Muria Tribe
News: The Muria tribe from Chhattisgarh, now in Andhra Pradesh, faces the double challenge of losing their homes and struggling to get clean water.
Location: Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh.
Language: They speak Koya, a Dravidian language.
Settlements: Muria settlements in Andhra Pradesh, referred to as ‘Gutti Koyas’ by native tribes, are home to around 6,600 Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
Legal Status: While Murias held Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Chhattisgarh, they were not granted the same status in migrated states like Telangana.
Marriage and Social Structure:
Ghotul System: Young Muria men and women participate in the Ghotul, a communal hut where they socialize, learn, and form relationships before marriage.
Progressive Perspective: Muria culture embraces premarital physical contact, considering it a fundamental aspect of their heritage.
Consent and Choice: The Ghotul system revolves around the principles of consent and personal choice, with premarital physical contact being entirely voluntary.
Fort Emmanuel
News: Conservation efforts urgently needed for Kochi’s Emmanuel fort.
- Fort Emmanuel, built by the Portuguese in 1503, is among the oldest European forts in India.
- It used to be a big fort that enclosed a whole town, giving the Portuguese a strong hold in the area.
- It was a symbol of the strategic alliance between the Maharajah of Kochi and the Monarch of Portugal, after whom it was named.
- But in 1683, the Dutch took over, destroying Portuguese buildings.
- Later, the British took control until 1947 when India became independent.
- Today, it’s mostly in ruins, but it’s a reminder of the area’s colonial past.