Kupia is Indo-Ayran language related to Odia and spoken by about 6,600 Valmiki people in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Valmiki are a tribal group, concentrated in the Agency Area of Hyderabad, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts. Valmika or Valmiki is a name assumed by the Boyas and Paidis, who claim to be descended of the great sage Valmiki, the author of the H indu epic 'The Ramayana.' A caste without any common traits in the area call themselves Valmiki. The Valmiki are also called Paidi or Boya in some areas
The Valmiki population in the area is 142,944 according to the 1981 Census. They usually live in multi-tribal villages along with other tribal groups, like the Bagatha, Gadaba, Konda Dora and Porja. They speak their own language, Kupia, as well as the regional language Telugu and Kunchu buchi, a dialect of Odia.
The literacy rate is comparatively higher among the Valmiki compared with other tribes in the agency area. Boys from poor families generally drop out of school to support their families and girls are not encouraged to go on to higher education.
This is a script for Kupia devised by Professor Prasanna Sree.
Information provided by Professor Prasanna Sree of Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
Information about the Kupia language and the Valmiki people
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=key
http://www.aptribes.gov.in/html/tcr-studies-eci-valmiki.htm
Bagatha, Dhurwa, Gadaba, Gondi, Goudu, Jatapu, Kammara, Kolam, Konda-Dora, Kotia, Koya, Kupia, Mali, Mukha Dora, Rana, Savara, Sugali, Yerukula
Page last modified: 23.04.21
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