Introduction

Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village. 1
Introduction
This pack takes children on an adventure into the ‘world of Chembakolli’
– a fascinating locality situated deep in the Nilgiri Hills of south India. It is
designed for key stage 2 geography, but also fulfils requirements of the PSHE/
citizenship curriculum.
A timeline poster, photocards, audio stories and activities investigate the area’s
special features and the Adivasi (tribal) people who live there. They provide a
rich insight into everyday life in Chembakolli and how it is changing, enabling
children to discover how our lives are connected and what we can learn from
each other.
The following pages provide background information for teachers, highlighting
what’s in the pack and how to use it.
Curriculum links
With the new national curriculum in mind, this revised pack
has been written to extend Unit 10 A Village in India (QCA
scheme of work), which focuses on life and change in
Chembakolli.
For more information, visit
www.chembakolli.com
Chembakolli is not India!
It is important to remember that life in Chembakolli does
not represent the whole of rural India. Chembakolli has
distinctive characteristics and issues facing its people,
for example the ongoing struggle for land rights. India,
however, is a huge country with over one billion people
living different lifestyles in a diversity of landscapes.
We recommend ActionAid’s sister pack, From Bangalore
to Chembakolli – A journey through south India, for an allround view of the region. Activities, photographs and films
capture the area’s diversity and startling pace of change,
enabling children to experience everyday life in south India
from a range of perspectives.
2 Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village.
Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village. 3
Chembakolli
background
Chembakolli is in the northwest of Tamil Nadu,
India’s southernmost state.
Bangalore
Mysore
Chembakolli is a remote Adivasi (tribal) village situated in south India’s Nilgiri
Hills. It is made up of approximately 100 houses scattered among the trees of
a thickly forested valley.
Adivasi means ‘first people’ – the aboriginal people of India who make up 8%
of the 1.1 billion people who live there. Adivasis have a different culture to the
majority non-tribal population and live outside the Hindu caste system. They
are among India’s poorest people and have been badly treated, often living like
slaves in remote areas such as the Nilgiri Hills, and having their land taken
away from them. Since 1986, Adivasi communities in the area have joined
together to regain their land rights.
This timeline poster
illustrates the story of
Chembakolli from ancient
times to modern day. You
can download colour and
black & white versions of
all ten illustrations on the
CD-Rom as well as listen
to the full audio story,
told in six parts.
For more information see
www.adivasi.net
KARNATAKA
First People
Land rights
Adivasi people have lived sustainably
in the forests of the Nilgiri Hills – or
‘blue mountains’ – for thousands of
years. Traditionally, they occupied the
entire forest area, but over the last
century their livelihoods have been
threatened by displacement from the
land. This is the result of government
authorities seeking to conserve forest
as a national park, and non-tribal
people wanting to profit from timber,
tea and coffee plantations. This has
reduced a once self-reliant community
to one of unskilled landless labourers.
In 1986 ACCORD – a local nongovernmental organisation (funded at
the time by ActionAid) was set up to
protect Adivasi land rights and help
people take control of their lives. Two
years later the Adivasis organised a
10,000 strong march, demanding
their land back. Within 15 years the
majority of Adivasis had gained small
pieces of land, from half an acre to
three acres.
Today, a type of local council called
the Adivasi Munnetra Sangam (AMS)
makes all major decisions with
ACCORD in a supporting role. The
AMS is an organisation of over 13,000
members including the villagers of
Chembakolli. It ensures profits are
fed back into health and education
Chembakolli
Gudalur
C H IN A
A F G H A N ISTA N
PA K ISTA N
Nilgiri Hills
Kochin
N EPA L
TAMIL NADU
B H U TA N
New Delhi
Patna
INDIA
KERALA
Calcutta
Nagpur
Mumbai
Bengaluru
B A N G L A D ESH
Chennai
Trivandrum
Chalakudi
SR I L A N K A
programmes that support Adivasis in
helping themselves out of poverty.
Tea trade
A few years ago the AMS decided
to promote tea cultivation. Tea was
grown as a permanent crop and
could be used as proof of possession
of land. Tea also provides a regular
monthly income and, as the
mainstream economy of the area
revolves around it, the infrastructure
was already set up to make it a viable
business. Labourers, previously
regarded as unskilled, became tea
planters. This sent out a powerful
message, because up until then tea
had only been planted by huge
landowners and multi-national
companies.
Today, more than 1,000 Adivasi
farmers are tea growers and their
land is productive and safe from other
developments. There is also a
176-acre Adivasi-owned and run tea
estate called Madhuvana, selling pure
Nilgiri tea to communities in India, the
UK and Germany.
20 years of Adivasi self-rule
2008 marked the 20th anniversary
of the Adivasi land rights march in
Gudalur, and the community has a
lot to celebrate.
Today, a new agenda for the future is
being set, reflecting the aspirations of
the younger generation.
“We want to study so that we have
more choices. We want to help other
communities in need. We want to
preserve our culture, and adapt
ourselves to face any eventuality – not
as individuals, but as a community.”
ACCORD
Such aspirations are an indication
of the positive impact of past
achievements. The majority of Adivasis
in this area are no longer worried
about their day-to-day existence, but
life in Chembakolli is far from secure.
“We still have to fight the local landlord
or local government official for the
right to our land. But, if we can face
our challenges collectively, if we can
draw inspiration from our cultural
values, then we can survive and
surmount the problems faced not only
by Adivasi communities, but by the
entire world.” ACCORD
4 Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village.
Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village. 5
Using the photocards
This pack contains 30 A4 colour photocards. These can also be downloaded
from the CD-Rom and used as part of specific lessons detailed on the ‘lesson
ideas’ chart. The additional information on the reverse of photos can be
used to extend discussions and activities.
Ideas for using the photographs
See the CD-Rom for more ideas and downloadable
photographs.
• Extend the frame. Ask pupils to draw what they think is
happening beyond the view.
• Write captions for photographs.
• Match captions to photographs.
• Tell a story about a photograph. What do you think
happened before and after it was taken?
• Pose like the people in the photograph and question
each other in role (hot-seating).
• Add speech or thought bubbles to the photograph.
• Write a list of things you would like to find out about
the photographs.
13. Comparisons
This is Parvathy in an English lesson
at Vidyodaya school. She is learning
a poem about ‘comparisons’.
22. Kichen
Kichen talks to children in Kozhikolli
village, near Chembakolli. He is a
health worker with the Adivasi hospital
in Gudalur.
14. Chembakolli.com
Children at Vidyodaya school often
swap information with their friends
in the UK. They love learning about
faraway places.
23. Omana’s family
Omana is a health worker and her
husband, KTS, manages Madhuvana
tea estate.
15. The day of the march
This photograph was taken on 5
December 1988 – the day when 10,000
Adivasi people marched through Gudalur
town shouting “This land is ours!”
24. Madhuvana tea estate
KTS is the manager of this Adivasi tea
estate. Here he is admiring the views
with his seven-year-old daughter,
Meghana.
1. High jump!
This is 10-year-old Nibuna from Chembakolli
village in south India. She loves to play
dodge ball and can jump as high as one
metre in the air! Nibuna is one of Parvathy’s
friends and goes to the same school.
7. Parvathy and Vijimol
Parvathy and her sister Vijimol walk
home along one of Chembakolli’s
many paths after visiting a friend on
the other side of the valley.
16. This land is ours!
After the big march in 1988, Adivasi
people decided they would not wait to
be given back their land – they would
just take it.
25. Adivasi Day
Every year on 5 December, Adivasi
villages throughout the Gudalur valley
celebrate Adivasi day.
2. Elephants
These elephants are being washed
by their mahouts (trainers) in the
Mudumalai tiger reserve.
8. Collecting water
The people of Chembakolli collect
water from wells and rivers at the
bottom of a steep valley.
17. Lakshmi’s tea
This is Lakshmi with grandson
Dhanesh and puppy Kushboo. They
grow tea around their house to prove
the land is theirs.
26. Chandran and Latha’s wedding
The wedding couple with Chandran’s
parents – Karupi (his mum) and Mapala
(his dad).
3. Chembakolli!
Chembakolli village is in a forested
valley. It has over 100 houses,
connected by paths winding up and
down steep valley slopes.
9. Journey to school
These children are walking from their
home to the nearest road where they
will meet the school jeep.
18. Maran’s family
Maran lives half the time in Chembakolli
and half in Theppakadu. Many of the
men in his family are mahouts
(elephant trainers).
27. Sharing time
Adivasi children spend a lot of time
with older people in the community.
They share food, stories and songs.
4. Parvathy’s family
This is Parvathy with her family.
They are standing outside their
home in Chembakolli.
10. School jeep
A school jeep and mini-bus pick the
children up in Bospara, a village on
the edge of the forest.
19. Seven stones
Sudhirajan and Maran love to play
seven stones in the school playground.
It’s a lively game!
28. Sambar
Adivasi people believe everyone is
equal, and sharing food (eg sambar)
is an important part of everyday life.
5. Solar power
This is Parvathy’s grandfather
Marigan. He is standing next to
a solar-powered light.
11. Ice cream seller
An ice cream seller in Gudalur
who cycles up and down the main
street calling “Ice, ice – come and
get your ice!”
20. Mari
This is Maran’s older sister Mari.
She lives half the time in Theppakadu,
selling snacks to tourists coming to
see elephants.
29. The cheenam flute
Chathi plays the cheenam flute at
celebrations such as weddings and
festivals, where music and dancing
and can last all night.
6. Coffee beans
Parvathy helps her grandmother
sort coffee beans. These grow on
low bushes near their home.
12. Vidyodaya school.
Vidyodaya is an Adivasi school run
by ACCORD. Children say a prayer,
called a sloka, at assembly.
21. Mahouts
Several people from Chembakolli
work as mahouts at the elephant
station in Theppakadu.
30. Dancing for the future
When the music starts, men and
women dance separately. The women
dance in a circle, moving slowly,
with their hands and feet in time.
6 Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village.
Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village. 7
Using the CD-Rom
Insert the CD-Rom into your PC/Mac and follow the on-screen menu.
Audio stories
Illustrations
Six tracks, each three to six minutes long, tell about
Chembakolli from ancient times to modern day. The stories
are based on the transcripts of interviews with Marigan
and told as a conversation between a grandfather and
granddaughter.
Download illustrations from the ‘Chembakolli timeline
poster’ – colour and black and white versions of each.
1. Footsteps in the forest (5.26)
Village elder Marigan and his granddaughter Bommi share
the enchanting tale of their Adivasi (tribal) community. Here,
they tell us what it is like to live in a forest village.
2. The Adivasi(tribal) people (5.28)
Marigan and Bommi tell of a time when Adivasi people
lived freely in the forests of southern India, and how, over
many years, outsiders destroyed their trees and way of life.
3. The day of the march (6.08)
Here, we learn how 10,000 Adivasi people joined together
in a huge march to get their land back.
4. Chembakolli (4.55)
Soon after the march, a group of Adivasi people found
land for a new village – in a valley where the Chemba
tree grows!
Interviews
These interviews provide first-hand accounts of how
life is changing for Adivasi (tribal) people in and around
Chembakolli. You can use these to improve your
understanding of the issues faced by people in the village.
5. Faraway friends (3.50)
Marigan and Bommi talk about the support they have
had from friends around the world.
Lesson ideas
Activities
Use this section to find out more about Chembakolli and
plan a series of lessons.
Five activities use the timeline poster, photocards,
illustrations and audio stories to locate Chembakolli in
the world, find out who lives there, and to investigate
how their lives are changing. This helps children to
discover how our worlds are connected and what we
can learn from each other.
A ‘lessons ideas’ chart organises the poster, photocards,
audio stories and activities into five lessons. The
information and ideas on the back of the photographs
provide many more options for children to enjoy.
1: Chem
bakolli
5: Celebrations
Lesson
Lesson
Where
is
Chembako
lli?
What is
it like?
Learnin
outcomeg
s
Use seco
ndary
information
sources.
plan
Activit
ies
Identify
and
describe
where
Chembako
in the worldlli is
.
Observe
record and
key south
Indian
features.
Lesson
Resour
ces
Use a
map/atlas
to locat
e
India and the UK,
Chembako
lli.
Create
a
cross sectipop-up
south India on of
annotating ,
localities. key
Use photo
and word graphs
to desc -banks
ribe
Chembako
landscape lli’s
.
Assessm
opportu ent
nities
World
map/
Photocard atlas.
(also on 1
CDRom).
Photocard
2 and 3 s
(also on
CDRom).
Activity
sheet 1
(on CD-R
om).
Photocard
s
1-30
(also on
CDRom).
Activity
sheet 2
(on CD-R
om).
‘Things
I can see’
and
‘linking
lines’
charts.
South
India
pop-up
model.
Word-ban
ks.
‘Sensing
places’
sheet.
Lesson plan
Resources
Assessment
opportunities
How do the
people of
Chembakolli
celebrate
success?
Learning
outcomes
Appreciate other
people and
cultures.
Activities
Listen to the story
of how Adivasi
people celebrate
success.
Audio story 6
(on CD-Rom).
Whole class;
Small group
discussion.
What can we
learn from each
other?
Observe and
record key
features.
Assess
photographs
using positive,
negative and
neutral words.
Use these to
explore what we
can learn from
each other.
Photographs
1-30
(also on CDRom).
Activity sheet 10
(on CD-Rom).
‘Celebrating
Chembakolli’
photographs.
Communicate
findings using
creative thinking
skills.
Create a map
showing how
Chembakolli may
look in 10 years’
time.
Photographs
1-30
(also on CDRom).
Poster
illustrations
(on CD-Rom).
‘Brighter future’
maps.
Express views
about people,
places and
environments.
What have you
learnt? What else
do you want to
know?
‘Before and after’
charts.
ActionAid
ActionAid
1. Chembakolli
2. First People
3. Free at last
4. Changing worlds
5. Celebrations
The CD-Rom contains PDF and Word versions of all the
activity sheets that you can tailor to meet your needs.
6. Celebrations (4.14)
The story ends with a festival celebrating the Adivasi way
of life. Long live Chembakolli!
Photographs
Download 30 stunning photographs, together with
background notes.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik/ActionAid
8 Chembakolli. Life and change in an Indian village.
Using the activities
1: Chembakolli
Lesson plan
Activities are designed for key stage 2 geography, but also fulfil
requirements of the PSHE/citizenship curriculum.
Lesson
Learning
outcomes
Activities
Resources
Assessment
opportunities
Where is
Chembakolli?
Identify and
describe where
Chembakolli is
in the world.
Use a map/atlas
to locate the UK,
India and
Chembakolli.
World map/atlas.
Photocard 1
(also on CDRom).
‘Things I can see’
and
‘linking lines’
charts.
What is it like?
Observe and
record key south
Indian features.
Create a pop-up
cross section of
south India,
annotating key
localities.
Photocards
2 and 3
(also on CDRom).
Activity sheet 1
(on CD-Rom).
South India
pop-up model.
Use secondary
information
sources.
Use photographs
and word-banks
to describe
Chembakolli’s
landscape.
Photocards
1-30
(also on CDRom).
Activity sheet 2
(on CD-Rom).
Word-banks.
‘Sensing places’
sheet.
The charts on the ‘lesson ideas’ section of the CD-Rom show how the
pack can form the basis of five lessons with clear learning outcomes.
These include:
• investigating contrasting localities beyond the local
• development of key skills, including enquiry, critical thinking,
observation and interpretation
• celebrating the diversity of people, places and cultures.
Lessons make use of the timeline poster, photocards, audio stories
and activity sheets.
1. Chembakolli
4. Changing worlds
This activity uses maps and atlases to locate Chembakolli
in the world. A pop-up transect model and photographs
help children to discover what makes the Nilgiri Hills
landscape distinctive.
This activity uses role-play debate to explore how the
Adivasi community is changing as it engages with people
around the world. It investigates why they set up a tea
ActionAid
estate and the reasons
for and against allowing forest to
grow back in part of it.
2. First People
This activity helps children to research new information
about the Adivasi (tribal people) who live in Chembakolli.
It uses visual tools, such as 24-hour recall circles,
to consider similarities and differences between their lives
and children who experience the world in other ways.
3. Free at last
This activity draws heavily on the audio stories to
investigate land rights in Chembakolli. Children use
masked theatre to re-enact how the Adivasi community
worked together to get back land they had lost.
5. Celebrations
This activity explores why the people of Chembakolli think
it is important to celebrate their successes. Photographs
and illustrations help children to unravel what happens on
5 December every year, why friends around the world have
decided to celebrate this day, and what we can all learn
from each other.