Paniya people
A Paniya man (1909).
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 94,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India
|
|
| Languages | |
| Paniya language | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism, traditional religion, Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Malayali |
The Paniya, also known as Paniyar and Paniyan, are an ethnic group of India. They primarily inhabit Kerala, and the Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts. The Paniya speak the Paniya language, which belongs to the Dravidian family. A scheduled tribe, they have a population of around 94,000 individuals.
The Paniya have historically worked as agricultural labourers. They are believed to have been brought to Wayanad by the king of Malabar, and thereafter tilled the land as serfs. Following the abolishment of the slave-holding system, the Paniya were resettled in different areas established by the government.
Paniyas were also historically reputed for their boldness and recklessness. For this reason, they were often employed as thieves.
The Paniya today are a scheduled tribe. One particular sub-group of theirs, the Kattupaniyar, inhabits the forest region of Nilambur in the Malappuram District. Here, members lead a traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
The Paniya mainly inhabit Kerala, and the Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur and Malappuram districts of India. Others reside in Tamil Nadu, the area west of the Nilgiris hills, as well as Karnataka and the Kodagu District.
...
Wikipedia