Adi people

People traditionally described as "Adi" principally inhabit mountainous central Arunachal Pradesh state in North East India, in addition to a few scattered areas of South Eastern Tibet. Often (and erroneously) described as a "tribe" or "language", "Adi" in fact designates a loose grouping of closely related Tani tribes, many of whom speak distinct, mutually unintelligible languages. In most "Adi" languages, the word "Adi" means "hill", and is extended to mean "hill people" or "hill culture" (in opposition to the "plains" people of Assam, e.g., from whom the Adi consider themselves to be irreducibly distinct).

Almost all information both current and historical regarding "Adi" peoples in fact was obtained from, and properly refers to, the Minyong tribe of the East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh (who are and always have been the most accessible of all Adi tribes, since their capital is easily reached from the Assam floodplain). Scholars with interest in other "Adi" tribes of the area should treat all published works on the subject, whatever their origin or professed aim, with extreme caution. Improper generalizations regarding all "Adi" tribes, such as have been derived from the study of a single "Adi" tribe, have been considered matters of grave offense to many "Adi" tribes to which they have been incorrectly applied in the past.

Tani tribes which are or have traditionally been described as "Adi" include (in alphabetical order) the Ashing, Bori, Bokar, Galo, Karka (Galo), Milang, Minyong, Paadam, Pailibo, Pangi, Pasi, Ramo, Shimong and Tanggam. For more information on these tribes, the individual aticles should be consulted. The following text should be disregarded in its entirety.

Tribes and organisation

They live in over 50 hill villages, traditionally each keeping to itself (many never leave it), under an elected chief styled gam who moderates the village council, which acts even as traditional court. They are divided into several tribes and sub-tribes, which include:

Culture

Owing to cultural isolation and economic insignificance, the Adi culture was spared major disturbance. However, since the late 20th century, the people themselves are gradually opting for modernisation, e.g. roads connecting them to the outer world, metal roofs, etc.

Dormitories play an important role among the Adi tribe, and certain rules are observed. For example, a male can visit the dormitory of a female, although he is not allowed to stay overnight. At times, guardians will have to be around to guide the youngsters.

The dress of the Adi consists of one multi-purpose cloth, known as the galae, easily worn by both sexes, tied around the loins, hanging down in loose strips. Helmets made from cane, bear and deer skin are sometimes worn by the men, depending on the region.

While the older women wear yellow necklaces and spiral earrings, unmarried girls wear a beyop, an ornament that consists of five to six brass plates fixed under their petticoats. Tatooing is popular among the older women.

The traditional measure of a family's wealth is the possession of gaur (known as "Tadok" and often referred as "Mithun"), a native ox which is not milked or put to work but given supplementary care while grazing in the woods until slaughter.

Adi celebrate their prime festival, Solung, between June and July for nine days. It is a harvest festival performed after the sowing of seeds and transplantation, to seek for future bumper crops. Ponung songs and dances are performed during the festival. At the last day of Solung, throne and indigenious weaponry are displayed along the passage of the houses, a belief that they would protect people from evil spirits.

Lifestyle

The Adi practice wet rice cultivation and have a considerable agricultural economy. Rice and wheat serve as the staple foods for the Adi. Trapping and hunting, increasingly with firearms, are practiced to supplement the diet; the favorite prey is the abundant rat, prepared in various ways, including raw pieces in a cake.

Religion

The majority of Adi traditionally followed the animist Donyi-Polo religion, which involves the worship of the sun, the moon, and the ancestral god Abo-Teni; the shaman, called miri, can be a female. Donyi-Polo is losing influence with the younger generations; a growing number have converted to Christianity, in part out of dissatisfaction with traditional healing. Adi in Tibet, in particular the Bokars, have adopted Tibetan Buddhism to a certain extent, as a result of Tibetan influence.

Efforts are now underway to give a properly organized form to the traditional beliefs and values of the Arunachal Pradesh state, and to protect and preserve the local religions.

External links

Sources and references

Danggen, Bani. (2003). The kebang: A unique indigenous political institution of the Adis. Delhi: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 8-1893-9351-X.
Hamilton, A. (1983 ^*). In Abor jungles of north-east India. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
Mibang, Tamo; & Chaudhuri, S. K. (Eds.) (2004). Understanding tribal religion. New Delhi: Mittal. ISBN 8-1709-9945-6.
Mibang, Tamo; & Chaudhuri, S. K. (Eds.) (2004). Folk culture and oral literature from north-east India. New Delhi: Mittal. ISBN 8-1709-9911-1.
Lego, N. N. (1992). British relations with the Adis, 1825-1947. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. ISBN 8-1711-7097-8.
BBC TV program Tribe, episode on the Adi; explorer Bruce Parry lived among them for a month as an honorary tribesman, 'adopted' by a village gam.

Language

Danggen, Bani. (2003). A book of conversation: A help book for English to Adi conversation. Itanagar: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 8-1863-9350-1.
Mibang, Tamo; & Abraham, P. T. (2001). An introduction to Adi language. Itanagar, Arunachal Pradeh: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 8-1863-9335-8.

Ethnic groups in India | Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh

Adi

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