Preparation of mrah (arrow poison) among the Idu Tribe

Brief description

This project represents the outcome of a project by Hari Apralo of the Idu (Mishmi) community of Arunachal Pradesh, India, who has documented the preparation of arrow poison ("mrah") among the Idu (Mishmi) people. Mrah is a potent poison derived from plant extracts, with ancient historical roots in the Idu community. This lethal concoction, known for its uses in hunting and, historically, also against adversaries, has been a closely held secret within the Idu community for countless years. Passed down through generations, this sacred knowledge is a heritage that has traversed millennia, with fathers imparting it to their sons. This project audiovisually documents its manufacture in detail for the first time. The focus of this project extends beyond the preparation of mrah, also encompassing the rituals, ceremonies, and taboos surrounding its creation. The essential herbs required for the mrah preparation are sourced from the alpine mountains, adding a geographical and environmental dimension to the dwindling knowledge surrounding this ancient craft. In contemporary Idu areas, the once-vital use of mrah has seen a stark decline. The traditional method of hunting with arrow poison has given way to modern-day preferences for firearms. Consequently, the invaluable practical and ritual knowledge associated with mrah production is gradually fading within the Idu community, posing a threat to a cultural and historical practice that has endured for centuries. The project that has resulted in this deposit was designed and conducted by Hari Apralo, by means of a 2023 FLICR Fellowship awarded to him by the Centre for Cultural-Linguistic Diversity (Eastern Himalaya) (Co-Directors Mark W. Post and Yankee Modi, Associate Directors Kellen Parker Van Dam and Zilpha Modi). Financial support for the 2023 FLICR Fellowship program was provided by the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research, through a grant administered by the University of Sydney. The project was mentored by Yankee Modi and Zilpha Modi. The project consists of 19 audiovisual files in Idu language, transcribed using a practical Idu orthography and translated into English. These AV files are further supported by sets of photographs with metadata. This deposit presents an invaluable opportunity to capture both the material and cultural significance of this practice, not just in its technical aspects, but also in the stories, songs, and communal experiences that are woven into this fabric. It further contributes to the documentation of Idu, which remains an under-documented and only partially described language. All files in this project have been designated as open-access by the researcher.