Cultural Transformations Among The Kani Tribes Of Thiruvattar Taluk, Kanyakumari District

Abstract

The Kani tribe, an indigenous community residing in the Western Ghats of Kanyakumari district, represents a rich cultural heritage rooted in forest-based livelihoods, herbal medicine and a deep spiritual bond with nature. Traditionally known for their communal solidarity, simple social structures and ecological wisdom, the Kanis have in recent decades experienced profound
transformations. State-led development programs, expanding access to education, religious conversions, migration for employment and restrictions on forest resources have altered nearly every aspect of their lives. Livelihood patterns have shifted from subsistence cultivation and forest gathering to wage labour and migration, while their unique dialect and oral traditions are
steadily declining under the influence of standard Tamil and mass media. Family structures are moving toward nuclear households, women are increasingly engaged in education and wage work and spiritual practices have shifted from sacred groves to churches and temples. Although these changes have opened new opportunities for mobility and integration into mainstream society, they also pose challenges such as the erosion of traditional knowledge, cultural dilution and identity struggles between generations. This paper explores these cultural transformations among the Kanis of Thiruvattar taluk, highlighting both the opportunities they provide and the threats they pose to the preservation of indigenous identity.