|
tered
over a large area. Each village has a "murong" which is
jointly built by the villagers. It is the place where training in
traditional and social customs is imparted to young boys and girls.
|
|
8.
Joint family system is the base of the society and a single family
may have more than a hundred members living under the roof of one
"sanghar". The main source of living is agriculture and
hunting. "Jhuming cultivation" or shifting cultivation
is the common method. Apart from this, cattle rearing is becoming
more and more popular among them. Ahu rice, mustard seeds, pulses
and cotton are the staple crops. Their favorite diet comprises rice,
fish, pork, chicken and vegetables. "Apong" (a kind of
white and some times black liquor prepared from rice) is their favourite
beverage. Whenever a guest visits their houses, he is entertained
with "apong".
|
|
9.
The structure of the society is based on the principle of equality
of opportunity. In other words, the Missing are democratic. They
never believed in kingship. Every village has a Kebang ie., panchayat,
which consists of the elder people of the village. This Kebang is
the supreme authority on the maintenance of the code of conduct
which is based on the traditions and innovations for the welfare
of the (tribe) people. The decision of the Kebang is final and binding.
The rich and the poor are treated alike and the guilty has to bear
the penalty either in the shape of physical labour or in the shape
of material loss.
|
| 10.
The Missing society is patriarchal, where the male dominates in every
walk of life. Women have the right to work and in turn are entitled
to be provided with food and shelter. They get up early at dawn, take
care of household work, such as cooking, attending to children and
adults and are required to work in the field shoulder to shoulder
with the man. However, their services are not required for ploughing.
It is unimaginable for them to be members of the Kebang. |
|
Each
woman is expected to know weaving. Those, who do not know weaving,
are looked down upon and it is difficult for them to get married.
The famous "Misijim", which was once known for its quality,
is woven by the Mising women. The Misings usually use home-woven
clothes. Women do not have the right to property. Only the son is
the sole heir; or in case a son is not born and only daughters are
born, the daughter may become the heir to the property.
|
|
11.
Polygamy is the accepted norm of the society, though, it is on the
wane-now. Polyandry is unknown. If a woman is found commiting adultery,
she is severely punished. Matrimonial relationships cannot be established
between the members belonging to the same clan; for example, two
families belonging to Moying clan cannot have matrimonial relationships.
Thus, it is clear that in the Missing society only endogamy is prevalent.
Widow remarriage is in vogue. If the husband dies, the woman can
marry her husband’s younger brother or her husband’s cousin. In
case it is not possible, she is allowed her choice outside the family
members. Provision for divorce is there, but it requires the prior
permission from the Kebang. Divorce may take place under the following
conditions :
|
|
(a)
if both husband and wife enter into an accord willingly;
|
|
(b)
if husband remarries without the prior permission of his first wife’
she has the right to divorce him; and
|
|
(c)
if it is proved that the wife committed adultery.
|
|
Marriages
are made in the following way :
|
|
(1)
By selection - When the young ones attain marriageable age,
they themselves may select their life partner. Usually the young
boys and girls enter into love affairs in the ‘Murong’. As has been
pointed out above, the Murong is the place where the young ones
learn their oral lessons of community culture and form a committee
to help the villagers in need. This committee of adolescents is
known as "Mimbir-game". So when their love-affair reaches
the climax and it becomes impossible
|
