The Nishis are one of the largest tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. Racially members of the Mongoloid group, their main profession is still fishing, hunting and slash-and-burn agriculture. Like in many rural communities — especially tribal ones — women do much of the labour, from clearing the fields to harvesting.
With the community dependent on forest produce like wild fruits and vegetables, bamboo and roots, the women spend most of their time foraging as they are the primary food gatherers. With rampant deforestation and soil erosion, they are forced to venture further and further into the forests. And this often takes three to four hours of their daily routine. Water collecting is another task which is seen as exclusive to women.
This brings us to the question, what do the men do? While they leave much of the heavy lifting to women, they can take up to eight wives. The entire family stays under one roof, but each wife has her own hearth. Often 30 to 60 family members live in one house.
Members of the tribe, both men and women, are recognised by their elaborate outfits. The hornbill beak was once a favourite accoutrement but its endangered status means that the practice is discouraged and men and women must now preen with fake ones.
Ritu Raj Konwar