Tribal culture and Marginalisation as depicted in Kocharethi: The Araya Woman

Kocharethi: The Araya Woman is a mouthpiece of the life, the ways and practices of Malayarayars, the tribal people who abide in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The paper employs a thematic and discourse analysis by keeping a cultural and environmental perspective. It is also a tale of interdependence between nature and culture and resists the misrepresentations of the community. The poor and ignorant people of Araya community are evicted from their land and their resistance is crushed down ruthlessly. Lack of awareness and accessibility to standard health facilities coupled with alcoholism add misery to their lives. Natural disasters make them all the more vulnerable to the exploitation of upper caste money lenders who are better organised.