Jenu Kuruba Tribe Returns to Nagarhole: A Bold Stand for Indigenous Rights

Reclaiming Ancestral Land After 40 Years

Jenu Kuruba Tribe Returns to Nagarhole: A Bold Stand for Indigenous Rights: After four long decades, the Jenu Kuruba tribe has made a powerful return to their ancestral lands in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. Over 50 tribal families who were displaced during forest conservation efforts have now rebuilt their homes, asserting a connection that runs deeper than property ownership. For them, this return is not a protest—it’s a spiritual homecoming. It’s a way of life that calls them back to the forests where they once thrived, collected honey, worshipped wildlife, and lived in harmony with nature.

Who Are the Jenu Kurubas?

The Jenu Kuruba tribe is recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) under Indian law. The term “Jenu”, which translates to “honey” in Kannada, symbolizes the community’s traditional livelihood rooted in honey collection and forest foraging. They primarily reside in the Kodagu and Mysore regions of Karnataka, inhabiting small tribal settlements known as Hadi.Their social system is unique. Every community is led by a Yajamana (chief) and a Gudda (ritual head). These leaders manage internal disputes, celebrations, and religious rituals. The tribe follows its own spiritual system centered on forest spirits and sacred wildlife, especially tigers, which they believe are manifestations of divine power.

Forced Eviction and Conservation Conflict

The tribe’s deep roots were disrupted nearly 40 years ago, when they were evicted under conservation policies that focused on creating “people-free” forest zones. This method, often called Fortress Conservation, has impacted many tribal groups in India. The intention may have been forest protection, but the outcome was displacement, cultural erosion, and a loss of livelihood for many Indigenous communities.Even today, forest officials resist their return. But the Jenu Kurubas insist they never stopped belonging here.

A Sacred Return, Not Just a Protest

What sets this movement apart is that it’s not driven by politics or economics—it’s fueled by faith. The tribe believes leaving their land offended their deities. Tigers are not just animals to them; they are protectors. The spiritual urgency behind this return shows a rare and powerful fusion of ecology and culture.Their belief is that rebuilding their homes will restore balance, not just to their lives but also to the forest.

Indigenous Conservation Wisdom

Interestingly, scientific studies increasingly show that tigers flourish in areas inhabited by forest communities. The Jenu Kurubas have long protected the forest—not by isolating it, but by living with it. Their practices of non-invasive honey collection, natural crop rotation, and wildlife respect could serve as a model for sustainable conservation.The return of the Jenu Kuruba tribe might actually help revive the ecosystem rather than harm it.

What Lies Ahead for India’s Forest Tribes?

This movement has sparked a national conversation. Can conservation efforts evolve to include those who’ve lived with the land for centuries? Will other displaced tribes now follow suit?Young leaders like Shivu, a voice of courage among the Kurubas, are now leading the call for inclusive environmental justice. The next few months may determine whether India chooses a path that pits people against nature—or embraces coexistence as the way forward.

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Jenu Kuruba Tribe Returns to Nagarhole: A Bold Stand for Indigenous Rights: