Kinship: Genealogical Relationships of Nyishi People Of Arunachal Pradesh

Kinship System in most societies plays a significant role in the socialisation of individuals and maintenance of group solidarity. It is important in the society and extends its influence on almost all the activities in the social, economic, political and religious spheres. So it is a study of the behavioural and organisational dimensions of human society. It is the Kin group which takes care of one’s livelihood, career, marriage, protection and social identity. The central fabric of Kinship is biology. It is because of biology that we find Kinship in all human societies. According to South African anthropologist, Meyer Fortes, “kinship is an expression of some fundamental feature of social structure. In every society the biological link of Father-Mother-Children and between siblings is recognised as the basis of kinship. Moreover Kinship is not merely a bundle of rights and duties; it is also emotional and affective. They are relationships of co-operation and sharing of emotional and physical security”. The Nyishi people of Arunachal Pradesh like all other beings are organised on the basis of Kinship. They conceptualise their Kins as comprising of two kinds of people, who are both related to each other. One category of the Kins is recognised as agnate or consanguineal and the other category as affine. They give more importance, consideration and inclined to his Kins in his patrilineal line. The kinship relations within the agnate group are that of more intimacy and frankness. Whereas the kinship relations with the affinal groups are full of formalities and restrictions. Their Kinship is largely classificatory because they use certain terms of reference both for their lineal as well as for the collateral and filial relatives.