0.1. KATTUNAICKA Kattunaicka is one of the tribes in the Nilgiris District of Tamilnadu. According to Census Report of India Kattunaickas live in other parts of Tamilnadu as well as Kerala and Karnataka states. The present study is concerned with the Kattunaicka in Gudalur Taluk of Nilgiris District only.
0.1.1, ORIGIN Kattunaickas are also known as je:nuna:ykar, te: nkurumor je:nukuruvar, je:nukurubaru and ka:dukurubaru. This suggests relationship of this tribe with the tribe generally called Kurubas and anything said of the origin of Kurubas can be considered to have relevance to the Kattunaickas whose speech is analysed here. Thus, what the Census Report of 1891 says on the Kurubas, deserves mention here. The Kurubas are the descendants of ancient Kurumbas or Pallavas who were onсе very powerful throughout the Southern India. When they were subdued by Chola and Chalukya chiefs, around 7th or Sth century A.D., they were scattered and went to live in the places where they are found now. Those who settled in the Nilgiris, the Wynaad, Coorg and Mysore happened to remain aloof from the main stream of ongoing civilization, and their descendants appear uncivilized.
Gopalan Nair (1911:108--113) distinguishes between Jain Kurumbas and Kattunayakans; however, he states that they are identical except for that the latter eat monkey's flesh, do not collect honey and take food at the former's house whereas the former differs in these particulars. Ayyappan (1948:100--101) also holds almost the same view. Census of India 1961 has sub-divided the Kurumba tribal community into five categories viz. 1. Betta Kurumba, 2. je:nu/temu Kurumba, 3. ura:li Kurumba, 4. pa:lu/ha:lu Kurumba and 5. mullu Kurumba. E. Thurston (1909: 165) observes that Kurumbas are divided into Mullu Kurumbas, jen or tên Kurumbans (kadu or sola Nayakkans) and ura:ļi or Bet Kurumbans. The relevant point of this observation is that jen or ten Kurumbans and Kadu or Sola Nayakkans constitute one and the same tribe.
Thus, there are broadly two positions regarding Kuttunaickas (i) Kattunaickas and je:nu kurubas are the same tribe except for some differences such as eating or not eating monkey's flesh, collecting or not collecting honey and accepting or not accepting the food given by the other group, and (ii) tenu Kurumbans, kadnayakkans and solanayakkans are one and the same tribe.
According to Kariyannaickar, a Kattunaicka leader, the Kattunaickas and je:nu Kurubas are of the same tribe and they are distinct from Solanayakas (also known as, kulla nayakas).
The criteria set for distinguishing the tribes stated in (i) above, is fully agreeable to differentiate these two tribes. This leader's opinion is confirmed by elders in other areas.
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