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.
23 Sep 2013 - 12:08am | AT News
Security forces are spreading along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border to rescue Anil Kumar Agarwal a day after suspected NDFB (S) militants kidnapped the general manager with National Hydroelectric...
27 Apr 2014 - 8:32am | AT News
Properties worth crores of rupees along with a 108 year old building reduced to ashes when a devastating fire broke out in Guwahati on Sunday.The fire broke at Lakhtokia area in Fancybazar in the wee...
8 Sep 2015 - 9:17am | AT News
Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma’s resignation is bound to pave the way for bye election in the Jalukbari constituency as the state has seven months to go to the assembly polls.BJP poll strategists want the...
1 Apr 2015 - 7:21pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
Early Birds ,an environmental NGO of Assam arranged a free veterinary camp in nearer Deepor Beel area on Saturday on March 28 recently.The President of the organization Moloy Baruah and other members...
The National Commission for Women has axed Alka Lamba from the panel set up to probe the Guwahati molestation case. NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma sacked her following a faux pas in which Lamba had revealed the name of the victim at a press conference. A three-member NCW team had visited Guwahati and met the victim on Saturday. They had blamed the police for reacting late in trying to save the girl.
A leading businessman was injured at an incident of shoot out in Guwahati on Monday. The incident took place at 11 at night at Fancybazar where the businessman Rajesh Paul was on his way back to his Lalganesh based residence. Unidentified miscreants fired at him leaving him injured on the spot. Police rushed to the spot and he was rushed to the hospital. Investigation is going on.
Assam Police on Monday gilled Gauravjyoti Neog in connection with the Guwahati molestation case.According to information, off duty reporter with Newslive was summoned by Bhangagarh police station where he was grilled for several hours. The development took place hours after DGP JN Chaudhury spoke to Union home secretary RK Singh and apprised him of the breakthrough. Police have received flak for alleged delay in taking prompt action to stop crime and in arresting culprits.
Sources said Dispur apprised the Home Ministry of the fact that police was suspecting that TV journalist Gaurav Jyoti Neog might have orchestrated the molestation of the girl by instigating the mob as the prime accused...
Police on Monday arrested another accused in the molestation of a girl outside a pub here taking the number of those apprehended in the case to eight. Identified as Rupkanta Kalita, he was arrested from Nalbari and search operations are on in Guwahati and nearby areas, including Meghalaya where the other three other main accused may have taken refuge.
Assam police have rushed a high level team to Bhubneswar to nab Amarjyoti Kalita who is understood to have been hiding in Puri. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the key accused was traced to Bhubaneswar. Talking to reporters in Dispur on Monday, Gogoi said that tracking of his mobile phone has pointed to his presence in Bhubaneswar. Police have announced Rs one lakh cash award for information on the whereabouts of Kalita.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday met the molestation case victim and promised her more security and monetary relief. He further said that prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita would be arrested soon. Meanwhile, Guwahatti SSP Apurba Jiban Barua was shifted in connection with the incident. Police have already arrested eight people out of the 12 identified persons, who were involved in molesting and stripping the girl in public outside a pub in Guwahati on the night of July 9.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday expressed strong displeasure over the role of a local news channel journalist in the molestation case. Talking to reporters outside the Assam assembly on Monday, he called it a case of unethical journalism saying that he should have informed police as soon as possible. He said, "the media blames the government and particularly the police on all accounts, but journalists, too, have responsible role to play in society and in this particular case they have failed miserably."
Probe into the mob attack on MLA Rumi Nath and her second husband Jacky Zakir at Karimganj on June 30 is going on. This was what the government informed the Assam Assembly n Monday. Replying to a question, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain told the assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the duo were brought to Guwahati with police escort. The minister was replying to questions on the first day of the assembly session after opposition members raised a furore over the culprits engaged in the attack on Nath in a Karimganj hotel last month.
The National Federation of Newspaper Employees has strongly condemned the attack on Tongam Rina of Arunachal Times on July 15 evening at Itanagar. Media report says that Ms Rina, 33, got bullet injuries at her belly and presently undergoing treatment at Ram Krishna Mission Hospital there.
In a statement issued on Monday by Nava Thakuria, zonal secretary of NFNE argues that the media persons remain vulnerable in Arunachal after Assam. Thakuria urged the State chief minister Nabam Tuki to take stern action against the miscreants such that the journalists can function in a fearless situation.
Following the incident, the members of Arunachal Pradesh Union for Working Journalists and...
Braving incessant rains that lashed the city for several hours, hundreds of people in Guwahati, took out a huge procession to show register their protest and anger against the role of government, police and the media on the recent molestation case. Protesters representing several organizations thronged Dighalipukhuri on Sunday and took out a rally demanding immediate arrest of all the culprits involved in it.
The organization include Nari Nirjatan Aikya Mancha, Nari Mukti Sangram Samiti, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, India Against Corruption, Bharat Swabhiman. The protesters were scheduled to meet the National Commission of Women delegation but only to be they refused.
KMSS leader Akhil...
Comments
Absolute rubbish!!... like
<p>It doesn't sounds good to
The Hindus robbed the culture
Pages
Add new comment