Special aspects of socio-cultural life of the Kadar-The primitive tribe in Coimbatore district

Kadar one of the aboriginal tribes of Tamil Nadu live in groubs in the Anamalai Hill region of the Coimbatore District. This hill is situated in Pollachi Taluk of Coimbatore District and is surrounded by Kerala State in the West and South and Udumalpet Taluk in the East. Etymologically the word Kadar derived from the Tamil word Kadu which means forest. The Kadars are those who reside in the forest territory and rely up on the forest area for their livelyhood requirements. In Tamil Nadu according to the census of India, the total population of Kadar was solely living in Coimbatore District, Chennai, Chengalpet, Villupuram, Salem and remaining persons are living in the districts of Tanjore, Erode and Vellore. As already noted Kadar are also found in Kerala. According to Parthas. Arathy, the Kadar are basically a food gathering tribe and they are non-vegetarians and eat mostly the same. The study of Socio Cultural background of the Kadar is both innevitable and new attempt. In social organization, the Kadar observes strict community endogamy and Widow remarriage is permissible within the family. The Kadar did not perform child marriage. The custom of working in father in law’s house for one year before marriage is prevalent among the Kattu Nayaks, Paliyans, Irular and Kadar etc.,