Abstract: The indigenous people of Tamil Nadu, the Kuravars, live widely in the Dravidian landscape not only in Tamil Nadu but also in the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala. Known as Kuravas in Tamil Nadu, they are known as Yerukulas in Andhra and Telangana, and as Korachas or Koramas in Karnataka and Kerala. Almost one and half centuries ago, the Kuravar community, who lived in the forests and mountains with a tradition of hunting and producing food, were affected by the Forest Protection Act, the Criminal Tribes Act and the Criminal Descendants Act brought by the British government and were forced to live as nomads. Currently, Kuravar community are doing basket weaving, rope spinning, mat weaving, marking, tattooing and pig rearing as traditional occupations. Apart from these, they also made a living selling salt, tamarind and curry leaves from town to town.
At present there are many problems in studying the past and present, traditional...
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