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.
26 Jun 2007 - 4:07am | editor
Guwahati: Altogether 12 people died and 7 others injured when two locomotives and seven loaded wagons of the Bardarpur-bound Dn FCI Bhim goods train fell off bridge No. 108, 52 km from Lumding on...
6 Jun 2008 - 12:10pm | editor
Assam Governor Lt. Gen (Rtrd) Ajay Singh has inaugurated a photo exhibition entitled Spirit of Independent India award winning and selected photograph from the 20th National Photo Contest organized...
21 Jun 2013 - 6:31pm | Ripunjoy Das
Ten days training on Bamboo and Cane craft organized by AIDA concluded today at the craft centre Longding in Arunachal Pradesh. The training was sponsored and inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner...
2 Feb 2008 - 11:09am | editor
School children's walk passes by the closerd shops at Circular road, Dimapur on 02-02-08. The normal business establishment in the commercial hub of the state has been affected by the 12 hour bandh...
Police rescued eight minor girls from placement agencies allegedly involved in human trafficking during a raid in Delhi. Altogether 4 persons, including a woman, have been arrested in this connection. The arrested have been identified as Ravinder Yadav, Pradeep Toppo, Vimal Kerketta and Babita. Acting on a tip-off police raided four placement agencies Babita Enterprises, India Maid Bureau, Deepika Placement Agency and Mission Welfare Society where the minor girls were rescued.
They were allegedly involved in trafficking of the minor girls from Assam, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Out of these rescued girls, four belong to Assam, one from Chhattisgarh and three from Jharkhand. After their...
Kaziranga National Park is reeling under devastating flood wave forcing the birds and animals to leave the famed site. Animals from the world heritage site is moving to highlands. But the situation is going fropm bad to worse from Sunday. The park authorities have been closely monitoring the situation to save the animals who are shifting to the nearby hills.
According to water resource department sources, the water levels of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are likely to rise during the next 24 hours where more new areas may come under the surging waters.
Flood situation takes a devastating turn on Monday following incessant rainfall during the last 24 hours.The water levels of the Brahmaputra and is tributaries are rising alarmingly and the waters spilling to more and more areas where over 3 lakh people have been rendered homeless.
The situation deteriorated on Sunday when rains breached dykes in parts of Sonitpur and Lakhimpur districts inundating several villages where a huge tracts of cropland have been ravaged. The current wave has so far claimed eight lives beside affecting nearly 3 lakh people.
Flash flood this years has marooned 14 districts so far. These include Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Barpeta, Kamrup (Rural),...
Music is a language that binds people together and that is exactly what the Celebration Of World Music Day at Blue Berry Hill, Goa did on June 21. With the theme Celebrating Together In Harmony, the Music Mania Foundation of Goa brought artistes from around India and gathered at one place to perform and explore different genres of music.
Blue Berry Hill, a venue known for its scenic beauty came ablaze a little behind schedule at 8pm. Well the crowd did not complain for the delay as they were into a real treat from the word go.
The show begun with Goas very own rock band, Noxious Ire. This three piece band lit the venue on fire with a set of mixed genre which included both originals and...
The All Assam Students' Union has asked Dispur to ensure the construction of the proposed 500-bed hospital in Sivasagar at an earlier date. The influential students organization sent a memorandum to Sivasagar deputy commissioner to make the government's stand clear on the matter within 15 days.
Te oil giant had decided to set up a multi-purpose hospital and announced its decision to undertake the mega project in Sivasagar. It also asked the government to provide a proper venue, which is yet to chosen.AASU leaders in Sivasagar said that they submitted a memorandum to top officials of ONGC with a 20-point charter of demands, including construction of 1000-bed hospital in the district last...
The condition of the renowned Assamese poet Hiren Bhattacharjya refuses to improve. But experts from Delhi and Kolkata are providing the best possible treatment at the Dispur Hospital where he has been undergoing treatment for the last couple of days.
He has been suffering from lungs and urinary infections and was put on invasive ventilation support after his condition deteriorated.
According to doctors attending on this renowned poet, they are closely monitoring the his condition and that he is still not out of danger. Further, the poet was in a very advanced stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Science Express-Biodiversity Special train of the Union ministry of environment and forest arrived at Kamakhya railway junction in Guwahati on Saturday. The special train was inaugurated jointly by the mission director of Sarva Sikhsha Abhijan, L S Changsang and N F Railways general manager R S Virdi.
Eight of the coaches are dedicated to showcasing the biodiversity of the northeast, trans-Himalaya and Himalayas, Gangetic plain, desert and semi-arid zone, western ghat, Deccan peninsula, coasts and islands. The other coaches exhibit climate change, energy, water conservation and petroleum among the other branches of science. The train will be here for four days.
Yet another mid air mishap was averted in Guwahati on Saturday. An Indian Air Force aircraft on Saturday made a 'delayed landing' at the Lokpriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. But according to defence sources, there was no technical problem in the craft.
The IL-76 'Gajraj' aircraft, flying to Delhi from Bangalore via Guwahati, developed "certain problems mid-air and made a delayed landing as necessary arrangements were made on the ground in case there was emergency. The aircraft circled over the airport for nearly two hours before landing. Airport Authority of India made the arrangements for the landing and to deal with any emergency.
Comments
Absolute rubbish!!... like
<p>It doesn't sounds good to
The Hindus robbed the culture
Pages
Add new comment