CHENCHU TRIBE

The Chenchus are a tribe residing mainly in Andhra Pradesh and speak a dialect of the Telugu language known as Chenchu. The Chenchus of Andhra Pradesh are quite forward in their thoughts, compared to the rest of Indian society, when it comes to matters of the heart. Chenchu youth are free to marry whoever they wish to. There is no form of parental pressure or aggression. Also, the clan is divided into Gotras (like our caste system), and generally they do not marry within the same Gotra. Unlike our rigid society, Chenchu tribes allow divorce, and widows too are allowed to remarry. Well, maybe our society can take a few 'lessons' from them?

“When this region was a Naxalite bastion, the revolutionaries would take shelter inside the hamlets. Chenchus would say no to neither — them or the police. Police would torture them endlessly, but silence is what they would be rewarded with.”

Well, it’s cacophony we need to sustain the “development” in our world, or to take the supposedly momentous, but dishonest decisions about reversing the damage done. But quiet and stillness is what the life in forests taught Chenchus, primarily a hunting, gathering tribe. After all, you don’t rustle about and give yourself away to either your prey or predator!

“They have the ability to detect water, sometimes inside the trees. Our elders would mark such trees, and explore them for a drink when on foot inside the forest. I remember my father getting us water from the tree

Uchchu and Bonu are the trapping methods, while Maatu is to hunt.

Quail or Burka Pitta is made accustomed to jowar seeds for a few days, after which a looped snare is laid across four pegs lined with loose knots.

“The bird will extend its neck to eat the grain, and once it withdraws the neck, the knots become tight,” tells Mallikarjun with the help of an amateurish depiction on paper.

To trap a partridge, or jungle fowl, a different loop is laid and covered with ashes. The knots tighten when the birds behaviourally scatter the ashes backwards to pick the grains.

Bonu with boulders and sticks is used to ensnare porcupine, but the method I couldn’t quite picture with my puny brain despite repeated explanations.

Squirrels and peafowl (hush!) too are trapped.

“A flexible branch should be bent downwards from the tree, and tied to a wooden peg driven into the ground along with a loop, near which figs, jowar seeds and chillies are scattered. When a squirrel or bird steps into the snare to have the fill, the peg loosens and the prey is flung back along with the branch.”

Betta kola is another device to hit squirrels directly with the help of bow. Receiving the hit, the squirrel would spiral down to the ground, dead.

Hunting rabbits and deer requires absolute stillness which comes only with practice. Rocks and branches are used as covers by Chenchus sitting still on Maatu near waterholes frequented by both the animals. Bows and arrows of bamboo are used for hunting.