Fading Ink, Fading Voices: Intergenerational Challenges and Resilience in Thoti PVTG Cultural Practices of Adilabad

Abstract

This study investigates intergenerational differences in cultural practices among the Thoti, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Adilabad, Telangana, and parts of Maharashtra, across five villages: Chenchughat, Divya Guda, Thosham, Gudihathinur, and Utnur. Renowned for traditional tattooing, which serves as both pain relief and decoration, and oral storytelling of the Gond Gatha, the Thoti face cultural erosion due to a declining population (approximately 4,800), driven by consanguineous marriages, ritual fasting, alcohol consumption during cultural practices, and kidney-related diseases leading to low life expectancy. The rise of modern medical alternatives and contemporary tattooing methods, coupled with the time-intensive crafting and reuse of a single tattooing needle, has diminished the practice, reducing community engagement. Compared to other Adilabad tribes, the Thoti lag developmentally, with low enrolment in tribal schools due to children’s fear and social barriers, and limited access to government schemes, which are often inadequate or inaccessible. Qualitative data from 48 semi-structured interviews with community leaders, youth (aged 18–30), and elders (aged 50 and above) reveal how globalisation, migration, urbanisation, educational disparities, and systemic marginalisation shape the transmission of these practices. Findings highlight a widening acculturation gap, with youth adopting mainstream norms, which creates tensions with elders who are committed to ancestral knowledge. Collaborative efforts, including storytelling gatherings and NGO-led workshops, demonstrate resilience. The study advocates for culturally sensitive policies to bridge generational divides, address health and educational challenges, improve access to government support, preserve Thoti heritage, and support cultural revitalisation, contributing to discussions on PVTG identity in India’s tribal heartlands.