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Soliga, also spelled Solega, Sholaga and Shōlaga, is an ethnic group of India. Its members inhabit the mountain ranges mostly in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka and Erode district of Tamil Nadu. Many are concentrated in the Biligiriranga Hills and associated ranges, mainly in the talukasYelandur, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar of Karnataka. The Soliga speak Sholaga, which belongs to the Dravidian family. Under Indian law, they are recognized as a scheduled tribe, they have a population of around 40,000.
The Soliga tribe trace their origin to Karayya, son of Lord Maleya Mahadeshwara, swamy of Maleya Mahadeshwara Hills, Karnataka.[1] Legend says that on seeing Karayya's affinity towards wild animals, Lord Maleya Mahadeshwara swamy asked Karayya to reside in forests, whereas the other son Biliyayya resided in plains and became the forefather of Lingayats.[1]
Languageedit
The Soliga speak the Sholaga language (Soliganudi) as a mother tongue. A member of the Dravidian family, it is most closely related to Kannada with several Tamil influences.[2]
Furthermore, these groups have several sub-groups.[1]
Occupation and social statusedit
The Soliga used to practice shifting cultivation, but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi (Finger millet, Eleusine coracana) for subsistence. Their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, nellikai (gooseberry, Emblica officinalis), bamboo, Paasi (Lichen), algae, wild turmeric, Indian blackberry, soapnut and nennari (wild root). They also make baskets using bamboo.[1]
They are increasingly being brought to the "mainstream" with active Government and NGO initiative. Many have been given lands closer to 'civilised areas' and most of the forest-dwelling population have been brought together into clusters called Podus. Most of the forest area they stay comes under wild life protection area. The Biligiriranga Hills is a Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Male Mahadeswara Hills is a Reserve Forest, and Bandipur is a National Park. Their rights on harvesting NTFP is being sought to be withdrawn citing conservation concerns, sparking a debate about the rights of indigenous people. The Soligas later won a court case to stay on their land.[3]
Religionedit
Soliga people follow naturism and animism along with following Hindu practices and their main deities are Madeshwara, Rangaswamy of Biligirirangana Hills (who is considered the brother-in-law of the clan), Karayya, Kyate Devaru and Jadeswamy.[1]her deities worshipped by them include Madeshwara, Basaveshwara and Nanjundeshwara and Sri Alamelu Ranganayaki smetha Sri hanuma.[1]
^ abcdefgSingh, Nagendra Kr (2006). Global Encyclopaedia of the South Indian Dalit's Ethnography, Volume 1 (2006 ed.). New Delhi: Global Vision Publication House. pp. 759–763. ISBN9788182201682. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
^Buchanan, Francis (1870). A Journey from Madras Through the Countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar. Higginbotham and Co. ISBN1108116302.
^Rajappa, Amoolya. "How a tribe in Karnataka fought and won a legal battle to stay in a tiger reserve". Scroll.in. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
External linksedit
Indian tribe secures unprecedented rights to tiger reserve Survival International
The Soligas of Karnataka and their intimate relationship with nature on Biodiversity of India wiki
May 02, 2024
soliga, people, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, januar. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Soliga people news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Soliga also spelled Solega Sholaga and Shōlaga is an ethnic group of India Its members inhabit the mountain ranges mostly in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka and Erode district of Tamil Nadu Many are concentrated in the Biligiriranga Hills and associated ranges mainly in the talukas Yelandur Kollegal and Chamarajanagar of Karnataka The Soliga speak Sholaga which belongs to the Dravidian family Under Indian law they are recognized as a scheduled tribe they have a population of around 40 000 SoligaA Soliga girlTotal population40 000Regions with significant populations IndiaKarnataka33 819Tamil Nadu5 965LanguagesKannada Tamil SholagaRelated ethnic groupsIrula Tamil Yerukala Contents 1 Origin 2 Language 3 Groups 4 Occupation and social status 5 Religion 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksOrigin editThe Soliga tribe trace their origin to Karayya son of Lord Maleya Mahadeshwara swamy of Maleya Mahadeshwara Hills Karnataka 1 Legend says that on seeing Karayya s affinity towards wild animals Lord Maleya Mahadeshwara swamy asked Karayya to reside in forests whereas the other son Biliyayya resided in plains and became the forefather of Lingayats 1 Language editThe Soliga speak the Sholaga language Soliganudi as a mother tongue A member of the Dravidian family it is most closely related to Kannada with several Tamil influences 2 Groups editThere are five sub groups of Soligas 1 Male Soliga Kannada speakers residing in Karnataka Urali Soliga Kannada and Tamil speakers residing in border areas of Tamil Nadu Pujari group reside in Maleya Mahadeshwara Hills Kadu Soliga reside near Bandipur Forest Burude Soliga reside in Heggadadevanakote Taluk and Kodagu Furthermore these groups have several sub groups 1 Occupation and social status editThe Soliga used to practice shifting cultivation but have more or less given up this practice now They grow Ragi Finger millet Eleusine coracana for subsistence Their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non timber Forest Produce NTFP like honey nellikai gooseberry Emblica officinalis bamboo Paasi Lichen algae wild turmeric Indian blackberry soapnut and nennari wild root They also make baskets using bamboo 1 They are increasingly being brought to the mainstream with active Government and NGO initiative Many have been given lands closer to civilised areas and most of the forest dwelling population have been brought together into clusters called Podus Most of the forest area they stay comes under wild life protection area The Biligiriranga Hills is a Wildlife Sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 the Male Mahadeswara Hills is a Reserve Forest and Bandipur is a National Park Their rights on harvesting NTFP is being sought to be withdrawn citing conservation concerns sparking a debate about the rights of indigenous people The Soligas later won a court case to stay on their land 3 Religion editSoliga people follow naturism and animism along with following Hindu practices and their main deities are Madeshwara Rangaswamy of Biligirirangana Hills who is considered the brother in law of the clan Karayya Kyate Devaru and Jadeswamy 1 her deities worshipped by them include Madeshwara Basaveshwara and Nanjundeshwara and Sri Alamelu Ranganayaki smetha Sri hanuma 1 See also editKoraga Sholaga languageReferences edit a b c d e f g Singh Nagendra Kr 2006 Global Encyclopaedia of the South Indian Dalit s Ethnography Volume 1 2006 ed New Delhi Global Vision Publication House pp 759 763 ISBN 9788182201682 Retrieved 6 September 2012 Buchanan Francis 1870 A Journey from Madras Through the Countries of Mysore Canara and Malabar Higginbotham and Co ISBN 1108116302 Rajappa Amoolya How a tribe in Karnataka fought and won a legal battle to stay in a tiger reserve Scroll in Retrieved 26 June 2020 External links editIndian tribe secures unprecedented rights to tiger reserve Survival International The Soligas of Karnataka and their intimate relationship with nature on Biodiversity of India wiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soliga people amp oldid 1178052182, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
