Social Structure & Change Among The Tribals

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

In this well researched empirical study the author has examined the social structure of the Uralis, a primitive tribe in Idukkui district in kerala. The Uralis, says the author, have a social system that is harmonic; they have few contacts outside of their own society. This is clear from the fact that none of the tribal welfare programmes which the government have launched to change their lot yielded any result. As the style of life of the Uralis was exclusively their own, they did not feel the indispensability of the government aid. Their social structure has remained till today what it was yesterday. The author therefore examines in detail the failure of various welfare programmes-agricultural programmes, social and cultural programmes, health programmes and so on and focusses the attention of the readers on the causes of the failures. One of the major causes of the failure of the government welfare programmes is the exploitation of the Uralis by the non-tribals. Being most primitive and, therefore, innocent, they have fallen, says the author, an easy victim to the perjuries and forgeries of the so-called civilized human beings. Even the lands that were given to them by the government have been snatched away from them. Having concluded his study on this note, the author then suggests what steps are to be taken to make the welfare programmes effective and to ameliorate the lot of the Uralis. Here is therefore a book which should be found useful not only to the students of sociology and anthropology but also to the planners of social welfare programmes.

Jacob John Kattakkayam (b. July 1947) stood first in M.A. in sociology which he passed from Jabalpur University in 1973. He was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 1979 for his brilliant work on the Uralis of the western Ghats. The study was conducted with the financial assistance that he received from the University Grants Commission. Apart from writing numerous articles and research papers Dr. Jacob has written a textbook on Social Anthropology and edited essays in honour of Professor. A. Aiyyappan sponsored by Kerala Sociological Study entitled 'Perspectives in Sociology' Modernity and Migration, another significant publication of Dr. Jacob has been brought out by the Centre for Social Research, Kerala. Dr. Jacob is the Officer-in-charge of the library of State institute of Encyclopedic Publication, Thycaud, Trivandrum.

This book is the outcome of my research work on the Uralies of the Idukki District in Kerala. It is intended to highlight the social structure and change among the Uralies, an aboriginal tribe inhabiting the High Ranges of the Western Ghats. Though the process of modernization has crept into the life of most of the other tribes of the region, the Uralies, to a great extent, still confine themselves to their sylvan isola- tion. In this work I have made an attempt to delineate their history, progress, present conditions of life and the impact of various welfare measures on them. I hope this study will pave the way for a rethinking on the part of those who are engaged in their attempts to merge these tribals into the mainstream of our national life.

In this humble endeavour I have received a great deal of help and guidance from different quarters.

First and foremost I should like to express my deep grati- tude to my professor and guide Dr. P.K.B. Nayar, Head of the Department of Sociology, University of Kerala. The academic gains I have made by getting the rare privilege to work under him are invaluable. But for his continuous interest in my work, his unfailing encouragement and painstaking guidance, this thesis would not have been completed. For all these acts of kindness and his unceasing inspiration, I am under an everlasting obligation to him, and I ever remember him with deep gratitude.

I owe my gratitude to Dr. G. Narayana Pillai. Reader, Department of Sociology, University of Kerala for the timely advice and encouragement he has lavished on me in the completion of this work.

**Contents and Sample Pages**