By Aswathy G V, People and Nature Collectives
This report summarizes two major participatory programmes that emphasized community knowledge sharing and tribal cultural representation — the Community Interaction Camp organized by the Ideal Arts and Science College, Cherupulasheri, and the Kerala Tribal Conference 2025 titled “Thauthara (Conversation)”, held at Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Tirur.
1. Community Interaction Camp at Ideal Arts and Science College, Cherupulasheri
The Department of Social Work at Ideal Arts and Science College, Cherupulasheri, organized a residential community camp aimed at promoting experiential learning and social understanding among students.
As part of the camp, a special session was conducted representing the Kattunayakan tribal community, focusing on their social and cultural knowledge systems. Discussions included the community’s traditional food practices, forest resource collection methods, and their sustainable ways of life.
The session was led by Sumithra K. and Suresh P., who took classes introducing the students to the cultural heritage and livelihood practices of the Kattunayakan community. They also presented and explained several museum objects that reflected the community’s material culture — including Kotta, Batti, Arinjhi Thol, Beeda, Padippu Kolal, and Ungara. These objects provided valuable insight into indigenous craftsmanship and eco-cultural relationships.
Towards the conclusion, students shared their reflections and experiences, expressing deep appreciation for the opportunity to engage with a tribal community and understand their lived realities and heritage.
2. Participation in ‘Thauthara (Conversation)’ – Kerala Tribal Conference 2025
The Kerala Tribal Conference 2025, titled “Thauthara (Conversation)”, was jointly organized by Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Tirur, in collaboration with KIRTADS on 22–24 October 2025 at Tirur, Malappuram district.
The conference brought together eminent scholars, researchers, and community representatives from across Kerala and other regions of India. Several community researchers from the Nilambur PNC team actively participated by presenting research papers on diverse themes.
In the session on Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Vinayan Manjeri presented a paper on the traditional knowledge of the Cholanaickan community. Vinod C. Manjeri spoke on the structural changes in tribal languages and the challenges of preservation.
During the session on Tribal Handicrafts and Material Culture, Suresh P. discussed various indigenous objects, while Sumithra K. explained the traditional architectural techniques and house-building practices of the Kattunayakan community. In the session on Indigenous Oral Music Traditions, Shyamjith Palakkayam presented insights into tribal songs and musical heritage.
To further enrich the academic experience, Kavya Anjali from the Wayanad PNC team participated in the session on tribal languages. The inaugural evening featured a cultural performance by the Attamakka performing group from Pulimunda, Nilambur, showcasing Vattakkali and Gudimane performances.
As part of the Gothra Foundation initiatives, we arranged a stall to exhibit and market forest-based products and traditional handicrafts, promoting tribal entrepreneurship and cultural economy.
3. Seminar on Tribal Studies
Finally, A two-day seminar on Tribal Studies in Kerala was held on 4th and 5th November 2025 at the School of Social Sciences, Pullarikkunnu, organized jointly by the School of Social Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, and KIRTADS. The programme aimed to highlight indigenous perspectives in research and promote dialogue between tribal and non-tribal scholars.
The seminar focused on recognizing tribal communities as knowledge producers, exploring cultural expressions, and encouraging the decolonization of tribal studies. It provided a platform for emerging tribal scholars to share their work and foster meaningful discussions on the richness and diversity of tribal life in Kerala.
As part of the visit, we also explored the Archaeological Museum on campus, which features exhibits of Megalithic and Neolithic objects, replicas of ancient burial systems, and replicas of artifacts from the Mohenjo-daro civilization.
Aswathy G.V. from the Nilambur PNC team and Kavyanjali from the Wayanad PNC team attended the seminar to learn and gain insights on the discussed themes.
