Hakki Pikkis community
The government is attempting to repatriate Hakki Pikki tribal members from Karnataka who are caught in a violent Sudan.
Hakki Pikki Tribe
- The words “bird” and “catchers” in the Kannada language refer to this semi-nomadic group, which historically consisted of bird catchers and hunters.
- They primarily reside close to forests and inhabit a number of states in west and south India.
- In Karnataka, there are 11,892 Hakki Pikki people, according to the 2011 census.
- They are thought to be natives of the Gujarat and Rajasthan bordering regions.
- They go by many names depending on where they are, such as Mel-Shikari in northern Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Traditions
- They are split up into the Gujaratia, Panwar, Kaliwala, and Mewara clans.
- These clans are comparable to the caste systems that existed in the old Hindu culture.
- The Gujaratia were at the pinnacle of the clan hierarchy in the past, while the Mewaras were at the bottom.
- In Karnataka, Hakki Pikkis adhere to Hindu traditions and observe all Hindu holidays. They don’t eat vegetarian food. A family’s eldest son isn’t supposed to shave his hair short so that people can recognize him.
- The average age of marriage is 18 for women and 22 for men in the tribe, which supports cross-cousin unions. The matriarchal society provides dowry to the bride’s family through the husband.
Causes of Migration
- Historically, Hakki Pikkis were forest dwellers who spent nine months of the year traveling before returning to their permanent encampment for the remaining three.
- However, the Hakki Pikkis in Karnataka began selling spices, herbal oils, and fake flowers at neighborhood temple festivals as the regulations governing wildlife conservation became stronger.
- About 20–25 years ago, Hakki Pikkis from Tamil Nadu traveled to Singapore, Thailand, and other locations to sell some marbles. While there, they discovered there was a vast market for Ayurvedic goods on the African continent.
- Karnataka Hakki Pikkis began to sell their goods there after they did, and they were soon followed.