Nyishi people
The Nyishi community is the largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India. In Nyishi, their traditional language, Nyi refers to "a human" and the word shi denotes "a being", which combined refers to a human being. They are spread across eight districts of Arunachal Pradesh: Kra Daadi, Kurung Kumey, East Kameng, West Kameng, Papum Pare, parts of Lower Subansiri, Kamle and Pakke Kessang district. The Kurung Kumey and Kra Daadi districts have the largest concentration of Nyishi population who are generally referred to as "Aya Nyasang". The Nyishis also live in the Sonitpur and North Lakhimpur districts of Assam.
Quotes
[edit]- The missionaries do not ask us to practise costly rituals or change our lifestyles, languages or even our wardrobe. Many of the converted tribals, like me, have not even been asked to change names. We have received the gospel of Jesus, enlightenment, education. My own Nyishi tribesmen were rude, uncultured and a warrior tribe. The church has made us better people. What is wrong in that? ... Christianity was born in Central Asia. How can it be foreign?
- Hakam, Bethel Prayer Centre pastor
- Missionaries offer medicine, food grain and cash to the needy on the back of strong funding from outside. Earlier, we were all one. There was no disharmony. But now converted tribals — our own brethren till a couple of years back — look down upon us.
- N. Songtheng, a Lisu tribal working for the preservation of indigenous faith
- They are working for conversion; we are working for education. Their plans are treacherous... Tribal culture ought to be preserved with the same zeal that missionaries display while converting tribals.
- Bindu Nair, a Hindi teacher at Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Changlang.
- "How churches in Arunachal Pradesh are facing resistance over conversion of tribals", The Economic Times of India (19 November 2017)
