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The Milang tribe (alternately Millang, Malaa, or Holon) are a sub-group of the Adi people found in Arunachal Pradesh and nearby Rigbi, Jonai,in Assam, India.

Etymology

The term Milang is an exonym, used by non-members of the group to refer to them.[1] Members of the tribe prefer the name Malaa.

Language

Main article: Milang language

Malaa people use a distinct form of dialect un-intelligible to most of the other subgroups of Adi. There has been several theories regarding its unique dialect, however most of the Malaa people maintains that they adopted this dialect from a certain group of people called Soi-sotem who inhabited their lands long before Malaa people came and settled there and the latter migrated to other places. Still today the Malaa mention and remember those archaic Soi-sotem people in their ballads as:

Soi belu kettunge, Sotem belu kettunge.

Soi sotem were believed to come from Kalang Ade(dite), the highest peak in the land of the Milang beyond which is the land of Idu Mishmi tribe.

Religion

The Malaa are adherents of indigenous Donyi-Poloism, the practice of praying to the almighty Sun goddess and The Moon God. The priests, called Madar in Malaa, are popularly believed to be the intermediaries between the natural human world and Spiritual and supernatural world. Male priests are connected with act of divination while the female priests are related with healing of sickness. The priesthood is hereditary practice as it passed from generation to generation in a family. The ritual of sacrificing an animal as suggested by priest to cure a disease is called Lulu. Whenever an epidemic or disease breaks down in a village, the villagers construct a gate at the entrance of the village and a dog is sacrificed with intestines sagging out and hanged.This ritual is called Lukan.

Ayid Madar Bemmanu, a ritualistic dance is performed throughout the night in which priest bargains to appease the spirits to release the soul of diseased person and in exchange for gifts. The priest examines the chicken liver and reads omen and suggest the nature of disease and corresponding sacrifice to be made to heal the disease.

Name of festival Dates 

Aran              7 March

Solung Etor 15 May Solung(Lune) 1 September

Geography

Geographically the Malaa land lies approximately between 94-95 degree N latitude and 28-29 degree E longitude in Upper Siang district. The land of the Milangs extends to the Chage and Felo hills in the north which is land of the Idu tribe of Dibang valley. To south and the east they are bounded by the land of the Padams.

Their land is a rich source of the Aconitum plant (variously known as monk's hood or wolf's bane), the source of the powerful poison aconitine, which the Milang historically used on their spears and arrows during battle.The Anglo-Abor wars between 1835 and 1912 saw massive use of 'EMO'(called AMU in Millang) being supplied from Peki Modi village against the invading British forces.

The principal rivers are Sidip, Yamne, Yammeng, Satamak and Chapel besides many rivulets flowing through their land.

Millang, Dalbing and Peki Modi are the important ancestral villages of the Malaa. However, as of today they are found residing in the hills and the valleys of East Siang, Upper Siang and Lower Dibang Valley Districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Surnames

Surnames used by Malaa are based on family lineage. Common surnames include:

  • Ayom
  • Binggep
  • Bitin
  • Borang**
  • Dalbong
  • Daltem
  • Dameng
  • Gamno
  • Langkam
  • Lego**
  • Litin
  • Libang
  • Miew
  • Modi
  • Ngukir
  • Ngupok
  • Patuk

Some of their clans/family with Milang history & origin**

Each Malaa surname are further subdivided into several clans. For example,the Modi have the following clans:

  • Ketin
  • Kebang-Bamuk, Bapok(Kepok)
  • Rungmi
  • Taruk
  • Ngusang
  • Miew

References

  1. ^ Post, Mark W.; Modi, Yankee (In press). "Language contact and the genetic position of Milang in Tibeto-Burman". Anthropological Linguistics. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

  • Modi, Milorai (2007). The Millangs. Himalayan Publishers.
  • Mibang, Tamo; Chaudhuri, SK, eds. (2004). Understanding tribal religion. New Delhi: Mittal. ISBN 81-7099-945-6.
  • Lego, NN (1992). British relations with the Adis, 1825-1947. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. ISBN 81-7117-097-8.
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