Sri Lanka:

Imagine a community living amidst lush green hills, tending to tea plantations while quietly protecting the environment through age-old traditions. That’s the story of the Malaiyaha Tamils, also known as Hill Country Tamils, who have lived in Sri Lanka’s central highlands for over 200 years. Originally brought from South India to work on tea estates, their traditional practices—rooted in culture, spirituality, and practical wisdom—offer lessons in environmental care that Bangladeshis, with our own rich traditions, can truly appreciate. Let’s explore how this community has been safeguarding nature and what challenges they face today.

Sustainable Practices That Protect the Land

The Malaiyaha Tamils have a deep connection with the land they work on. Their practices, though not always called “conservation,” have kept the hill country’s environment thriving for generations.

Caring for Tea Plantations

• Shade Trees for Balance: On the steep slopes of tea estates, workers plant shade trees like Grevillea and Erythrina to shield tea bushes from harsh sunlight. These trees also prevent soil erosion, regulate soil temperature, and create homes for birds and insects that naturally control pests. It’s a bit like how our farmers in Bangladesh use trees to protect crops from floods or heat!
• Organic Manuring: Long before chemical fertilizers became common, Malaiyaha workers used cow dung and plant waste to enrich the soil. This kept the land fertile and productive without harming it, much like our traditional farming methods using organic compost.

Smart Water Management

Living in hilly areas with limited water, the community built small contour bunds and trenches to capture rainwater. This not only prevented soil erosion but also ensured water for tea plants and household use. It reminds us of how rural Bangladeshis manage water during monsoons to avoid wastage.

Spirituality and Nature: A Sacred Bond

The Malaiyaha Tamils’ spiritual beliefs are closely tied to nature, much like our own reverence for rivers and forests in Bangladesh.

• Sacred Temple Groves: Around their Hindu temples dedicated to deities like Mariamman (goddess of rain and fertility), they maintain small forested areas called sacred groves. Cutting trees here is considered taboo, ensuring these patches of forest remain untouched. It’s similar to how we protect certain areas for cultural or religious reasons.
• Nature-Friendly Rituals: During festivals like Thai Pongal, they offer prayers to nature deities, fostering a deep respect for the environment. These rituals encourage the community to care for water bodies and forests, just as we clean rivers during festivals like Durga Puja.

Traditional Knowledge for Sustainability

The Malaiyaha Tamils brought valuable knowledge from South India, which they’ve adapted to their new home.

• Herbal Wisdom: They use local plants like turmeric, neem, and ginger for medicines and natural pesticides, reducing reliance on harmful chemicals. This mirrors how Bangladeshi villagers use herbal remedies from plants like bashak or tulsi.
• Community Sharing: In their estate settlements, resources like water and firewood are shared responsibly, preventing overuse. For example, they ration firewood collection to avoid harming nearby forests—a practice we see in our rural communities managing shared resources.

Festivals That Promote Care for Nature

Festivals like Deepavali and Thai Pongal aren’t just celebrations; they encourage environmental care. Cleaning water sources and planting small home gardens during these events keep their surroundings sustainable. Bangladeshis can relate, as we often clean our neighborhoods during Eid or other festivals to maintain community pride.

Their songs and folktales, passed down through generations, also teach lessons about living in harmony with nature, urging people not to overharvest or pollute. It’s like our own folk songs that remind us to respect rivers and forests.

Challenges Threatening These Traditions

Despite their efforts, the Malaiyaha Tamils face significant hurdles:

• Modern Farming Issues: The shift to chemical fertilizers and pesticides in tea estates has harmed soil and water, sidelining their organic practices.
• Lack of Land Rights: Without ownership of land, they struggle to expand sustainable practices like home gardening, a challenge many landless farmers in Bangladesh also face.
• Economic Struggles: Low wages force them to rely on unsustainable practices, like overharvesting firewood, due to limited access to alternatives.
• Marginalization: Limited access to education and resources makes it hard for them to advocate for their traditional methods.

Hope for the Future

Recent efforts, like the 2023 Malayaga Makkal Walk, have highlighted the Malaiyaha Tamils’ contributions to environmental care. The Malaiyaham 200 Declaration calls for land rights and support for sustainable livelihoods, which could revive their traditional practices. Experts suggest integrating their knowledge into national policies, granting land tenure, and teaching these practices in schools to preserve them.

(This article is written by Arul Karki, a Colombo-based Journalist and EJN Fellow)