Nyishi
The Nyishi is one of the major tribes in “Arunachal Pradesh” with highest population at present in tribe-wise. Genealogically, they are the descendants of the great ancestor “Abu Tanyi” means “Father Tanyi.” He had a son named Nyia (aka At Nyia) who in turn had two sons namely Harin and Hari. Harin had three sons namely “Dopum, Dodumand Dolu.” The three sons of Harin and Hari formed the four great forefather lineages (Nyishi call ‘so’) among Nyishi Society. The division into group of clans call ‘Yvrb’ started here onward and then into clan wise (Ab kinam) and family wise as it is known in the Nyishi Society at present inhabiting eight districts of Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam.
“Arunachal Pradesh” is popularly known as the ‘land of rising sun’ in India. It is situated in the north-eastern part of India an area covering 83,743sq.km. It shares international boundaries with China (Tibet), Myanmar and Royal Bhutan to north, east and west respectively, and state boundaries with Assam and Nagaland to south and southeast. It is inhabited by different ethnic groups of tribes each having distinctive culture, traditions, faith and belief.
Generally, the Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh is dated back to 1626 (17th Century) when two Roman Catholic fathers namely father Cacella and father Cabral from Society of Jesus (Jesuit) who passed through Assam and Sadiya areas on their way to Tibet. However, the actual mission work was started by the then Baptist missionary named Robert Morrison, a British Missionary which had his missionary base at Canton in China. With his sole aim of winning the Shan tribe of North Burma (Myanmar), he was looking for a possible base of missionary work nearby. Accordingly C.A. Bruce of England arrived in 1834 joined by few others from Burma in the mission. However, as the Burma based mission was found to be impractical, the mission based in Sadiya, Arunachal Pradesh was established. This was followed by the arrival of two more American missionaries namely Rev. Nathan Brown and Oliver Cutter in Sadiya, Arunachal Pradesh (the then NEFA) on 23rdMarch 1836. Later, they were joined by Jacob Thomas and Miles Bronson. These Baptist pioneer missionaries were concentrated in the eastern part of present day Arunachal Pradesh who came in contact with some of the hill tribes like Nocte, Khampti, Singpo, Adi, Mishmi etc. Although these tribes were the first to hear the Gospel but they accepted the Gospel late.
In 1839, the British garrison was attacked by Khamptis and Singphos tribes. As a result, the American Baptist Mission shifted its Mission place to Jaipur in Assam and then to Sibsagar leading to the abandonment of Sadiya Mission in 1841. The early Christian mission works were extensively carried out in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh plain area only where rest of Arunachal Pradesh were untouched. As such, most of tribes in Arunachal Pradesh such as the Nyishi, Apatani, Galo, Adi, Tagin,Puroik, Miji, Aka, Sherduphen, Mompa and others were unheard of the Gospel from these early missionaries.
