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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Moji Riba.jpg
| imagesize =
| name = Moji Riba
| caption =
| birth_date = 1911
| birth_place = Dari village, Lepa Rada District, Arunachal Pradesh, India
| residence = Dari village, Lepa Rada District, Arunachal Pradesh, India
| death_date = 11 October 1973
| death_place = Dari village, Lepa Rada District, Arunachal Pradesh, India
| constituency =
| office = Indian Freedom Fighter
| term_start =
| term_end =
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| office2 =
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| party = [[Indian National Congress]]
| otherparty =
| spouse = Karpu Riba
| children = Jito Riba, Jibom Riba, Jiyo Riba, Jikir Riba, Jie Riba, Jiter Riba and Jijum Riba.
| awards = *[[Tamra Patra]] (15 August 1972) by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] and President [[V. V. Giri]] at [[Red Fort]] [[New Delhi]]

*[[Unsung Hero]] (15 August 2023) by the State Government of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
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'''Moji Riba''' '''(1911–1973)''' the eldest son of Gomo Riba and Nyapu Riba, was an Indian [[Freedom fighter|'''freedom fighter''']] from a small village called Dari in [[Lepa Rada district|Lepa Rada]] district of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] erstwhile known as [[North-East Frontier Tracts|North East Frontier Tract]]/[[North-East Frontier Agency|North East Frontier Agency]], who participated in the [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence Movement]].

== Early Life and Education ==
When Moji was twelve years old he was admitted to Lower Primary School at [[Sadiya]] in [[Assam]] which was run by the American Baptist missionaries. He studied there for four years from 1923 to 1927. Thereafter, in 1927 he changed the school and took admission in Mission High School at [[Jorhat]], [[Assam]]. Unfortunately while studying at Jorhat in class seven his father grew very old and his family members demanded his presence back home for being the eldest son to look after him during the last days of his life. So in 1931 he left his schooling and came back to Dari village. His father passed away on March 1, 1932 and the whole burden of his family fell upon him making it impossible for him to go back and pursue his studies at Jorhat. He was one of the first person to get any education from his area.<ref>Koyu, Geri, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021, pp. 72-73.</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Moji Riba |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?4940 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref>

==Path to Nationalism==
What he acquired while studying at Assam stayed profoundly embalmed into his memory. He was highly knowledgeable in English, Hindi and Assamese languages. While studying in Assam he studied about freedom fighters like [[Maniram Dewan]], [[Piyoli Phukan]] and their battle for independence. He also became acquainted with [[Mahatma Gandhi]], his principles and the [[Indian National Congress]] that were fighting for the country’s freedom from the [[Colonialism|British colonial government]]. He was motivated by the concepts of [[nationalism]].<ref>Koyu, Geri, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021, pp. 73-75.</ref> Following his return to his home, Moji’s patriotic yearning to fight against the foreign rulers further increased incensed after observing atrocities and unfriendly attitude of the colonial authorities towards his people. So, he began plotting against the British administration and organised operations in the villages against colonial authorities who had their headquarters at [[Pasighat]]. He achieved enormous renown in the region as a guy who was spreading the liberation struggle. After the [[Quit India Movement]] (1942) started in India, Moji felt the urgent need to start a movement in the hills, this desperation was only aggravated when in the same year Moji and his group learnt about a scheme that some British officials were propagating in the hills; it was the [[Crown colony|Crown Colony]] scheme or the Reid Plan envisaged by [[Robert Reid (civil servant)|Robert Reid]], the Governor of British Assam. According to the proposal, the British administration were hesitant to bring the territories of [[Northeast India|North-East India]] and [[North-East Frontier Tracts|North East Frontier Tract]] under far distant [[Delhi]]. Governor Reid said that the future of hills surrounding Assam's should be determined by the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] and not by the Indian political leaders, they intended to carve off North-east as a distinct colony of Britain.This proposal became an unsettling problem for Moji.<ref>Koyu, Geri, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021, pp. 84-87.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nyori |first=Tai |title=A Freedom Movement in the Twilight: Tribal Patriotism in the North-Eastern Frontier Tracts of India |publisher=Nation Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-93-90812-54-7 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=143-155 |language=English}}</ref>

[[File:Moji Riba being awarded Tamra Patra.jpg|thumb|News Paper cutting of Moji Riba being awarded Tamra Patra by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President V. V. Giri at Red Fort, New Delhi on 15 August 1972|350x350px]]

==Dipa Congress Movement==
Moji recommended his team that they would initiate a '''freedom cum congress movement''' in the hills. For this aim, they travelled to [[Dibrugarh]] where he met Lalit Chandra Hazarika, the General Secretary of Dibrugarh District Congress Committee. Moji offered his wish to join the [[Indian National Congress]] with support from [[Assam Pradesh Congress Committee|Assam Congress]] in order to start a Congress campaign in the hills hence forming a Congress committee in the hills to obstruct the colonial administration. Lalit pledged them to obtain full assistance from Dibrugarh Congress Committee in creating a Congress committee in the hills. From Dibrugarh Congress’ assistance, Moji started the movement in the hills with the aid of people like [[Moje Riba]], [https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17402 Rimo Riba], [https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?4946 Ligin Bomjen], [https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17404 Dagi Angu], [https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17403 Kore Bagra], [https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17405 Kargo Basar] and many other from his area. In 1946, they constructed their headquarters and a school in a village named Dipa in the foothills of Lower Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, hence, '''Dipa Congress Committee''' was formed of which [[Moje Riba]] became the President since he was the senior most member in their team and young Moji himself took the office of General Secretary.<ref>Koyu, Geri, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021, pp. 96-100.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Kargo Basar |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17405 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Kore Bagra |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17403 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Ligin Bomjen |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?4946 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Rimo Riba |url=https://cmsadmin.amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?17402 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref> This was the first time a political party was formed in Arunachal Pradesh, also, it was in this Congress headquarters at Dipa where for the first time the [[Flag of India|Indian national flag]] was hoisted in [[Arunachal Pradesh]] by the men of Dipa Congress Committee.<ref>Koyu, Geri, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021, pp. 98-103.</ref> During the stretch of their movement, Moji and his Dipa team even met with [[Gopinath Bordoloi]]. Moji Riba, [[Moje Riba]], Rimo Riba, Ligin Bomjen and many of his Dipa Congress team were harassed and also put behind bars for their movement in the hills by the British Political Officer Peter Loren Seton James. Eventually the movement succeeded and the British officer P. L. S. James was removed from his post at Pasighat.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pandey |first=B. B. |title=Arunachal Pradesh: Village State to Statehood |publisher=Himalayan Publishers |year=1997 |isbn=81-86393-12-9 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=89-98 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Pandey |first=B. B. |title=Leadership Pattern in a Tribal Society |publisher=Spectrum Publication |year=1991 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=62-110 |language=English}}</ref>
[[File:Tamra Patra of Moji Riba.jpg|center|thumb|400x400px|Tamra Patra of Moji Riba]]
For his contribution in the [[Indian independence movement|Indian Independence Movement]], Moji Riba was included among the first batch of [https://www.toppr.com/ask/question/what-were-tamra-patra/ Tamra Patra] recipients. He was awarded with this prestigious award at [[Red Fort]], [[New Delhi]] by Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] and President [[V. V. Giri|V.V.Giri]] on 15th of August 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahotsav |first=Amrit |title=Moji Riba |url=https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?51 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nyori |first=Tai |title=Freedom Movement in the Twilight : Tribal Patriotism in the North-Eastern Frontier Tracts of India |publisher=Notion Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-93-90812-54-7 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=155 |language=English}}</ref>
[[File:Moji Riba with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first batch of freedom fighters cum Tamra Patra receipents at Red Fort, New Delhi on 15 August, 1972.jpg|center|thumb|500x500px|Moji Riba with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first batch of freedom fighters cum Tamra Patra recipients at Red Fort, New Delhi on 15 August, 1972]]

== After India's Independence ==
[[File:Moji Riba with his family in late 1950s.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Moji Riba with his family in the late 1950s. Behind them is the Jeep vehicle which people recall as being one of the first in the region]]
Bharat Chandra Bhuyan, the first Indian Political Officer in Siang region recognised him as an important figure in the society and appointed him as a [[Gaonburha|Gaonburah]] of his village and took him to tours into the District. Moji also served as the ''Bango'' secretary of the Ego ''Bango.'' Further'','' Moji Riba was involved in the construction of [[Aalo]]-[[Likabali Assembly constituency|Likabali]] road. He also became the first person to purchase and use Jeep vehicle in the region. At the age of 62, on 11 October, 1973, Moji Riba took his last breath in his village Dari leaving behind his wife, a son, six daughters and grand children.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nyori |first=Tai |title=A Freedom Movement in the Twilight: Tribal Patriotism in the North-Eastern Frontier Tracts of India |publisher=Nation Press |year=2021 |isbn=978-93-90812-54-7 |edition=1st |location=Delhi |pages=154-155 |language=English}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
*B. B. Pandey: ''Arunachal Pradesh: Village State to Statehood'', Himalayan Publishers, Itanagar, 1996.
*B. B. Pandey: ''Leadership Patterns in a Tribal Society'', Spectrum Publications, Guwahati, 1991.
*Geri Koyu, 'New Patterns of Tribal leadership: Moji Riba and the Aborted Congress Activity in Lower Siang, 1947-48,' M.Phil. Dissertation submitted to Department of History, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh, 2021.
*Tai Nyori: ''A Freedom Movement in the Twilight: Tribal Patriotism in North-Eastern Frontier Tract of India'', Published by NOtion Press, Delhi, 2021.
==External links==
{{Commons category|Gegong Apang}}
*[https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/unsung-heroes-detail.htm?4940 Moji Riba - Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riba, Moji}}
[[Category:1911 births]]
[[Category:Arunachal Congress politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians]]
[[Category:1973 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Assam]]

Moji Riba - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article