The document summarizes a project to create a digital archive of oral histories from the Mudugar and Kurumbar communities with help from the University of Cambridge's World Oral Literature Project. A team including community member Ramu K.A. conducted interviews in subjects' homes to document their knowledge and memories. Their fieldwork in May 2010 focused on traditional dress and ornamental patterns, producing a documentary. The team analyzed footage and photos back at their research center after each day of work.

1. A Project for
Creating a Digital Depository of Oral
Knowledge of Mudugar and Kurumbar
with the help of
World Oral Literature Project, University of
Cambridge

3. Mudugar-Kurumbar Research
Centre, Attappady

4. The team sets out with a definite focus for fieldwork. Having a
community member (Ramu K.A) in our team makes it easy
for us to go to Mudugar hamlets.

5. Sometimes the journey is easy. .
Sometimes tiring. . .

6. However difficult, we reach the spot and set up the equipments for shooting
Ramu K.A
DineshKumar

7. With approved consent …

8. Interviews in the subject’s home is a technique in our fieldwork to
document the knowledge and memories of the community
From Left: Chaathi, Sachindev P.S. and Ramu K.A.
From Left: Kurumbi, Ranki, Ramu K.A. and
Kiran Tom Sajan

9. The month of May, 2010, was dedicated to exploring the dress and
ornamental patterns of Mudugar. After a month’s field work, a video-
documentary titled, thenevare (‘Dressing up’ in Mudugar language),
was co-scripted and edited by Kiran Tom Sajan.
Some interesting moments . . .

11. Nisha dressed up in
traditional attire in
Karara hamlet
Kurumbi combing
Malli’s hair in
Karara hamlet
Ranki, Cholakkad hamlet

12. Melthande
Para
Tholvalai

13. Ramu K. A. interacting with the
members of Vandanpara
Hamlet
Kiran Tom Sajan, Lakshmanan
and others in Thundoor hamlet

14. After a day’s work, the
team returns to the
Research centre. All the
footages and photos are
logged in and analysed.

15. Project Office
Rayson K. Alex (Principal Researcher)
Manoj U. A (Collaborator)
Sachindev P. S (Media Officer)
K.A. Ramu (Field worker)
Vasantha (Field worker)
S. Susan Deborah (P.R.Officer)
Samuel Moses K.S. (Convener, Ecomedia team)
Interns
Kiran Tom Sajan
Justin Raj
Dileep David
Dineshkumar
Anand Thomas Prepared by
Sachindev P.S.
(June, 2010)