Arunachal's Ruskin Bond

TAGANG TAKI, 
FIRST POST GRADUATE from Minyong (ADI TRIBE)

When I set off for Pasighat to attend a review meeting for preparation of 'Pasighat Centennial Celebration' on December 10, I was told that we would be heading off to Pangin the next day, that is, December 11. 
As we sat in the vehicle the next morning, I was told that there would be a picnic at river bed of Siang, near the historic site of Kekar Monying, where 'Anglo-Abor War of 1911' was fought between Adis and British troop-mostly comprising of Assam Rifle soldiers. 
That wasn't so interesting till I met this old gentleman, Tagang Taki. 

As we were settling down in the picnic spot; an unassuming old gentleman dressed impeccably in his 'darkish' suit walked towards the sitting area with assured steps; came closer and gave me a firm handshake and introduced himself as "Tagang Taki" ( meaning I am Tagang Taki). Then, he started briefing about the significance of the site in which we were sitting. Gravity of the importance of the site  started sinking on me as he  narrated the history eloquently; narration was so vivid that I could visualise how our ancestors in Adi belt resisted and fought with 'bows & arrows' against the well-armed British troops. Pointing at the opposite side of the river bank he said,  "That steep hill side, on left bank, which is overlooking us is where Britisher soldiers camped and fired  with their rifles." " And you see that spot. That's where our forefathers were camping to fight the soldiers," he said while pointing to a place which was about 500 meters of aerial distance from where we were sitting under a improvised tent, made out of a parachute which are normally used for air-dropping sacks of rice in inaccessible areas.

Highly impressed with his sense of history, his eagerness to share the past, his passionate voice of concerns and ofcourse his knowledge and command in English (which I actually did not expect in an interior place), I asked a young man sitting next to me," who is this Abo*?'(*Abo means father but usually used to refer to older people). That boy, with pride, responded, ""He is Tagang Taki, perhaps the first post graduate from Minyong community (Adi tribe)." 

After we finished listening to his narration of this important place, I walked over to his side and  got to converse with him for a while. Then I figured out that he did his graduation from prestigious Cotton College, Guwahati way back in the early 70's and by 1972 he did Master in Arts (History). 
'Why did you decide to stay back in this village?'- was my next obvious question. My question was based on the fact that these days, even a matriculate would board the bus to be in Itanagar-Naharlagun in search of job or better opportunity!

Ever unassuming, he responded, "I felt that I could be of some use to the masses in the village; therefore decided to become a public leader. I contested elections too but lost!" 

" Abo, did not you think of doing government job? I am sure job for a post graduate like you would have been easy to get those days." I asked.  

"I refused job of Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) then; the then Lt. Governor of NEFA KAA Raja had personally asked me to join the service but I refused because I believed and still believe that I could do much more and much better in public service," he shared. He writes, though I am yet to read any of his books. But he did give me a small book which is basically a school text book, titled 'Adi Agom Ke'nnane-III' in which he has written 4 chapters.

There are similarities between him and Rukin Bond: both are highly educated, both settled in sleepy hamlets, Read and Write and indulge in story telling! O, I almost forgot both of them dresses up impeccably too. And yes, there are differences: Tagang doesnot have access to publishers; he does not have modern amenities to support his writings; and he does not get publicity.