Abstract

STUDY OF THE MISHING AND DEORI COMMUNITY OF ASSAM

LADE JAYANT DEORAM

Volume: 3 Issue: 3 2013

Abstract:

Mishings presently living in plains of Assam were not a one single tribe, but evolved into one when many tribes from various Tani tribes in Arunachal Pradesh migrated to the plains of Assam in search of fertile land as well as in search of civilisational progress. Over a period of time, they became known as Miris as they acted as middle men between tribes of hills of Arunachal Pradesh and people of the plains of Assam like Ahoms, Kacharis etc. Miri means middle men in old Assamese language. This explains presence of many Mishing clans with different Mishing dialects as well as different levels of development. WB Brown says: "In the upper ward of Sadiya, Deoris lived here originally and before first century they came there to inhabit the area. The people are generally called Deoris simply; the language is more properly known as Sutiya. The Sutiya language indeed, may fairly claim to be the original language of upper Assam." Gait says,"the traditional rulers of Assam do not profess to be at all exhaustive. Religious books and other old writings contain lists of many other kings, but it is impossible to say if they are genuine, and if so', who the kings were and where they reigned; and to refer to them at length would be a waste of time and space

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