Difference between revisions of "Apatani" - New World Encyclopedia
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|group=Apatani | |group=Apatani | ||
|image=[[Image:Apatani_tribal_women.jpg|250px|Apatani tribal women]] | |image=[[Image:Apatani_tribal_women.jpg|250px|Apatani tribal women]] | ||
| − | Alternative names:<br>Apa Tani, Tani | + | Alternative names:<br/>Apa Tani, Tani |
|poptime=60,000 | |poptime=60,000 | ||
| − | |popplace=[[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]]:<br> 60,000<br/> | + | |popplace=[[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]]:<br/> 60,000<br/> |
|langs=[[Tani languages|Indigenious languages]], [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]] | |langs=[[Tani languages|Indigenious languages]], [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]] | ||
|rels=[[Donyi-Polo]], [[Hinduism]], [[Christianity]] ([[Baptist]], other) | |rels=[[Donyi-Polo]], [[Hinduism]], [[Christianity]] ([[Baptist]], other) | ||
|related=[[Nishi (tribe)|Nishi]], [[Adi people|Adi]] | |related=[[Nishi (tribe)|Nishi]], [[Adi people|Adi]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | The '''Apatani''' or simply '''Tanii''', | + | The '''Apatani''' or simply '''Tanii''', designate a tribal group of approximately 60,000 in [[Ziro]] in the Apatani plateau in the [[Lower Subansiri]] district of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]]. Their language belongs to the [[Sino-Tibetian]] family (see [[Tani languages]]). |
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | + | Written records of the history of the Apatani tribe have never been discovered. Oral tradition reveals that throughout their history, the Apatani had a [[democracy|democratic]] system of running the society. The Tanii call their village council the [[Bulyang]]. | |
| − | One of their oral accounts speak of their migration from the extreme north of [[Arunachal Pradesh#Sub-divisions|Subansiri and Siang]] areas following the rivers of [[Kurung]] and [[Kiimey]]. | + | One of their oral accounts speak of their migration from the extreme north of [[Arunachal Pradesh#Sub-divisions|Subansiri and Siang]] areas following the rivers of [[Kurung]] and [[Kiimey]]. Those oral accounts usually have been transmitted in the form of folk tales such as the ''miji'' and ''migung''. Frequently present day landmarks support the folk tales, marking the migratory paths of the Apatanis. At a small village of Yangte in Kurung Kumey district, for example, a stone stands beside the place Apatanis held high jump competition on their way to the present habitat. The oral accounts often have validy, especially when corroborated with anthropological and scientific evidence. In one such attempt, the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh may participate in [[The Genographic Project]] of the [[National Geographic]]. |
| − | The ''miji'' | + | The ''miji'' constitutes a collection of religious chants performed by priests who preside over the sacrifices of [[gaur|mithun]]s, cows, chickens and pigs during various rituals. A religious song, which may be sung from ten minutes to twelve hours, accompanies all those ritual performances. They describe the previous interactions with the spirits or gods, locally known as ''wui'', the content of which explains the origin of the myths among others. On the other hand, the ''migung'' take a more realistic form, narrated in prose, relating the stories revealing the mythological origins of the Apatani people. |
| − | + | Those folk tales include legendary places, and also recent events, such as the downfall of a 19th-century never-do-well. In those two folk tales, both the ritual chants and the prose narrations speak of [[Abotani]], reputedly the original ancestor of the Apatani and the other tribes in central [[Arunachal Pradesh]]. Those tribes encompass the Tani group, comprising of the Apatanis, [[Nyishis]], [[Sulungs]] or [[Puroiks]], [[Hill Miris]], [[Tagins]], [[Adis]] and [[Mishmis]]. | |
| − | The first contact with the Europeans occurred in | + | The first contact with the Europeans occurred in 1897, when [[British Raj|British]] officials stayed in the valley for two days; six similar brief visits later took place between the 1920s and 1930s. In 1944, after an anthropologist-administrator set up a temporary government outpost, the Apatani came in contact with minimal government presence for the first time. When the [[Assam Rifles]] constructed a second but permanent outpost in 1948, with the mission to protect the land, the Apatanis attacked. The officer in charge retaliated by burning two of their villages. |
== Religion == | == Religion == | ||
<!--{{POV check}}—> | <!--{{POV check}}—> | ||
| − | [[Image:Sacrificed animal skulls on apatani grave.jpg|200px|thumb|The heads of sacrified animals hanging over the grave | + | [[Image:Sacrificed animal skulls on apatani grave.jpg|200px|thumb|The heads of sacrified animals hanging over the grave''(Biyu)'' of an Apatani man in [[Ziro]]. Sacrifice of the animals and special rites are performed on death of near ones.]] |
| − | Most Apatanis are loyal followers of the ''[[Danyi-Piilo]]'' faith, who [[Sun worship|pray to the Sun]] ( ''Ayo'' ''Danyii'') and the Moon | + | Most Apatanis are loyal followers of the ''[[Danyi-Piilo]]'' faith, who [[Sun worship|pray to the Sun]] ( ''Ayo'' ''Danyii'') and the Moon ''(Atoh Piilo)''. Abotani is revered as the sole ancestor of all Apatani and other tribes in the surrounding regions. When a misfortune occurs, they believe that it is caused by certain spirits, and thus they make appeasement sacrifices of chickens, cows and other domestic animals. ''Myoko'', the festival of friendship and prosperity, is celebrated in a grand manner lasting an entire month in March each year. Dree, celebrated in July is the main agricultural festival of the Apatanis. |
There are currently about 1,000 Apatanis who have converted to [[Christianity]], following missionary work done by [[Mizo]]s in recent years. They are sometimes considered socially inferior by the more orthodox Apatanis. | There are currently about 1,000 Apatanis who have converted to [[Christianity]], following missionary work done by [[Mizo]]s in recent years. They are sometimes considered socially inferior by the more orthodox Apatanis. | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
[[Image:Apatani tribal woman.jpg|thumb|An Apatani woman with a basket going to field]] | [[Image:Apatani tribal woman.jpg|thumb|An Apatani woman with a basket going to field]] | ||
| − | The dress of the Apatanis is elaborate and colorful, yet simple in style. [[Tattoo]]ing and the stuffing of large nose plugs | + | The dress of the Apatanis is elaborate and colorful, yet simple in style. [[Tattoo]]ing and the stuffing of large nose plugs''(Yaping hullo)'' were once popular among the women, although this practice has gradually fallen into decline in recent years. This practice is believed to have started because the women wanted to look unattractive to males from neighboring tribes. Apatani women were considered to be the most beautiful ones among all the Arunachal tribes.Younger members of this community have stopped this traditional practice. |
| − | Traditionally, the men tie their hair in a knot just above the forehead (locally called as ''piiding'') using a brass rod | + | Traditionally, the men tie their hair in a knot just above the forehead (locally called as ''piiding'') using a brass rod''(Piiding Khotu)'' measuring 12 inches, placed horizontally. Strips of fine cane belt painted in red''(Yari)'', and bent into the shape of a horse-collar with an elongated end, were also worn. These strips of cane are loosely fastened together, with the loop of the horse-collar being tied round the waist. The men also tattoo ''(Tiippe)'' their chin, in the shape of a 'T' under the lower lip. The women tattoo themselves with broad blue lines from the forehead to the tip of the nose, and five vertical stripes under the lower lip in the chin. The women bundle up their tresses, which are rolled into a ball''(Dilling)'' on the top of the head. A brass skewer''(Ading Akh)'' may then be inserted horizontally. |
== Customs and lifestyle == | == Customs and lifestyle == | ||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
Apatani women carry out the household chores of gathering both wild and kitchen garden vegetables, cooking, fetching of water, pounding of rice, cleaning of houses, washing of clothes and utensils, nursing, looking after infants and children, preparation of the [[tsampa]], ginning and spinning of cotton and other jobs associated with the household. In the field, the Apatani woman carries out the tasks that include gardening, seeding, transplanting of paddy and millet, padding, weeding of fields and other activities. At home, the internal family income is controlled by a woman. But, the man also has his part of duty in looking after cultivation activities, he acts as the head of family in the society. | Apatani women carry out the household chores of gathering both wild and kitchen garden vegetables, cooking, fetching of water, pounding of rice, cleaning of houses, washing of clothes and utensils, nursing, looking after infants and children, preparation of the [[tsampa]], ginning and spinning of cotton and other jobs associated with the household. In the field, the Apatani woman carries out the tasks that include gardening, seeding, transplanting of paddy and millet, padding, weeding of fields and other activities. At home, the internal family income is controlled by a woman. But, the man also has his part of duty in looking after cultivation activities, he acts as the head of family in the society. | ||
| − | Their wet rice cultivation system and their agriculture system are extensive even without the use of any farm animals or machines.So is their sustainable social forestry system. [[UNESCO]] is considering the Apatani valley to be declared a [[World Heritage Site]] for its "extremely high productivity" and "unique" way of preserving the ecology.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050617/asp/northeast/story_4877612.asp "Unique Apatani impresses Unesco"], Rajeev Bhattacharyya, [[The Telegraph]], | + | Their wet rice cultivation system and their agriculture system are extensive even without the use of any farm animals or machines.So is their sustainable social forestry system. [[UNESCO]] is considering the Apatani valley to be declared a [[World Heritage Site]] for its "extremely high productivity" and "unique" way of preserving the ecology.<ref>[http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050617/asp/northeast/story_4877612.asp "Unique Apatani impresses Unesco"], Rajeev Bhattacharyya, [[The Telegraph]], 17 June 2005. URL last accessed 21 October 2006.</ref> In July, the harvest festival of Dree is celebrated with the harvest dance Pakhu-Itu.<ref>http://www.nezccindia.org/arunachalpradesh/StateFestival.asp?State=Arunachal</ref> |
== The Apatani today == | == The Apatani today == | ||
| − | A lot of the information regarding the Apatani tribe currently available in books or on the Internet is known to be fairly outdated. They are generally based on observations made by Professor [[Christopher von Furer-Haimendorf]] in the 1940s. <!-----Citation please! | + | A lot of the information regarding the Apatani tribe currently available in books or on the Internet is known to be fairly outdated. They are generally based on observations made by Professor [[Christopher von Furer-Haimendorf]] in the 1940s. <!-----Citation please!—The Apatani have shown an impressive rate of progress since their first contact with the modern world however, and are sometimes dubbed "Japatani" by their neighboring tribes, presumably as an allusion to the fast-paced technological evolution of [[Japan]].{{fact}}---------> |
The Apatani have incorporated many ways of the modern world, but the traditional culture and customs still retain their significance. Many of them are high-level Government employees, doctors and engineers and are working far away from their native villages around Ziro. Even so, they make it a point to return to their villages during important festivals, notable among which are [[Myoko]] in March and [[Murung]] in January every year. [[Dree]], another important festival of the Apatanis are celebrated in all the major towns in Arunachal Pradesh and in some cities outside the state. As in any other developing countries, several teenagers have been influenced by Western culture, but the traditional lifestyles are still maintained. | The Apatani have incorporated many ways of the modern world, but the traditional culture and customs still retain their significance. Many of them are high-level Government employees, doctors and engineers and are working far away from their native villages around Ziro. Even so, they make it a point to return to their villages during important festivals, notable among which are [[Myoko]] in March and [[Murung]] in January every year. [[Dree]], another important festival of the Apatanis are celebrated in all the major towns in Arunachal Pradesh and in some cities outside the state. As in any other developing countries, several teenagers have been influenced by Western culture, but the traditional lifestyles are still maintained. | ||
Revision as of 23:55, 5 November 2007
| Apatani |
|---|
Alternative names: |
| Total population |
| 60,000 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Arunachal Pradesh, India: 60,000 |
| Languages |
| Indigenious languages, English, Hindi |
| Religions |
| Donyi-Polo, Hinduism, Christianity (Baptist, other) |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Nishi, Adi |
The Apatani or simply Tanii, designate a tribal group of approximately 60,000 in Ziro in the Apatani plateau in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetian family (see Tani languages).
History
Written records of the history of the Apatani tribe have never been discovered. Oral tradition reveals that throughout their history, the Apatani had a democratic system of running the society. The Tanii call their village council the Bulyang.
One of their oral accounts speak of their migration from the extreme north of Subansiri and Siang areas following the rivers of Kurung and Kiimey. Those oral accounts usually have been transmitted in the form of folk tales such as the miji and migung. Frequently present day landmarks support the folk tales, marking the migratory paths of the Apatanis. At a small village of Yangte in Kurung Kumey district, for example, a stone stands beside the place Apatanis held high jump competition on their way to the present habitat. The oral accounts often have validy, especially when corroborated with anthropological and scientific evidence. In one such attempt, the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh may participate in The Genographic Project of the National Geographic.
The miji constitutes a collection of religious chants performed by priests who preside over the sacrifices of mithuns, cows, chickens and pigs during various rituals. A religious song, which may be sung from ten minutes to twelve hours, accompanies all those ritual performances. They describe the previous interactions with the spirits or gods, locally known as wui, the content of which explains the origin of the myths among others. On the other hand, the migung take a more realistic form, narrated in prose, relating the stories revealing the mythological origins of the Apatani people.
Those folk tales include legendary places, and also recent events, such as the downfall of a 19th-century never-do-well. In those two folk tales, both the ritual chants and the prose narrations speak of Abotani, reputedly the original ancestor of the Apatani and the other tribes in central Arunachal Pradesh. Those tribes encompass the Tani group, comprising of the Apatanis, Nyishis, Sulungs or Puroiks, Hill Miris, Tagins, Adis and Mishmis.
The first contact with the Europeans occurred in 1897, when British officials stayed in the valley for two days; six similar brief visits later took place between the 1920s and 1930s. In 1944, after an anthropologist-administrator set up a temporary government outpost, the Apatani came in contact with minimal government presence for the first time. When the Assam Rifles constructed a second but permanent outpost in 1948, with the mission to protect the land, the Apatanis attacked. The officer in charge retaliated by burning two of their villages.
Religion
Most Apatanis are loyal followers of the Danyi-Piilo faith, who pray to the Sun ( Ayo Danyii) and the Moon (Atoh Piilo). Abotani is revered as the sole ancestor of all Apatani and other tribes in the surrounding regions. When a misfortune occurs, they believe that it is caused by certain spirits, and thus they make appeasement sacrifices of chickens, cows and other domestic animals. Myoko, the festival of friendship and prosperity, is celebrated in a grand manner lasting an entire month in March each year. Dree, celebrated in July is the main agricultural festival of the Apatanis.
There are currently about 1,000 Apatanis who have converted to Christianity, following missionary work done by Mizos in recent years. They are sometimes considered socially inferior by the more orthodox Apatanis.
The ongoing conversion in Ziro has led to the formation of a self-preservation organization among the older generation Apatanis, known as Danyii Piillo Meder Nello. This organization, located at Hari Lemba, Ziro, stands to give a properly organized form to the traditional beliefs and values, and to protect the locals against unquestioned and thoughtless conversion to foreign religions.
Some criticize the organization's use of symbolic representation of Danyi and Piilo as a form of idolatry[citation needed]. They claim the organization is being backed by Hindu organizations and is taking the form of a Hindu sub-religion[citation needed]. Their argument is that the Apatanis have never worshipped idols. This criticism comes predominantly from the Christians. It is important to note that the traditional Apatanis are not Christians and therefore idolatry means nothing to them.
Dress
The dress of the Apatanis is elaborate and colorful, yet simple in style. Tattooing and the stuffing of large nose plugs(Yaping hullo) were once popular among the women, although this practice has gradually fallen into decline in recent years. This practice is believed to have started because the women wanted to look unattractive to males from neighboring tribes. Apatani women were considered to be the most beautiful ones among all the Arunachal tribes.Younger members of this community have stopped this traditional practice.
Traditionally, the men tie their hair in a knot just above the forehead (locally called as piiding) using a brass rod(Piiding Khotu) measuring 12 inches, placed horizontally. Strips of fine cane belt painted in red(Yari), and bent into the shape of a horse-collar with an elongated end, were also worn. These strips of cane are loosely fastened together, with the loop of the horse-collar being tied round the waist. The men also tattoo (Tiippe) their chin, in the shape of a 'T' under the lower lip. The women tattoo themselves with broad blue lines from the forehead to the tip of the nose, and five vertical stripes under the lower lip in the chin. The women bundle up their tresses, which are rolled into a ball(Dilling) on the top of the head. A brass skewer(Ading Akh) may then be inserted horizontally.
Customs and lifestyle
Apatanis trace their descent patrilineally. While the status of men was considered higher than that of women, the sexes share responsibilities in the house and the family.
Apatani women carry out the household chores of gathering both wild and kitchen garden vegetables, cooking, fetching of water, pounding of rice, cleaning of houses, washing of clothes and utensils, nursing, looking after infants and children, preparation of the tsampa, ginning and spinning of cotton and other jobs associated with the household. In the field, the Apatani woman carries out the tasks that include gardening, seeding, transplanting of paddy and millet, padding, weeding of fields and other activities. At home, the internal family income is controlled by a woman. But, the man also has his part of duty in looking after cultivation activities, he acts as the head of family in the society.
Their wet rice cultivation system and their agriculture system are extensive even without the use of any farm animals or machines.So is their sustainable social forestry system. UNESCO is considering the Apatani valley to be declared a World Heritage Site for its "extremely high productivity" and "unique" way of preserving the ecology.[1] In July, the harvest festival of Dree is celebrated with the harvest dance Pakhu-Itu.[2]
The Apatani today
A lot of the information regarding the Apatani tribe currently available in books or on the Internet is known to be fairly outdated. They are generally based on observations made by Professor Christopher von Furer-Haimendorf in the 1940s.
The Apatani have incorporated many ways of the modern world, but the traditional culture and customs still retain their significance. Many of them are high-level Government employees, doctors and engineers and are working far away from their native villages around Ziro. Even so, they make it a point to return to their villages during important festivals, notable among which are Myoko in March and Murung in January every year. Dree, another important festival of the Apatanis are celebrated in all the major towns in Arunachal Pradesh and in some cities outside the state. As in any other developing countries, several teenagers have been influenced by Western culture, but the traditional lifestyles are still maintained.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ "Unique Apatani impresses Unesco", Rajeev Bhattacharyya, The Telegraph, 17 June 2005. URL last accessed 21 October 2006.
- ↑ http://www.nezccindia.org/arunachalpradesh/StateFestival.asp?State=Arunachal
External links
- Colonia contact in the "hidden land"
- http://www.pcedindia.com/peoplescomm/tribes_10b.htm
- Fürer-Haimendorf's Apa Tani films
- Anthropological articles of the Apa Tani
- Ethnologue profile
- "Illicit Staple"
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