[ Dama Miji Zongluzu ]
“The Aka are comparatively an enlightened and civilised people,” recorded by RS Captain Kennedy. They are one of the most important and daring tribes of Northeast India, mainly concentrated in four administrative circles of present West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, viz, Jamiri, Buragaon, Bhalukpong and Thrizino.
They have had a glorious past, such as their relations with the ancient king of Sonitpur (Assam), the Ahom, the British, and their neighbouring hill tribes.
Like other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the Hrusso (Aka) have rich, pristine culture and traditions, which are showcased during their annual festival celebration.
Nyethrii’dow is their main and an agro-based festival. In earlier days, Nyethrii-dow puja was performed or observed individually at the village level. However, this indigenous puja has been converted into an illustrious festival and is being centrally celebrated since 1972 with gaiety and enthusiasm.
The man behind making Nyethrii-dow a central festival celebration with modern flavour was initiated by Nebil Dususow, the then first agency council member.
Let’s have a glance at that great persona whose legacy and contribution are still maintained by his present Hrusso (Aka) with enthusiasm.
Nebil Dususow’s actual and birth name is Neville Dususow. But in the official record, he was known as Naibili Dusisu, which is basically an incorrect spelling and pronunciation, his family says.
He was born to a leading family of Dibru Dususow and Fuba Kawsamum in a place called Jamiri, a venerable village. His father, Dibru Dususow, appeared in the British accounts as the chief of the Akas and one of the most influential men in the hills. He had established a friendly relationship with the British government.
During his (Dibru’s) regime, in December 1913, the British government sent a friendly expedition to the Aka country, which was led by Captain GA Neville, the then political officer of western section, with a view to explore and survey the area; and the same team reached and concluded their expedition in Tawang in 1914. Captain Neville’s expedition came to be known as ‘A promenade to the Aka hills in the political history of Arunachal Pradesh’, and it returned with a good impression about the Akas.
Captain Neville’s team was welcomed by jubilant crowds in Jamiri, under the chieftainship of Dibru and his wife, Dibru’s cousin Labi and his wife, son and daughter, queen Kelimend, and other Aka and Bugun people. During the visit, Captain Neville witnessed that Dibru’s wife was pregnant. He suggested to Dibru that if his pregnant gave birth to a male child, his name should be ‘Neville’, and if female, her name should be a local name.
From the captain’s lips to the ears of god, Dibru’s wife Fuba gave birth to a child after the departure of the expedition team. The child was named Neville Dususow. Thus, a noble son landed on the great soil of the Aka hills in January 1914.
The child grew up and did his primary schooling in Assamese medium in Chariduar, Assam. After leaving school, he returned to his native village and married to Tusum Sidisamum of Dizangania, one of the largest villages in the Aka country.
As per records, sometime during 1933-34, Dibru died. After his death, his eldest son, Sadeo, was elected as chief, and he carried out his duties satisfactorily but not with the charm of his predecessors. Sadeo also died very shortly.
After the death of Sadeo, all the responsibilities fell upon on the shoulders of Neville Dususow. He started to serve his community as a gaon burah from Husigaon village, near Jamiri. Under his leadership, the people of Jamiri-Buragaon submitted a representation to the deputy commissioner of undivided Darrang district, Assam, regarding their traditional land and forests in Missamari and Malangaon, because they lost a major portion of their holding land in Missamari, which was acquisitioned by the railways and the army during World War-II. They had held only 30-and-a-half puras of land in Missamari, out of 154 puras.
In Malangaon, the tenants comprised nine Kachari families who were traditional priests who performed annual worship for the Akas unable to settle in Malangaon due to frequent devastating flooding of the Jara river. Later on, in addition to these two traditional village land, the foothills of the Akas were acquired by Assam through the Bordoloi Committee’s recommendation. Hence, the Akas, under the leadership of Neville Dususow, repeatedly sought alternative land for the Akas in Bhalijuli area, near Chariduar, in lieu of Missamari and Malangaon.
They had represented their claims to various political officers. They also represented their grievances to various top NEFA officials. The Aka leaders met the chief minister and governor of Assam when they came to visit Bomdila in 1963. Again, they also represented the same to the advisor to governor of Assam when he visited Buragaon in 1964.
Again, in September 1968, Neville Dususow led an Aka delegation to Shillong. The delegation team comprised six members – Buli Debisow (teacher), Sinam Dususow (VLW), Marakha GB Gopina Dususow, Buragaon GB Chawang Jebisow, Jamiri GB Buia Aka and Neville himself. They met the adviser, NEFA, on 24 September, 1968, in Shillong.
It is a matter of interest that AD (SCA) Jikom Riba was accompanied by them as government representatives. He took the Aka leaders to Bimala Prasad Chaliha, the then chief minister of Assam, on the same day to submit their grievances about the allotment of alternative land for the Akas in the plains of Assam.
During the first election to the panchayati raj in 1969, Neville Dususow was elected as the first member of the Agency Council, an apex governing body in the NEFA days. He represented Kameng district along with Rinchin Namze, Tsewang Norbu and Prem Dorjee. From reliable sources, it is learnt that he attended all the sessions and meetings of the Agency Council and took a favourable decision along with his 22 colleagues for nurturing and shaping the NEFA into a new dawn Arunachal Pradesh, where today we are witnessing great progress.
When he was a member of the Agency Council, he wrote a letter to the advisor to the governor of Assam on 13 July, 1970, for early transfer of the land to the Akas. It was written in his note: “Balijuli area near Bhalukpong is an area of the Akas. It is now under the occupation of the state of Assam. Since three years back, this area has been solitary occupied by the inhabitants of the Darrang district. It is a very good fertile land and thereby we the Akas are losing a good amount of revenue every year.”
The Akas claimed that their territory roughly extended up to Chariduar during the colonial rule in Assam. Hence, because of his repeatedly pressing, the government of Assam’s revenue (settlement) department’s letter (No 915/67/29, dated 15/05/1972) directed the Darrang DFO to immediately hand over of 500 acres of land de-reserved from the Batipara reserve forest for settlement of 26 Aka families.
When the Agency Council was re-designated and converted into Pradesh Council in 2 October, 1972, he tendered his resignation due to health issues.
However, his resignation, as well as abstention from political process did not satisfy R Usuf All, the then deputy commissioner of Kameng district. So, during election to the second panchayati raj body, which was held in June-May 1972, again he was invited and nominated as vice president of the anchal samiti from Nafra-Buragaon segment. Post-independence, he was the first man who reunited the entire Aka people in one platform. He believed and thought that, in addition to worshipping their supernatural deities, Nyethrii-Dow festival would be a medium for showcasing their pristine culture and unite the Akas. He advocated and emphasised on Aka unification, peace and progress without encroaching on other tribes’ rights. He strongly encouraged and supported preservation and protection of culture, traditions and traditional rights.
At the same time, he encouraged exposure/display of their culture and traditions to the outside world though a festival. Hence, under his patronage, the first ever Nyethrii-Dow festival was centrally celebrated from 10-15 November, 1972, in Gohaithan, a village of freedom fighters Tagi and Medhi. The government supported and sanctioned an amount of Rs 2,000 for the celebration of the festival.
Presently, the Akas are celebrating the 49th edition of the central Nyethrii-Dow festival, which began on 10 November and will conclude on 15 November, 2022, in Buragaon.
However, it is sad to note here that, before the completion of his tenure as a vice president, he left for heavenly abode in 1974 due to prolonged illness. Today, Nevilie Dususow is not with us, but we should always recall and remember his selfless services and contributions towards the community in particular and the state as a whole.
After going through his biographical sketch, we may consider him as an architect of modern Hrusso Akas.
I conclude with the remarks of the British writers who variously described the character and attire of the Akas. As per Dr Varrier Elwin, “The Akas in later years continue to win the respect of those who visited them.” Captain GA Neville remarked: “Akas are an excellent and most interesting people. They are capable of great improvement.” “The clothes and jewellery in the Aka country were infinitely more civilised than the brief garments of other Tani tribes, and their fashions had obviously been influenced by Tibet,” remarked Eleanor Bor.
This article is based on verbal conversation with Neville’s eldest son Dibru Dususow, as well as relevant government documents which I have sourced from the office of the West Kameng deputy commissioner. (Dama Miji Zongluzu is a teacher at the government middle school in Lepang Huda, Bhalukpong, West Kameng. He can be contacted at +91 8729925007. The views expressed not necessarily of this daily.)
