The Ahikuntaka

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www.dilmahconservation.org Kudagama Charter We belong to the clan called Ahikuntika, and we do hereby issue this statement on the banks of the Rajangana Tank of Thambuttegama in the historically acclaimed city of Anuradhapura on this day of 28th January 2011. First and foremost we take pleasure in elucidating of our clan which is less exposed to publicity. We are commonly known as Ahikuntika at present, although we were called by various other names in the past such as Nai Panikkiyo and Nai karayo (cobra charmers). Different communities have their own names for us. To mention a few, people of the Vanni address us as Kuthandi, while Kurawan, Kuravar, Vahakkuravan or Kattuvasi are the Tamil names for us. Our culture and identity are based chiefly on our traditional profession- snake charming and our life style which is one that is not stagnant at a particular place. It is a known fact that we have lived a gypsy life. The language we speak is Telungu which is the state language of Andra Pradesh in India. That fact provides evidence of our tourist life style and the fact that we arrived in Sri Lanka from another state. Our mode of transport in the past was carrying goods on donkeys. We used to travel around the country to engage in our professions. It is noteworthy to mention that during the middle of the previous century, the Sri Lankan government took several measures to settle our community in colonies. As a result of that at present the Ahikuntika community is settled in Kudagama of Thambuttegama, Kalaweva, Aligambay, Sirivallipuram of Akkaraipattu in Ampara and Andarabedda of Kurunegala. Although the highest density of Ahikuntika people is living in the aforementioned areas, the population is scattered on a small scale throughout the country. We are a minority group of people in Sri Lanka of which the number of families does not exceed thousand. With pride we mention that, even though we are a minority community, our contribution towards nourishing Sri Lankan cultural diversity is significant. Our cultural identity plays a major role in that context. For a slight elaboration of our cultural identity, we are pleased to make mention of the snake charming and monkey performing, fortune telling and gypsy lifestyle which distinguishes the Ahikuntika community from others. We are confident that our community is strong enough to live on its own and in nowhere in history is it mentioned of our conditional protests against the majority community in Sri Lanka. Unlike at present, there were lesser amusement oriented events in the past. It will not be pretentious if our community alone bags that pride of being the one and only entertainer of the nation during the past. We do not deny the fact that our community too has been affected by the social, religious and economic upheavals during the past few decades. The fact that our community has been unpleasantly affected by the aforementioned conditions should not be omitted though the space does not warrant pinning them all down. We can still cite some examples; due to the rapid urbanization taking place, we are facing the threat of losing sterile lands which we use to put up our temporary tents during our tours around the country. As a result of this, we are compelled to give up our gypsy life style which is one of our major means of living. This has also adversely affected our economic status. Moreover it resulted in the erosion of our traditions and culture. The main purpose of this gathering of the Ahikuntika leaders from all five villages, on the banks of the Rajangana Tank of Thambuttegama today is to put forward and address our problems and grievances. It is also expected to draw the attention of every potential philanthropist who could assist us in solving our problems. 56 The Ahikuntaka Kudagama Charter
We strive towards re-establishing our diminishing culture. We affirm that we will continue our peace-loving lifestyle with no involvement in uprisings of any kind against anybody or any authority. With this affirmation, we enclose herewith a document consisting of the issues we are currently facing. It is our sincere hope that the relevant authorities would pay serious attention to them. Finally, we put forward our humble request - assist us in preserving our precious traditions and culture while going hand in hand with modernization. We offer our sincere and heartfelt gratitude and honor to Dilmah Conservation which extended a liberal hand in organizing this Variga Sabha after a lapse of over sixty years which was a long felt need. Last but not least, the staff of the Divisional Secretariat of Thambuttegama is highly appreciated for their hard work towards the success of our program. Thank You. This charter has been discussed and ratified on the banks of the Rajangana Tank of Kudagama, Thambuttegama at 7.30 pm on 28.01.2011 by our community and signed by the following leaders on behalf of their communities. 1. Nadarajah of Kudagama 2. Egatannage Masanna of Andarabedda 3. Anawattu Masanna of Kalawewa 4. M. Rasakumar of Aligambe 5. Karupan Silva of Sirivallipuram DS Kudagama Charter The Ahikuntaka 57
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www.dilmahconservation.org Traditio
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Dilmah Conservation DS
Page 6 and 7: © Ceylon Tea Services PLC www.dilm
Page 8 and 9: www.dilmahconservation.org An intro
Page 10 and 11: www.dilmahconservation.org Foreword
Page 13 and 14: Contents Introduction to Nomadic Co
Page 15 and 16: “W ith pride we mention that, eve
Page 17 and 18: DCF DCF Dilmah Conservation The Ahi
Page 19 and 20: their exhibits. These men, more oft
Page 21 and 22: BH Snake charming exhibition method
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Page 25 and 26: JS The Ahikuntaka caste system in S
Page 27 and 28: During previous generations, the ca
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Page 33 and 34: Rules and regulations were imposed
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Page 39 and 40: DG Traditional methods of medicatio
Page 41 and 42: DS A vanishing community Maddili Th
Page 43 and 44: The villagers are burdened with man
Page 45 and 46: ‘The only things I know about the
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Page 49 and 50: The story of Rengasamige Masanna Th
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Page 55: The Ahikuntaka Varigasabha The Ahik
Page 61 and 62: An architect’s impression of the
Page 65 and 66: Introduction to Survey The people o
Page 67 and 68: Method of Data Collection and Analy
Page 69 and 70: Table 3: Distribution of the respon
Page 71 and 72: No member in the community has had
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Page 91 and 92: Final Remarks and Policy Implicatio
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Page 95 and 96: Many contributed towards the succes
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For additional information visit ou
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Acknowledgements Divisional Secreta
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