KURICHIYAN'S ORAL LITERATURE LANGUAGE ART FORMS

Abstract

Kurichiyan is a prominent tribal community in Wayanad district of the State of Kerala. As per the 2011 Census their number is 35171. Their economic life was characterised by settled plough cultivation and cattle rearing: They also undertake hunting from neighbouring forests and fishing from, inland water sources like rivulets and water logged paddy fields. The Wayanadan Kurichiyar is a strictly endogamous society. Their society is charactised by dual organisation. All the 57 Tharavadu's (matrilineal clans) were grouped into two group of clans (halves) namely panthi clans and bandhu clans. The panthi clans can marry only from bandhu clans and vice versa. The tharavatu's were known after the locations and is known as the tharavatu mittom. The book Kurichiyan's Oral Literature, Language and Art Forms talks in detail about the ethnographic details, socio-cultural features, oral literature, art forms and language of the Kurichiyan tribal community in Wayanad district.