Toda

The Toda are a small indigenous, pastoral community of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, India. Traditionally, they have lived in high-altitude settlements and based their economy on buffalo herding and dairy production, with social life closely tied to cattle.

Their language, Toda, is a Dravidian tongue that is now highly endangered. Most Toda people are bilingual, speaking Tamil or Kannada in addition to Toda, which is primarily used within the community. Efforts to preserve the language involve documentation and intergenerational transmission, but the number of native speakers remains limited.

Cultural traditions of the Toda include distinctive textile arts and dress. They are known for weaving and embroidery work that features geometric patterns, often incorporated into traditional clothing and textiles. The community also maintains a set of rituals and social practices centered on buffalo husbandry and village life. Their architecture and settlement layout reflect a hillside pastoral lifestyle, with housing and spaces organized around the needs of cattle keeping.

Today, the Toda are recognized as a hill tribe in the Nilgiris region, facing challenges common to small indigenous groups, including economic change, educational attainment, and pressures on traditional land use. Preservation and development efforts focus on safeguarding their language, crafts, and traditional livelihoods while supporting the community’s adaptation to modern economic and social conditions.