Rathnamma becomes first Soliga woman to get PhD

TNN | Updated: Aug 26, 2019, 4:55 IST

Chamarajanagar: S Rathnamma, a Soliga woman researcher from Maddur Girijana Colony (ST Colony) in Gundlupet, has become the first woman from the tribal community to be awarded PhD. In a notification issued on July 24, 2019, the Kannada University, Hampi had conferred her PhD.
She pursued her PhD at the department of tribal studies of the university under the guidance of HC Boralingaiah. Her guide was KM Metry, professor in the department of tribal studies.
Soliga community is predominantly found in the forests of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts.
Rathnamma, an alumna of University of Mysore where she pursued her MA in Sociology in 1998, completed her BA from Maharani's College, Mysuru. Presently she is a social activist and working along with husband Doddaiah. Her PhD topic was socio-cultural study of the Soliga nomadic community.
A mother of two children, Rathnamma said she took to social service as she didn’t get a government job even after completing the post-graduation. “I tried hard for government jobs through KPSC. But I didn't get a job. So I decided to take up the social work. Today, I am engaged in creating awareness about health, education and rights among our tribal people,” she said.
A member of state-level forest land rights committee, Rathnamma said her parents Shankaraiah and Devamma are her inspirations. “My father was born blind. But he always gave importance to education. My husband Doddaiah inspired me to continue my research,” she said.

“Even though few girls from our community have pursued higher education, they have not got jobs. Health and forest rights are the other major problems faced by our community. I am working on these issues,” she said.
Her guide, HC Boralingaiah, who is the former vice-chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi said he is proud of his research scholar. “She has a rich experience. It was an inter-disciplinary study. Initially, she struggled a bit. But we guided her on her research. She is an inspiration for all others,” he said.