Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ24741

Kolam Tribe : Traditional Healing Practices (With special reference to Yavatmal district of Maharashtra)

Authors(1) :-Dr. Gunjan Singh

The Kolam tribe, originating mainly from the Indian states of Maharashtra and Telangana, is primarily found in districts like Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Nanded in Maharashtra, with Yavatmal boasting the largest population of Kolams. Their language, Kolami, lacks a script, and they are predominantly of Dravidian descent. Originally inhabiting the Kolammal hills of South India, they later migrated to Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and adjacent states like Telangana. In Maharashtra, they are classified under Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) based on various factors such as culture, language, indigenous knowledge, and population. The research paper presented here focuses on the traditional medical knowledge of the Kolam tribe in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra. It delves into an in-depth examination of the medicines utilized by the Kolam tribe for treating various ailments, including the preparation methods and application techniques. Over decades, the Kolam tribe has developed a rich medical system, honing their treatment practices. This research paper specifically explores the firsthand observations of four doctors/Vaidyas within Kolam villages in the Maregaon tehsil of Yavatmal district. The study draws from detailed accounts of 12 patients who sought treatment from these Vaidyas. Through personal observations and interviews, the article sheds light on the medicinal remedies prescribed by Vaidyas for 16 specific diseases. The fieldwork for this research paper was conducted as part of a project funded by the Tribal Research and Training Institute, Pune. It was undertaken within the Anthropology department of Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha.

Authors and Affiliations

Dr. Gunjan Singh
Post-doctoral fellow (ICSSR), Tribal studies department, Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh, India

Kolam Tribe, Traditional Medicine System, Traditional Healer, Medicinal Plant.

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Publication Details

Published in : Volume 7 | Issue 4 | July-August 2024
Date of Publication : 2024-07-15
License:  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Page(s) : 01-10
Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ24741
Publisher : Shauryam Research Institute

ISSN : 2581-6306

Cite This Article :

Dr. Gunjan Singh , "Kolam Tribe : Traditional Healing Practices (With special reference to Yavatmal district of Maharashtra)", Shodhshauryam, International Scientific Refereed Research Journal (SHISRRJ), ISSN : 2581-6306, Volume 7, Issue 4, pp.01-10, July-August.2024
URL : https://shisrrj.com/SHISRRJ24741

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