IIT-Hyderabad documents role of women tattooers of Telangana

With each passing day, humankind is losing ancient practices and languages of tribes all over the world and there is an urgent need to record them for posterity. Now, Indian Institute of Technology is recording the age-old declining rituals and customs of a tribe called Thotis in Telangana’s Adilabad district.

IIT-H’s Department of Design concluded a field visit to Thotiguda, which is located in Tosham village of Gudihatnur mandal recently to investigate and record the traditional practices of the community, including the vital one of tattooing.

The tattoo makers are women who use this art as part of the healing process. The knowledge of this art form is passed on from generation to generation. Varied signs are engraved on the back, forehead, forearms and legs and one is considered married only when there is a tattoo on the forehead.

Apart from tattooing, the team from IIT also as per the Press release also recorded this community’s traditional music and filmed a documentary on their practices.

Design Department’s head, Professor Deepak John Mathew in the statement said: “Our objective is to showcase these amazing techniques and help the community sustain its cultural values. It is also a step towards connecting today’s city generation with the rich cultural and social heritage of these communities.”

Thoti tribals are part of Raj Gonds and their traditional profession was singing Gond Gadhas. Songs are an important orally recording of the history of Gondwana kings. As per Census there are only 4,811 members alive today and there is a decline not just in their numbers but also in the practice of their traditions.