| Adiyas |
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BackgroundLike the Paniyas, the Adiyas are one of the slave sects that were brought to Wayanad in large numbers to labor in the fields. Along with their shared social niche as an “underdeveloped” tribal community, the Paniyas and Adiyas have shown a tendency to cluster together geographically. Some researchers even point to the possibility of a common ancestry, despite the linguistic disparities (Thomas, Nair, & Banerjee, 2004). With the exception of a small minority, the Adiyas, too, remain a landless agricultural laborer community with no control over the resources in the area (Bijoy, 2003).SocietyIn Adiyan society, there is a clear division of labor based on sex. With the exception of ploughing, which is considered taboo for women to engage in, women actively participate in all other agricultural activities and also manage the household. From early childhood, Adiyan girls are expected to share the responsibilities of their mother before marriage (and of their mother-in-law after marriage). Girls are viewed as an important link for strengthening clan relationships and as an economic asset to the family before and after marriage because they bring a “brideprice,” do housework, are highly skilled in wetland cultivation, and supplement the family income by collecting forest produce and fishing. Although the nuclear family was organized under a male head in traditional Adiyan society, over time the authority seems to have shifted to the women (Ramachandran, 2004).Marriage between family members, divorce, and widow marriage are prevalent in the Adiyan community. Monogamy appears to be the general rule, but polygamy is also tolerated. Although 98.68% of the Adiyan people are Hindus, they worship family and village deities along with the usual Hindu gods (“Adiyan of India,” 2008). EconomyUnsurprisingly, the economy of the Adiyas revolves around activities related to food procurement, and agricultural practices like food gathering are their primary means of livelihood and security. The gradual conversion of Wayanad’s paddy fields to banana and other cash crop fields and non-farm activities has resulted in the displacement of Adiyan women as wage laborers and is one of the major reasons for the poverty and increasing health hazards in the community (Ramachandran, 2004). Between their poverty and inability to save money, the Adiyas have a tendency to depend on shopkeepers for loans (“Adiyan of India,” 2008).References
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