Nyishi people

2021-08-17T17:36:53Z

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{{short description|Ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Nyishi|
| image = Nishi tribal lightened.jpg
| image_caption = A Nyishi man With a [[Great hornbill|hornbill]] headdress
| total = 249,824
| total_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2017-11-03}}</ref>
| total_year = 2011 census
| popplace = {{flag|India}} ([[Arunachal Pradesh]])
| languages = [[Nyishi language|Nyishi]]
| religions = [[Donyi-Polo|Donyi-Polo (sun and moon)]], [[Christianity]], [[Animism]]
| related =
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Nyishi''' community is the largest ethnic group in [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in [[Northeast India|north-eastern]] [[India]]. In [[Nyishi language|Nyishi]], their traditional language, ''Nyi'' refers to "a human" and the word ''shi'' denotes "a being", which combined refers to a human being. They are spread across eight districts of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]: [[Kra Daadi district|Kra Daadi]], [[Kurung Kumey district|Kurung Kumey]], [[East Kameng district|East Kameng]], [[West Kameng district|West Kameng]], [[Papum Pare district|Papum Pare]], parts of [[Lower Subansiri district|Lower Subansiri]], [[Kamle]] and [[Pakke Kessang]] district. The Kurung Kumey and Kra Daadi districts have the largest concentration of Nyishi population who are generally referred to as "Aya Nyasang". The Nyishis also live in the [[Sonitpur district|Sonitpur]] and [[North Lakhimpur]] districts of [[Assam]].

Their population of around 300,000 makes them the most populous tribe of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], closely followed by the tribes of the [[Adi people|Adi]] according to 2001 census. The [[Nyishi language]] belongs to the [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] family, however, the origin is disputed.

[[Polygyny]] is prevalent among the Nyishi. It signifies one's social status and economical stability and also proves handy during hard times like clan wars or social huntings and various other social activities. This practice, however is diminishing especially with the modernization and also with the spread of Christianity. They trace their descent [[Patrilineality|patrilineally]] and are divided into several clans.<ref>{{cite book|title=Arunachal Pradesh|author=India Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Published by Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India|year=1979|pages=15–6}}</ref>

== Economy ==
The Nyishi are agriculturalists who practice [[Slash-and-burn|''jhum'']], known as ''rët rung-o'' in [[Nishi language|Nishi]], which is a form of shifting cultivation. The principal crops raised include paddy (rice), ''top'' ([[maize]]), ''mekung'' ([[cucumber]]), ''tak-yi'' ([[ginger]]), ''aeng'' ([[Yam (vegetable)|yam]]s) and ''temi'' ([[millet]]). Rice is the staple food of the people, supplemented by fish, meat of various animals, edible tubers and leafy vegetables. Before a Western market economic system arrived, they used a barter system. They greatly valued the generalized reciprocity and also balance reciprocity in their economic system. A locally-made drink known as ''upo'' (the two types of ''upo'': ''pone'', made of rice, and ''polin'' which is made of millet) is served at every social gatherings and important events. The Nyishis are typically fond of it. Traditional ways of preparing them include fermentation, steaming, roasting and smoking. Recently they have been forced to move towards a market based exchange economy.

== Attire ==
Traditionally, Nyishi [[braid|plaited]] their hair and tie it neatly at the forehead with locally-made thread. A brass skewer passes horizontally through the tied hair. Cane rings were worn around the waist, arms and legs. Men wore a cane helmet surmounted with the beak of the [[Great hornbill|great Indian hornbill]]. The usage of actual hornbill beaks is discouraged these days due to tough wildlife protection laws since the great Indian hornbill is a protected species and generally due to growing awareness among the people as well. Nowadays It is being supplemented by beaks made of cane or other materials and the entire headgear/cane helmet itself is readily available in the market for purchase. Additional decorations varied depending upon the status of the person and were symbols of manly valor.

The clothing of the men consists of two types of sleeveless shirts (letum) and with black and white stripe (pomo) made from thick cotton cloth, striped gaily with blue and red together with a mantle of cotton or wool fastened around the throat and shoulders. Strings made of beads in varying sizes and colours are also worn, mainly for decoration purposes and to show the wearer's status. They also carry a machete or [[Dao (Naga sword)|dao]] (''uryu'') in Nyishi) ([[short sword]]) and a knife (''{{Not a typo|chighi}}'') in a [[bamboo]] sheath that are mostly covered with animal furs. Their armament consists of a spear with an iron head, a large [[Dao (Naga sword)|sword]] (''uryu''), and a [[bow (weapon)|bow]] and arrows which are tipped with poison (''um-yu''). During war, both the chest and back are covered with shields made from [[gayal|sabbe]] buffalo hide, and over it they wear a black cloak made of indigenous fibre.

The Nyishi women generally wear a sleeveless mantle of striped or plain cloth, its upper part tucked tightly over the breast and enveloping the body from the armpits to the centre of the calves addition with different colour tops worn underneath among which red ({{Not a typo|jwle}} / {{Not a typo|jwlang}}) is generally used . A ribbon is tied at the waist. A [[girdle]] consisting of metal disks, beads, and cane [[garter (stockings)|garter]]s is worn at the waist. Their hair is parted in the middle, plaited and tied into a [[Chignon (hairstyle)|chignon]] just above the nape. Their ornaments include multicolored bead necklaces, brass chains, metal bells, huge brass or silver earrings and heavy bracelets of various metals.

== Religion ==
[[File:Nyokum festival Nyishi.JPG|thumb|A festival of the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India.]]''Nyokum'' is the festival celebrated by the Nyishi people, which commemorates their ancestors.

Christian missionaries began operating in Arunachal Pradesh in the 1950s; however, many of their proselytising activities were limited by the government until the 1970s.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=The Institutionalization of Tribal Religion |title=Recasting the Donyi-Polo Movement in Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Asian Ethnology |volume=72 |issue=2 |page=260 |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4303 |publisher=Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture}}</ref> According to a 2011 survey, many of the Nyishi people have become Christian (31%), followed by Hinduism (29%), with many of the remaining still following the ancient indigenous [[Donyi-Polo]]ism.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Katiyar |first1=Prerna |title=How churches in Arunachal Pradesh are facing resistance over conversion of tribals |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-churches-in-arunachal-pradesh-are-facing-resistance-over-conversion-of-tribals/articleshow/61703687.cms |website=The Economic Times |publisher=India Times |access-date=19 September 2020 |date=19 November 2017}}</ref>

== The hornbill issue ==
The Nyishis, who traditionally wear cane helmets surmounted by the crest of a [[Great Indian hornbill|hornbill]] beak (known as ''pudum'' or ''padam''), have considerably affected the population of this bird.

Several organizations, such as the Arunachal Wildlife and Nature Foundation and the [[Wildlife Trust of India]], have been trying to stop the Nyishi hunting these birds in order to protect them from extinction. Nature reserves, such as the Pakke Sanctuary, are being set up to protect the birds, while artificial materials, such as [[fiberglass]], have been introduced as an alternative to the hornbill beak in Nyishi dress.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Nishi people}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070112085845/http://www.nezccindia.org/arunachalpradesh/IntroductionArunachal.asp?State=Arunachal Glimpses Of Arunachal Pradesh]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050320114648/http://www.culturalportraits.com/CPIndia/Religion/Nyubu%20Priests.htm Nyishi Nyub Priests]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041218025607/http://web.mid-day.com/smd/go/2003/june/56615.htm North East Frontier]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060423031044/http://www.teri.res.in/teriin/terragreen/issue12/feature.htm From a Cocoon, with Hope]
*[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=dap Ethnologue profile], [http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_language.asp?code=DAP old profile]

{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tribes of Assam]]
[[Category:Donyi-Polo communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Assam]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]

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Nyishi people