Hakki Pikki Tribe

26.03.2025

Hakki Pikki Tribe

Why in the news?                        

            Twenty-two members of the Hakki Pikki tribal community from Channagiri taluk in Davangere, Karnataka, have been penalized and instructed to exit Gabon following recent policy changes implemented by the African nation's government.

 About Hakki Pikki Tribe:

• Hakki Pikkis (Hakki in Kannada means ‘bird’ and Pikki means ‘catchers’) are a semi-nomadic tribe, traditionally of bird catchers and hunters.
• Hakki-Pikki’ is one of the major tribal communities in Karnataka.
• They also reside in the western and southern states of India, mostly near forest areas.
• According to the 2011 census, the Hakki Pikki population in Karnataka is 11,892, and they live majorly in Davangere, Mysuru, Kolar, Hassan, and Shivmogga districts.
• They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India.

Language of the tribe:

• Their mother tongue was designated as 'Vaagri' by scholars.
• UNESCO has listed 'Vaagri' as one of the endangered languages.
• Many also speak Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.

Occupation of the tribe:

• After the implementation of stricter wildlife laws, the tribe changed its occupation from hunting to selling spices, flowers, Ayurveda formulations, and herbal oils.
• They began doing odd jobs like working in fields and sharpening knives and sickles by riding around towns.
• They are renowned for their indigenous medicines. The community resided in the dense jungles for a long time and created its own plant- and herb-based medicine systems.
• They now travel globally to sell these products, especially in the African continent, where there is a demand for cheaper alternatives to western medicine.

Rituals and customs of the tribe:

• The tribe follows Hindu traditions and celebrates Hindu festivals.
• They follow a clan-based social structure and practice endogamy within their clan.
• The tribe prefers cross-cousin marriages.
• The society is matriarchal, where the groom gives dowry to the bride’s family.
• The eldest son in a family is not supposed to cut his hair so that he can be identified easily.

                                                           Source: Hindustan Times

In which state is the Hakki Pikki tribe, recently seen in the news, primarily located?

A.Assam

B.Karnataka

C.Maharashtra

D.Odisha

Answer B