Question

Which of the following tribes is considered the most primitive in Kerala?

• A. Cholanaikkans
• B. Kurumbas
• C. Kattunaikans
• D. Kadars

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Cholanaikkans

Cholanaikkans

• The most primitive tribe in Kerala is the Cholanaikkans.
• This tribe is known for its extremely low population and is primarily located in the Malappuram District, specifically in the Mancheri hills within the Nilambur Forest Division.
• They are one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes of the region.
• The Cholanaikkans speak the Cholanaikkan language, which belongs to the Dravidian family.
• Dependent on food-gathering, hunting, and the collection of minor forest produce, the Cholanaikkans subsist on a diet that includes rice as their staple food along with wild roots, tubers, seeds, fruits, and meat. 
• In the 1991 census, the Cholanaikkan population was recorded at 360 individuals.
• However, this number has significantly declined, with only 191 members identified as per the latest reports