KOCHI:There was a time when inhabitants relied completely on nature for their needs. Nature still provides us with everything essential but man has forgot and neglected it seeking a substitute.
Sasidharan M B, head, Department of Commerce, Al-Ameen College, Edathala, has been on a mission to identify and preserve hundreds of medicinal plants in the state. He has been working with the Ulladan tribe, known for their food habits and living isolated from the society, to help him in this task.
On Tuesday, Sasidharan displayed the medicinal herbs and plants at the commerce fest held at the college. Palakayila, Ganapathy Naranga, Chaturamulla, Thirithaali, Manjakoduveli, Keeyamelli having a host of medicinal properties are among the few that were exhibited.
“ I want the coming generation to be aware of such things and preserve them for the future,” he said. “ Apart from this, it would also help the people in the Ulladan community to make a decent living as this is the only form of livelihood for them,” added Sasidharan. The only thing the Ulladan tribe had was the forest surrounding them and this forced them to depend on nature and generate whatever was necessary from nature.
Their knowledge was passed on to generations orally and practically. In this modern era, the members of the Ulladan tribe are those with great knowledge about the available medicinal herbs and are those who provide the herbs and plants required for the ayurvedic treatments.
Ammini, an Ulladan tribal woman, attested that Sasidharan has become one among them and has worked for their benefits placing their needs first. She said that she can identify more than 400 types of medicinal plants and herbs.
“I know the medicine to cure infertility,” she said, proudly.
I don’t think even Ayurvedic institutes are aware of these many types of medicinal plants and herbs. However, they pay these people very little money which does not even cover the travel expense.
They don’t realize the importance these people play in their existence,” pointed out Sasidharan. He adds that the tribe has not received any substantial incentive. The government should understand what these people lack.