Svetlbwz at 17:47, 1 February 2026

2026-02-01T17:47:01Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Kolam
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| languages = [[Kolami language|Kolami]] {{*}} [[Marathi language|Marathi]] {{*}} [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| religions =
| related_groups =
| image = Lord Bheemayyak.jpg
| image_caption = Kolams worshipping Lord Bhimayyak, their tribal deity
| population = 239,583
| total_source = <ref name="census">{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2017-11-18}}</ref>
| total_year = 2011 census
| regions = {{flag|India}}
| region1 = [[Maharastra]]
| pop1 = 194,671
| pop2 = 44,912
| region2 = [[Telangana]]
}}

The '''Kolam''' are a designated [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribe]] in the Indian states of [[Telangana]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/ST%20Lists.pdf |title=List of notified Scheduled Tribes |publisher=Census India |access-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107225208/http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/ST%20Lists.pdf |archive-date= 7 November 2013 }}</ref> They belong to the sub-category [[Particularly vulnerable tribal group]],<ref name="DeogaonkarBaxi2003">{{cite book|author1=Shashishekhar Gopal Deogaonkar|author2=Leena Deogaonkar Baxi|title=The Kolam Tribals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqAJ_coKDhkC&pg=PA9|access-date=7 April 2013|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-011-2|pages=9–20}}</ref> one of the three belonging to this sub-category, the others being [[Katkari people|Katkari]] and [[Madia Gond]].<ref name="ChaudhuriChaudhuri2005">{{cite book|author1=Sarit Kumar Chaudhuri|author2=Sucheta Sen Chaudhuri|title=Primitive Tribes in Contemporary India: Concept, Ethnography and Demography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=foQK2klkzIcC&pg=PA269|access-date=7 April 2013|year=2005|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-026-0|page=269}}</ref>

They are common in the [[Yavatmal district|Yavatmal]], [[Chandrapur district|Chandrapur]] and [[Nanded district|Nanded]] districts of Maharashtra and live in hamlets called {{Transliteration|kfb|pod}}. They speak the [[Kolami language]], which is a [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian language]].<ref name="Singh2004">{{cite book|author=K. S. Singh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsBEgVa804IC&pg=PA1070|title=People of India: Maharashtra|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2004|isbn=978-81-7991-101-3|pages=1070–1072|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref> They are an agricultural community.<ref name="Dietrich2004">{{cite book|author=Gabriele Dietrich|title=Waging Peace, Building a World in which Life Matters: Festschrift to Honour Gabriele Dietrich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CGYXb4sksawC&pg=PA181|access-date=7 April 2013|year=2004|publisher=ISPCK|isbn=978-81-7214-798-3|page=181}}</ref>

They have a high rate of returning positive to the ''Naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test'' (NESTROFT) test, making them prone to high incidence of [[Thalassaemia]].<ref name="KallaJoshi2004">{{cite book|author1=Aloke Kumar Kalla|author2=P. C. Joshi|title=Tribal Health And Medicines|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDdjLiITmUQC&pg=PA158|access-date=7 April 2013|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-139-3|page=158}}</ref>

==Etymology==
{{Empty section|date=December 2025}}

== Society ==
The Kolam are an [[endogamous]] group and are divided into twelve exogamous clans, called {{Transliteration|kfb|pedi}}: {{Transliteration|kfb|Tekam}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Kodapa}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Athram}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Godhankar}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Wathora}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Shivle}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Parsinekul}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Ghotkar}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Paraskar}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Ravikul}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Mautkar}}, {{Transliteration|kfb|Shootkar}}. One clan name ({{Transliteration|kfb|Tekam}}) is shared with the Gonds, while the others come from Marathi.<ref name="Singh2004" />

Kolam society was formerly made up of joint families, collectively responsible for farming. Today, however, most Kolams have nuclear families, called {{Transliteration|kfb|attena bala sula}}. {{Transliteration|kfb|Do-masnet-mah-up}}, respect, is to be given to the {{Transliteration|kfb|bhasa}} (husband's elder brother), {{Transliteration|kfb|mama}} (husband's father), {{Transliteration|kfb|appa}} (husband's mother), {{Transliteration|kfb|dhobak}} (grandfather of husband), and {{Transliteration|kfb|dhoi}} (grandmother of husband). Similar respect is given to the corresponding relations on the wife's side of the family. Respect is also given from {{Transliteration|kfb|sanjine}} (son-in-law) and {{Transliteration|kfb|aap}} (wife's mother). Other types of relations exist between brothers and sisters-in-law and grandchildren and grandparents, each with their own name.<ref name="Singh2004" />

In rural Maharashtra, Kolam ''pods'' still have their own panchayats who arbitrate disputes. Office-bearers are the Naik (the leader), Mahajan (Naik's second-in-command), Karbhari (treasurer), Ghatya (peon) and Tarma (cook/messenger). These posts are reserved for men only. The Naik and other officers are responsible for the smooth conducting of business but the decision is actually reached by the elders. The Naik is selected by the men of the village by consensus choice. Although nowadays, the influence of government courts is increasing nearly all the time disputes between Kolam tribespeople are settled in panchayat and usually it is only when the other party is a non-Kolam that the case is taken to the government court.<ref name="DeogaonkarBaxi2003" />

== Marriage ==
Kolams practice monogamous marriage, {{Transliteration|kfb|penli}}. Cross-cousin marriage is permitted. Marriageable age is 18–20 years. Marriage of a widow to their brother is forbidden, but marriage of a man to his wife's sister is permitted after the death of his first wife. Married women wear Mangalsutra, {{Transliteration|kfb|mattel}} (earring), {{Transliteration|kfb|ongarar}} (finger-ring), {{Transliteration|kfb|besar}} (nose stud), {{Transliteration|kfb|torde}} (bichia) and {{Transliteration|kfb|hirwat gajal}} (bangles). They have no dowry. Most marriages are arranged, but marriage by capture is sometimes allowed. However, most instances of marriage by capture are prearranged by the two parties.<ref name="Singh2004" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Scheduled Tribes of Chhattisgarh]]

Kolam people - Revision history

Svetlbwz at 17:47, 1 February 2026