MISING HISTORY
I have read in some Mising magazines that, when Misings lived in Arunachal Pradesh, they were virtually slaves to other Tani tribes. Misings were weaker tribe and generally very peaceful, lost their tribal violent nature long back as they came into contact with civilised society in plains of Assam. So they were subjugated by other stronger Tani tribes.
Misings were also more developed culturally and had good link with plains people and learned farming technique. So they produced paddy in their fields while other tribes still lived on plundering other villages of other tribes. Mostly Mising villages were attacked and looted by them as Mising villages were prosperous.
But, slowly Misings started migrating to plains of Assam. That completely shattered livelihood of other Tani Tribes. So they started hating Misings and created many legends like Misings were their subordinates, slaves who fled to plains!
Misings, on the other hand, started exploiting Hill tribes after they settled in plans of Assam. They used to be middle men between other Assamese community and tribes of hills. Many people opine that that is how Misings were referred to Miri which means middle men in Assamese language.
Legends among other Tani tribes say that Misings would harm them and take revenge one day for the atrocity they had committed on Misings. So they have deep mistrust for Misings. Most probably this legends started when they observed that Misings had progressed a lot after they left hills of Arunachal Pradesh and settled in plains of Assam and thought they could not match Misings. Presently Misings have progressed a lot along with other communities in Assam. They are much forward compared to other Tani tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. I still remember, our elders did not allow Galongs to enter in hour house. Normally they smell very bad, wore few clothes, they normally came to collect dead bodies of cow, buffalo. They were treated like untouchable in our village. Also we used to scare small girl child that, if they don't stop, she would be married off to Galongs!
Since Misings came into contact with civilised society in plains of Assam, they have become more civilised than other Tani tribes and much before. So, their population also grew so much that now they outnumber all other Tani tribes population put together. This is one reason other Tani tribes are now wary of Misings. If Misings start going back to hills, they would swarm Arunachal Pradesh with their sheer numbers.
Misings have also left way behind their other Tani tribes n terms of civilizational, cultural progress! Misings became second largest tribal community in Assam. Presently their dresses are very popular in Assam, You may have seen them in all Assamese VCD, films, Bihu dances! They have produced many educated professionals in Assam and are doing well in every sphere. Most probably, this has also led to enmity between Misings living in plains of Assam and Tani tribes living in hills.
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