லஷம சரவணகமர பனகதகளல பழஙகட மககளன பணபடடச சறபபகளம மறறஙகளம / Cultural Features and Changes of Tribal People in the Novels of Lakshmi Saravanakumar

In ancient Tamil Nadu, there were five regions namely Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neythal and Palai. The people who lived in the five lands developed their own cultures, religious practices and occupations based on their social environment. The unique customs and cultures identify an ethnic group. Most groups evolved from hunting societies. The development of culture started due to the positive bonds between other societies. The societies that do not have cultural contact with others have a unique way of life. Their beliefs and worship of deities are insightful. They practised simple temples and nature-based worship. There are also industrial structures and forest conservation principles found in the traditional beliefs among tribal people. They believe forests as gods and the abodes of their ancestors. The cultural changes introduce a new way of life to indigenous peoples. Many changes in languages, clothing and eating habits are caused by contact with foreign cultures. The culture of tribal people is not easily changed. They have a culture that does not want to interact with neighbouring people and does not like to interact with others. The political laws and different civilizational ties create new cultural ecologies for the tribes. To the people of the plains, forests are places of commerce and hunting grounds for recreation. The new areas were not emotionally comfortable for people who had relied on the mountains and forests for livelihood since ancient times. In Tamil literature, many writers portrayed such matters in their novels. Lakshmi Saravanakumar expressed the real lives of tribal people in his novels. He described the life and cultural movements of tribal people in some of his works in a detailed manner. Hence, this research paper explores the cultural and ecological systems of the Paliyar and Paniyar tribes through his novels.