AtoBogum is regarded as the savior of mankind in the tribal history of Arunachal Pradesh especially amongst the descendants of Abo Tani. In the distant past AtoBogum along with other prominent tribal leaders had migrated from South western parts of China and southern parts of Tibbet a place called Taroo hanggo generally known as Siangfo river valley in Tibet.
The Tibetans called the Tani Group as “Lhobha” as “Lho” means Southern and “Bha” stands for man or Tani tribe or southerner, people who live in southern place of Tibbet. And atoBogum was one of the ‘LHOBHAS’ at that time. Historically the main reason to migrate from Siangfo river valley towards Arunachal Pradesh India could be attributed to protection of Tani language, Tani culture and Tani belief systems as they discerned some kind of threats or danger from the Chinese ruler. However, I am not going to delve much details on certain questions like why, how and who etc. but I shall focus only on heroic deeds of atoBogum with a sole intention to glorify him amongst our next generation or posterity to inspire them.
Those were the times when there was no any established tracking routes from China or Tibbet to our Indian territory. Migration routes were very troublesome as mountain ranges of Himalayan regions were infested with even the most scary and hostile & ferocious demons like ‘Opo Tachi’, wild carnivorous animal like tigers, lions, ‘Kibo Garo’ and Himalayan flying dragons like ‘Dobo Mira’ that obstructed them and killed passersby.
On the way from Tibbet to Geiling (AP) our Tani people were killed by a monster unicorn named as ‘Kiibo Garo’ (half dog and half lion). That ferocious unicorn animal used to jump out high at a lightning speed from its hiding jungle and killed all those Tani descendants who tried to cross the Siang River towards Geiling and devoured. Many strong and courageous Tani warriors had tried to kill the monster. But monster “Kibo Garo” had the power to rejoin its severed pieces of body organs thereby regained its life again and again. Since it created a havoc as the migrating group of Tani tribe had lost so many lives, therefore, the congregation of migrating Tani people had a Keba in which they nominated AtoBogum to eliminate the ‘Kiibo Garo’.
Bogum knew the miracles involved with dreaded monster that never die even after cut into two pieces. Therefore, he became determined not to allow re-joining of monster’s severed body pieces. On encounter with the ‘Kibo-garo’atoBogum chopped off the head of the monster and immediately threw it’s head into the river Siang on the southern side whereas the body was still alive on the northern side of the mountain. As a result, the monster failed to rejoin its body and head again and ultimately died. In this manner Bogum was very courageous, witty, clever and wise enough to subdue his enemy. Obviously Bogum came out with flying colors thereby saved many human lives from the atrocities of Kiibogaro. He was a natural legendary hero of Tani group.
The story of his heroic deeds became very popular and obviously inspired all of us. In reality, we take pride to be one of his descendants.
The personality and physical appearance of AtoBogum resembled the fictional ‘He-man’. But his related stories are neither mythological nor fictional fairy tales but real-life heroic stories only. He was very stout, strong, full of muscles, fearless, very courageous, and he had very quick reflexes. There was no match to his physical and mental abilities. Besides physical strength, he had unspeakable skill in wielding sword and arrow shooting.
AtoBogum used to wear spiky metallic bangles on his both wrists (made of iron and copper) that were very strong hand protector shield made of hyde of bear (lakbu), local beads on neck as ornaments (dogne liker), sword and a knife, bows and arrows dangled his side, a dried tiger’s jaw with teeth on sword belt, head gear (rai bolup) made of cane decorated with a falcon’s claw, six numbers of boar’s teeth, and fur of bear and yak etc. His attires could be better described in Tani language(Galo) as under:- “Dumtedumda lo kokomteki go, gortegordu lo midi kile go, lagdukugu lo bililagbugo,aabokapko lo nyotenyodu go, laksokapko lo aadatarek go, neppekapko lo teylu-tayen go.”He looked like a great warrior. Because of his dominating nature, his counterparts always envied and jealous of him. His counterparts were unable to endure and tolerate his power of supremacy.
Therefore, very off and on his counterparts organized certain deadly games of physical and mental ability competitions in which they conspired to annihilate atoBogum through such deadly games.
But atoBogum proved his superiority over other warriors of Tani descendants not once but again and again. One of such deadly physical competition was “Nyidogilemgomasinam” viz: to stop a huge rain forest falling trees on shoulders that felled down by opponent and viceversa. Such crooked ideas were created by his jealous opponents that conspired to eliminate his life to get power of supremacy
They asked Bogum to perform in first serial order. AtoBogum in advance sensed their ulterior motives, accordingly dug a pit near the tree for escape. When they felled a huge tree ato jumped inside that pit and dodged himself but his opponents were dumbfounded and unable believe own eyes as atoBogum was holding the trunk of the tree on his shoulder as if he had stopped it from falling. His opponents were really shocked to see as to how atoBogum could have stopped such heavy falling tree from touching the ground. They saw that the trunk of the tree was on his shoulder and he was still standing with it.
When it was the turn of atoBogum to fell the treehe asked them to stand in one row so that they can stop the falling tree. However, the trunk of the falling huge tree trampled and crushed all of them, except few who did not join the queue. In this way atoBogum proved his supremacy over other opponents.
Another conspiracy was through another games of death in which one has to lick a piece of sharp bamboo blade “Bumborakkasinam” with his own tongue. AtoBogum was very clever and fast player who knew lot of tricks. Nothing had happened to his tongue however bamboo blades had cut the tongues of his opponent into two pieces as a result many of them became dumb. In this game also Bogum proved his supremacy over other opponents. But as their jealousy grew they conspired more to eliminate him as they were jealous of his supremacy and popularity.
However, the creator had destined atoBogum to act as the savior of human kinds. We are proud of him for he only annihilated the last living mountain monsters and Himalayan flying dragons that used to pick up human beings, domestic animals and devoured them. People were panic stricken due to atrocious activities of monsters like ‘KiiboGaaro’(half dog and half lion), ‘Opo Tachi’(huge sized crab like demon sheltered underground) and ‘Doob Miira’ i.e. the mountain flying dragons.
European Flying Dragon with its human prey
Annihilation of Doob Miiras:- The ‘Doob Miira’ or the flying mountain dragons had a home in a great cave (Mimir bidi) near Siang river at vicinity of Geiling area. They used to carry their prey and dumped them into that cave, where they had their nests and two children I mean their chicks. The flying monster used to make a violent ‘huakhuak sound’ while flying that could be heard from a distance of even 2 kms away. It also used to make a big noise like ‘PIOK’….PIOK’ when happy and eager for hunting. Listening to its callings and shouting gave signal of monster’s presence, consequently all living things like animals both wild and domestic, birds and even human being used to run and hide for their safety.
Many people tried to kill and hunt down the ‘doob miira’ i.e. ‘mountain flying dragons’ however they rather became the easy prey of such flying monsters. Terrors of ‘Doob Miira’ had stricken panic amongst the people to such an extent that they were even afraid to go out of their houses. It was impossible to ensure a peaceful and safety life so long the flying dragons were alive. But the survival of tribal people seemed impossible without going out for cultivation and hunting too.
Finding no alternate way to escape from the evil clutches of the fying dragons, many tribal villagers assembled and engaged most powerful and proficient priests or shamans (Nyib) who performed divination of chicken liver and eggs to forecast the name of the prospective killer of those monsters and carnivorous dragons. Finally, the divination test of eggs and chicken liver foretold that ‘AtoBogum’, only was bestowed with power to annihilate the flying dragons and he only can become the savior of man kind from the atrocities of ‘Doob Miira’. And other than him no one was perceived nor identified. So, the congregation of many tribal villagers from different villages had resolved that AtoBogum should sacrifice his life for the cause of human being by annihilating the ‘Doob Miira.’ On the other hand, AtoBogum also could easily read the minds of some jealous people. Except some genuine persons, most were jealous of his power and supremacy. They were silently conspiring to throw Bogum into the mouth of death. However, in the greater interest of saving human kind from the clutches of flying dragons, AtoBogum smiled a while and accepted the offer. He said that he can ‘take several re-birth to save the human kinds from the evil atrocities of the Himalayan flying dragons.
On the destined day in a warrior’s attires, AtoBogum was marching towards the river bank of Siang where there was a great cave (Mimir bidi). He was leading a crowd of tribal warriors ceremoniously who exhorted him by beating drum and bell metals(amey). Bogum looked very magnificent in ‘Rai bolup’-Bugum’s head gear decorated prominently with boar’s teeth, bear’s fur and falcon’s claws; ‘nyoihai-haro’-Bogum’s sword fitted with tiger’s jaw and teeth; ‘mecho’(match for fire); ‘Uropsotam’ –Bogum’s protector shield; ‘Err-gebbu’-Bogum’s bow and arrows; ‘Hara’-Bogum’s backside protector; ‘kopu-lakbu’-Bogum’s spiky bangles etc.
Hundreds of people were following him, beating ‘dum-dum’-drums; ‘amey’-bell metals and ‘rumdi-peja’-singing slogans to motivate and elate Bogum. AtoBogum with great confident was striding ahead and he just stopped near the opening area of the cave. It was nearly 100 meters deep and without a ladder no body could enter it. People made a ladder (baatu-basak) of larger and longer size of cane (Takek) and asked Bogum to climb down first. They assured him that some more warriors would follow him if he signals them by just shaking the ladder after reaching the main ground of the cave. Taking permission of the Donyipolo, he bade farewell to all and climbed down the ladder in the darkness.
Up in the hill, as they had conspired to throw Bogum into the mouth of death, cut the ladder into pieces so that Bogum can never come back to their life in the village. They preferred to abandon Bogum inside the deep dungeon cave to be devoured by the Monster. They were very sure that he will be dead by the evening. Therefore, on way back to village many people were making merry. They had their different vested interest. Some were happy because Bogum would kill DOOBMiiRA. The most jealous people felt relieved and solace as they were very much sure that Bogum would become an easy prey of ‘Doob miira’. At village they slaughtered mithun and hosted community feast for all.
Having entered the cave, at first Bogum gave a signal to the villagers up outside the caves, however, he did not get any positive response from them. Rather he was really dismayed to see the piece of cane ladder falling down instead of climbing down to help him they abandoned him. He said to himself, ‘Hone mek ne medak nacho, pilik dame ne dadak nacho’i.e. he has been ditched by his own people as usually done by them even to kill a mithun for their own selfish motives as they were usual liars and traitors.
The approximate area covered under the cave was nearly one square kilometer where no human being could have even ventured into as it was very dark and fearful inside. He inspected entire area that was stinking with the smell of rotten corpses of human beings and carcasses of animals. However, he was happy to see a small stream flowing down that was full of fishes as it gave rays of hope for life. Lot of human skulls, skeletons and skeletons of animals were scattering and dumped in a corner. Fresh dead bodies and carcasses were also piled up in another corner. Local beads like ‘dogne, lichum, liker, tompila, rajbele, along with amey-bati (bell metals) were nicely dumped in one of the corners. AtoBogum found a big nest where two off springs of ‘Doob Miira’ were making noise. He picked a piece of meat with the help of his sharp pointed sword and fed them which they easily accepted and ate. That assured him that there are still some more rays of hope to come out from that dungeon one day or the other that too with the help of grown up chicks of DOOBMIIRA.
However, as it was almost getting dark as the sun was setting down, he began to prepare his sword and the arrows to annihilate the mountain flying dragons those have gone out for hunting and they could return any moment. He set a small fire and heated the arrow to smear poisons on it. Thereafter he put out the fire immediately. As soon as he heard the violent sound of the flying monster, he got ready with his (moya) poisonous arrow. There appeared a giant monster flying low in the sky and slowly landed on a rock above the cave carrying a carcass of boar in her claws. Having seated on the rock she first tried to inspect surroundings to ensure that there was no disturbance from any hostile human beings. AtoBogum, aimed at her eye, and shot her down. The monster made a loud screeching sound (Quaaaike) and fell down on the southern part of the cave in the river Siang, however, the carcass of the boar fell down inside the cave. The falling of monster made a loud thud sound that caused violent tremors like earth quack for some 10 seconds.
ATO BOGUM HIMALAYAN FLYING DRAGONS(DOOB MRA)
It was followed by loud thunders and lightnings for few minutes. At the same time, AtoBogum was elated with happiness that he could perform his duty well. At the same time, he was very alert as he knew that some more monsters may fly in and land inside the cave.
Obviously after half an hour of waiting, another monster made a violent sound of flying and appeared on the sky. It also slowly landed down on the same rock and sat therefore some time to ensure full security. It was carrying a woman’s dead body. However, death was awaiting him in the form of AtoBogum. AtoBogum aimed his poisonous arrow (moya) at the eye of the monster and shot down. The monster made same type of loud screeching sound (Quaaaike) and fell down on the southern part of the cave in the river Siang, however, his prey ‘the woman’s dead body’ just fell down inside the cave. While falling, the dying monster made a loud thud sound that also caused violent tremors like earth quack for some 15 to 20 seconds. It was followed by loud thunders and lightnings with dust storm for half an hour. The environment began to change gradually as it was a thunderous night and the sky was lightning heavily followed by storm and heavy rainfalls. There after no monster appeared as both the parents i.e. ‘living mountainous flying dragons’ were now dead and killed by AtoBogum. 
ANNIHILATION OF DOOB MRA
At various villages, mithuns and pigs were slaughtered, opo (local rice beer) were distilled and boozed, community feasts were ate and making merry with ponubari (folk lore). Some were happy because the monsters have been killed by atoBogum, but some of the infighting leaders were making merry because they have pushed Bogum into the mouth of death.
Inside the cave, Ato Bigum set a big fire for heat, light and cooking etc. On seeing human dead bodies, he prayed to Ane Donyi(Goddess Sun) for bestowing peace to their departed souls. He knew it very well that it was next to impossible to come out from this deep dungeon without the help of a flying object. He immediately segregated the meat of human dead bodies and animal carcasses. In his mind, he preplanned the meat of human being as the foods for the chicks of Doob Miira and animal meats for his own consumption. The pieces of meats were then dried above a big fire that were used for their survival. In the course of his staying inside the cave, he could never find any easy way out of the cave. AtoBogum used to catch fish, prawns and crabs and cooked in a bamboo tube and survived. He used to feed the dragon chicks with the dried meats of human and he survived by eating animal meats. His clothes became very old and rags as tore here and there. Life was very terrific and hard inside the cave as he became a cave man. He knew that one day or the other, the babies of the flying dragons would only help him to come out of the cave. Therefore, he tactfully nurtured and reared both the chicks of ‘Doob Miira’ and even trained them to learn human language. They used to call him ‘abo’ means father. He taught both the offspring of Doob Miira to assist him in his activities and they became very obedient and faith full monsters of AtoBogum.
Bogum seem to have survived nearly one year inside the cave during which the monster babies were grown up and looked very huge scary and ferocious. They used to carry Bogum on their back and fly here and there. AtoBogum asked them to carry all package of ‘amey-tadok’ (costly bell metals and beads) and drop them on the right bank of the river Siang. Accordingly, they did it. Now, Bogum had finally decided to move out of the cave to return to his own village. But he had apprehension that those men eater carnivorous might become a terror again for human beings. Therefore, he conspired to kill them after having crossed the cave and river Siang. As they were very obedient, they carried AtoBogum out of the cave and crossed the river Siang towards Geiling and landed on the bank of the river on a great boulder. With lot of love and affection, Bogum asked them to stand in a queue, so that he can examine as to who is taller one? As they stood obediently, AtoBogum stepped backside and chopped off their heads from their necks thereby finally annihilated the last DOOB MRAs. In this manner Bogum had annihilated those monsters that used to pick and killed human beings and domestic animals and devoured them. Hence he had acted as the savior of the mankind from the clutches of the flying dragons.
Carrying the booty like ‘aremtadom’ i.e. costly bell metals and local beads he marched towards his village. On the way in a jungle, he was threatened by another monster called ‘Opo Tachi’. Opo Tachi was a very huge sized crab like demon that used to reside under the ground and pulled down any human being and animal and devoured them. At first it sent a shock wave to Bogum, as if it is going to eat him. But Bogum was very alert and clever. Without knowing identity of Bogum, the opo Tachi informed Bogum that he was going to avenge the killer of ‘Doob Miira.’ So AtoBogum used his spear to pin down all its eight limbs and used his sword to chop them off. Finally, he killed opo tachi also who was a terror in the region. Thereafter he wiped off the stained bloods of his sword by chopping off the ‘khow’ leaves “ekkam”. And it is believed that since then there is a curse (chinam)to some Bogum descendants that the such plants(ekkam) would never flourish if it was cut or felled by those bogum descendants who are blessed with ‘Chinam’.
At last ‘AtoBogum’ in his rags with long hairs and beards, looking very dirty and tardy reached his own village. He was hungry and thirsty looking shabby and untidy. He rather looked like a jungle man. The Sun had already set in, and it was getting dark. As he was very thirsty, he first came to ‘Kombo’ i.e. water source where he met a girl who came to fetch water in ‘silek’ i.e. bamboo tubes. Both did not know each other. The girl was shocked to meet him and she left her silek and began to run. But Bogum asked her who she was? She replied that her father ‘Bogum’ has died a year ago in a cave. Tears rolled down his cheek but he did not reveal his identity. However, he filled the silek with water and gave her to carry home. He advised the child to inform her mother that ‘Bogum’ has returned. The girl left and informed her mother that ‘her father Bogum’ has already returned in the village.
Hearing the stunning news, most of the villagers fled away from the village in afraid of Bogum lest he takes revenge. However, AtoBogum was a very wise person indeed. He did not intend to take revenge with anybody. Rather he displayed great wisdom in his character by following the policy of forgiveness. It was his greatness that he along with his brother BOKA went from village to village and created awareness about unity and integrity of tribal populace especially Tani Group. He rather pleaded the people to return to his own village as he also needed them to establish matrimonial relation for his own brothers and children. He always played a pivotal role for unity and integrity of tribal people in which he was assisted by his own brother Boka. Thereafter, the deeds of ‘Bogum and Boka’ became very popular and a good example for social harmony and tribal unification.
As per 2nd BOGUM BAANE KEBA in 2006 at Liromoba in West Siang District, 3rdBogum Bane Keba in 2014 at KOYU then under East Siang District, 4thBogum Bane Keba in 2019 at Sesi Likar, West Siang Westy Siang district and 5thBogum Bane Keba in 2022 at Darka, under West Siang district the following clans have been approved and recognized as real BOGUMs:-
1.BOJIR 2.BOMJEN 3.BOMNYO 4.BOMSOK 5.BUCHI 6.BUI 7.CHINYO 8.DASI 9.DINI 10.DIRCHI 11.DIYUM 12.GARA 13.HIRA 14.JIRNU 15.KAMBU 16.KAMCHAM 17.KAMCHI 18.KAMI 19.KAMRI 20. KOBO 21. KOYU 22. LAYE 23.LIKAR 24.LINGO 25.LONA 26. MIRO 27.NADA 28.NAJAR 29.PADU 30.ROMIN 31.RONYA 32.SORA 33.TACHA and 34.TATU
Genealogically AtoBogum was one of the descendants of abo Tani. If we regard Abo Tani as number 1 then, the following will be his lineage:-
- Tani, 2. Nidum, 3.Dumde, 4.De, 5.Elo, 6. Lobo, 7. Bogum.
AtoBogum’s heroic deeds are really enchanting and inspiring indeed. In reality, his story has been inspiring me since my childhood. I really adore him and love to glorify him. Jai Ato BOGUM.
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