Higher Secondary School

Ziro Higher Secondary School, Ziro. This is the institute which has produced scores of people of high calibre making their contributions in vaious walks of life throughout the country today. This was the feeder school for the whole of ertwhile Subansiri area comprising of today's Upper Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare. If anybody is maintaining a list of institutions with historic significance, this is one.

Sadly, the school infrastructures are falling apart. The performance of students also have fallen to abysmally low status, though occasional exceptional students have managed to keep up its reputation. The work culture of teachers and attitudes of the studentts need urgent review. On the other hand, the communities which have received so much from the school need to start considering some kind of reciprocal gesture.

The school compound remains magnificent inspite of alleged encroachments by owners of land surrounding it. The compound occupies the best hillock in the whole of Ziro Valley.

Dream Ziro

These are pictures of Circleville, a small unheard of village in Pendleton Country in West Virginia where I am putting up these few days. Walking these streets, my thoughts go back to the Apatani villages and the contrasts cannnot be more striking. It is not to say that one village is better than the other - but it makes one wonder, you know.

The similarity with the Apatani villages is that none of the houses in this village need to be locked when the owner goes out. Since everybody know each other, there is high degree of trust.

Did you notice the electric post? It is wooden. It striked me when I saw these wooden poles in Harrisonburgh near Washington DC in my first visit to US. These poles in the village is less striking, but gives a rural touch to the entire landscape.

Pine Grove

Myolyang, or more specifically, Tajang Myolyang is referred to as Pine Grove. It is known for the richness with which nature presents itself. Along with Ziro Putu, the place is one of the oldest places where the seeds of modernity in Apatani area was sown. The Border Roads Organization had settled down in the serene locale at the outskirts of Ziro. The establishment was much bigger in the sixties and early seventies when it expanded from Lyembe near Lempia village to Ringa near Kiile Pakho. In fact, many of the people had their glimpse of a movie in the Cinema Hall at Lyembe. It is said that most of the establishments was dismantled when the bulk of the manpower was shifted during 1962 Indo-China war.

Today, the Rai houses the residential quarters of the officers and the Officers’ Mess while other facilities like the CSD Canteen, Health Post, accommodations for other officials are at Myolyang. Skeletal remains at Ringa today accommodate some laborers.

The place, however, is one of the most picturesque spots at Ziro area even today. The pine trees and bamboo gardens there are one of the healthiest and most well-maintained in the entire area.

Deputy Commissioner's Bangalow

The Deputy Commissioner's official bangalow at Ziro is located at one of the best sites in the area. Sitting atop a small hill, one can have an excellent view of the Higher Secondary School in the north and the entire Hapoli Bazar and the General Ground in the south.

The bangalow has seen scores of officers who came to occupy this house and rule the Subansiri area. It may be recalled that the present Upper Subansiri, Kurung Kumey and Papum Pare districts have all been carved out of Subansiri district, of which Ziro was the headquarter.

The house has undergone lots of modifications, hosted different types of officers and witnessed rapid changes around it, but still retains the dignity it deserves.

Pengu Miilyobo

The tradition of conflict dates back to time immemorial. When a person with special attributes is defeated in such conflicts, history is made. There was such a person of high status named Pengu Miilyobo who lived in Pengu in the Ziro valley. There were others with similar status like Siilaň Santii, Dilaň Taribo, Asaň Korlaň and Aha Korlaň who made constant plans to eliminate him. Aha Korlaň first tried to demolish Pengu Miilyobo, but could not budge him. After several such attempts it was Asaň Korlaň who finally came with storm, lightning and thunders and destroyed Pengu Miilyobo.

Pengu Miilyobo fell, but his remains can still be seen in various locations in Apatani plateau. The head – adiň and chest – habyaň are at Supyu, about a kilometer north-west of Lempia village. The picture above is the head and the one below is the chest.


Piidiň or the hairknot can be seen at Khogyo at Hong village.


And this is Pengu Miilyobo's breast or anyiň.


The female reproductive organ of Pengu Miilyobo can be seen at the paddy fields of Gano at Bamin village. It is called Gano Pedebo.


Likewise, Gano Yidebo or the male reproductive organ is up in the hills at Gano. (Could this be the original Shiva Linga?)


(Apologies for the picture quality)