NYISHI People
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| Nyishi Traditional dance |
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| Nyishi man |
Introduction:
The Nyishis are the indigenous inhabitants of the Lower Subansiri, Papumpare, Kurung Kumey
and East Kameng districs of Arunachal Pradesh. They have there unique tradition,culture and customs though some slight variation are there among them due to variuos factors.
The present report on the village council is prepared on the data collected from the Nyshis of East Kamen District, which were earlier called as Bagni.
The traditional village council is one of the most important constitution of the village which stands for the welfare of the society in every respect .The council is constituted with the gaon bura
and appointed by the government . The gaon bura and the village elders must be belong the inhabitants of the respective village . There is no specific number of the member the village council(Bang Nyele).All the cases are settled amicably in the village itself .The cases which cannot be settled in the village council referred to Yallong Nyele(Cases which are registered in the court).
There is a specific place where the council members used to sit for amicable settlement of a dispute which is known as Nillailangplya. The village council(Bang Nyele) may be held at different times for different cases .it may be mention that "Nimai Yallong" which is held for settlement of marriage disputes."Dacho Yallong" held for settlment of theft cases.
"Marang Yallong" is held for the settlemeent of quarrel etc.
"Mingrana Yallong" is held for murder cases. On the other hand, land dispute these societies and also
the cases studies as the Nyishi communities inhabit different geographical territories have have less contact with one another . In course of there trade and commerce agriculture ,hunting ,etc and also for matrimonial relationship led those to constent conflict and captive of one party by other resulted to from a council or authority ,to settle such disputes. As such,people felt to bestow a power to person to become Head of the council and entire village community , thus,becomes the member of the council.
In the process , the owner of that territory i.e .Lopu Atobo or Nyele Yangchubo becomes the head of the council .He was term as Nyele Abo,Peg Begabo and Nyagom Nyetebo who ultimately become the Head of the council.He is also traditional owner of that territory.
If there is no council, there there will be constant choas ,fear, tension etc.
in the village and ultimatetely it will affect the prosperity of the village . Traditionally speaking ,council ought to be there and is always there in every village and all the disputes or problems etc. are settled by the council itself and no by any other authorities except the government policies.
As after the settlement of any disputes ritual bindings like "Pakhi Khekanam"(For preventing evil spirit) is observed otherwise the evil spirit will transfer from an evil minded person to another good person and as such almost all councils are of religious origin because holiness is believed in the name of Dony Polo.
FORMATION:
The village council or Bang Nyele is constituted with a group of elderly male body tribunal,where the most experienced and influential person who has got the oratory power, ability to present or decide case in the traditional way and acceptable to the villagers is selected to be the Head of the village .he is also called as goan bura who himself in the head of the council and his status must be recognized by all being the authoritative qualities. There is no code of conduct or rule to elect or select members of the village council. No qualification or criteria as such is needed to become a member of the council .But age ,sex experience and oratory power are the main attributes required to become the member of the council .Thus, the village council in this regard plays a verry important role for settling any kind of disputes without being biased .Moreover, to become the member of the council there is no code or classification of clan ,group or linage .Aperson from any group , clan or linage can become the member of the council .
There is no fix term of office for the Head of the council and its members as well.They can continue to hold membership for a long period of time even until their death.
The council does not have any discrimination towards opposite sex.A Women can also become the member of the council .She has got every right to speak on council matters.
The Goan bura him self is the head of the council .The posts of Headship and other members are hereditary.They can continue to hold their membership from one generation to next .In Nyishi society there is no system of chieftainship and instead there is village headman in every village who can settle the village affairs.The members of the council enjoy a special status privilege in the society.
But they do not receive any remuneration for their status or rank except getting a share of the fine imposed to the accused .
In course of the setting of the council the village head ,other elderly member of the council and other member invited are entertained by the villagers with local bear "Apong 'with "Harcha"(a small drinking pot)
The role of the Goan Bura and villagers is to settle all the disputes amicably, impartially which is agreable to both parties some might be biased on others but keeping in view of natural justice if anything of this sort arises the villagers will take it into memory and accordingly revenge will be taken one day. There are instance of taking revenge on council members by aggrieved party. The aggrieved party may either denounce the discussion or boycott the council if any adverse justice is done .Even mithun or other animals slauthtered in the name of setting disputes are not accepted by the aggrieved party. IN case of total bias on the part of Headman, strong view is taken and makes it as record which passes generation after generation in the form of commentary.
Judicial Function:
The village council is not required to sit regularly but meet occasionally as and when necessary .But,on the other hand ,council sit other than the scheduled time on the occasion like celebration of festival ,disposal of death body ,natural calamities , famine,epidemic etc.
In the village the wrong doer or the accused is brought before the council members to hear the councils decision .Almost all the cases are settled in the council except some heinous offence like murder etc.The types of cases generally settled in the village council are marriage disputes,divorce,land dispute,adultery,theft,remarriage,widow marriage etc.It is also to be noted that that to settle any dispute the council has to take the help of customary law.The proceeding are conducted in the council (Bong Nyele) but generally these are not recorded as most of the village members are illiterate.
Some of the Yallong cases are lodged in the office However,then are recorded and compiled in the office .The Yallong councils decision is recorded and compile in the office .The Yallong councils decision is recorded by the office on hearing the report submitted by political Interpreter.
In the village councils meeting the proceeding is initiated by the plain tiff.All the members are to give patient hearing to the grievances expressed by the aggrieved party. The accused is also allowed to expressed his views and he tries to defend the argument. The judgement of the Bong Nyele begins with the narration of the ancient history of the Nyishi and thereby citing examples how cases were settle earlier in conformity with the traditional laws and customs. The council members then compare the arguments placed by both parties and try to prove the cases whether it is genuine or not .If proved genuine they offer suggetions for amicable settlement .
The proceeding of a case is done by the council in the meeting from both the parties and required evidence may be collected.There is no system for payment to any evidence but rice and apong (locally prepared rice bear ) are to be provided by the parties who come to attend the council for evidence . When a guilty is proved by the council a panalty is imposed when a person is suspected to be accused . In order to prove that a man is really a culprit then he is asked to put his hand into hot water By doing that if his hands gets burnt he is proved to be culprit and a double find is imposed on him and she is also proved to be liar .The fine consists of mithun,cow etc and the amount varies according to the nature of crime . Another system is proved to a guilty person ,the system is red hot piece of iron rod is placed in the palm of the accused by keeping keeping certain itching leaves (Mamu) and also a kind of leave locally termed as "sangfa" is placed bellow the hot iron rod .If the person is really guilty his palm will get burnt.If not the rod will fall down from his hand and he is to proved not to be a guilty at all.
FORMATION:
The village council or Bang Nyele is constituted with a group of elderly male body tribunal,where the most experienced and influential person who has got the oratory power, ability to present or decide case in the traditional way and acceptable to the villagers is selected to be the Head of the village .he is also called as goan bura who himself in the head of the council and his status must be recognized by all being the authoritative qualities. There is no code of conduct or rule to elect or select members of the village council. No qualification or criteria as such is needed to become a member of the council .But age ,sex experience and oratory power are the main attributes required to become the member of the council .Thus, the village council in this regard plays a verry important role for settling any kind of disputes without being biased .Moreover, to become the member of the council there is no code or classification of clan ,group or linage .Aperson from any group , clan or linage can become the member of the council .
There is no fix term of office for the Head of the council and its members as well.They can continue to hold membership for a long period of time even until their death.
The council does not have any discrimination towards opposite sex.A Women can also become the member of the council .She has got every right to speak on council matters.
The Goan bura him self is the head of the council .The posts of Headship and other members are hereditary.They can continue to hold their membership from one generation to next .In Nyishi society there is no system of chieftainship and instead there is village headman in every village who can settle the village affairs.The members of the council enjoy a special status privilege in the society.
But they do not receive any remuneration for their status or rank except getting a share of the fine imposed to the accused .
In course of the setting of the council the village head ,other elderly member of the council and other member invited are entertained by the villagers with local bear "Apong 'with "Harcha"(a small drinking pot)
The role of the Goan Bura and villagers is to settle all the disputes amicably, impartially which is agreable to both parties some might be biased on others but keeping in view of natural justice if anything of this sort arises the villagers will take it into memory and accordingly revenge will be taken one day. There are instance of taking revenge on council members by aggrieved party. The aggrieved party may either denounce the discussion or boycott the council if any adverse justice is done .Even mithun or other animals slauthtered in the name of setting disputes are not accepted by the aggrieved party. IN case of total bias on the part of Headman, strong view is taken and makes it as record which passes generation after generation in the form of commentary.
Judicial Function:
The village council is not required to sit regularly but meet occasionally as and when necessary .But,on the other hand ,council sit other than the scheduled time on the occasion like celebration of festival ,disposal of death body ,natural calamities , famine,epidemic etc.
In the village the wrong doer or the accused is brought before the council members to hear the councils decision .Almost all the cases are settled in the council except some heinous offence like murder etc.The types of cases generally settled in the village council are marriage disputes,divorce,land dispute,adultery,theft,remarriage,widow marriage etc.It is also to be noted that that to settle any dispute the council has to take the help of customary law.The proceeding are conducted in the council (Bong Nyele) but generally these are not recorded as most of the village members are illiterate.
Some of the Yallong cases are lodged in the office However,then are recorded and compiled in the office .The Yallong councils decision is recorded and compile in the office .The Yallong councils decision is recorded by the office on hearing the report submitted by political Interpreter.
In the village councils meeting the proceeding is initiated by the plain tiff.All the members are to give patient hearing to the grievances expressed by the aggrieved party. The accused is also allowed to expressed his views and he tries to defend the argument. The judgement of the Bong Nyele begins with the narration of the ancient history of the Nyishi and thereby citing examples how cases were settle earlier in conformity with the traditional laws and customs. The council members then compare the arguments placed by both parties and try to prove the cases whether it is genuine or not .If proved genuine they offer suggetions for amicable settlement .
The proceeding of a case is done by the council in the meeting from both the parties and required evidence may be collected.There is no system for payment to any evidence but rice and apong (locally prepared rice bear ) are to be provided by the parties who come to attend the council for evidence . When a guilty is proved by the council a panalty is imposed when a person is suspected to be accused . In order to prove that a man is really a culprit then he is asked to put his hand into hot water By doing that if his hands gets burnt he is proved to be culprit and a double find is imposed on him and she is also proved to be liar .The fine consists of mithun,cow etc and the amount varies according to the nature of crime . Another system is proved to a guilty person ,the system is red hot piece of iron rod is placed in the palm of the accused by keeping keeping certain itching leaves (Mamu) and also a kind of leave locally termed as "sangfa" is placed bellow the hot iron rod .If the person is really guilty his palm will get burnt.If not the rod will fall down from his hand and he is to proved not to be a guilty at all.
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