Mishmi Folk Tales of Lohit Valley

The Kaman and the Tarwah Mishmis who inhabit the Lohit Valley are two sub-tribes of the Mishmi community of Arunachal Pradesh. The other sub-tribe is the Idu Mishmi who mostly live in Upper Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley districts of the state. The Kamans are also called Mijus while the Tarwahs and the Idus are known as Digaru and Chulikata Mishmis respectively. The Mishmis are known all over the state for their skills in weaving and handicrafts. Besides their expertise in weaving and handicrafts, the expertise in weaving and handicrafts, the community has also a rich tradition of festivals and rituals. Traditionally, an animistic people with beliefs in various Gods and Goddesses and spirits–both benevolent and malevolent–they propitiate them frequently in their rituals and festivals. This rich cultural and religious heritage has, therefore, laid a right foundation for mushrooming of innumerable myths among the community. Mishmi Folk Tales of Lohit Valley, a collection of 103 stories of the Kaman and the Tarwah Mishmis who live in Lohit district, is the outcome of four years of persistent research work by the author. Most of the tales have been gathered from priests and mythological experts from all parts of this big, yet inaccessible region. The tales depict the people’s world view and their imagination through the ages. They range from evolutionary myths to socio-cultural and religious stories to experiences of the surroundings around them. To retain the originality of the stories, they have been presented in a simple and candid style by the author. Besides the anthology of the tales, an exhaustive illustration portraying different facets of the community’s socio-cultural life along with a list of keywords provides a right context to this rare book.