The Dilemma of Paniyan Cultural Expression: A Call for Preserving Traditions in the Era of Globalization

Roseliya Thomas; Lakshmi Karlekar

doi:10.53989/jcp.v5i2.26.2

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Journal of Contemporary Politics

DOI: 10.53989/jcp.v5i2.26.2

Year: 2026, Volume: 5, Issue: 2, Pages: 113-121

Original Article

The Dilemma of Paniyan Cultural Expression: A Call for Preserving Traditions in the Era of Globalization

Roseliya Thomas¹, Lakshmi Karlekar^2*

¹PhD Research Scholar, Department of International Studies, Political Science and History, Christ University, Bengaluru- 560029, Karnataka, India
²Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities Political Science and International Relations, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, MSR Nagar, Bengaluru- 560054, Karnataka, India

*Corresponding Author
Email: [email protected]

Received Date:01 January 2026, Accepted Date:22 April 2026, Published Date:16 June 2026

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

In the era of globalization, it is necessary to explore the cultural preservation challenges faced by the Paniyan tribe of Wayanad, Kerala, amidst its dying narrative. Their traditions, including Paniya tribal dance, thudi drum-making, and the Paniya language itself, are threatened by historical marginalization, land alienation, socio-economic exclusion, and declining youth engagement. Drawing on Cultural Ecology, UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Ecocritical Post-Colonial Theory, the study examines how environmental and colonial legacies influenced their culture. Global parallels with the Māori, Sami, Gonds, and Todas highlight successful preservation strategies, such as language revitalization and cultural commodification. Even though government initiatives including the Paniya dance as a category in the 2024 Kerala School Kalolsavam, promoting resilience and efforts frequently fall short, educational inequalities and restricted land rights still exist. The paper emphasizes the Paniyan's place in indigenous discourses around the world and calls for culturally aware measures to preserve their legacy.

Keywords: Cultural Preservation, Paniya Nritham, Chini, Thudi, Māori, Sami, Gonds, and Todas

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