 Irula men from the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, c.1871 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 213,641[1] (2011 census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | |
| Tamil Nadu | 189,621 |
| Kerala | 23,721 |
| Karnataka | 10,259 |
| Languages | |
| Irula | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism,[2]Traditional religion,Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Soliga,Tamil,Yerukala | |
Irula, (Natively: ër̠la/ïr̠la,IPA:[ərla,ɨrla])[3] also known asIruliga, are aDravidian ethnic group inhabiting the Indian states ofTamil Nadu, and parts ofKerala andKarnataka.[4] Ascheduled tribe, their population in this region is estimated at around 200,000 people.[5][6] People of Irula ethnicity are calledIrular, and speakIrula, which belongs to theDravidian languages family.[7]
Irula is derived from the termiruḷ "black" and-a/iga "people".[8][9]
The Irula society is divided into four tribes– Vete Kadu Irulas, Male Nadu Irula, Urali and Kasava, of whom the former two intermarry hence forming three endogamous units.[3] While majority of the Irula are illiterate, they possess a oral tradition, significant part of which are riddles.[3]
The tribe numbers around 200,000 spread across three states: 189,621 in Tamil Nadu, 23,721 in Kerala and 10,259 in Karnataka. Those in Karnataka are named Iruligas. The Irulas are mainly concentrated in northern Tamil Nadu: in a wedge extending fromKrishnagiri andDharmapuri districts in the west toAriyalur andCuddalore districts in the south andTiruvallur district in the north. Small populations live inCoimbatore andNilgiris districts and were classified by Thurston as a different population. In Kerala, the Irulas are inPalakkad district, while in Karnataka they are concentrated inRamanagara,Chamarajanagara andBangalore districts.[1]
The Irula people practice some sort ofAnimism where they primarily believe in a goddess named Inga who lives with her six sisters worshipped in the form of stones under trees. The Irula people traditionally believe that these 7 sisters created the first Irula man and woman. This traditional concept of seven goddesses wasSanskritised asSapta Matrika. The Irula people also believe in ancestral spirits, and they traditionally believe that Kannipe (spirits of virgin girls) can possess anyone. These kannipe spirits are worshipped as guardian deities of villages by Irula tribals. The Irula also believe in the presence of evil spirits known as Pe who can possess and haunt people. In order to keep these spirits away, arooster is sacrificed and offered to them. Many Irula people worship Hindu gods and also take part in Hindu festivals. Some Irulas have also been converted toChristianity.[citation needed]
The Irula speak theIrula language, aDravidian language that is closely related toTamil.[10]
Traditionally, the main occupation of the Irulas has beensnake and rat catching, andhoney collection. They also work as labourers[11] (coolies) in the fields of thelandlords during the sowing and harvesting seasons or in the rice mills. Fishing and cattle farm is also a major occupation.
Rats destroy a quarter of the grain grown onTamil Nadu-area farms annually. To combat this pest, Irula men use a traditional earthen potfumigation method. Smoke is blown through their mouths, which leads to severe respiratory and heart problems.[5]
In January 2017, Masi Sadaiyan and Vadivel Gopal from the Irula tribe ofTamil Nadu were brought in, along with two translators, to work with detection dogs to track down and capture invasiveBurmese pythons inKey Largo, Florida.[12] The Irula men and their translators were paid $70,000 by the State ofFlorida, and captured 14 pythons in less than two weeks.[13]
Irula people face severe discrimination and harassment from other castes and numerous such cases are reported every year.
