Is there more to Attappady and its forest dwellers? Is it just about the large-scale alienation they have faced for long, degradation and enslavement for several generations? Or are there interesting tales behind the magnificent hills and its original inhabitants, elders among whom still revel in the beauty of the region?
There isn’t much recorded history to throw light on how life evolved in the hills though there are vague references about migration of forest-dwelling Kurumbas from the adjoining Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu during the 15th Century. They were probably the first human presence in the hill ranges.
Against this backdrop, 100 tribal students of the region have embarked to search for their roots of the region, where migrants now outnumber tribal people. They feel the need to record the rich oral history of the area for posterity and their targets are the elders, who still remember the scenic beauty of the hill area as it was till a century ago when it had thick forests with blood-sucking leeches and wild animals. Less exploited by settlers from outside, tribal agriculture in the region was by and large based on a slash-and-burn culture.
The tribal boys and girls who completed an intense 10-month training programme to appear for the all-India entrance examinations for Sainik and Navodaya schools are now recording the region’s history, a week after appearing for the exams. In another two weeks, they would digitise the history for the future generations, apart from helping those who research on Attappady’s tribal life.
“Tribal people now constitute hardly 37% of the population in Attappady. A written history of the region will not only boost the morale of tribal youngsters but also help shape up projects and policies meant for their uplift,” said Babu Mathew of the ‘Project Shine’ initiative, which has undertaken the task of recording history.
According to him, the information will be presented in a textbook format. The Attappady history is part of the project’s textbook initiative on topics including origin of universe, evolving of earth, evolution of human beings, and protection of health.
The Project Shine helped half a dozen boys from impoverished tribal families of Attappady secure admission to Sainik School at Kazhakuttam in Thiruvananthapuram by cracking a tough all-India entrance examination and subsequent interview last academic year.
This year too, the initiative was undertaken by the 1991-batch students of the Sainik School. “One-third of the total funds for the project of ₹19.25 lakh was being awarded by the Scheduled Tribes Department. Our alumni, their family members, and friends raised the rest — ₹40 lakh,” said Mr Mathew. Apart from Mr. Mathew and his wife Litty George who offer their services voluntarily, the project has eight full-time facilitators. They all are helping in the history-documentation initiative.
