Re-Visiting The Indigenous Past Of Northeast India
With the advent of modern science, the recent decades has seen urban influence penetrating even the lives of those who remain far away from cities. The same applies here in Northeast India. The indigenous peoples of the region, who occupy a remote frontiers consisting of rainforests and Himalayan mountains, have been witnessing the advent of roads and urban goods into their territory which only twenty years back appeared forbidden to the outside world. The cultures and customs which once was have already changed to some extent. And as years pass, more of it will disappear as younger people begin to choose alternative modern lifestyles over traditional. On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2013, we would like to walk down memory lane through the means of vintage photographs and revisit the lifestyles of our region’s people to a time which once was but will never again be.
A chief’s daughter of Bor Adi Tribe. The identification of this girl is uncertain; when it was exhibited in Arunachal Pradesh in 2006, many local people did not recognize her of being a part of their state. It shows how both dress and ornamentation has changed in the last 100 years. Year: 1859 Edward H. HiggsAn Apatani man performing bobo, or rope swinging, during Myoko spring festival, Hari village, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesApatani priests performing sacrificial rites during Murung Festival. Date: 1944-45 Christopher Van Furer-HaimendorfA Hill Miri woman wearing the characteristic cane brassiere, Subansiri Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1955 Verrier ElwinAka woman with face paint and Tibetan ornaments, Jamiri village, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesSema Naga women crushing rice in log mortar with pestles,Tuensang District, Nagaland. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesMonpa dancer wearing felt mask with cowrie shells, Shyo village, Northeast Frontier Agency, India. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesMinyong Adi man with chin tattoo holding bow, arrow and squirrel caught in trap, Siang Frontier Division, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesDaughters of Wancho Ang chief dressing their hair with split bamboo bands, cloth and metalic thread, Pongchow, Tirap Frontier Division, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesChang Naga dormitories for unmarried men called Morung, Tuensang District, Nagaland. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesShimong Adi man and woman harvesting millet and Job’s tears, Siang Frontier Division, Arunachal Pradesh. Year: 1954 University of Washington Libraries109 year old Apatani woman of slave class with nose plugs, Subansiri Frontier District, India. Year: 1954 University of Washington LibrariesWarriors of Adi Tribe. Year: 1940s John Howard WilliamsAn illustration of two Nyishi scouts on the lookout of British forces. Year: 1875 Illustrated London News
An aboriginal man from the Lepcha people of Sikkim, India. Year: 1868 GettyImagesA Rengma man from the Naga hill tribes in Assam. India. Year: 1868 GettyImagesA Hill Miri tribesman from Assam. Year: 1870 GettyImages
A man from the Kuki robber tribes of Cachar, Assam. Year: 1870 GettyImages
This post is part of our series Celebrating Indigenous Peoples, focused on indigenous peoples of Northeast India and their times.
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Greener Pastures is a boutique travel company based in the fascinating lands of Northeast India. Run by a small team of passionate experts, the company offers responsible tours and adventures to exotic places and cultures. With a focus on sustainable travel, the core motive is to engage with tourism as a means to improving lives, preserving culture and enhancing the environment.
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13 responses to “Re-Visiting The Indigenous Past Of Northeast India”
Perfect set of Information’s..Being from NE India..I really love reading articles on NE.. 🙂
Thanks Harsha. Keep reading! 🙂
Thanks for digging out these images, such treasure.
Thanks. It was a pleasure digging these rarities.
Reblogged this on IFLA News Brief.
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Such rich tradition. I hope the diversity that still remains, will survive.
We hope so too. Thanks for reading!
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Great article with various informations about the tribal communities of North East India.