TRIBAL MOVEMENTS IN WAYANAD; SOME HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS

Tribes are the real inhabitants of the land. Tribal communities are found in all districts of Kerala, except Alappuzha. Wayanad has the largest tribal population among all the other districts of Kerala state and is considered as the ‘Holy land' of ‘Adivasis'. The tribal population is spread in the three taluks of Wayanad, consisting of the eight Panchayaths in Mananthavady, seven Panchayaths in Sulthan Bathery and ten Panchayaths in Vaythiri taluk. The Paniyas, Adiyas, Mullukurumas, Tenkurumas, Kattunaykas, Uralikurumas, Kurichyas, Kallanadies, Kunduvadiyans, Karimbalas, Thachinadans are the chief communities in Wayanad.