Kani Tribe

• Who are the Kani tribe?
  The Kani, also called Kanikkarars, are a traditionally nomadic tribal community now settled in the Agasthyamalai hills of the Western Ghats, located in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.

• Social Structure:
  Every Kani settlement has a community council responsible for social governance. This council includes:

  • Mootukani (Chief): The hereditary tribal leader who acts as the law giver, protector, and dispenser of justice.

  • Vilikani (Convenor): Organizes community matters.

  • Pilathi (Physician and Priest): Holds a dual spiritual and medicinal role and is believed to possess magical powers. Pilathis perform rituals and chant mantras using an instrument called the ‘Kokara’.

• Traditional Roles:
  The Moottukani combined the roles of lawmaker, protector, healer, and spiritual leader, making him the central figure in the community’s traditional governance and culture.

• Settlement:
  Kanis now live in several tribal hamlets scattered throughout the forests of Thiruvananthapuram, with each hamlet consisting of 10 to 20 families.

Occupation and Culture

• The Kanis traditionally engage in:

  • Handicrafts production

  • Seasonal collection of minor forest products like honey and beeswax

  • Cultivation of edible plants such as tapioca, banana, millets, and some cash crops

• Language:
  They primarily speak Tamil and Malayalam.

• Medicinal Knowledge:
  The Kani tribe has vast traditional knowledge of medicinal plants found in the forest. According to their customs, only the Pilathis (traditional physicians/priest) have the right to transfer and disseminate this medicinal knowledge.

Recent News: Death of Arogyapacha

• Who is Arogyapacha?
  Arogyapacha is a medicinal plant highly valued by the Kani tribe for its health benefits and traditional healing properties.

• Who reported its death?
  Recently, Kuttimathan Kani, a member of the Kani tribal community, revealed that Arogyapacha has died (or faced a significant threat to its existence).

• Significance:
  The death or loss of Arogyapacha is significant for the Kani tribe as it is a vital part of their traditional medicine system, deeply tied to their culture and livelihood.