Arunachal locals establish museum on century-old battleground 

In the Anglo-Abor War of 1911-12, a British officer was killed at this location. 

The villagers of Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh have built an “eco-friendly” museum at the site where Adi warriors murdered a British officer during a fight in 1911-12. 

Between 1858 and 1912, the Adi people, who inhabited wide swaths of central Arunachal Pradesh, fought British development on multiple occasions. These conflicts are referred to as the Anglo-Abor Wars. 

The Misum-Miyang Kumsung, which translates as “ancient artefacts museum,” has been established in Komsing village, approximately 12 kilometers from the district headquarters in Pangin. The location is close to where Adi warriors assassinated Noel Williamson, a British political figure, during the last conflicts of 1911-12. 

The conflict, locally dubbed the Poju Mimak, lasted from October 6, 1911, to January 11, 1912. It is widely regarded as one of the most decisive Anglo-Abor conflicts in the history of Arunachal Pradesh’s liberation struggle. 

1. K. Kopak, president of the Nugong Banggo Kebang (NBK), stated that the museum is the first of its type in the State and was built entirely out of locally sourced materials. NBK is a grassroots organization.

The museum will be maintained by a committee appointed by the locals, and the revenue earned will be utilized to maintain it as well as to purchase medications for the community’s needy members,” he explained. 

The museum exhibits handloom and handicraft products, ancient kitchenware, hunting and fighting gear, agricultural equipment, and other artefacts relating to the people’s culture and history. The NBK anticipates that professors and researchers will visit the museum in addition to visitors. 

The NBK expressed gratitude to Uttaran Dutta, a scholar based in the United States, for assisting in the establishment of the indigenous museum. 

Published by: Gargi Sharma

Edited by: Aaradhana singh