Irula people

Irula, also known as Iruliga, are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.[2] A scheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people.[3][4] People of Irula ethnicity are called Irular, and speak Irula, which belongs to the Dravidian family.[5]

Irula
Irula rat catchers, Tamil Nadu
Total population
213,641[1] (2011 census)
Regions with significant populations
 India
Tamil Nadu189,621
Kerala23,721
Karnataka10,259
Languages
Irula
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Soliga, Tamil, Yerukala

Etymology

Irular means "dark people" in Tamil and Malayalam, from the root word irul, meaning "darkness." Thurston speculated that it either referred to the darkness of the jungles which they inhabited or their dark skin complexion.[6][7]

Distribution

The tribe numbers around 215,000 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 Ramnagara and Bangalore districts.[1]

Anthropology
An Irula girl.

Early 20th century anthropological literature classified the Irula under the Negrito ethnic group. Other anthropologist suggested a proto-Caucasoid ancestry.[4][8] Modern genetic studies suggest a relation to other South Asians but do not show any genetic relation to Negrito or Australoid populations.[9]

Genetics

A study by Yelmen et al (2019) found that the Irula were the closest likely proxy for the 'AASI', or Ancient Ancestral South Indian, one of the presumed founder and autochthonous original Indian populations. They showed a closer fit when modelled than alternatives that have been suggested such as the Onge.[10] The DNA analysis (2018) of a male skeleton classified as 'I4411' which is taken from a site of pre-Indus Valley Civilisation in Rakhigarhi village shows affinity with Irula tribe.[11]

Language

The Irula speak the Irula language, a Dravidian language that is closely related to Tamil.[12]

Economy
Irula man and woman tilling the soil.

Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has been snake, 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.[3]

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.[13] The Irula men and their translators were paid $70,000 by the State of Florida, and captured 14 pythons in less than two weeks.[14]

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. Perialwar, R. (1979), Phonology of Irula with Vocabulary, Annamalai University
  3. World Bank grant to improve standard of living for rat-catchers
  4. Irula Project Proposal and site report
  5. President gives nod to add Puducherry's Irular community in the Scheduled Tribes list
  6. Thurston, Edgar (1909). Castes and Tribes of Southern India.
  7. H.V. Nanjundayya; L.K. Anathakrishna (1930). The Mysore tribes and castes. Mysore, Mysore University.
  8. Giving Irulas their due
  9. Reich, David; Pinhasi, Ron; Frachetti, Michael; Kennett, Douglas; Thangaraj, Kumarasmy; Boivin, Nicole; Anthony, David; Meyer, Matthias; Lalueza-Fox, Carles (31 March 2018). "The Genomic Formation of South and Central Asia". bioRxiv: 292581. doi:10.1101/292581.
  10. Yelmen, Burack; Mondal, Mayukh; Marnetto, David; Pathak, Ajay; Montinaro, Francesco; Romero, Irene; Kivisild, Toomas; Metspalu, Mait; Pagani, Luca (5 April 2019). "Demographic Histories and Opposite Selective Pressures in Modern South Asian Populations". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. 4500-year-old DNA from Rakhigarhi reveals evidence that will unsettle Hindutva nationalists
  12. Keystone Foundation (2006) "People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" retrieved 3/26/2007(NBR)"People of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Snake hunters from India are the latest weapons in Florida’s war on pythons
  14. One Florida agency put out a want ad for python killers
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