A Tribal Identityb Of Assam That is Getting Destroyed

The Misings proudly call themselves as the ‘children of nature’. They say sun is their mother – moon father. The Misings, Bodos, Dooris and such tribals are the original inhabitants of Assam. They love, respect and worship Assam. The aborigins of Assam have been able to preserve their culture and traditions. The Misings are a distinct ethnic identity. The Misings had no formal education at all. Their economy is not rupee-based but barter of foodgrains. The Misings had no script and hence remained illiterate till recently. As such they could not record their glorious history. Most of the Missing villages are found on the banks of rivers as the jungles are no more. The Misings always ask a stranger: Are you a Missing or Mipag? The Misings call other people as ‘Mipag‘ which means non-Missing. As the name suggests, the Misings are a community of peace-loving people. A History of Assam by Sir Edward Gait, makes references of raids by the Miris in 1655, 1665, and 1685 AD. The same book cities: …. they are quiet and inoffensive. They act as a channel of communication with the Abor’s, and from these circumstances comes the name by which they are known in Assam, which means a “go between”. They have never given any troubles. It also mentions an annual tribute of bison, horses, tortoise, swords and yellow beads by the Miris. The raids referred against the Miris are of dubious nature whether these were the same Miris whom he had referred as’ …. they are quiet and inoffensive; they have never given any troubles. The Misings, by nature, being calm and peace-loving, can’t afford plunder and blood-shed. They calmly, peacefully do their own duties, earn their own living. They never beg, flatter nor usurp. It is not their custom to interfere with or give trouble to others. Their religio-conscience regards plundering and blood shedding as grave sin.