HYDERABAD: The department of design of IIT-Hyderabad conducted a field visit to Thotiguda in Adilabad district to research, document and preserve the traditional practices, including tattooing, of the Thoti community.
The Thotis are an associated tribal community of the Raj Gonds. The traditional occupation of the Thotis was singing 'Gond Gatha', keeping the history of the Gondwana kingdom alive in the form of oral history. The women belonging to the Thoti community are the traditional tattoo makers; they did it as part of healing and remedies.
The project was undertaken as the conventional practices of the Thotis are declining gradually, and only a few families are continuing the generation-old practices. Thotis are also an endangered tribal community and as per the census 2021, their population is 4,811.
The IIT-H recorded traditional music of Thotis using advanced technologies. The team also filmed a documentary on the tribe’s practices.
Speaking about the project, Prof. Deepak John Mathew, head, department of design, said, “This documentary describes the age-old traditions and science behind it. Our objective is to showcase these amazing techniques and help the community to sustain its cultural values. It is also a step towards connecting today’s city generation with the rich cultural and social heritage of these communities.”
