foundation |access-date=26 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929230456/http://keystone-foundation.net/web/nbr/ |archive-date=29 September 2007 |date=2006}}</ref>

== Economy ==
]
]
Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has been ] and rat catching, and ] collection. They also work as labourers<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 July 2021|title=Criminalizing Scheduled Tribes in Post Independence State|url=https://article51a.in/criminalizing-scheduled-tribes-in-post-independence-state/|url-status=dead|website=Article 51-A|access-date=28 July 2021|archive-date=18 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118203936/https://article51a.in/criminalizing-scheduled-tribes-in-post-independence-state/}}</ref> (]s) in the fields of the ] during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. Fishing and cattle farm is also a major occupation.

⚫ Rats destroy a quarter of the grain grown on ]-area farms annually. To combat this pest, Irula men use a traditional earthen pot ] method. Smoke is blown through their mouths, which leads to severe respiratory and heart problems.<ref name="worldbank_rat"/>

In January 2017, Masi Sadaiyan and Vadivel Gopal from the Irula tribe of ] were brought in, along with two translators, to work with detection dogs to track down and capture invasive ] in ], Florida.<ref></ref> The Irula men and their translators were paid $70,000 by the State of ], and captured 14 pythons in less than two weeks.<ref></ref>

== Caste discrimination ==
Irula people face severe discrimination and harassment from other castes and numerous such cases are reported every year.

* In 2020, a girl named Dhanalaxmi was assaulted and barred from getting a Scheduled Tribe certificate by ] community in her village.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marx|first=Karal|date=27 July 2020|title=Tamil Nadu: Four assault Irula girl for seeking caste certificate|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/puducherry/tamil-nadu-four-assault-irula-girl-for-seeking-caste-certificate/articleshow/77191277.cms|access-date=21 November 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>
* In Dharmapuri, Irula people were trashed and urinated upon by a mob who were infuriated by the marriage between a Irula man and a ] woman.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pramod Madhav|date=20 September 2021|title=Tamil Nadu: Irula tribe members say they were thrashed, urinated upon after inter-caste couple eloped|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/cities/chennai/story/tamil-nadu-irula-tribe-members-thrashed-urinated-upon-inter-caste-marriage-1854828-2021-09-20|access-date=21 November 2021|website=India Today|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


== External links ==
]
{{commons category|Irula people}}
⚫ ]
* {{cite web | title=fwc news: Irula tribesmen and detector dogs help UF/IFAS and FWC remove pythons in Florida | website=Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission | date=23 January 2017 | url=http://myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2017/january/23/python-projects/ | access-date=23 September 2018 | archive-date=23 September 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923235156/http://myfwc.com/news/news-releases/2017/january/23/python-projects/ | url-status=dead }}
⚫ ]
*{{cite web | title=One Florida agency put out a want ad for python killers | website=msn.com | date=15 March 2017 | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/one-florida-agency-put-out-a-want-ad-for-python-killers/ar-AAogQhZ?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315085139/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/one-florida-agency-put-out-a-want-ad-for-python-killers/ar-AAogQhZ?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp | archive-date=15 March 2017 | url-status=dead}}
*
* {{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}


⚫ ]
]
⚫ ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 09:27, 17 December 2024

Ethnic group in India

Ethnic group
Irula
Irula men from the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, c.1871
Total population
213,641 (2011 census)
Regions with significant populations
 India
Tamil Nadu189,621
Kerala23,721
Karnataka10,259
Languages
Irula
Religion
Hinduism, Traditional Religion, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Soliga, Tamil, Yerukala

Irula, also known as Iruliga, are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people. People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian languages family.

Distribution and Religion

The tribe numbers around 200,000 spread across three states: 189,621 in Tamil Nadu, 23,721 in Kerala and 10,259 in Karnataka. Those in Karnataka are named Iruligas. The Irulas are mainly concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu: in a wedge extending from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts in the west to Ariyalur and Cuddalore districts in the south and Tiruvallur district in the north. Small populations live in Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts and were classified by Thurston as a different population. In Kerala, the Irulas are in Palakkad district, while in Karnataka they are concentrated in Ramanagara and Bangalore districts.

The Irula people practice some sort of Animism where they primarily believe in a Goddess named Inga who lives with her 6 sisters worshipped in the form of stones under trees. The Irula people traditionally believe that these 7 sisters created the first Irula man and woman. This traditional concept of 7 Goddesses was Sanskritised as Sapta Matrika. The Irula people also believe in Ancestral Spirits, and they traditionally believe that Kannipe (spirits of virgin girls) can possess anyone. These kannipe spirits are worshipped as guardian deities of villages by Irula tribals. The Irula also believe in the presence of evil spirits known as Pe who can possess and haunt people in order to keep these spirits away. A Rooster is sacrificed and offered to them. Many Irula people worship Hindu Gods and also take part in Hindu festivals. Some Irulas have also been converted to Christianity.

Language

The Irula speak the Irula language, a Dravidian language that is closely related to Tamil.

Economy

Irula man and woman tilling the soil.
Irala rat catchers, Tamil Nadu

Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has been snake and rat catching, and honey collection. They also work as labourers (coolies) in the fields of the landlords during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. Fishing and cattle farm is also a major occupation.

Rats destroy a quarter of the grain grown on Tamil Nadu-area farms annually. To combat this pest, Irula men use a traditional earthen pot fumigation method. Smoke is blown through their mouths, which leads to severe respiratory and heart problems.

In January 2017, Masi Sadaiyan and Vadivel Gopal from the Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu were brought in, along with two translators, to work with detection dogs to track down and capture invasive Burmese pythons in Key Largo, Florida. The Irula men and their translators were paid $70,000 by the State of Florida, and captured 14 pythons in less than two weeks.

Caste discrimination

Irula people face severe discrimination and harassment from other castes and numerous such cases are reported every year.

  • In 2020, a girl named Dhanalaxmi was assaulted and barred from getting a Scheduled Tribe certificate by Vanniyar community in her village.
  • In Dharmapuri, Irula people were trashed and urinated upon by a mob who were infuriated by the marriage between a Irula man and a Vanniyar woman.

See also

References

  1. ^ "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix". censusindia.gov.in. Government of India. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  2. "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. Perialwar, R. (1979), Phonology of Irula with Vocabulary, Annamalai University
  4. ^ World Bank grant to improve standard of living for rat-catchers
  5. Irula Project Proposal and site report
  6. President gives nod to add Puducherry's Irular community in the Scheduled Tribes list
  7. "People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve". Keystone Foundation. 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  8. "Criminalizing Scheduled Tribes in Post Independence State". Article 51-A. 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  9. Snake hunters from India are the latest weapons in Florida’s war on pythons
  10. One Florida agency put out a want ad for python killers
  11. Marx, Karal (27 July 2020). "Tamil Nadu: Four assault Irula girl for seeking caste certificate". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  12. Pramod Madhav (20 September 2021). "Tamil Nadu: Irula tribe members say they were thrashed, urinated upon after inter-caste couple eloped". India Today. Retrieved 21 November 2021.

External links

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