Mythologies of the Hakki-Pikki Tribes

In the verdant forests of Karnataka, India, amidst the rustling leaves and chirping birds, resides a community deeply rooted in tradition and heritage – the Hakki Pikki tribes. These indigenous peoples, with their unique cultural practices and close-knit communities, offer a glimpse into a way of life shaped by centuries of harmony with nature. In this article, we embark on a journey to unravel the rich tapestry of Hakki Pikki culture and lifestyle, delving into their customs, beliefs, and the intrinsic connection they share with their environment. The Hakki Pikki tribes trace their origins back to ancient times, inhabiting the forested regions of Karnataka for generations. Believed to be descendants of nomadic groups who migrated to the area centuries ago, the Hakki Pikki have developed a distinct cultural identity shaped by their close relationship with the land. Their name, derived from the Kannada words “hakki” meaning bird and “pikki” meaning trap, reflects their historical association with hunting and gathering. Central to Hakki Pikki culture are their traditional practices and livelihoods, which revolve around sustainable exploitation of natural resources. Historically, the tribe relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild fruits and vegetables for sustenance. Today, while some aspects of their traditional lifestyle have evolved, many Hakki Pikki communities continue to engage in activities such as beekeeping, herbal medicine, and small-scale agriculture. The Hakki Pikki tribes have a profound reverence for the natural world, viewing the forest as a sacred space to be respected and protected. Their traditional ecological knowledge, passed down through generations, encompasses a deep understanding of plant and animal species, seasonal cycles, and sustainable resource management practices. Through rituals and taboos, the tribe maintains a harmonious balance with their environment, ensuring the continued abundance of natural resources for future generations.

The Hakki Pikki are a semi-nomadic tribe who have travelled and lived in various parts of the country over the past few decades. As part of a ‘rehabilitation drive’ by the Government of Karnataka in the 1950s and '60s, they were forced out of their forest dwellings and brought into the edges of cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hassan etc. The actual rehabilitation though, remained on paper only. The stories of the tribe have been captured on camera by various filmmakers - My Bangalore: Portraits from Hakki Pikki Colony by Pankaj Gupta and Sikkidre Shikari Illdidre Bhikari by Madhu Bhushan and Vinod Raja. The latter was recently screened at Shoonya - Centre for Art and Somatic Practices and continues to be screened at various locations in Bengaluru as does Name/Place/Animal/Thing by Nitin R, which won this year’s National Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic film. “The forest was better. It was always cool there, amongst trees. There were no problems concerning food and water. There were no illnesses there...Then the government resettled us, told us to send our kids to schools. We were told that we should also change with the changing world.” “Water is a problem here,” another member reiterates, making an audience wonder if any of this makes sense. When a nomadic community which used to move from forest to forest says there’s a shortage of water in the city, you begin to question rudiments of urban settlements.

In Kannada, the word ‘Hakki’ stands for ‘bird' and ‘Pikki’ stands for the verb ‘to catch’. Therefore, the community is known as the ‘bird catcher,’ which is their traditional occupation. The Hakki-Pikki community migrated from the northern India population, which is about 8,414 (2001 census), and is found in Karnataka. According to the 2011 census, the population of Hakki-Pikki is 11,892. After their trade of bird hunting was outlawed, they were rehabilitated in the 1970s. They began doing odd jobs like working in fields and sharpening knives and sickles by riding around towns on bicycles after bird-hunting was banned. They also sell the herbal remedies they extract. The Hakki-Pikkis are said to be a matriarchal group. “Living like beggars, 30 years went by,” an older member of the community says. “The local government noticed our existence here and said they’d help us. We had about 15 acres of land but they took all of it away and left just a small strip for us. They promised to build houses for us… until now only a crater has been dug out.” “Even after more than fifty years, none of them had received the title deeds for the land,” Vinod Raja, one of the producers of Sikkidre Shikari Illdidre Bhikari said in the context of the community’s struggle to retain lands which were granted to them by the government in 1962.

Karanthai, 23, an anganwadi teacher in Pakshirajapura, a colony for the nomadic tribe Hakki Pikki, six kilometres away from Hunsur town in Mysuru district, was cleaning fish for lunch in her house on a hot afternoon as she waited anxiously for almost 15 days for her mother, two brothers, and their wives who were stuck in violence-hit Sudan. They had travelled to Sudan around eight months ago to sell traditional medicine there, which is in huge demand. The family was on tenterhooks, stuck in a rented house with little food and water. Her brother Manu, who was stuck in the conflict in the African country, said, “We thought we would die. Fortunately, we returned. We thank our people for their support and the government’s help.” A week ago, they returned home safely and even voted in the Karnataka State Assembly elections held on May 10, Wednesday. However, with huge sums taken as loans for travelling, and no avenue to earn to pay that back, many are willing to risk travelling to other African countries to try their luck. Around 600 people from the Hakki Pikki tribe were stuck in Sudan, and almost everyone has returned home, according to Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) officials.

Hakki Pikkis are a nomadic tribe of bird catchers living in west and south India. After hunting was banned in the 1970s, they started selling herbal products for which they even travel to different countries. Now, more than 100 of the community members are stranded in Sudan. Thousands of Indians are stranded in Sudan, which has been witnessing violence since last weekend. Out of these nationals, more than 100 belong to the Hakki Pikki tribe from Karnataka. The community members stuck in the African nation have spoken out about their plight and sought the Indian government’s help. The Indian Embassy in Sudan has advised its nationals to stay indoors, ration their food and seek help from their Sudanese neighbours. As per reports, India is also coordinating closely with “the Quartet” countries – the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – to ensure the safety of its citizens.