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VOL. 11, ISSUE 4 (2025)
Beyond words: Vaagriboli, identity and cultural survival among the narikkuravar community
Authors
Ayana M
Abstract
This paper investigates Vaagriboli, the
endangered native language of the Narikkuravar community in Tamil Nadu, as a
critical medium of cultural identity, historical memory, and social resistance.
Rooted in Indo-Aryan linguistic traditions and shaped by centuries of migration
from northwestern India, Vaagriboli stands as a creolized, hybrid language
embodying the Narikkuravar’s transregional experience. Drawing on
socio-linguistic analysis, ethnographic insights, and policy review, this study
explores the interplay between language, marginalization, and identity
construction. The decline of Vaagriboli is not merely a linguistic issue. It
reflects broader structural forces such as sedentarization, poverty,
assimilation pressures, and lack of institutional support. The absence of
accurate linguistic enumeration and official recognition contributes to its
invisibility and endangerment. Nonetheless, the language remains vital within
intra-community communication and oral traditions, serving as a living
repository of folklore, ritual vocabulary, and traditional ecological
knowledge. Recent developments, including Scheduled Tribe recognition and
community-led revitalization efforts, offer new opportunities for cultural
preservation. The paper argues for an integrated, community-driven approach
that links language revitalization with socio-economic justice and political
empowerment. The survival of Vaagriboli is emblematic of the Narikkuravar’s
right to define their cultural future on their own terms.
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Pages:42-47
How to cite this article:
Ayana M "Beyond words: Vaagriboli, identity and cultural survival among the narikkuravar community". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 11, Issue 4, 2025, Pages 42-47
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