UpdateBot at 20:58, 17 January 2022

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{{Short description|Ethnic group living in Northeast India}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2012}}
{{original research|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Galo
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Galo Women At Basar.jpg
| caption = Galo women in traditional dress
| poptime =
| regions = {{flag|India}}
| region1 = [[Arunachal Pradesh]]
| pop1 = 79,327
| langs = [[Gallong language|Galo]]
| rels = [[Donyi Polo]] & [[Christianity]]
| related_groups = [[Tani people|Tani]]
}}
The '''Galo''' are a central Eastern Himalayan tribe, who are descendants of [[Abotani]] and speak the Tani [[Gallong language|Galo language]]. The Galo people primarily inhabit West Siang, Lepa Rada, and Lower Siang districts of modern-day [[Arunachal Pradesh]] state in northeastern [[India]], but they are also found in the southwestern side of [[East Siang]] district, the southeastern side of [[Upper Subansiri]] district, as well as in some small pockets in [[Itanagar]]. Other names which have been used to reference the Galo in the past include ''Duba'', ''Doba'', ''Dobah Abor'', ''Gallong Abor'', ''Galong'', ''Gallong Adi'', etc. The Galo have been listed as a [[scheduled tribe]] under the name ''Gallong'' since 1950.<ref>Amendment to the Constitution (ST), Order, 1950, Part-XVIII</ref>

==Folklore in relation to resource use and management==
The fact that '''Turi or eri''', according to '''Galo''''s wisdom, can be the common ancestor of '''Tani''' (the first human-being and the ancestor of human-beings), '''Taki''' (the ancestor of spirits) and '''Tanyo''' [the ancestor of cat families which include '''{{transl|adl|italic=no|Nyote}}''' (tiger), '''Nyopak-takar''' (leopard), '''Nyoke''' (Panther), '''Nyoli''', '''Nyomuk''', '''Nyoji''' (various species of wild cats)] signifies the harmonious relationship that the Galo society shares with other living and non-living forms.<ref name=Basar>{{cite book|last1=Basar|first1=Jumyir|title=Indigneous Knowledge and Resource Management (Perspectives of a Tribe in Northeast India)|date=2014|publisher=Anshah Publishing House|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-8364-097-8|pages=42–48}}</ref> As the saying goes, '''{{transl|adl|tumsi nyomara lo, hottum elam go hore lelam go doma rem yobe nyine hage ha rem. Tumsi nyomra irga kama, isi opo kama rem mopin e irga kama. Sile boso gobo golak go goka kichin gatugo ao go kama rem nyiram re.}}'''<ref name=Basar /> That is, '''‘O human! What worth is human life when forests without flora and fauna, rivers without fish’.''' Instead of assuming themselves as the ‘possessor’ of nature, their core world view of ‘community of beings’ places resource use and its management, apart from providing material sustenance, as a binding agent between human-nature relationship, human-human relationship and human-nature-supernatural relationship.<ref name=Basar /> Moreover, resources also act as a metaphysical medium to appease supernatural beings/spirits. Nature, according to Galo’s worldview, has also unknown and destructive dimensions. Thus, periodic rituals with respect to land, water and forests becomes mandatory to pacify the anger of this incomprehensible element of nature, which manifests in the form of spirits.

The constant squabbling over the ownership of land between '''Tani''' (the mythical forefather of the Galos) and '''Taki''' (the spirit brother of Tani) led to division of ownership of resources: the domesticated ones (one that is owned by humankind) and the wild ones owned by ethereal beings/spirits. In order to resolve the conflict, '''Donyi Jilo''', a respected priest, intervened and divided the land into '''momen''' (the domesticated one) and '''modir''' (vertical/land not suitable for human use). Moreover, he explicitly instructed both the beings not to intervene in each-other’s land. However, the Galo people hold the notion that '''Taki''''s descendent groups namely, the '''Doje''', '''Yapom''', '''Pomte- Sarte''' and the '''Bute-Kamdu''' frequently trespasses onto momen inhabiting trees, streams, caves, rocks etc. And the way to honor them is to conduct rituals. One such ritual, '''Ampu Yolu''', is observed in relation to protection of crops from pests and diseases. Through this ritual, the spirits/deities, namely '''Jeru Poru''', '''Pote''', '''Biro-mugli''' and '''Yapom''' are revered. In particular, village women perform the rite, '''amsep-misep''', wherein a paste of '''{{transl|adl|italic=no|amtir}}''' (rice powder) and '''opo''' (fermented rice) is tied to bamboo sticks and placed randomly in jhum fields. This helps to attract pests. Moreover, it is considered a boon for good harvest.<ref name=Basar />

Another ritual, '''dir-tachi''', is observed in case of excessive pest infestation. In the past, according to Galo’s wisdom, '''Tachi''' was mainly responsible for the famine in the region. Etymologically, dir also signifies famine. The ritualistic process involves tiny packets of edible grains and vegetables in combination with an egg, fowl or a pig, which is offered to the spirit, '''Uyis'''. After the ritual, effigies of Uyis, made of bamboo leaves along with other offerings are placed in a bamboo raft ('''hipe''') and immersed in the river. In relation to famine, the Galo's myth goes like this: '''Diyi Tami''', daughter of '''Mopin''' and the first wife of '''Abo Tani''', leaves for '''Digo Pine''' (the land of Mopin). In her absence, '''Rosi Tami''', daughter of '''Dir''' (the famine) and the second wife of '''Abo Tani''', mistakenly puts two grains in a magical pot. In normal circumstances, one grain would be sufficient to prepare enough food for the whole family. Putting two grains result in surplus food. Not knowing what to do, she asks '''Diro-Kibo''' (dog of famine) to consume the excess rice. Along with consuming the excess rice, he also consumes the magical power of the pot. Thus, the magical pot loses its inherent capacity to produce huge quantity of rice with a single grain. Subsequently, it led to famine in the region. In order to address the food-shortage, '''Abo Tani''', following the order of '''Diyi Tami''', drowns '''Rosi Tami''' in the river and kills '''Diro-Kibo'''.<ref name=Basar />

==See also==
*[[Marriage practices of the Galo tribe]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Nyori, Tai (1993). History and Culture of the Adis, Omsons Publications, New Delhi-110 027.
* Post, Mark W. (2007). A Grammar of Galo. PhD Dissertation. Melbourne, La Trobe University Research Centre for Linguistic Typology.
* Riba, Bomchak. (2009). Relevance of Indigenous Knowledge System of the Galo of Arunachal Pradesh in Sustainable Development of Forest Resources. Ph.D. Thesis, [[Rajiv Gandhi University]], Arunachal Pradesh, India.
* Basar, Jumyir. (2014). INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE and RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Perspectives of a Tribe in Northeast India), Anshah Publishing House, New Delhi-110002

{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh]]

Galo tribe - Revision history

UpdateBot at 20:58, 17 January 2022