Dhingra, Mansi
Person
Found in 138 Collections and/or Records:
Abak Kasuang, 15 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-41
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
15 March 2024
Abak Kasuang - Session 01, 15 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-41-1
Summary
In this short recording, Abak Kasuang recounts the struggles of her youth, the challenges of Puroik people’s life in the past. She speaks of how people kept making yarn from the plant called Khryag even while walking, on their way to someplace else. They would have to keep making sago. Life in the past, she recalls, was very difficult. She sings two songs, one in praise of Jesus in Nyishi language and the other teaching kids about the sago-making process in Puroik language. The words are,...
Dates:
15 March 2024
Abing Kasuang, 13 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-9
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
13 January 2024
Abing Kasuang, 17 February 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-29
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
17 February 2024
Abing Kasuang - Session 01, 13 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-9-1
Summary
In this interview, Abing Kasuang shares his knowledge of the Palm, its use and reliability. He reminisces periods of famine when the dependence on the Palm was very high, including a time when the Palm itself was affected. An insect had eaten off the leaves of the Palm stems, depleting the starch from the mature ones. At that time, the younger stems had more starch than older ones and the people would have to harvest younger stems. He also advises that the Palm should be preserved for the...
Dates:
13 January 2024
Abing Kasuang - Session 01, 17 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-29-1
Summary
OH-008-29-1a
During a visit to his grove, Abing Kasuang shows a cluster on the side of a trail. The name of the variety, he says, is Machyong. The name is given to the Palm clusters that grow in the forest by themselves without having been planted. He can identify the variety from his experience of making sago from a stem of this cluster. The sago is the same as the other varieties, but from memory and experience, he knows this cluster is Machyong. He maintains this cluster along with his...
Dates:
17 February 2024
Abying Kasuang, 13 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-8
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
13 January 2024
Abying Kasuang - Session 01, 13 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-8-1
Summary
Abying Kasuang begins by recounting the reliance of the Puroik people on the Palm. There were times in the past where food scarcity was acute. He says that the Puroik people have survived consuming sago and also saved the Nyishi people from hunger with sago, there was no other food. Thinking of their children, people planted Palms in the past and they have become the large groves at present. Along with the Palm, a dish made with Micha bamboo, called Marung was made and eaten. Earlier, the...
Dates:
13 January 2024
Abyu Kasuang, 28 February 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-32
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
28 February 2024
Abyu Kasuang - Session 01, 28 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-32-1
Summary
OH-008-32-1a
Abyu Kasuang recounts the names of his ancestors generation after generation, from the beginning of time till his successors and shares how the Puroik people have lived to the present-day for thousands of years. He shares that one of the earliest Puroik ancestors was Changya, whose son was Mangpi-lo. His son was Sapi-lo, then it was Changya-lo. Then, he says, the successors arrived in (or the descendent’s name was) Donya. In each of these villages, ancestors of the Puroik people...
Dates:
28 February 2024
Adak Mechidu, 8 March 2024 - 9 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-35
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
8 March 2024 - 9 March 2024
Adak Mechidu - Session 01, 8 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-35-1
Summary
OH-008-35-1a
Adak Mechidu grows six varieties of the Palm in his groves and names the following varieties: Beyryong – 2 clusters, Majya, Misa, Makung, Matchinyo. When asked whether he also grows Satte variety as well, he affirms it’s there as well and has a very wide stem.
OH-008-35-1b
In this recording, a day before going to see clusters of the Palm raised by Adak Mechidu, he shares the names of varieties he is growing and how many clusters of each we could find. When asked how to identify...
Dates:
8 March 2024
Adak Mechidu - Session 02, 9 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-35-2
Summary
OH-008-35-2a
In this interview, Adak Mechidu shows us a cluster in his grove that belongs to Majya variety. He goes on to explain its identification characters, beginning by the leaf. The leaflets grow outwards and in a concave manner, to our best interpretation. The mother stem when planted was very wide. The diagnosis of a variety happens best in the leaf characters, he shares. The mother stem bears several young suckers.
Majya has a good yield of sago, he shares. One stem can yield up to...
Dates:
9 March 2024
Afyak Kasuang, 23 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-14
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
23 January 2024
Afyak Kasuang - Session 01, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-14-1
Summary
Afyak Kasuang shares her knowledge of farming, foraging and raising the Palm in this interview. She begins by talking about her occupation in the village, from jhum farming and foraging to maintaining groves of the Palm. She asserts that the groves must not be neglected, the undergrowth must be properly removed and a stem should be felled after it has flowered. The Palm is generally maintained by men. Even so, she knows a bit about raising the Palms, which she shares in this interview.
Afyak...
Dates:
23 January 2024
Aka Kasuang, 26 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-19
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
26 January 2024
Aka Kasuang - Session 01, 26 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-19-1
Summary
OH-008-19-1a
In this recording, Aka Kasuang is preparing Metchi salik, which is Puroik for chips of the stem of the Palm, that will be used as fodder for goats and pigs. At first the constant sawing sound is the sound of the machete against the stem to create small pieces of the stem. He goes on to tell the Puroik words for the activity associated with felling the Palm stems, of chipping the stem for fodder, of opening the leaf sheaths and preparing the stem for use. He shares that his...
Dates:
26 January 2024
Ame Kasuang, 30 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-23
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
30 January 2024
Ame Kasuang - Session 01, 30 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-23-1
Summary
In this interview, Ame Kasuang shares the plants of most importance to her in Byale village. She says she prefers rice over sago, since making sago is very exhausting and difficult for her in her old age. She likes to tend to her jhum fields and describes the rice field in almost poetic adoration. It takes a year of work to grow rice, after which they get to eat it. Everyday, it takes her hours in a small portion of the field, beginning with clearing the land. She describes how her hands get...
Dates:
30 January 2024
Aping Kasuang, 12 January 2024 - 27 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-7
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
12 January 2024 - 27 January 2024
Aping Kasuang- Session 01, 12 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-7-1
Summary
In this interview, Aping Kasuang shares the oral history of the Puroik people and the difficulty of life in the past. He narrates the sequence of events and places along the migration route of the Puroik ancestors. Beginning from Chamchu Nive, he traces the villages where Puroik ancestors travelled and also where the Palm was received and how it was replanted to its present abundance. He traces the path through Venia, and Sawa up to his present-day settlement, Byale village. Aping Kasuang...
Dates:
12 January 2024
Aping Kasuang- Session 02, 22 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-7-2
Summary
Aping Kasuang teaches Puroik words for maize, corn kernels and words associated with cooking them. Padue Kasuang is also present for some time at the beginning of the discussion. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) Words for maize in Puroik.
Dates:
22 January 2024
Aping Kasuang- Session 03, 22 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-7-3
Summary
OH-008-7-3a
Water was not available. It was drying up. One person called a meeting and brought it to the attention of all that something had to be done. They discussed cutting the thread between the land and the sky to save everyone. Abotani decided no one would be able to survive as things were and that the thread should be cut. In that meeting, all were present – the spirits, the animals, all creatures. The heat was boiling the water on Earth like it evaporates in a pot. All the plants...
Dates:
22 January 2024
Aping Kasuang- Session 04, 27 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-7-4
Summary
In this recording, Aping Kasuang along with his wife, Sempa Mecha, shows the herb Khryag, with which cloth was made by the Puroik people in the past. He also demonstrates how fibres were extracted from the plant. He says that it needs to be planted to retrieve enough fibres for making cloth. The fiber is very strong. The plant and its fruits cause irritation upon touch.
Time-stamped section headings
(00:00:00) Showing a stem of Khryag, a herb found in the forest, which can cause itching and...
Dates:
27 January 2024
Apyang Kasuang, 23 January 2024 - 30 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-16
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
23 January 2024 - 30 January 2024
Apyang Kasuang - Session 01, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-16-1
Summary
In this recording, Apyang Kasuang tells the name of three varieties of rice she grows in her jhum fields, Kamtam Amang, Darə Amang, Rafi Amang. Amang is Puroik for rice. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) Name of the speaker and three varieties of rice she grows in her fields.
Dates:
23 January 2024
Apyang Kasuang - Session 02, 30 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-16-2
Summary
In this interview, Apyang Kasuang shares about important plants and preferred foods in Byale village. She shares her knowledge of raising the Palm, her routine activities around cultivating the Palm and the biology and phenology of the Palm. For example, she says an indicator of maximum starch content in the Palm is more than one unopened leaf bud at the apex or when it has flowered – that’s when it’s ready for harvest. The Palm is quite adaptable and can be planted in slopes in any...
Dates:
30 January 2024
Aro Kasuang, 10 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-37
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
10 March 2024
Aro Kasuang - Session 01, 10 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-37-1
Summary
This interview takes place in an outdoor setting, where Aro Kasuang is making a mat from bamboo. He is accompanied by a group of people, including Melo Kasuang, Cho Kasuang and Mariam Kasuang at different points, who encourage him to share and also pitch in themselves. It begins with a discussion about the Palm varieties raised by Aro Kasuang. He talks about Makung, Misa, Beyryong, Matchinyo, Nijvay and Machyong varieties, describing their identifying features and the sago quality of each...
Dates:
10 March 2024
Ashok Kasuang, 4 January 2024 - 27 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-4
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
4 January 2024 - 27 January 2024
Ashok Kasuang - Session 01, 4 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-4-1
Summary
File 1
Ashok Kasuang was born and brought up in Byale, as multiple generations of his family before him. The village is Byale, the people’s title or family name is Yakli or Kasuang. There are three villages where Kasuang people live: Byale, Wagyong and Surung. To avoid confusion, as suggested by Kamin Dolo, the people had the surname Byale, even in some of their documents. Now, they are changing it back to Yakli. He shares that the Puroik people have cultivated the Palm since childhood,...
Dates:
4 January 2024
Ashok Kasuang - Session 02, 27 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-4-2
Summary
OH-008-4-2a
Ashok Kasuang shows a trapping tool called Kajok. It is used for trapping birds on trees. A string attached to it is called Kajok mataak and Kajok maiya. It is made of Micha bamboo and cane variety Arai-sik. He explains the various parts of the tool and shares their names.
OH-008-4-2b Ashok Kasuang shows us the handcrafted tools used by the Puroik people for daily life. He names them and shares what material they are made of. The vessel used to make rice beer is called Kajar. The...
Dates:
27 January 2024
Chatang Mechidu, 9 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-36
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
9 March 2024
Chatang Mechidu - Session 01, 9 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-36-1
Summary
In this interview, Chatang Kasuang describes the variety Satte next to a cluster in a Palm grove. He begins by describing how it can be identified in its appearance, and how the groves should be maintained. He goes on to share how naive or stupid one may feel entering into the town not knowing how to read and write. He describes the circumstances in his childhood that did not allow him to get school education. He also shares the difficulty of life in the past for the Puroik people. At...
Dates:
9 March 2024
Cho and Mero Kasuang, 6 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-34
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
6 March 2024
Cho and Mero Kasuang - Session 01, 6 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-34-1
Summary
In this interview, Cho Kasuang and Mero Kasuang share the names and identifying features of the Palm varieties they cultivate. The varieties they raise include Matchinyo, Nisa, Beyryong, Matchikhyaik, Makung, Nijvay, Machyong. He outlines which varieties open the leaf sheath and which ones don’t. He shares how to identify differences in the leaves and in the stem as well. The best quality of sago, he says along with his wife, is of Makung and Matchinyo varieties. Beyryong, which has entirely...
Dates:
6 March 2024
Dangma Kasuang, 31 December 2023 - 23 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-2
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
31 December 2023 - 23 January 2024
Dangma Kasuang - Session 01, 31 December 2023
Item
Identifier: OH-008-2-1
Summary
Prior to this short recording, many people had gathered in the house upon the request of the interviewer. Upon request, Dangma Kasuang sings multiple songs about the life of Puroik people in the past. She also recites Mabey, which is a lyrical narration of the oral history of the Puroik people. Time-stamped section headings
(00:00:04) Song by Dangma Kasuang in a group setting, followed by a discussion and suggestions by other people.
(00:00:51) Another song by Dangma Kasuang, followed by...
Dates:
31 December 2023
Dangma Kasuang - Session 02, 13 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-2-2
Summary
In this recording, Dangma Kasuang sings a song about Metchi (the Palm) in Puroik language. She sings about the process of extraction of sago, taking us through each step till cooking the sago. She sings another song about how the Puroik people leave early in the morning to make sago and after processing, they keep eating sago.
Time-stamped section headings
(00:00:38) Dangma Kasuang sings a song about how the Palm sago is processed.
(00:01:40) Translation of the song by Padue...
Dates:
13 January 2024
Dangma Kasuang - Session 03, 19 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-2-3
Summary
Dangma Kasuang hails from Hanche village, only a few metres away from Byale village, where she has lived since her marriage. She had previously named a variety, Matchichuik, which is one of the rarer varieties and so, in this interview Mansi and Chintan are asking her about Matchichuik. She also describes another variety called Nilau. These two varieties were uncommon among the cultivators in Byale village.
Dangma Kasuang shares that Matchichuik was sought because it has a good amount of...
Dates:
19 January 2024
Dangma Kasuang - Session 04, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-2-4
Summary
In this recording, Dangma Kasuang says the Puroik name of Job’s tears grain she grows in her jhum field. It is called Sabaai in Puroik. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) Pronunciation of Puroik name for Job’s tears grain, Sabaai.
Dates:
23 January 2024
Dangma Kasuang - Session 05, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-2-5
Summary
Dangma Kasuang sings a song in Puroik language. The song is about the process of felling the Palm, chipping the bark, cutting it into logs or pieces, carrying it to the Kaiko (processing station) to first shred it, beat it, dissolve it in water, filter the fibres and sediment the starch. The song was sung in a gathering of a dozen people and translated by one of the people in the same group, recorded in file OH-008-2-5b right after the song.
Time-stamped section...
Dates:
23 January 2024
G Bhamathi, 2024-12-09, 2025-01-22
File
Identifier: OH-002-39
G Bhamathi - Session 01, 2024-12-09
Item
Identifier: OH-002-39-1
Scope and Contents
In this interview, Bhamathi reflects on her early life during the 1940s, encompassing the years during World War II and the period following India’s independence. She recalls her family’s active involvement in the freedom movement and the influence it had on her upbringing, her family’s links to Mylapore and connection to T R Venkatarama Sastri. Her early education took place in Vijayawada and Hubli, where she began learning music and recalls several formative experiences from her school...
Dates:
2024-12-09
G Bhamathi - Session 02, 2024-12-09
Item
Identifier: OH-002-39-2
Scope and Contents
In this session, Bhamathi describes her experiences during her PhD years, beginning with her association with the University of Madras and her early dissonance with the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (MatScience), after falling out with her supervisor. She recalls the challenges of accessing scientific literature in the 1950s and 1960s, the process of completing and submitting her doctoral thesis, and her subsequent postdoctoral research in Colorado. Upon returning to India, she joined...
Dates:
2024-12-09
G Bhamathi - Session 03, 2025-01-22
Item
Identifier: OH-002-39-3
Scope and Contents
In this interview, G Bhamathi shares about her first meeting with her late husband, ECG Sudarshan, recalls her early professional interactions and how their relationship built over time. She speaks of more senior years of her Professorship as she recollects being the head of the Space Science Cell in collaboration with Russia, and reveals hurdles of local politics she had to face. She shares her experiences of teaching and research across several countries, and the practical limitations...
Dates:
2025-01-22
Gyanche Kasuang, 23 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-13
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
23 January 2024
Gyanche Kasuang - Session 01, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-13-1
Summary
Gyanche Kasuang shares his knowledge of the plants important to Puroik people and utilised as food in Byale village. He was born in Byale and has become an old man there. He does jhum farming and raises the Palm. He prefers to eat sago, accompanied by some meat or Marung (fermented bamboo shoot). He shared that the Palm must be replanted by placing young suckers away from the parent stem to a suitable place and as it grows, it must be maintained by clearing the surroundings and removing any...
Dates:
23 January 2024
Idrees Khan, 2024-08-12, 2024-08-14
File
Identifier: OH-002-35
Idrees Khan - Session 01, 2024-08-12
Item
Identifier: OH-002-35-1
Scope and Contents
Idrees Khan served as a mahout in Dudhwa National Park from 1972 to 2024. In this interview, he shares his life experiences beginning from his early childhood and moving to Dudhwa with maternal grandparents. He shares the period of his life when he trained to be a chara-cutter and mahout with his grandfather. He recalls several memorable events from his career, including tracking and tranquilising tigers, even recollecting incidents of close encounters with them.He regards his...
Dates:
2024-08-12
Idrees Khan - Session 02, 2024-08-13
Item
Identifier: OH-002-35-2
Scope and Contents
Idrees Khan speaks of how Dudhwa was when he arrived there. He describes the landscape when it was not yet declared a National Park. He also shares how the place developed with infrastructure over time and his observation on the trends in population sizes of deer. He also shares legends and tales of spirits and djinns in the jungle, reiterating that the jungle is much older than people at present and acknowledging that the forest is inhabited by many creatures from olden times. He shares...
Dates:
2024-08-13
K S Krishnan Papers: DCV Mallik, 2025-04-29
File
Identifier: OH-009-1
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
This series contains interviews with the creators or donors of archival records deposited at the Archives at NCBS, to better understand the provenance of the material.
Dates:
2025-04-29
Found in:
Archives at NCBS
/
Oral History: Provenance Interviews
K S Krishnan Papers: DCV Mallik Session 01, 2025-04-29
Item
Identifier: OH-009-1-1
Scope and Contents
In this interview, Mallik shares about his own early life and how he came to closely know KS Krishnan through his lasting friendship with his grandson, Vijay Thiruvady. He describes growing up on the campus of College of Engineering and Technology in Jadavpur University, in a deeply intellectual environment among many scholars who were his father’s acquaintances and colleagues. He recollects meeting Joseph Needham, SN Bose, and KS Krishnan in his pre-teen years. He speaks of how he...
Dates:
2025-04-29
Kale Kasuang, 28 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-21
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
28 January 2024
Kale Kasuang - Session 01, 28 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-21-1
Summary
Kale Kasuang shares his knowledge of the Palm varieties, their origin and the Puroik Oral history in this interview. He begins by naming the varieties of the Palm he raises, proceeding to name other important food plants, including rice, Muang (a tree fern) and bamboo. He shares that the place of origin for all people was Chamchu Nive. In the earliest times, people lived in Chamchu Nive and Pulojaria. Then, his ancestors came to Tontei Sawa in search of habitable places. When they first...
Dates:
28 January 2024
Kashok Halley, 22 February 2025
File
Identifier: OH-008-45
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
22 February 2025
Kashok Halley - Session 01, 22 February 2025
Item
Identifier: OH-008-45-1
Summary
Mr. Kashok Halley offers his account of the genealogical record of the Puroik people. In his youth, he travelled to many villages asking elders for the Oral History and collated a written document with the genealogical descent of the Puroik people. He explains how the Puroik people have descended and travelled from Mangpi Lo to the presently settled villages. He says that the Puroik people believe the sky and land to be their mother and father. Bre-Lo gave birth to the land – stone, trees,...
Dates:
22 February 2025
Khyachi Kasuang, 23 January 2024 - 12 February 2025
File
Identifier: OH-008-15
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
23 January 2024 - 12 February 2025
Khyachi Kasuang - Session 01, 23 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-15-1
Summary
OH-008-15-1a
This interview focuses on the plants in use and cultivation in daily life in Byale village. Khyachi Kasuang shares that among the trees, Puik is important for construction, leaves of banana are used for roofing and bamboo is used for flooring in the house. He mentions that several plants are foraged, naming one – Haji. Mainly for consumption, three plants: Metchi (the Palm), Tabua (a fern) and Muang (a tree fern) are used. He cultivates the Palm and shares how the Palms are...
Dates:
23 January 2024
Khyachi Kasuang - Session 02, 12 February 2025
Item
Identifier: OH-008-15-2
Summary
This recording has a short excerpt of the oral history of the Puroik people, however its translation is not available. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) Consent for depositing this recording at the Archives at NCBS. (00:02:09) A short excerpt of Puroik oral history.
Dates:
12 February 2025
Khyak Mechidu, 6 February 2024 - 15 February 2025
File
Identifier: OH-008-24
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
6 February 2024 - 15 February 2025
Khyak Mechidu - Session 01, 6 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-1
Summary
OH-008-24-1a
The recording is an uninterrupted narration of the tale of an insect called Chavi that arrives when rice is ready to harvest. It has not been translated in detail as the translator deemed it difficult to be translated to Hindi at the moment. OH-008-24-1b This recording is the narration of the origin story of rice. It begins with Abotani, who had 15 godowns of rice. He was proud to say that they will never run out of rice. He married Drǝ-yadǝ-amui who finished all the rice in a...
Dates:
6 February 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 02, 22 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-2
Summary
Abotani had married many creatures, even plants. But he wanted to marry the smartest woman. In this pursuit, he married a frog. The frog would not talk at all, she would just make food and keep for Abotani. Abotani schemed to make her talk and hit himself. The frog thought that Abotani had passed away. She cried heavily, when Abotani broke out of the act and revealed that he was trying to test her as she never spoke. Filled with shame, she screamed ‘hee hee hee’ sounds between summer and...
Dates:
22 February 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 03, 23 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-3
Summary
OH-008-24-3a
Standing in his Palm grove, Khyak Mechidu shows a cluster of Makung variety of the Palm. He shares that it can be identified easily through the leaf. The leaf is bigger and the petiole is thicker and the stem is very tall. Sago is the same in colour as the other varieties but the leaf and stem look different. It has less fibre, and sago can be extracted easily. Depending on the soil, whether there are rocks or not, the cluster may support many stems or fewer stems....
Dates:
23 February 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 04, 23 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-4
Summary
OH-008-24-4a This is an old story of Metchi (the Palm). OH-008-24-4b A branch or stem of Muang (tree fern), one of Tabua (fern) and one of Metchi (the Palm) were thrown by Krii-amui, who told the Puroik to keep making them and eating. Time-stamped section headings OH-008-24-4a (00:00:00) The story of stopping the Palm from leaving by saying ‘Jiji Taataa’. OH-008-24-4b (00:00:00) The origin of Metchi (the Palm), Tabua (a fern) and Muang (a tree fern).
Dates:
23 February 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 05, 7 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-5
Summary
OH-008-24-5a
Khyak Mechidu shows us a variety in his groves and calls it Nijya, though we later realised he meant Nichve, the name he had first told us. He had adopted Nijya during our discussions on finding clusters of the variety Majya. Then we were able to clarify later. Hence, keeping in mind Nichve variety, he tells us that long back, he had planted the cluster he was showing us, and made sago from it. So, he remembered it and was able to identify it as Nichve. He says that the variety...
Dates:
7 March 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 06, 13 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-6
Summary
Varua Kabya is a large stone from the time when Varua people came here long ago. The stone opposite is where they would put a pot to cook the fibres from Khryag plant to make their cloth. This is the place where Varua people made cloth. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) The tale of Varua people and the large stone called Varua Kabya in lower Mecha village.
Dates:
13 March 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 07, 15 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-7
Summary
In this account, Khyak Mechidu reminisces about an event roughly 30-40 years ago, when his first born child was still a toddler. In the adjacent district, Kurung Kumey, there was an unusual snowing event. Where it would only snow in the higher elevations, that year it snowed in lower elevations too. It destroyed the leaves of the Palms and due to that, the sago content in the stems was heavily reduced. Even if four people worked an entire day to process many stems of the Palm, they would get...
Dates:
15 March 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 08, 16 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-8
Summary
In this recording inside a patch of forest, Khyak Mechidu speaks of a couple of Machyong clusters, i.e. the wild variety understood to have dispersed out of the groves through civets. He shares how he can discern the source variety of the two clusters to be Matchinyo and Nichve respectively. He says that the civet would have consumed the fruit of these two varieties in the grove and dispersed it out in the forest.
Time-stamped section headings
(00:00:00) Describing the source cultivated...
Dates:
16 March 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 09, 18 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-9
Summary
OH-008-24-9a
In this file, Khyak Mechidu explains the oral history of the Mechidu, Mecha, and Kasuang people. He begins by saying that Mecha people are also descendants of Do-Sulo and Vyeh-amui. They had six sons – Kuyu, Jaango, Paley, Yamtua, Kanhiye and Kaadak. Varu Telen are descendants of Yamtua. Jaango people at present live in Kua Krung and here also – across Sawa, the Wavong people. Mecha people are descendants of Kanhiye. Kuyu is the father of Byale Kasuang, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu...
Dates:
18 March 2024
Khyak Mechidu - Session 10, 15 February 2025
Item
Identifier: OH-008-24-10
Summary
The father of all people was Abotani, who had many wives in the sky and each gave rise to different groups of people in the present. He married Nido Narang, who is the mother of all Harang people. He married Nido Beleng, who is the mother of all Topo people. He married Nido Nakung, who is the mother of Kung Ding people, who live in China. Abonibo or Abotani is our father, whether Harang, Nyishi and all others. He married Nido Kapi, who is the mother of all Puroik people. Kapi’s son is...
Dates:
15 February 2025
Madak Kasuang, 15 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-11
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
15 January 2024
Madak Kasuang - Session 01, 15 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-11-1
Summary
In this interview, Madak Kasuang shares her knowledge about the Palm, its care, processing and alternate sources of starch, Muang (a tree fern) and Tabua (a fern). She shares parts of the Oral history, both events at the time of origin and relatively recent regional history. The interview begins with Madak Kasuang estimating her age in terms of significant political events in the past and bamboo flowering. She goes on to share about her childhood, speaking of households commonly relying on...
Dates:
15 January 2024
Mamak Mecha, 7 February 2024 - 14 February 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-25
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
7 February 2024 - 14 February 2024
Mamak Mecha - Session 01, 7 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-25-1
Summary
OH-008-25-1a
Mamak Mecha shares an account that appears fragmented but with many important events alluded to and in fair detail. They are summarised here as best as possible, but given also the old age of the speaker, she admitted to forgetting some parts of the tale. In fact, the entire Oral history can go on for days and nights on end if allowed to be uninterrupted.
The tale begins at the time of creation. The sky, the land, spirits and humans were created. The spirits were sent to the...
Dates:
7 February 2024
Mamak Mecha - Session 02, 14 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-25-2
Summary
OH-008-25-2a
In this recording, standing next to a cluster of Machue variety of the Palm, Mamak Mecha explains how one can identify the variety. She says that the petiole of the leaf is thicker and there is less fibre in its pith. She goes on to explain the signs for maturity in any Palm stem, that from the time there are two unopened leaf buds on a stem until it has borne flowers, it has a high amount of starch in its trunk and is ready for harvest.
OH-008-25-2b
In this recording, Mamak...
Dates:
14 February 2024
Mary Kasuang, 18 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-12
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
18 January 2024
Mary Kasuang - Session 01, 18 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-12-1
Summary
Mary Kasuang enumerates several plants that are most important to daily life in the village, including trees for firewood, the Palm, Jhum crops and forage plants from the forest. Her toddler accompanies her during the interview, as she tries to put him to sleep. She describes how the Palm is raised, how the groves are maintained, how jhum fields are prepared for sowing. We also discuss the harvest cycle, and jhum crops grown together, like rice, finger millet, maize, pumpkin, and several...
Dates:
18 January 2024
Mato Kasuang, 13 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-39
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
13 March 2024
Mato Kasuang - Session 01, 13 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-39-1
Summary
OH-008-39-1a
In this interview, Mato Kasuang shares her knowledge of the Palm – its varieties, their cultivation, the origin of the Palm and comments on the shared future of the Puroik people and the Palm. She also answers questions about life in the past, size and distribution of villages and rearing livestock like pigs, goats, fowl and Mithun. She begins by sharing she had planted a cluster of Palm herself when she was younger. It is generally men’s duty to replant suckers and raise...
Dates:
13 March 2024
Mato Mechidu, 24 January 2024 - 17 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-31
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
24 January 2024 - 17 March 2024
Mato Mechidu - Session 01, 24 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-31-1
Summary
This interview began with the narration of oral history of the Puroik people. It also goes on to cover a bit about the speaker’s life history and her knowledge of the Palm. Mato Mechidu is from Byale village and got married into Mechidu village. She starts reciting the Oral history by telling us that the father of all Puroik people is an insect called ‘Ramarua’ and the mother is ‘Kamaimua’ (Puroik name for honey bee). She names the villages in the migration path of the Puroik people, Mangpi,...
Dates:
24 January 2024
Mato Mechidu - Session 02, 17 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-31-2
Summary
OH-008-31-2a In this recording, Mato Mechidu explains whether Nichve and Nijvay are different names of the same variety or two distinct varieties. The discussion flows between both possibilities and it remains unclear. However, she stresses that both names were given by Krii-amui and that’s how they have come to be, pointing that both may be different varieties. The confusion may also result from loss of information during translation between languages. OH-008-31-2b
In this recording, Mato...
Dates:
17 March 2024
Mechha Mechidu, 5 March 2024 - 17 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-33
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
5 March 2024 - 17 March 2024
Mechha Mechidu - Session 01, 5 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-33-1
Summary
In this brief recording, Mechha Mechidu names six varieties of the Palm she cultivates, Misa, Beyryong, Nichve, Nijya, Metchi Mapyong, and Matchinyo. Time-stamped section headings (00:00:00) Names of six varieties of the Palm cultivated by the speaker.
Dates:
5 March 2024
Mechha Mechidu - Session 02, 17 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-33-2
Summary
In this recording, Mechha Mechidu shares two Puroik songs, one about Chakoing and Chanoing and the other about the method of sago processing, addressed to young children.
Time-stamped section headings
[00:00:00 to 00:03:16 Restricted access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in]
(00:03:16) Song about Chakoing and Chanoing.
[00:04:34 to 00:07:26 Restricted access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in]
(00:07:26) Puroik song about sago processing.
[00:08:00 to 00:09:11 Restricted access. Contact...
Dates:
17 March 2024
Melo Kasuang, 9 December 2023
File
Identifier: OH-008-1
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
9 December 2023
Melo Kasuang - Session 01, 9 December 2023
Item
Identifier: OH-008-1-1
Summary
OH-008-1-1a
In this recording, Melo Kasuang sings a song about sago processing. She says this song is how elders would sing to the younger children to teach them how sago is processed. She shares how the same song can be addressed to children of different tribes or non-tribal people. The first paragraph is addressed to Puroik-adufu and Puroik-adumui, meaning sons and daughters of the Puroik. The second paragraph is addressed to the Harang or non-tribal children and the last is addressed to...
Dates:
9 December 2023
Mere Mecha, 13 March 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-40
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
13 March 2024
Mere Mecha - Session 01, 13 March 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-40-1
Summary
In this interview, Mere Mecha shares the names of Palm varieties that she raises in her groves. She shares that she is from a place close to Chamchu Nive and got married into Lower Mecha village. She says that her father had passed but her uncle lived close by. In her groves at higher elevations, she says that she was growing many varieties. She raises the varieties Makung, Mapyong, Beyryong, Nilau, Kacha Damang, Satte, and Nisa. Both Satte and Makung are very big stems. She also raises...
Dates:
13 March 2024
Naseem Khan, 2024-08-13
File
Identifier: OH-002-36
Naseem Khan - Session 01, 2024-08-13
Item
Identifier: OH-002-36-1
Scope and Contents
Naseem Khan was a driver in Dudhwa National Park from 1976 to 2013. In this interview, he shares about his career spanning four decades, beginning from his early childhood, growing up in Mala forest of Pilibhit and being recruited in Dudhwa after completing his Intermediate college. He recollects the most memorable moments and close encounters with large carnivores. His account includes descriptions of the Dudhwa landscape and its ranges, recollections of colleagues and conservationists, and...
Dates:
2024-08-13
Nidak Mecha, 8 February 2024 - 12 February 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-26
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
8 February 2024 - 12 February 2024
Nidak Mecha - Session 01, 8 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-26-1
Summary
OH-008-26-1a
Nidak Mecha narrates the oral history of the Puroik people. As per the origin story, the Puroik people have come from above (the sky) from Narba village to Chamchu Nive. Tuang and Nuang were the ancestors of the Puroik people. Their sons, Do and Sulo married Vyeh-amui, a woman from Vyeh village. Their children were named Kuyu, Jaango, Paley, Yamtua, Kanhiye and Kadak. The descendants of these 6 lineages comprise all the Puroik people at present. The Nyishi and Puroik people have...
Dates:
8 February 2024
Nidak Mecha - Session 02, 9 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-26-2
Summary
OH-008-26-2a In this recording, Nidak Mecha names all the varieties and suggests that he will describe their identification features in the grove, when the features can be discerned on the Palms. The varieties he names include Makung, Matchisik, Misa, Beyryong, Majya, Machyong and Matchikhyaik.
OH-008-26-2b
Nidak Mecha explains that the differences among the varieties are best understood by looking at them. The identifying features are visible in the leaves, outer covering and the pith of...
Dates:
9 February 2024
Nidak Mecha - Session 03, 10 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-26-3
Summary
OH-008-26-3a
This recording was made next to a cluster of Misa variety of the Palm. Nidak Mecha explains the identifying characters of this variety. He shows all nearby clusters of the same variety. This variety opens the leaf sheaths by itself as the stem ages, he shares. He describes how the petiole is thicker in this variety.
OH-008-26-3b
Nidak Mecha shows a cluster of Matchisik, the most common variety. He explains how to identify this variety. He says that the petiole of the leaf is...
Dates:
10 February 2024
Nidak Mecha - Session 04, 12 February 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-26-4
Summary
Nidak Mecha explains how the variety Matchikhyaik can be identified by appearance. He says that the stem is wide and the leaf sheaths don’t open by themselves. This variety doesn’t bear many suckers, he says. He explains the differences visible in the leaves, through the colour of the underside of the leaf. This variety yields more sago and has less fibre in the pith. He emphasises how cultivators can tell the variety by one look at the leaf, following a combination of characters as he...
Dates:
12 February 2024
Ninyo Kasuang, 7 January 2024
File
Identifier: OH-008-6
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
7 January 2024
Ninyo Kasuang - Session 01, 7 January 2024
Item
Identifier: OH-008-6-1
Summary
In this interview, Ninyo Kasuang answers questions about important food sources in Byale village, raising the Palm among small-scale jhum farming and foraging, and the oral history of the Puroik people. He begins by sharing a brief history of Byale village, including the meeting between Kasuang people and Hanche (or Yachu) people in present-day Byale village and the year of government-established settlement. He describes his daily life in Byale and shares three main sources of starch, Muang...
Dates:
7 January 2024
Padue Kasuang, 3 January 2024 - 17 February 2025
File
Identifier: OH-008-3
Scope and Contents
From the Collection:
The collection features interviews with Puroik elders and cultivators from five villages in East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh: Byale, Surung Kasuang, Mechidu, Mecha and Byaluom. These five villages are situated in two water basins, formed by rivers Kamyang and Katchiye, both tributaries of the Katoie river (or Kameng river) in western Arunachal Pradesh. These recordings document the ethnobotanical knowledge and life histories of elders, and the oral history of the tribe. The oral history of the...
Dates:
3 January 2024 - 17 February 2025
