Kurumba or Kurumbar (, Tamil: Kurumban, Kurumbar, Malayalam: Kuruma(r), Kannada: Kuruba, Kurubaru) are a designated Scheduled Tribe or an indigenous community in the Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris). The Nilgiris district is home to six tribes. The Kurumbar are one of the earliest known inhabitants of the Western Ghats, who are engaged in the collection and gathering of forest produce, mainly wild honey, wax and elephant husbandry. Non-Nilgiri Kurumbar peoples are generally shepherds. They are historically same but culturally different from each other. Kurumba people of Nilgiri's and surrounding areas speak Kurumba language, which are classified as independent South Dravidian language.Burrow T. Dieter B. Kapp: Ālu-Kurumbaru Nāyan: die Sprache der Ālu-Kuṟumbas. Grammatik, Texte, Wörterbuch. (Neuindische Studien, Bd. 7.) xxxiii, 442 pp. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1982. DM 220. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. 1984;47(2):368-369. New alphabets are released for Kurumba language by some Government Teachers.பழங்குடியினர் மொழிக்கான அகராதி தயாரித்த ஆசிரியைகள்: அரசு அங்கீகரிக்க சமூக ஆர்வலர்கள் கோரிக்கை- The Hindu Tamil News - 20 September 2016
History and origin Kurumbas (Nilgiris) are one of the six ancient tribal groups in Tamil Nadu. According to the Madras Census Report of 1891, Hunting and collecting forest produce are the two main means of living for the Kurumbar tribe. However, the restrictions to protect native forest and wildlife have forced them to find work outside the forests.
Etymology Kurumbar The term Kurumba might have origin from a Proto-Dravidian/Tamil/Kannada root kur meaning 'hill, mountain or forest'.
Culture Nadukarkal (Ancestors stone) plays a main role in Kurumbar deity. They also worship animals, birds, trees, rock hillocks, and snakes, along with the other Hindu deities."Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2 November 2017. Kurumbar are partially sanskritised to believing in Hinduism.
Subgroups There are several divisions of Kurumbas: Jenu Kurumba Betta Kurumba Alu Kurumba Mullu Kurumba Unne Kurumba Kadu Kurumba
Each of these divisions speaks their own Dravidian language. Jenu Kurubas are primarily found in the northern part of the Nilgiris, in the Mysuru district of Karnataka.
See also Kurumba Gounder Kurumba Languages Kurumbai Aadu (Coimbatore Sheep) Kurumba painting Lamellipalpodes kurumba
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