Ziro at Crossroads

Long, long ago, when a group of people reached Supuñ Lemba, they decided that they have found the place they had been looking for. From the time they had started their journey from Kolyuñ Lemba centuries back, they had tried settling down in various places including Wiipyo Lemba, Nyime and Miido Lemba. As generations of them traveled, crossing the Nyime Pembu and along the banks of the mighty Kuru Yasi, they had seen no other place as enchanting and as fertile as this one. The Apatanis had reached Ziro.

It was not an easy life in the beginning, though. The valley was swampy and pestilential. Huge trees grew everywhere and ferocious animals ruled the roost. However, the Apatanis had already noticed the clear stream meandering through the length of the valley. This was to be their lifeline in the years to come. They settled down in various hamlets and planted the seeds of piisa, bije and giyañ that they had brought with them. As these initial settlements turned into villages, they cleared the surrounding areas, used the higher lands for millet and vegetable plantation and lower ones for cultivation of rice. Bije, lyapyo, aji, yorlu and balu were in place.

In order to ensure healthy growth of their crops, the Apatanis propitiated Chandii-Metii, Dree and Yapuñ. After the harvest of paddy, they constructed new houses or repaired the old ones. After that, individuals performed Muruñ and Subu. Myoko followed. Guests were entertained and relationships - with both God and man - were strengthened during the occasion. The cycle continued uninterrupted, year after year.

Every early visitor to the Apatani country was awed by the sustainable way of the tribe's life. The way they tended their bijes and sansuñs were examplary. Ajis and lyapyos got loving care throughout the year. Occasional hunting expeditions were carried out, but killing of certain animals, especially belonging to the cat families, was discouraged. Disputes were settled by bulyañs and goras. It looked like such idyllic life will continue for ever.

That, alas, was not to be. Grotesque electric power lines criss-cross the expanses of paddy fields today. Odd buildings are rapidly coming up in the midst of these cultivation areas. The forests in the hills surrounding the valley are indiscriminately being destroyed. Institutions are coming up in the headwaters of Tabyu Kiile, Tajang Kiile, Seya Kiile and Siikhe Kiile, threatening to dry up the valley. In addition, heaps of waste are clogging every stream. As one enters the valley, one is greeted with small hills of garbage by the roadside, accompanied by nauseating odor of burning plastic. A handful of concerned people passively look on, helpless. Ziro is dying. Our Ziro.

It is time we realize what we are doing. It is time we ask ourselves whether to remain passive onlookers or start a mission to save Ziro. We have to bequeath to our children as beautiful a Ziro as we inherited from our ancestors.