THE TRIBES OF ANDHRA PRADESH

Abstract

The TCR&TI provided a brief ethnographic information among the tribes of Andhra Pradesh in this report. The total 22 tribals inhabiting throughout the State. The Koyas are said to belong to the great Gond Family. The Koyas live in very small villages which are very picturesque. The main and the chief occupation of the Koyas is their traditional Podu cultivation. The Yanadis fall under the strata of food gatherers and hunters. They know neither agriculture nor crafts. Gonds are the most prominent aboriginal tribe of Andhra Pradesh both in numbers and historical importance. Gonds are the largest aboriginal race in the heart of India, described after them as Gondwana. Gonds are predominantly an agricultural tribe. The Yerukula women are carrying the occupation of FORTUNE-TELLING, they are name after it as YERUKULAS or YERUKULAVANDLU. The Sugali jewels are very numerous and they used to live pack-bullocks trade. The Konda Doras divided into two socially distinct groups namely Pedda Kondalu and China Kondalu. Both the Kondalu practice Podu cultivation. The Savara are an ancient tribe. The Savara language belongs to Kol-Munda group of the Austro-Asiatic Linguistic family. The Bagatha, their name Bagata is associated with the tradition that they served with great devotion the former rulers of Golugonda and Madgole, who made grants land to them in Mokhasa tenure. Bagatas are agriculturists and they also resort to Podu cultivation. The Konda Reddi agriculture represents a crude form of cultivation. Kammaras are blacksmiths settled in the Agency areas of Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Srikakulam districts. Kammaras Manufacture all agricultural implements required by the tribals. the Valmiki claim that they are from famous sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana. Valmikis are agriculturists and forest labourers, some of them became traders and petty money lenders. Gadabas in olden days were employed as carries of Palanquins to the former Rajas of Jeypore. Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for the Gadabas. The Khond people are invariably living either on top of hills or at the foot of hills, they might have been attributed as Khonds of Kondalu. The Chenchu belong to the strata of food gatherers and hunters. A Chenchu has a definite predilection to live in isolated small groups. The Kotia adorn themselves with scanty costumes in their traditional fashion. Gouds are the pastoral tribe, predominantly found in the Scheduled Areas of Visakhapatnam and sparsely in Srikakulam, East and West Godavari Districts.