Narikurava
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|
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | |
| Languages | |
| Vagriboli, Tamil | |
| Religion | |
| Animism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Dravidian people |
The Narikuravar (Tamil: நரிக்குறவர் Narikkuṟavar) is an indigenous community from Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The main occupation of the people who originally belong to the indigenous tribes, is hunting. But as they were prohibited entry into the forests to pursue this livelihood, they were forced to take up other alternatives such as selling beaded ornaments to survive. Hence, they migrate from place to place to find a market for their beads. Children accompany the adults wherever they go, which means they never get to attend school.
During British rule in India they were placed under Criminal Tribes Act 1871, hence stigmatized for a long time, after Independence. However, they were denotified in 1952, though the stigma continues.
The word "Narikurava" is a combination of the Tamil words "Nari" and "Kurava" meaning "jackal people" or the "fox people". This appellation has been bestowed upon them due to their adeptness in hunting and trapping jackals.
As per a theory propounded by Werth in 1966 and Fraser, authorities on the gypsies of Europe, believes that the Domar are the ancestors of the Romani people and therefore, the Narikuravas are related to the Romani. while Edgar Thurston feels that they are related to the Khonds of Orissa.
The Narikuravas speak an Indo-Aryan language called Vagriboli.SIL Ethnologue classifies it as a dialect of the Domari language.
Due to this reason, they are also known as Vagris or Vagrivalas. Almost all Narikuravas are well-versed in Tamil. However, most of the Narikurava liturgical hymns and folk songs are in Vagriboli.
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