www.tjprc.org editor@tjprc.org SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS OF KURUMBAS IN THE NILGIRI DISTRICT – A STUDY D. KASTURI 1 & DR. KANAGAMBAL 2 1 Ph.D. Scholar, Dept. of History, Govt. Arts College, Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris. Tamil Nadu, India. 2 Asst. Professor and Head, Dept. of History, Govt. Arts College, Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India. ABSTRACT Kurumbas are a recognised scheduled tribe in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are one of the earliest known inhabitants of the Western Ghats, collecting and harvesting forest produce, primarily wild honey and wax. They have traditionally subsisted as hunters and gatherers. They live in jungles on the plateau's steep edge, where they conduct shifting agriculture as well as feeding and catching tiny birds and animals. Historically, the Kurumbas and other tribes have enjoyed a cooperative relationship that includes the trading of commodities and services. Members of this group are short, have a dark complexion and prominent brows of their community practise Hinduism and speak a language that is a hybrid of Dravidian dialects. KEYWORDS: Intricate Interpretation and Scrutiny of Bygone Occurrences Received: Jun 01, 2021; Accepted: Jun 21, 2021; Published: Jun 29, 2021; Paper Id.: IJHRDEC20212 INTRODUCTION The history of people who settled in the Nilgiris hills has been documented for ages. The Blue Mountains were most likely named for the abundant blue strobilanthes flowers that bloomed in the area's foggy atmosphere. The indigenous tribal peoples of the Toda, Kota, Kurumbas, and Irula have long lived in this area. The Todas and Kota, who are culturally, linguistically, and genetically related, were stationed on the outskirts of the Nilgiri Plateau as sentries to the centre area. The Kurumbas, who reside in the Nilgiris or Blue Mountains, have a perplexing and mysterious identity. A number of things contribute to the romanticization of these aboriginal people. The word "Kurumba," like the mountain ranges, is found throughout the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala Kurumbas prefer to be referred to as Kurumbas, although some refer to them as kurumba, kurempa, and kuruman. Kurumba is an etymological term that means "one who looks after sheep." Kurumba tribes in Nilgiris area are known by numerous names, including Kuruman, Kurumba, and Kurubael. The Kurumbas of the hills are one of the scattered remains of countless tiny tribesThe tribes were once a prominent people who belonged to a race descended from nomadic shepherds. They are descended from one of the big Dravidian groups who lived on the Peninsula of South India prior to the historical period. Kurumbas is a shepherd's name. The Principles of Tribal Society Agriculture and hunting are their main sources of income. They primarily inhabit the forest, desert, hilly terrain, and other regions that are inaccessible to the general public. The Tribal Society A tribe is a group of individuals in a rudimentary and laborious stage of development who recognise the authority of a leader Original Article International Journal of History and Research (IJHR) ISSN (P): 2249–6963; ISSN (E): 2249–8079 Vol. 11, Issue 2, Dec 2021, 9–12 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.