It is sad to note that taking the advantage of the poverty of the Mishing community in Majuli, Dhemaji and Jonai, numerous Mishing families are been converted to Christianity by opportunistic Christian missionaries. I am an ordinary citizen and can do nothing. As such I thought of writing this letter to your newspaper so that I might create an awareness among the Mishing tribe of Assam.
I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity.
Our own traditions are no way inferior to the rich Vatican City or Pope. The poverty in Mishing councils is because of the corrupt politicians among us like Bharat Narah, Bhuban Pegu etc., not our customs, beliefs and rituals.
Missionaries can give us money and English education, but cannot return our identity when it will be lost by following Christian rituals and alien traditions in our day-to-day lives.
If religion is lost, heritage is lost. When heritage is lost, identity is lost.
It is time influential socio-cultural organizations of the Mishings, our students' union and Mahila samitis launch rigorous awareness drive among the gullible Mishings or the Mishings will go 'missing' from the cultural map of Assam.
PermalinkSubmitted by Md Akhtar Hussain on Tue, 22/07/2008 - 22:36
I am a student of religion and going to do M-Phil on Mishing tribes. I belong to Assam but studying in Delhi. I need help on behalf of this tribe.
The article is good.
PermalinkSubmitted by Sanchali Sutradhar on Tue, 28/07/2009 - 02:19
I am a student of media tech. as i am doing a assignment for my culture and society i have choosen mishing culture.So i have many friends who are mishing so if you can help me through e-mail than please help me how to get the information.thank you
PermalinkSubmitted by pranab doley on Thu, 21/01/2010 - 03:56
Thanks atleast you are concerned about 'losing our own identity'. Sir, I agree with you completely and would be very thankful to you if you help me as I am currently going to do a research on the issue of conversion of misings.
thanking you
Pranab Doley (TISS, Mumbai).
PermalinkSubmitted by lanaya pegu on Sat, 20/02/2010 - 00:39
I think the problem addressed here is not very precise. Do you mean the ethnicity or the religious? In whichever you mean if my understanding is not wrong our original religion is supposedly donyi-polo and most of us are a adopted Hinduism over some generations back, so what does it make us? Do we go back to worshipping the sun and the moon or what we have over the years progressed in civilization and accepted our own democratic and secular views of whatever religion we follow or even not follow. Is not that a sort of moral policing and too much intervention on someone's private space of belief?? I mean lets plainly accept that people have their own choice and change of religion has very little to do with our ethnicity think it is just the mindset of some orthodoxy that actually poses the problem if I am to give my opinion and change is the very necessity of life and so is identity. but religion is not an identity it is an individuals own choice of belief and perhaps it should be a private and personnel thing not a community thing. Hope this message is taken with a positive note in which I have wished to express.
PermalinkSubmitted by Peter Pegu on Fri, 02/04/2010 - 22:08
Christian people all over the world have maintained their own culture and traditions. British, French,German, Russian, Indian all have their own culture despite considerable Christian population. Religion has nothing to do with cultural identity. Rather,Christianity encourages acculturation, which means adoption of local culture as a part of Christian ethos.
We do not understand, how Nagas, Khasis, Mizos have lost their identity? Their culture is intact in the eyes of the world views.
PermalinkSubmitted by Uttam Doley on Tue, 08/06/2010 - 20:46
Thanks. There is somebody like me what i believe. As you are absolutely right; losing our own identity.If religion is lost, heritage is lost. When heritage is lost, identity is lost and if identity is lost everything is lost.
So, let us join hands to prevent these misleader.
Thanking you
PermalinkSubmitted by nirupoma kardong on Wed, 25/08/2010 - 20:43
Thanks Rongmon for your article.I am an student of cultural studies in tezpur university and i am really worried about our mishing tribes converting into christainity especially in majuli.But i am glad becouse atleast some of our ages are alert.
Nirupoma Kardong
Tezpur University
PermalinkSubmitted by Prafulla mili on Mon, 30/08/2010 - 07:36
I am a student of Dibrugarh university,i am agree with your comment but not satisfy at all bcoz I think now a days our people have almost lost our identy.About which culture and relision you are asking, the celebration of Assamese Bihu or worshiping of Hindus gods and many other Assamese culture which are not our original identity.
PermalinkSubmitted by Raktim on Mon, 30/08/2010 - 12:35
There many elements of Mising culture which has influenced what you term 'Assamese Bihu'. The 'Assamese'-ness of this dance is an amalgamation of numerous styles of dancing Bihu in Assam.
Its unfortunate for the people of Assam that we have not been able to evolve and accept our creations nor do we assert our claims to a dance form. This type of 'ours' and 'theirs' has pushed us to an Africa where nothing common has sufaced a yet. Already lobbies of different communities from other states of India have successfully divided the people of Assam with the stupid question like 'defining the Assamese'. We were a far happy people before 1947. The British never divided us in these lines like ethnicity.
PermalinkSubmitted by Rongmon Pegu on Mon, 30/08/2010 - 19:47
It is sad to know that Prasanta Mili terms the composite Bihu of the people of Assam as 'Assamese Bihu' and demarcates it differently. Actually it is not his fault either.
We are product of a generation which is divided on ethnic lines. Since 1985 Assam Accord, the Indian mainstream has divided the Assamese peoples into several fragments. We were a happy and better people before the faulty Assam Accord. The gesture where the female dancers place both their hands on the sides of their waists is an influence of Mising Bihu on the so called 'Assamese' Bihu (I would prefer to term it as 'Composite Bihu'.
PermalinkSubmitted by Arindom Prince ... on Mon, 25/10/2010 - 05:49
MISHING,(MIRI)the second largest community of North-east Assam.Which belong to schedule tribes but it's so deplorable that, there is no any development status about the Mishing communities. Althoug it's a colorful traditional and multi-culture customs like ( Ali-ai-ligang) crop harvesting festivel,porag,Dobir Uoi(Sun)Dodgang ,Mibu Abang etc,,and some of folk songs like oi:nitom,Anuni:tom, Gumrag (Traditonal songs and dance)Otherhand, some of delightful and flowerful dresses ie.Ege-gasor ladies wear, (Mibu-Galup)(Ugon) gents wear which is made by every Mishing Women and young girls.etc..
PermalinkSubmitted by neepa choudhury on Fri, 31/12/2010 - 06:09
dear rongmon,u r absolutely correct.i m doing research on various tribes of assam and is absolutely spellbound by the rich and distinctive and definitely beautiful culture of each ethnic group.i m grateful to rahibala dale and mr dale from guwhati to make me understand a lot about the rich mishing culture.but its sad that people from their own community are adopting other cultures.but exceptions are there like our very young robin pegu whos working a lot for preserving the mishing culture.i m a bengali and always feel proud to say dat.thus i request all dat they can find heaven in their own culture and should dedicate themselves in preserving its richness rather than pushing it towards extinction
PermalinkSubmitted by Vox Populi on Fri, 31/12/2010 - 15:44
The tradition of APONG (rice beer) has made the men of Mising community very lazy, especially in villages. You will find them under the influence of Apong, and all work has to be done by the womenfolk.
PermalinkSubmitted by TRISHA RANI DAS on Tue, 26/04/2011 - 17:59
I do agree with you. But to me in the name of securing identity we should not lost our unity. We want a single ASSAM, where every indigenous people could live with dignity and fraternity.------
TRISHA RANI DAS.
DIBRUGARH UNIVERSITY.
PermalinkSubmitted by Md. Akhtar Hussain on Tue, 10/05/2011 - 21:28
The best way of preserving any religion, culture and identity is to create awareness amongst the respective community. Though there are some organisations of the Misings but religious awareness amidst is not up to the mark. During my field study in Majuli it has been found that leaders of the community are not as much concerned as compare to the other religion. The more you work on this issue more you get positive result. Mising is a wonderful tribe having rich culture and heritage. I am impressed by it and committed to work in this regard.
PermalinkSubmitted by Priyanka on Fri, 31/10/2014 - 15:53
Absolute rubbish!!... like many of you have said above that religion has nothing to do with culture, I agree with you. A person's choice of belief is his own right. No one can take that away.
PermalinkSubmitted by Akash Taye on Sat, 05/09/2015 - 08:46
It doesn't sounds good to claim religion as a culture or identity..it has nothng to do with culture or identity,it's a person's own spiritual right of belief,one has no right to deprive one's own beliefs.we should carefully study anything in the right direction,just imagine brother,what would be the consequences of the effects of changing someone's belief..Rather we ought to focus on humanism, unity and peace,not on religions...giving some bread to the hunger people is not wrong..None can force one to convert,it's one's own personal rights.. Many wel to do rich mishing people are also christians..dear bro,my question is that did they get any privileges or opportunity?Many educated people are Christians,if u think unprivileged people are converting alone then why those who are educated and rich converting themselves.The only answer is he/she finds peace in them..i hope u won't take in negative sense..to discuss the matter u can contact me at 8812099720 by whatsap Ur article is a painful matter of discussion..Thank u b d way
PermalinkSubmitted by Dhiren on Wed, 25/01/2017 - 13:51
The Hindus robbed the culture and identity of the Misings and Christianity now is trying to re establish its name and identity. Mr. Rongmon, don't be manipulated by the Hindu Fundamentalism. They are trying to remove our tribal rights and reservations. Judge before you say.
More than four people have been injured while bomb exploded in the city's busy Fancy Bazar area just before a while. According to information, the bomb which exploded at aroun12.45 pm was planted in a heap of garbage near the Baruah Market in Fancy Bazar. The injured people have been rushed to the hospital. The bomb was a powerful one.Two injured people have been identified as Mainul Ali and Umesh Shah. Their injury is said to be a minor one. There is report of one more blast that has rocked the Tinsukia town just five minutes ago.
A NABARD sponsored micro enterprise development programme is under way at Solmora village under Dhekorgorah block, Jorhat. The 10-day programme has been supported by agriculture-based NGO Pathar. As many as 30 members of established self-help groups are availing of the benefits under the programme. NABARD District Development Manager Mayur Bora said that the programme was aimed at promoting micro enterprises among SHGs in a bid to augmenting their income on a sustainable basis. The SHGs members will be trained on enterprise management, business awareness, rural market dynamics achievement motivation and accounting procedures. Branch manager of Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Pradip Bordoloi was...
SA RE GA MA PA Little Champ winner Anamika Chowdhury, being felicitated by numbers of organizations and her well-wishers on 07-03-08 at Guwahati, after she arrived here today for the first time with the winner title. Pix by UB photos.
The people of the North East feels alienated because very few in the mainland appreciates their contributions, problems and cultural ethos. The media also, almost always, gives attention to the North East for the wrong reasons. We are making an endeavor to bridge the gap, if any, in understanding North East, by organizing a series of lectures by a select few eminent personalities.You are cordially invited to the third lecture in the series on the Subject "Telling the North East Story: The conflict and the Media" by Sir Mark Tully at 5 PM, on 8th March, 2008, (Saturday) at Constitution Club, Speaker's Hall, Rafi Marg, New Delhi.Please join us for a high tea at 4:30 pm prior to the...
Hundreds of Tiwa Yuva Chatra Parishad and Tiwa Women Welfare Association activists have staged protest at Last Gate on Friday demanding the Sixth Schedule status for the Tiwas along with some others demands. Talking to reporters, the protesters said the demand has not been respondent yet although it was raised in 1967. The Assam Government constituted the Tiwa Autonomous Council but did not include it in the Sixth Schedule. Miffed at this, the two Tiwa bodies have intensified their protest at Dispur Last Gate on Friday. Other demands include the implementation of the Tiwa Language Accord, early election of the Tiwa Council.
A good number of Community Information Centre employees have staged dharna at Dispur Last Gate on Friday to press the demand for regularizing their jobs and also opposing the proposal to amalgamate the CICs with Amtron's.Talking to reporters, the leaders of the association said as many as 438-operators working in 239 Community Information Centres are heading for an uncertain future. They alleged that despite repeated request, IT minister Himanta Biswa Sharma has yet to take take any steps to regularize their jobs. On Friday they staged protest against the government apathy towards them. The also alleged that there is move to end their identity by merging with the AMTRON"s common service...
There is still protest at Dispur Last Gate by the various organizations demanding steps to end the issues besetting these people for years. Some protesters who were falling ill were rushed to the the Guwahati medical College Hospital. The protesters represent the organisations like All Assam Non Provincialised LP Schools Teachers Association, OBB Teachers Association of Mangaldoio Sub Division, All Assam Deori Students Union. But the Government has yet to depute somebody to visit them.
Bodo ladies displaying their Job Cards under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) at Nalbari District of Assam on 06-03-08. The job cards are being issues by the government to work under the NREGA. Pix by UB Photos.
A Central Bureau of Investigation team has started its probe the killing of FCI's North east regional executive director P C Ram in Changsari. According to information, the officials of the investigation team are in talks with the Kamalpur police to receive the inputs. Led by CBI inspector S B Chauhan, the team has sent letters to five people seeking help to probe the case. The will soon give the sleuths the CDs they recovered from the encounter site where Dr Ram was killed in the ULFA custody. Dr Ram was kidnapped by ULFA April 27 from the city with his driver. Later the driver was released. He was killed while he was caught on a crossfire between police and ULFA members. The...
Along with other parts of the country, Mahashivratri is being observed in Assam with traditional religious pomp and gaiety. Hundreds of devotees with milk and flowers are visiting the Shiv temples across the state for puja offering for the festival that stands for the 'Grand Night dedicated for the worship of Lord Shiva. People thronged in thousands at the historic Shiv temple premises in Sivasagar township to observe the puja. The Mahashivratri fair which began on Wednesday will end on Friday. Similarly, there is heavy rush of devotees at the Umananda temple in the midst of the river Brahmaputra. The Assam Government's inland water transport department is making special arrangement for the...
Comments
Absolute rubbish!!... like
<p>It doesn't sounds good to
The Hindus robbed the culture
Pages
Add new comment