Tabu Kasuang - Session 04, 20 February 2024

OH-008-28-4a In this recording, Tabu Kasuang shares the story of his life, the hardships, the rewards and the experience of becoming a shaman. He shares that his parents passed away when he was very young. He has grown up through difficult times and faced people’s doubts, harsh treatment and scarcity of resources. Today, he has built himself, owns property and has earned respect through hard work. He shares his experience of becoming a shaman. His father was a shaman and so were his brothers. He practised and also became a shaman. He realised that he had this power after he saw a dream with a flying squirrel in it. He shares that being a shaman needs a strong mind and sharp focus. Interacting with the spirit domain makes a shaman vulnerable as well. Hence, he says, one needs to practice and strengthen their own spirit. He speaks of the difficult circumstances in the past for hill peoples. There were no clothes, no shoes, and people had to be extremely alert. He shares that people used to plant Mijai bamboo around their house to keep intruders away. Food was scarce in the olden days. Back then, he says, villages were smaller. Today, he says there is help from the government and life is much more peaceful. He acknowledges that life in the past must have been difficult for all people and there may have been more resources and relief in their homelands. In his time as a shaman, he has travelled far and wide. He shares about his travels till Tezpur and meeting all kinds of people, understanding their hearts and minds. He urges people to not underestimate anyone because they are young, they can be more successful in life. In his shamanic practice, he used to resolve conflicts. He says that a shaman’s power is in his mind and so whatever he has seen and done in his life, he has remembered and stored in his heart. OH-008-28-4b Tabu Kasuang speaks of two people who were killed in the history of Kasuang people. He did a shaman’s ritual for their souls. This event impacted where present-day Kasuang villages have settled. He says that Kasuang people alive today have come from six brothers. He says this is also the place where ancestors Dungno and Chaado had settled and passed away. He speaks about his preference for living independently, away from the large settlement, even though he has land in Surung Kasuang as well. Speaking of shamanic practice, he shares that though it is possible to speak in Puroik language, he apprenticed and worked more in Nyishi language. When asked about how he used to cure illnesses, he shares that he used to get visions, in which he could see who needed healing. He shares that he cannot see the visions much anymore. He shares that if a shaman doesn’t practice, their body suffers, falls ill and becomes weak. It’s very difficult to continue his practice these days because most people have turned Christian and that’s why his body is weak and takes a hit sometimes. From day-to-day, he shares that he spends time foraging, trapping and in pursuit in order to acquire food. This is how he has lived and continues to. His heart feels that someday he’ll be someone and wear good clothes. Tabu Kasuang shares that the language of a shaman is very long and detailed. There are different words in the practice for sacrificing a Mithun, a cow or a pig for example. He shares a bit about the shaman’s practice for healing. He says that a shaman must burn/heat a dao and subject a person to it for cure. He says that shamans mediate with the spirit world, they exchange animal lives for human lives. The power of shamans is very high, he says. So is true for Christians and doctors as well. He says what shamans can’t do, Christians and doctors can. At the same time, what they can’t do, shamans can. Reflecting on the future of shamanic practice, he says that it won’t disappear. Krii-amui belongs to all and so does the moon. He considers them the creators. He shares that a shaman’s power and knowledge are given by two brothers, Reyrang and Chajang, and Achey Niki. A shaman asks for power from them in order to heal others. OH-008-28-4c Tabu Kasuang describes the Tasung variety of the Palm. He refers to a legend about Abotani’s hair being the source of fibres in the Palm trunk and says that Tasung has a lot of fibre. It is very hard and the sago consistency is very good. When asked to describe its appearance, he shares that Tasung has distinctive characters in its leaves. The leaves are much longer. The stem is also thin and tall. He cultivates six varieties of the Palm including Tasung. He complains that the fibre content is so high that Tasung variety may even be avoided from planting all together. He compares the different varieties of the Palm with different people, how some are fat, some are thin, some are tall and some are short and so on. There is variability even within the same variety, he adds. Time-stamped section headings OH-008-28-4a (00:00:35) His life experience so far, what he has seen and how he has lived to this day. (00:02:28) Taking care of himself as a child. (00:04:27) Place of birth and becoming a shaman. (00:12:11) His experience as a practicing shaman. [00:15:53 to 00:18:28 Restricted access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in] (00:18:29) The difficulty of life in the past, scarcity of food, and fear of strangers. (00:26:00) His travels and learnings through his life. OH-008-28-4b (00:00:00) The history of Kasuang people and the reason they settled in their present villages. (00:10:30) The kinds of illnesses he cured as a shaman. (00:19:17) His occupation from day-to-day. (00:21:48) On language of a shaman during practice. (00:23:52) On communication/ exchange during a ritual. (00:27:59) Future of shamanism and the source of shamanic power. (00:34:20) The reason for animal sacrifice. OH-008-28-4c (00:00:00) Description of Tasung variety of the Palm.