History and Development of Devikulam High Range, Idukki District, Kerala

Abstract

This paper gives a brief account of the history and geographical conditions of Devikulam high range. Geographically the area falls within the Precambrian metamorphic terrain. The study area is located in the tropical monsoonal belt experiencing alternate dry and wet periods, and hence the geomorphic processes are dominated by weathering and denudation that operate on the surface to produce a myriad of beautiful shapes and awesome structures. The average height of the area is 700 meters above mean sea level. About 80% of the area has moderately steep to steep slopes. Owing to the undulating nature of the land and its high altitude, Devikulam has a well-ordered system of natural drainage i.e. Pambar, Idamalayar, Periyar and waterbodies. Fertile valley fills are created by the depositional action of these rivers along the river course. This has attracted people from the plains to high range for settled agriculture practices. There are several mysterious folk stories from the period of Epic Era (Mahabharata), Pandanchondiyas and Palayakarar to recent Muthuvan, based on the human culture in the area. Archaeological evidence states that human presence in the high ranges dates back to 8000 years. The petrograph, petroglyphs, Tamil vatteluthu, trident and terracotta objects found in the Anchunad valley reveals the ancient development of human culture and of settled life. However, these areas can be considered as key sites in the search for more such ancient habitation sites in Kerala. The history of the present population is very recent. In the year 1840 Ward and Connor made a trigonometric survey and subsequently vast tracts of virgin forest has been converted to tea plantations. During the late 1990s Devikulam high range areas has been transformed into a bustling tourist destination and has developed modern infrastructure facilities.

Full text


HistoryandDevelopmentofDevikulamHighRange,
IdukkiDistrict,Kerala

S.Suresh1,S.Rajesh2andA.P.Pradeepkumar2

1. DepartmentofGeography,SreeSankarachariyaUniversityofSanskrit,Kalady,
Ernakulam‐683574,Kerala,India(Email:geogaya@gmail.com)
2.DepartmentofGeology,UniversityofKerala,KariavattomCampus,
Thiruvananthapuram–695581,Kerala,India(Email:geograjeshmunnar@gmail.com;
geo.pradeep@gmail.com)


Received:30July2018;Revised:04September2018;Accepted:11October2018
Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6(2018):697‐711
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
Abstract:ThispapergivesabriefaccountofthehistoryandgeographicalconditionsofDevikulamhigh
range.Geographicallytheareafallswithinthepre‐Cambrianmetamorphicterrain.Thestudyareais
locatedinthetropicalmonsoonalbeltexperiencingalternatedryandwetperiods,andhencethe
geomorphicprocessesaredominatedbyweatheringanddenudationthatoperateonthesurfacetoproduce
amyriadofbeautifulshapesandawesomestructures.Theaverageheightoftheareais700metersabove
meansealevel.About80%oftheareahasmoderatelysteeptosteepslopes.Owingtotheundulating
natureofthelandanditshighaltitude,Devikulamhasawell‐orderedsystemofnaturaldrainagei.e.
Pambar,Idamalayar,Periyarandwaterbodies.Fertilevalleyfillsarecreatedbythedepositionalactionof
theseriversalongtherivercourse.Thishasattractedpeoplefromtheplainstohighrangeforsettled
agriculturepractices.ThereareseveralmysteriousfolkstoriesfromtheperiodofEpicEra(Mahabharata),
PandanchondiyasandPalayakarartorecentMuthuvan,basedonthehumancultureinthearea.
Archaeologicalevidencestatesthathumanpresenceinthehighrangesdatesbackto8000years.The
petrograph,petroglyphs,Tamilvatteluthu,tridentandterracottaobjectsfoundintheAnchunadvalley
revealstheancientdevelopmentofhumancultureandofsettledlife.However,theseareascanbe
consideredaskeysitesinthesearchformoresuchancienthabitationsitesinKerala.Thehistoryofthe
presentpopulationisveryrecent.Intheyear1840WardandConnormadeatrigonometricsurveyand
subsequentlyvasttractsofvirginforesthasbeenconvertedtoteaplantations.Duringthelate1990s
Devikulamhighrangeareashasbeentransformedintoabustlingtouristdestinationandhasdeveloped
moderninfrastructurefacilities.


Keywords:Devikulam,Idukki,Culture,Muthuvan,Dolmen,RockPaintings,
Plantation


Introduction
Accordingtogeologists,KeralawassubmergedunderArabianSea.Millionsofyears
agotheseagraduallyrecededwestwardsfromWesternGhatsandthenarrowstripof
landwasraisedbyvariouscatastrophicagentslikeearthquake,volcanoesandthe

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018
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depositionbymajorrivers(Soman2002).TheQuilon‐Varkalabedsbelongingto
EoceneandupperTertiaryperiodsshowamplesupportingevidencesforthis
evolution.

Duringthelastfourdecades,studiesonthepre‐historicarchaeologyofKeralahave
madeconsiderableprogress.Intheabsencedirectevidencebearingonthefirstsettlers
ofKerala,archeologistsandhistorianshavetoconcentrateontheunwrittenoralstories
prevailingamongthetribesandthematerialscatteredbythesettlersintheshapeof
megalithicdolmens,menhir,rockcaves,rockarts,terracottaitemsandothers.
AccordingtothearchaeologistsMohantyandSelvakumar,around2200megalithic
sitescanbefoundinPeninsularIndia(Rajat2016).

ArchaeologicalevidenceindicateshumanpresenceintheDevikulamhighrangeseven
from8000yearsago(Gurukkal1999).Ancientdolmens(Muniyara)anddifferentkinds
ofrockpaintingsinMarayur,KanthalloorandChinnarregionsarestronglyrelatedtoa
StoneAgeculture.Newrockpaintingsanddolmenswerecontinuouslydiscoveredby
variousresearchers.‘DiscoveringIdukki’aprojectofthedistricttoexploreand
documentpre‐historicsites(TheHindu2012),aresearchfromKansaiuniversity,Japan
inassociationwiththeDepartmentofArchaeology,UniversityofKerala(Giji2017)are
someoftheinitiativestoprotectanddocumentthemegalithicerasitesinthestudy
area.Severalrockartsitesareunderperilandconservationeffortstopreventfurther
deteriorationhavebeenmooted(AjitKumar2015),whileithasbeenpointedoutthata
geologicalsolutiontotheissuemaybenon‐existent(Pradeepkumar2015).Butstillthe
mysteriesofthedolmensaretobeunravelledandadvancedresearchinthesesitesis
neededtounearththehistoryofthesedolmensandcavepaintings.However,thearea
canbeconsideredasthekeysitetosearchformorehabitationsitesinKerala,adetailed
enquiryneedtobecarriedouttoexamineanddocumentthevarioushistorical
evidencesofDevikulamtalukofIdukkiDistrict.

StudyArea‐Location
ThehighrangemountainlandscapeofDevikulamtalukislocatedonthewesternslope
oftheWesternGhats(Figure1).ItisthenorthernmostpartoftheIdukkiDistrict.The
studyareastretchesbetweenthelatitudesof9056’56’’Nto10021’29’’Nandlongitudes
of76045’00’’Eto77020’00’’Ecoversanareaof1140km2andhasapopulationof
177,621persons(CensusofIdukkidistrict2011).Devikulamtalukconsistsof12
villages,ninepanchayatsandtwoblocks.Munnarisacensustowninthistaluk.The
Devikulamtalukpossessdefinitephysicalcharacteristics.Thishighlandregionhasa
highlyundulatingtopographywithridgesandinterveningvalleys,highpeaks,steep
slopesleadingtonarrowgorgeslikevalleyswithgradientstreamsandplateau.

KannanDevanHillsisthelargestvillagewithanareaofabout557km2.Devikulam
andAdimaliarecommunitydevelopmentblocks.EdamalakudyandDevikulamare
thenewlyformedpanchayatsbysplittingtheMunnarPanchayat.Accordingtothe
GadgilaswellasKasthuriranganreportsthisareacomesunderecologicallyfragile

Sureshetal.2018:697‐711
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region.Nilgiritahr,startortoise,grizzledgiantsquirreletc.aresomeofthevulnerable
specieslivinginthisarea.Theaveragerainfallvariesfrom1166mminMunnarto8
mminMarayur(rainshadowregion).


Figure1:LocationMap

HistoryoftheStudyArea
ThegenesisofpopulationinDevikulamisnotarecentone.Ithasaveryoldhistory
whichfindsmentionevenintheepics.Themigrantpopulationinthestudyareaisa
uniquefeature.ThestateManualofTravancore1940describedtheHighRangeas:“…
thislandisalmostofindescribablebeauty.“Sholas”orsmallpiecesofjungleclothed
thebanksononesideofthewater,whileontheothersweepinggrass‐landsrosetothe
bluecliffsabove,afurthercolourcontrastbeinglenttothescenebythebrightred
flowersoftheinnumerableclumpsofwildrhododendrontrees.Herdsofwildgoats
(Thar)lookeddownuponthemfromrockypeaks,whileelephantsandbisonroamed
thegrass‐land.Undercoveroftheforest,tigerandpanthers,sambharandmunjac,and
manyotherspeciesofSouthIndianfaunathrived,undisturbedbythepresenceof
man.”

ThepopulationofDevikulamtalukhasgeneticlinkswiththePoonjarkings,tribal
people,TamilmigrantlaborersandthesettlersfromerstwhileTravancoreandCochin
states.

Theearlyhistoryofthestudyareaisobscureandthereisnoclearevidenceforthe
Paleolithicage.Thoughtheepicsareaworkofimaginationitcannotbedeniedthat

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theythrowlightonthepost‐vedicsocietyespeciallyontheinvasionofAryans.To
accountforthedetailedhistoryofDevikulamhighrange,thestandardperiodization
hasbeenmodified.BasedontheMahabharataepic,historicalevidence,theinvasionof
Britishrulersandmoderntourism,thestudyareacanbeclassifiedintofivedifferent
stages.Theyare:

o MegalithicPeriod(1000BC–500AD)
o ThePre‐ColonialPeriod(500AD–1858AD)
o TheTeaPlantationPeriod(1858–1940)
o ThePostTea‐Plantation(Settlement)Period(1940–2000)
o TheModern(Tourism)Period(2000onwards)

MegalithicPeriod(1000BC‐500AD)
ThepeopleofthestudyareabelievethatPandavasoftheMahabharataepichadstayed
inthisareainexile(Vanavasam)andsotheplacewasnamedas“MaranjirunthaOor”
orthelandwheretheyhidthemselves.Lateritbecame“Marayoor”.ThePandavasalso
stayedinPallivasalvillage.ThereisahillnamedafterPandavasas“PandavarMala”.
ThepeopleofthisareabelievedthatthePandavasoftheMahabharatahidthemselves
inthehills.ThewifeofSriRama,Sita,usedtotakebathinthepondwhichislocated
nearDevikulam.Therefore,thetalukhasbeennamedasDevikulam,theetymology
remainslikeit.Thus,thepresentDevikulamtalukisevenrelatedwiththetwogreat
epics–theMahabharataandtheRamayana(Mani2012).

MegalithiccultureinIndiacanbedatedto1000B.Cto500A.D.Iron‐baseditemswere
extensivelyusedforvariouspurposesandhencethisperiodisknownas‘IronAge”.
ThestudyareaishistoricallyfamousfortheDolmens(Muniara)existinginMarayur
(Figure2).Thesecaveswerebuiltbythesaints(Munis)forshelterandmeditation
(Nihildas2014).Thecompetinghypothesisstatesthattheseareburialsitesofthe
MegalithicAge.ThedolmensexcavatedfromtheAnjunadvalleywerearrangedonflat
landin‐groupsofthree,fourorfive.Aroundeachwasfoundacircularpackingof
roughsheetofstonesonboulders.Theyweredistributedinacircle(Jayson1999).
Remnantsofrubblestonepackingwerefoundoversomeofthecoverslabs.Therewas
alsoasemi‐circularopeningononeside(Menon1975).

Thepetrographs(colourpaintingsmadeonrockwallsandrocksurfaces)and
petroglyphs(scratching,pecking,sculptingordrilling)arefoundinMarayoorand
KanthalloorpanchayatsofDevikulamtaluks(Figures3and4)(Benny2009).In1974,
thefirstrockpaintingswerediscoveredbyTampiinMarayoor,Ezhuthala,Pallanad,
ChambakkaduandChinnar.Vannanthuraipaintingswerediscoveredintheyear2003.
In2007,Athiyoda,Malasarpetty,NellimeducaveandtheVayumalaareapaintings
locatedinChinnarwerediscovered.Aseriesofpaintingswerediscoverednear
Kodanthoor.In2011,ninenewrockartsiteswerediscoveredintheManjapetty‐
Anjunadvalley(Figure5)(Giji2011).Thepaintingsdepictimagesoffighting,burial,
elephant,sambardeer,NilgiriTahr,honeygathering,rituals,dancesandpayeethullal

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(removingthespiritofadeadbodyfromhis/herrelatives).Thesepaintings(Figure6)
belongtodifferentperiods.Someofthemwouldbeabout2500yearsold.Giant
humanfiguresoverlaptheanimalmotifsatEzhuthuparaandafewTamillettersare
foundinMalasapetty.Themap(Figure3)showstheimportantrockpaintingsitesin
MarayoorandKanthallorareas.


Figure2:Dolmen(Muniyara)


Figure3:LocationofPaintedRockShelters

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Figure4:AnimalMotifs,HumanFiguresandSymbolsinWhiteandRedPigments
(Courtesy:Nihildas2014)

Whitekaolin,redochreandashesarethemainpigmentsusedforthesepaintings
(Figure3).PotteryshardsandironpieceswerecollectedfromNachivayalandMeladi
areasrevealingthattheStoneAgecivilizationgraduallymadewayfortheIronAge
(Giji2011).Theredochrepaintingsareolderthanthewhitekaolinpaintings.The
paintingsofritualdances,terracottaevidencespointtoasettledlife.Themain
occupationsarefoodcropcultivationandsomepeopleengagedinsheepandBrahman
cowsrearing,settledinrockcavesandthesenomadicherdingpeoplechangedtheir
habitatsfrequently.Thefightscenesillustratethattheyencounteredfrequentattacks
fromoutsiders.


Figure5:RockPaintingsinManjapetty(Courtesy:TheHindu,17‐4‐2011)

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Figure6:WhiteandRedRockPaintings

DuringtheEarlyHistoricperiod,BuddhismspreadalloverIndiaincludingtothe
studyarea.InKovilkadavunearMarayoratinyidolofSakyamuni(Figure7)was
identifiedinThannasiapparKovil(SanyasigraduallychangedasThannasi)presently
knownasThenkasiNathanKshetram.Between830and966ADinthenameofHindu
revivalismhundredsofBuddhiststatues,stupasandviharasweredestroyed.Thesame
effectmightreflectinthisareaalso.

Figure7:BuddhaImage Figure8:VatteluthuInscription

ThePre‐ColonialPeriod(500BC–1858AD)
DivergentopinionsexistonthehumansettlementinDevikulamtaluk.Thefirstview
holdsthatfivegroupsofpeoplemigratedfromMadurairegiontothislandduringthe
unrestoflateSangamage(300AD).Theysettledinfivedifferentlocalitiesonthe
easternfoothillsofAnaimalai.ThesesettledvillagesareknownasUrGrammasand
theirlocationcametobeknownasMarayoor,Karayoor,Kizhanthur,Kanthalloorand
Kottakudi.

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Thealternateviewpointisthatthepeculiarfunnelshapedvalley(thevalleyof
Anjunad)isthefertiletractoflandknownbythenameNanchinad.IntheSangam
period(300BCand300AD),theNanchilcountrywasruledbyaclanoftheValluva
orderandNanchilPorananispraisedinthePurananoouruinthehighlandtornverses
byanumberofpoets(Tampi1983).Accordingtotraditionthegloriouscountry
NanchilValluvarasissaidtobeoftwoprincipaldivisions.TheseareManchinadu
ThenvakaiorNanchinadSouthandNanchinaduVadavakaiorNanchinaduNorth.
NaturallytheAnjunadValleyinthehighrangesisgenerallytakentobethesameas
NanchinaduVadavakai.TraditionhasitthatthelastoftheNanchilKuravachieftains
fledfromAlagiyapandiapuramonaccountofthedefeatsustainedinthehandsofthe
enemiesandretiredtoNanchinaduVadavakai(probablyAnjunadregion).Furtherthe
kuravachieftookwithhimtheimageoftheThen‐Nanchillingarandconsecrateditat
MarayoorintheAnjunadValley.Traditiondoesnotpreserveanythingmoreaboutthe
NanchilKuravaandhislaterlife.Curiouslyenough,theThenkasinathatempleat
MarayoorisdedicatedtoSivaandthedeityiscalledThonnanehilLingers,i.e.Sivaof
theSouthernNanchinad.EquallythereisatempleofthethenNanchilLingerat
Puthugramam(SouthernTravancore)anditexistseventodayjustasinthecaseof
Marayoor.Thereissomeconnectionbetweenboththetemplesasinferredfromthe
fourinscriptionsfoundatPuthugramam(Tampi1983:141).

TheTamilinscription(Figure8)engravedontherocktothenorthoftheSivatempleat
MarayoorcharacterizesthedeityasThirunachiappar,i.e.thelordofNanchinad.This
customofnamingadeityfromthetraditionnarratedaboveisthatarulerofthe
Nanchilcountrywasdrivenoutofhisoriginalhomebyhisenemiesandthathe
returnedatlasttothethickforestoftheAnjunadValleyandestablishedsome
habitationthere.WehavenogroundtoholdthisviewthatitwaslastoftheNanchil
Kuravaswhodidit.BecausesofarthelastphaseinthehistoryoftheNanchilKuravas
isobscure.StillitcouldwellbeinferredthatthekingexpelledfromNanchinadshould
haveeitherbeenamemberoftheNanchilkuravanclanoramonarchofthePandiya
line.InthisconnectionawordhastobesaidabouttheoriginofthenameAnjunad,
Anchunad,Anchinadasvariouslyspeltbymany.Probablythecorrectnameis
Anchinadwhichisofsomehistoricalbearing.IntheclassicalTamilAnchinanmeans
onewhoishumiliatedordepressed.InsouthTravancoretherewasthecustomof
establishing“Anchinanupukelidan”withinthelimitsofwhichahumiliatedor
depressedpersonenjoysallprivileges.AcorruptionofthisisAnchimeaningaplace
wheredwellsthehumiliated.ViraPandyaretiredtotheAnchinadValleyindisgust,
dishonoranddespair(Tampi1983:140‐142).

AnotherstorysaysthatthisvalleyofAnjunadwasruledbythekingKannarThevar
(whichbecameanglicizedlaterasKananDevan).Itissaidthatthetravelersfrom
MaduraitotheWestCoastinthosedaysgavethehillsitsnameasamarkofrespectto
thisheadmanofAnjunad.ItissaidthatPallanad,Marayoor,Kanthalloor,Vattavada
andKovilloorconstitutedAnjunad,forwhichKannanThevarwastheheadman
(Tampi1983).

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TheTeaPlantationPeriod(1790–1940)
ThefirstEuropeantovisitthesehillswastheDukeofWellingtonin1790.Intheyear
1840WardandConnormadeagreatTrigonometricsurveyofthestudyareaandin
particular,theAnaimudiandChokanadandthissurveyisvalideventoday(Speer
1953).The‘plantingopinion’of1896recordsthattheDuke,Col.ArthurWellesley,was
dispatchedbyGeneralMeadowstocutofftheretreatofTipuSultanatKumalygap.
Tipu’sintelligence,however,forewarnedhimofthismoveandWellesleywasordered
toretracehissteps.In1877TurnerandateamcametoIndiaforshikar,reachedthe
mountainsbyapasscalledtheBodimettuandguidedbythelocalhillmen
(Mudhuvans),eventuallyreachedthesummitoftheAnaimudiandsawthegrandeur
ofthesehillswithcommercialadvantageformulatingintheirminds,theyultimately
acquiredaconcessionofapproximately227miles2oflandforthepurposeof
developingCinchonaandotherplantationcropsfromthePoonjarRajasofAnjanad.
Smallholdersthenbegantopurchaseplotsoftheselandsandplantedavarietyof
cropsrangingfromcinchonatocoffeeandsisaltotea,andeventuallytheseplanters
formedthemselvesintotheNorthTravancoreLandPlantingandAgriculturalSociety
Limitedin1879.

In1895,SirJohnMuir,BaronetofDeanston,Scotlandboughtoverthedeedsofthe
concessionforfurtherdevelopment.In1900theconcessionareabecamevestedwith
theKananDevanHillsProduceCompanyLimited(KDHP),ofwhichtheFinlayMuir
heldalargeinterest,andtheareastartedtodevelopveryrapidlyalongmore
commerciallines,themaincropbeingtea.Thebeautifulteaplantationdrapedareas
thatweseetodaywasacompletelyvirgintractcoveredwiththickforestuntil1879,
whenMunroandTurnerformedtheNorthTravancoreLandPlantingandAgricultural
Societyandstartedplantingcropslikesisal,coffee,cardamom,etc.Then,intheyear
1897,FinlayMuir&Glasgowbecomeinterestedinthisarea&formedtheKDHP.Thus
theflagshipcompanyKDHPwasformed,anditstwosubsidiaries–theAnglo‐
AmericanDirectTeaTradingCompanyandtheAmalgamatedTeaEstatesCompany–
formedsubsequently,becamemoreinterestedinthedevelopmentandcultivationof
teaamongallothercrops.

ThePostTea‐Plantation(Settlement)Period(1940–2000)
Thepost‐teaplantationerastartswiththecommencementoftheformationof
Travancore‐Cochinstatein1940sandischaracterizedbytheMalayalicolonizationin
theHighRangesandtheinitiationofvariousHighRangedevelopmentprograms.The
severefaminethatoccurredintheerstwhileTravancoreduring1944ledtotheregular
demandfortheopeningoflargeforestareasforfoodcultivation.Inresponsetothis,
theGovernmentopenedforestlandonanemergencybasisforfoodcultivation.Large
migrationsparticularlybySyrianChristiansofcentralTravancoretookplaceduring
thisperiod(Sivanandanetal.1986).ThefirstmajormigrationbySyrianChristiansinto
thehigherreachesoftheWesternGhatsoccurredin1940s(Tharakan1978).In1941the
Governmentgrantedexclusivecultivationrights(knownas“Kuthakapattam”)inthe

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forestareas(Chandrasekharan1973).Fiveacresoflandcouldbedistributedfor
individualsforfoodcultivationonashort‐termlease(Kuthakapattam)basis.Theland
grantedbytheGovernmentwasonatemporarybasisandnopermanent
improvementswereallowed.Roughly13,600acresofreservedforeststhroughoutthe
Statewereofferedforcultivationinthattime.

TheModern(Tourism)Period(2000Onwards)
Themoderneraforthepresentstudyisconsideredfromtheyear2000atafasterpace.
Thesuddendevelopmentoftourismindustry,mechanizationinteaindustry,increase
inthevarietyofeducationalinstitutions,riseintheliteracyrateandother
infrastructuralfacilitieshavecausedrapidchangesinthisareasincethebeginningof
21stcentury.Itplaysavitalroleinthestudyarea’seconomicdevelopmentatboththe
stateandlocallevel.

TheTribalPeople
InthestudyareatheprominenttribalgroupsareMannan,Muthuvan,Paliyan,Mala‐
arayan,Oorali,UlladanandHillPulaya.Thetribalhamletsareeitherscatteredinthe
forestsorlocatedalongitsfringes.Themajorsourceoftheirlivelihoodsisfarmingof
pepperandcardamom,collectionofwildcardamom,honey,dammar,wildnutmeg,
medicinalplants.Fashioningofbroomsticks,reedmatweavingandlemongrass
distillationaresomeofthesmallartisanalenterprisesprovidingeconomicsupportfor
theirlivelihoods.

ThemajorityoftheareainDevikulamtalukisoccupiedbythe‘Ur’Gramapeople,
thosewhoaresaidtobemarriedfromtheMaduraiDistrictofTamilNaduinthe
moderntimes.Theyhavemostlysettledinfourdifferentlocationsofthisvalley,viz.
Marayoor,Karayoor,KizhanthurandKanthalloor.Thelastsettlementgroupbelieved
tobeknownasKottakudiislocatedintheeasternpartsofthisvalleyinthePalaniHills
inTamilNadu.ApartfromUrpeople,agroupofinhabitantsinthePuttur,Perumala
areaintheKanthalloorvillage,claimsthattheyalsobelongtothe‘Ur’Grama’softhe
AnjunadValley.Inaddition,tribescalledMuthuvans,KurumbasorHillPulayansand
adifferentgroupofHillPulayansknownasKaravazhiarethepresentresidents.Itis
reportedthatsomeofthetribesknownasVellalsandIrulasinthepresentNilgiriand
PalaniHillshadoriginallybelongedtothisvalleyearlier.

Muthuvans
Manylegendssurroundthetribeof“Muthuvar”.Onerelateshowtheywereoriginally
peacefulcultivatorsoftheMaduraiside,butthatwhentheforcesofaggressionledby
HyderAliandhissonTippu,sometimescalledtheTigerofMysore,hadfoughttheir
wayalmosttothegatesofMadras,theyfoldedtheirtentsandsilentlymovedoffto
remotejungles,preferringalifeoffreedomtooneofslaveryfetteredtothe
Mohamadanyoke.OnreachingBodinayakanurafewofthem,ofwhomlittlewasever
heardagain,struckNorthtowardstheNilgiris,whilethemainbodyproceededwest,
andcarryingtheirchildrenontheirbackstheyascendedthesteepghatsoftheKanan

Sureshetal.2018:697‐711
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DevanHillswheretheysettledintheforestscallingthemselves“Muthuvars”or“Back
people”(Speer1993).

UntilquiterecentlytheMuthuvanswereexceedinglyprimitiveandevennowthose
wholiveinthemoreremotepartsofthejunglegreatlyfearstrangers.Thereasonfor
thisfearissupposedpartlytooriginatefromtheraids,inoldendays,bygangsof
dacoitsfromtheCoimbatoreside.Thesegangsmadeapracticeofburningdownthe
villagesanddrivingoffthecattleatnotinfrequentintervals.TherearestillMuthuvans
whohaveneverspokentooutsiders.Thisinnatefearisverystrongamongthe
Muthuvanwomenwhoifmetwithsuddenly,willdashoffintothejungle.Houses
havenobackwalls,thepentroofusuallyslopingintothehillsidebehind.Thesidesare
sometimesmadeofbamboomatting,andtheMuthuvarsareskilledatplaitingthis
withsplitbamboostems.ThetraditionalhutoftheMuthuvantribesiseco‐friendlyand
itisknownforwithstandingelephantattacksandmuchsuitableforbittercoldweather
conditions.Thetraditionalhutsusuallyhaveroofofgrassorbambooleaves.A
Muthuvanhousehastwoentrances.Theentranceroomusedforsleepingandthe
secondpartofthehouseusedasakitchenandtostorethebelongings.Dayornightthe
houseoftheMuthuvanwillbedark.Theoldergenerationsfeelcomfortablelivingin
theirtraditionalhutswhichcontroltemperaturewell.Atpresentthetraditionalhuts
arefastdisappearingfromtheEdamalakudilandscape.Theyoungergenerationswho
worksoutsidefeelsthatconcretestructuresarebetter.AtthesametimeMuthuvan
tribesinMarayurforestsarereturningtothetraditionalhutsleavingtheconcrete
housesconstructedbyanon‐governmentorganization(Giji2016).

Muthuvarsbelievethatifananimaliskilledbytigerorapantheranditfallssoastolie
alignednorthitwouldbeuselesstositupina“machan”ortreehuts.Theybelievethat
atigerwillnotreturntothekillbeastifitislyingthus.ForthetigertheMuthuvars
retainaveryhealthyrespect,referringtohimas“Kudduvool”,theSupremeBeing
(Speer1993).Thetribehasmanyomens,mostlybadones.Thebellowingofasambhur,
orthebarkingofajunglesheep,isatcertaintimesregardedasapresageofevil.

Thoughtheymadedifferenthousesinthesettlement,allofthemactontheguidanceof
oneman,whoiscalledtheKudiKaniortribalchief(mostlyeldermen),whoisstill
reveredasthemasterofthesettlement.Muthuvanpeopleusedlargeleavedettah
(Ochlandratravancorica)asamaterial.Theyhaveskillincreatinguniquebamboo
mats,handbags,handicraftitemsandotherhouseholditemswithvariousdesigns.The
materialformakinghandicraftsespeciallymatsneedskillinselectingthebamboo
canesasonlythosewithaparticularperiodofgrowthcanbeused.Themathasa
primelookandisquitedurable.Theycallthemat‘Kannadipaya’(mirrormat)dueto
itsnicesurface.Butpresentdaysthelocaltribalpeoplechoosealternativeitems
availableinMunnarmarket.Moreover,thenewgenerationsislessinterestedin
learningtheskillfromtheelders.Withalternativeitemsfloodingthemarket,andless
interesttowardstraditionalhandicraftsamongtheyoungergenerations,theitemsused
andproducedbythetribeisslowlydisappearing.

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018
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708
Intheirsettlementtheyallassembleataplaceanddiscussissuesrelatedtothe
community.Theyalsosortouttheissuesbetweenhusbandandwifeandotherissues.
Theywilltakethehelpfromunmarriedyoungboystoassembletheconcernedparty
andsortouttheissues.Entirehouseholdsdiscusstheissues.Theywillnotlettheissue
behandledbytheoutsiders.Everysettlementhasaboy’sdormitorycalledSaavadior
resthouseandunmarriedMuthuvanmaleiscalledasIlandariandtheyarethemost
powerfulgroupinthesettlement.Allunmarriedmenofthesettlementstayinthe
saavadi.Veliilandaariistheleaderoftheyoungmen.Anythingrelatedtothevillageis
doneinconsultationwiththem,especiallyifitisaworkofcommoninteresttothe
community.Thereisanotherkeypersoncalledmandirakkaran,thetraditionalpriest.
Stickswereusedtodesigngod,usuallycalledperamban.Templearefoundinall
settlements.Theyalsoworshiptrees,natureandancestors.Apersonisdoingmedicine
isknownasvaithyan.Noonestoredmedicinefortheirfutureuse.Thebeliefisthat
storingmedicinewillmakeitimpotent.Goodknowledgeaboutthemedicinalplant
species,whicharedistributedinthesurroundings,exists.Chinchuetal.(2015)
documented24speciesofethno‐medicinalplantsin23generaand16families.These
potentialmedicinalplantsareusedbythesetribesforthetreatmentofvariousailments
intheirdailylife.Ajesh(2013)reports103floweringplantspeciesbelongsto44
familiesandalichentomeetavarietyoftheirrequirements.Theyuse21plantsfor
constructionofhut,andtraditionalpurposes16fordomesticarticles,15forcultural
andtraditionalpurposes,12forclothingandcosmetics,20fortoolsandweaponsand
otherdailyuses.Ajeshetal.(2012)documented38speciesofwildediblefruits
belongingto25generaand17familiesareusedbyMuthuvanswererecorded.Butdue
toclimatechange,thelevelofpovertyandenvironmentaldegradation,thereishigh
riskoflarge‐scalebiodiversityloss.SeveraldecadesagotheMuthuvansweregreat
wanderers,thiswanderingtakesplacebetweentheharvestingofthecropsonone
pieceoflandandthesowingonanother.Thisshiftingcultivationhaditsnatural
detrimentaleffectupontheland.Lateryearstheseagriculturalactivitiesweregreatly
restricted.AtpresentMuthuvanscultivatecardamom,ginger,coffee,pepper,arecanut,
hillrice,ragi,millets,mazeandfruitsmainlybanana,guava,sapota,mangoandalso
gatherhoney.

TheMuthuvantribalcommunityismaledominatedanditdidnotencouragewomen
enteringpublicplaces.Theyaredebarredevenfromattendingmeetingsconductedby
elders.Thereisadormitoryforthegirls,referredtoastinnaiveeduorValaymapuraor
seclusionhut.Thepracticeofhousingwomenseparatelyaftertheirdeliveryisstill
followedforchildbirth.AmongMuthuvans,menstruatingwomenareconsideredtobe
impureandsupposedtobringbadlucktotheirmenfolk.So,theyaremadetostayina
speciallydesignatedplacecalledvalaymapura,atinyhutontheoutskirtsofthe
village,duringthosedays.Menarenotsupposedtoseethem.Somethingbadwill
happentotheirhusbandorfatherifwomenviolatethecustom.Foodisgivenatthe
seclusionhousebytheelderlywomenwhohadreachedmenopause.Atypical
Muthuvanladytakesextremecaretodecorateherself.Forthembanglesandchains
madeoutofbeetandlentarethemostattractiveornaments.Theyusedtowearbangles

Sureshetal.2018:697‐711
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fromwristtoarm.AMuthuvanwidowwillnotwearnewclothes.Likewomen,men
alsohavehairknot.Hereinsteadofhairpinstheyusewoodenneedlestoknottight.
Aftercompletingtheirwork,womenareengagedinpreparingfoodwhilemen
assemblenearsaavadiandgetreadytoentertainthem.Musicanddancearethemain
sourceofentertainmentfortheMuthuvan.Menperformtraditionaldancewhichis
calledVeeravilayattu.Likemen,womenalsoperformdanceasagroup.Musical
instrumentslikekuzhal(flute),kottuandurumiarethesupportinginstruments.From
birthtodeath,theremusicanddanceaccompanieseveryoccasion.Theentiremusical
rhythmcanbecategorisedintosixtypes.ThoughtheMuthuvantribesliveinthedeep
junglesmuchaloofandfarawayfromthemainstream,theirlifecontainsalotof
traditionandeachoneofthemcouldbestudiedindependently.Thesepeopleadhere
tocommunityendogamyandclanexogamy.Formarriage,theaverageageforgirlsis
14‐18andforboysitis18‐25.Crosscousinmarriagesaregivenpreference(Manjusha
2013).Muthuvanshavenoplansforthefutureandlivefortheday.Theyneversave
moneyorfoodmaterialsfortheirfuturerequirements.Chewingtobaccoisanaccepted
habitandalmostallthepeoplechewtobacco.Blackteawithoutsugarisanenergy
drinkconsumedfrequently.Theyhavemealstwiceaday,inthemorningandevening.
Ineverysettlement,thereisacommonplaceknowas‘Sathram’usedforpublic
meetingsandfestivalcelebration.Pongalisthemainfestivalcelebratedbythese
people.Visitorsandguestsfromoutsidestayinthissathram.DeathonSaturdayis
consideredspecialandachickenisburiedalongwiththebody.Duringthefuneral,
everyoneinthevillageisinformedandthemournersjoinindiggingthegravethatis
normallyfarfromthesettlement.Generally,awomanisburiedwithherornaments
andmanwithhisimplements.

Conclusion
ThehighrangemountainlandscapeofDevikulamtalukislocatedonthewesternslope
oftheWesternGhats.ThegenesisofthepopulationinDevikulamtalukisnotarecent
one.ThepopulationofDevikulamtalukisrelatedwithseveralpeoplelikethePoonjar
kings,tribalpeople,TamilmigrantlaborersandthesettlersfromerstwhileTravancore
andCochinstates.Theearlyhistoryofthestudyareaisobscureandthereisnoclear
evidenceabouttheEpicPeriod.Thestudyareaishistoricallyfamousforthecaves
(Muniara)existinginMarayur.DolmenshavebeenexcavatedfromtheAnjunad
valley.Themegalithicrockpaintingsofover2500yearsantiquitydepictvarious
aspectsofdailylife.Gianthumanfiguresoverlappingtheanimalmotifsat
EzhuthuparaandfewTamillettersfoundinMalasapettyarealsotheimportant
discoveries.Theperiod273–200BCshowsthespreadofBuddhism.InKovilkadavu
nearMarayoratinyBudhaidolisidentifiedinThenkasiNathanKshetram.Butitwas
destroyedin830and966ADinthenameofHindurevivalism.

Thebeautifulteacoveredareathatweseetodaywasacompletelyvirgintractcovered
withthickforestuntil1879,whenMunroJ.D.andTurnerA.W.formedtheNorth
TravancoreLandPlantingandAgriculturalSocietyandstartedplantingcropslike
sisal,coffee,cardamom,etc.Then,intheyear1897,FinlayMuirandGlasgowbecome

ISSN2347–5463Heritage:JournalofMultidisciplinaryStudiesinArchaeology6:2018
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710
interestedinthisareaandformedtheKananDevanHillsProduceCo.Ltd(KDHP).
Thus,theflagshipcompanyKDHPwasformed,anditstwosubsidiaries–theAnglo‐
AmericanDirectTeaTradingCompany&theAmalgamatedTeaEstatesCompany‐
formedsubsequently,becamemoreinterestedinthedevelopmentandcultivationof
teaamongallothercrops.MorenumberoflabourersmigratedfromTamilNaduand
MunnarbecameaTamilpocket.

TheseverefaminethatoccurredintheerstwhileTravancoreduring1944ledto
openingoftheforestlandonanemergencybasisforfoodcultivation.Largemigrations
particularlybySyrianChristiansofcentralTravancoretookplaceduringthisperiod.
ThefirstmajormigrationbySyrianChristiansintothehighsectionoftheWestern
Ghatsoccurredin1940s,andtheGovernmentgrantedexclusivecultivationrights
(knownas“Kuthakapattam”).Roughly13,600acresofreservedforeststhroughoutthe
Statewereofferedforcultivationinthattime.

Thesuddendevelopmentoftourismindustry,mechanizationinteaindustry,increase
inthevarietyofeducationalinstitutions,riseintheliteracyrateandother
infrastructuralfacilitieshavecausedrapidchangesinthisareasincethebeginningof
21stcentury.Itplaysavitalroleinthestudyarea’seconomicdevelopmentatbothstate
andlocallevel.

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