Malai pandaram tribes: A distinct ethnic group in Kerala Manjusha K.A. Assistant Professor, School of Gandhian Thought and Development Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University, P.D. Hills. P.O., Kottayam, Kerala, India. E-mail ID: sasi.manjusha3@gmail.com Online published on 2 April, 2019. Abstract The Malai Pandarams are a notified Scheduled Tribe in Kerala inhabit in the mountainous forests of Pathanamthitta and Kollam District. (Viswanathan, 1986). The habitats of Malai Pandarams in Kerala can be traced along the Achenkovil and Pampa river basins in the Achenkovil, Konni and Ranni reserved forests of Kollam and Pathanamthitta district. (Kumar S V, Kumar K S & Swapna, 2011). They can be contacted at Azuthamuzhi, the forest tracts around the Kakiyar scheme, on the banks of Pambiyar River, Manimala Range, Karimala Adivaram, Elavanjiviel, Achenkoil hills, Ranni Range, Pathanamthitta Taluk and Kodapara in the Shabirimala forests of the Peeremede Taluk. It is possible that they wander into the high forests of Madurai and Tirunelveli Districts of Tamilnadu. (Luiz, 1958). Malai Pandarams are otherwise termed as Hill Pandarams. The prefix Mala or Malai connotes hills and this is essential to distinguish them from rural and urban Pandarams. (Luiz, 1958). This paper is the result of an extensive ethnographic field work. This paper start with a narration about the geographical and demographic profile of Malai pandaram tribal group. This paper would help the readers to have a baseline understanding about Malai pandaram tribes, a distinct ethnic group in Kerala. This paper is also an attempt attempt to make an environment appraisal of the living surroundings of Malai Pandaram tribes of Kollam and Pathanamthitta Districts of Kerala. Top Keywords Ethnic Group, Malai Pandaram, Tribe. Top |