Hakki Pikki Tribe

The Hakki Pikki is a semi-nomadic Scheduled Tribe in Karnataka. It moved through Andhra Pradesh to south India. They were originally from Gujarat and Rajasthan. With 11,892 members, they are divided into four clans in Karnataka, which correspond to the historic Hindu castes of Gujaratia, Panwar, Kaliwala, and Mewaras. They are mostly found in southern Karnataka and inhabit the forested areas of southern and western India.

The Hakki Pikki, a semi-nomadic tribe in Karnataka, were forced out of their forest dwellings in the 1950s and 1960s as part of a rehabilitation drive by the Government of Karnataka. They were brought into cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hassan, but their actual rehabilitation remained largely paper-based. Many also made a living by begging, which was considered a way of life. However, their livelihoods were gradually criminalized, and forests became unusable for them.

The name "Hakki Pikki" has Kannada origins, with "Hakki" meaning "bird" and "Pikki" meaning "catchers." In the past, they were renowned for their proficiency in hunting and capturing birds. The Indian Constitution bestows specific benefits and protections upon the Hakki Pikki tribe, which is formally recognized as a Scheduled Tribe.

• Transition from Hunting: The Hakki Pikki people have historically made their living by hunting and trapping birds. But they have moved into different fields as a result of the execution of stronger animal protection legislation.
• Current Source of Income: A lot of Hakki Pikki people work selling spices, flowers, Ayurvedic products, and herbal oils these days. They have also turned into traders, selling these things all over the world. Africa is a big market for their products, especially when it comes to complementary medicine to Western treatment.

The Hakki Pikki tribe of Southern India started migrating to Africa for better economic opportunities. Increased globalization and the ease of travel have facilitated their movement to distant places like Africa. Community members claim that traveling to African nations gives them a better chance of escaping poverty more quickly.

• There is a sizable market for Hakki Pikki products throughout the African continent. In African nations, for instance, someone might potentially double or quadruple their investment in just three to six months if they spend Rs 5 lakh on raw materials.
• The primary employment activity of the tribe in Africa is selling herbal products using their traditional knowledge.
• Some persons are also engaged in craftsmanship.
• Only a small percentage of Hakki Pikkis have finished courses at the graduation level, and their educational attainment is still poor.

Recently, the Hakki Pikki tribe caught up in the Sudanese civil war. In Sudan, the tribe mainly resides in Khartoum (capital city of Sudan) and Darfur region in Western Sudan which is also the most conflicted region. More than 180 of the community got struck in the violence hit region of Sudan. Indian government, through Operation Kaveri evacuated many members of this tribe from war-torn region of Sudan.

• Community members claim that traveling to African nations gives them a better chance of escaping poverty more quickly.
• There is a sizable market for Hakki Pikki products throughout the African continent. In African nations, for instance, someone might potentially double or quadruple their investment in just three to six months if they spend Rs 5 lakh on raw materials.
• Only a small percentage of Hakki Pikkis have finished courses at the graduation level, and their educational attainment is still poor.

• Traditional Clothing: Hakki Pikki ladies wear sarees, and males wear loincloths. They also adorn themselves with natural materials, trinkets and ethnic jewelry.
• Hunting and Gathering: For a tribe's existence in the past, hunting and gathering have been essential. They are expert hunters who harvest fruits, roots, and honey from the forest and capture small wildlife using conventional techniques.
• Housing: Traditionally, the Hakki Pikki people resided in huts constructed of natural materials or in transitory forest communities. Some have, nevertheless, moved into more permanent housing in recent years.
• Social Structure: Clans or extended families are common divisions in the tribe's close-knit social structure. When it comes to making decisions, the family head is heavily involved.

• Language Difference: The Hakki Pikki people speak an Indo-Aryan language, even though they are surrounded by Dravidian speakers in southern India. People call their mother tongue "Vaagri."
• Language Endangered: The UNESCO designation of "Vaagri" as an endangered language emphasizes the necessity of preservation measures in order to protect this distinctive linguistic legacy.

• Religion: The Hakki Pikki tribe celebrates Hindu holidays and adheres to Hindu customs. Their cultural identity is closely linked to their religious rituals.
• Marriage customs: The tribe frequently favors unions between cousins. One of the unique aspects of their marriage rituals is that the groom gives the bride's family a dowry.
• Hair Symbolism: In their traditions, a family's eldest son is not allowed to cut his hair. In the community, this technique facilitates quick identification.
• Diet: The Hakki Pikki people eat a range of meats and other animal products because they are not vegetarians.

With its historical roots in hunting and bird-catching, the Hakki Pikki tribe has experienced tremendous changes in both culture and occupation over time. Despite confronting obstacles including inadequate education and financial restraints, the migration of the Hakki Pikki tribe to Africa is an example of how globalization has affected traditional products. In order to improve their standard of living and stop exploitation, it is essential to provide the support they need.