With changing times, the traditional lifestyle of the tribespeople of Attappady has also changed.
Many factors, such as alienation of land, livelihood issues, and deteriorating health and social conditions, have torn away the moorings the tribespeople had based their life on.
In the process, their folk tradition which had offered them solace had hit the nadir. Now, thanks to the efforts of an Irula tribesman P. Palaniswamy, the folk tradition of Attappady is in the revival mode.
With elephant squad
A daily wage worker with the elephant squad of the Forest Department, Mr. Palaniswamy divides his time between folk art promotion and scaring away wild elephants that raid farmlands.
The Azad Kalasanghom, he floated a decade ago with 16 friends, has won accolades across the country with performances of tribal dance forms, especially that of the Irula tribe.
To the accompaniment of traditional music instruments such as Chore, Davil, Kuzhal, and Jaldra, the troupe had performed at many cultural festivals in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram. The troupe had also brought out a compact disk of the best tribal songs of Attappady.
“Apart from dance and songs, we recently started theatre activities. A drama of ours on total hygiene was recently broadcast on All India Radio,” said Mr. Palaniswamy.
“It was very difficult to collect and record tribal folk songs as they had no script. In a way, it was our humble effort to protect the rich tradition to tell the outside world that we too have a rich legacy. The Irula dance was originally performed during funerals,” he said.
Mr. Palaniswamy thought of starting the troupe when he worked with the Attappady Hill Area Development Society (AHADS). AHADS officials helped him structure the troupe and to find initial capital.
Inspired by Mr. Palaniswamy, many tribal youngsters are coming forward to uphold the folk tradition of the region.
