NINU : A Saga of the Valorous Wanchos

Mady Menon’s novel Ninu is indeed a novel experiment of recorded history of North East India twined with fiction, lacing the history and fiction and yet separating the two distinctly.The history portion is highly compacted and functions like a mini encyclopaedia. North East history mired in fair obscurity and yet reflects many events in world history. A queen meted out punishment like Mary Antonette in French Revolution. Commoners usurping power and the Kings adorning themselves with divine powers to exact respect from their subjects like what the Pharohs of Egypt did or the Mysore Kings did in India. An event similar to Helen of Troy and Prince Paris spinning tumultous fall outs. North East India history is truly fascinating.Were Communism and Socialism modern concepts? No...... Read Ninu and be shocked to know that North East has discovered and practiced the concepts.The Paik system practiced in the North East was very much practiced long before Karl Marx was born.Mady Menon makes an excellent effort to showcase the rich history of North East, dating back to Ghatothkach and Hidambi of Mahabharat and descendent of Yayati. The interaction of the people with Myanmar, Tibet, China and South East Asia are explored.The second part of the book is fiction woven by Mady Menon and Menon has succeeded in capturing the essence of children growing up thru various stages of their life which makes a fascinating read. The fiction can suitably be abridged and adapted for schools as part of English non-detailed text, which shall enable children to understand and appreciate their rich culture.What makes this book interesting apart from being a fine rich blend of history and fiction?The twist in the tale towards the end, which brings back the reader to the beginning of the tale.Overall an excellent maiden effort by the author in a painstaking attempt to get under the skin of North East and present it, in a ultra novel form; educative, informative and yet enthralling.

North East India is a treasure trove of rich tribal cultures and martial traits. This book is an outstanding work bringing to fore actual details of life, temperamental sensitivity, history and culture of some of our least known tribals of the area. Anyone who follows North East India, Assam, Nagaland and in particular Arunachal, are going to love it. The fictitious 'real life' characters created by the author makes his story-style narration absolutely captivating. The book will be of immense value to the Army units, Assam Rifles, Central Armed Police Forces and the civil administration staff posted in North East. It will also be an invaluable resource for school students and students of history.

In our diverse nation, one encounters numerous indigenous communities, among which are the Wanchos—a tribe for whom headhunting was once a source of pride. Presently residing in Ninu, located within the bounds of Arunachal Pradesh, they are recognized as one of the Naga tribes.The book "Ninu: A Saga of the Valoruous Wanchos" unveils the rich history of this tribe, spanning from the British colonial era to the contemporary times, with eloquent detail. Through the lens of the main characters, Shawang and his wife Chanyo, readers are transported into the intricate tapestry of Northeast India's past. The narrative not only sheds light on the evolution of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh but also delves into the socio-cultural fabric of the Wanchos.This meticulously researched work offers invaluable insights into the geographical and social landscape of the region. It addresses pertinent questions about the Wanchos' present-day whereabouts, their societal status, and the tribulations they endured in the past. For enthusiasts of Northeastern history, this book is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered.

Mady Menon’s ‘Ninu’I must commend Madhavan Parappil for his highly informative book on a far corner of India little known to most of us. I briefly visited Namrup in Assam in 1984 on a day’s visit, returning to Kolkata the same day. I remember seeing the awesome Brahmaputra River at Dibrugarh. I admit that I know nothing about that part of India.The progress made by the North Eastern States is impressive. It is in a large measure due to an empathetic civil administration with excellent support from the Army and Assam Rifles. The setting up of schools and universities and improvement in literacy are amazing. They have gone ahead of big states like UP and Bihar, despite forbidding terrain, difficulty in communications and widely divergent tribal populations and cultures.India owes a great debt of gratitude to then Governor Jairam Das Daulat Ram for giving a free hand to the Army to take over Tawang, despite PM Nehru’s hesitation. Tawang is now a major center of Buddhism and gave refuge to Dalai Lama when he escaped from Tibet after the Chinese occupation. It is a sore point for China that Tawang is in India.Mady’s book is a mine of information of tribal origins, movements, customs and cultures. I guess Army officers by the very nature of their deployment get to interact with the locals much more than the Navy and the Air Force. I was intrigued by ‘wet canteens’ run by intrepid Marwari businessmen. I first came across the word in a recent post from General Raj Mehta. Mady explains how the canteen served Burmese Army across the border also. I have always held Marwaris in high esteem. This book has reinforced my views.The author bravely attempts to trace the history of the region spanning centuries, starting from the visit of the Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang. There is even a reference our mythology- King Bhishmak father of Rukmini (wife of Lord Krishna) is believed have ruled in the area. I also learnt how Christian missionaries succeeded in conversions unlike the Ramakrishna Mutt schools, which scrupulously followed the diktat of the Freedom of Religion Act.Mady has skillfully woven the personal story of a progressive Wancho tribal couple who got educated and ended up senior officials in Arunachal Pradesh Government. Their children ended up as Rhodes Scholar and MD in medicine. Their personal history is enchanting reading. His love for the local people and deep understanding of tribal cultures comes shining in the narrative.The book, however, ends up falling s between two stools- a history of Wanchos and North East tribals on one hand and the personal story of a tribal young man coming to terms with modern society and coming out on top. Is it a biography or a history? I believe in trying to attempt both, the author has made the book more difficult to read for a lay reader not familiar with the army or the north east. The passages on tribal migrations and history overpower the reade at times.It is not clear whom the book addresses- an anthropologist, a military analyst or the general public. The author cannot do all three, especially for a new writer.There is considerable repetition, for example the story of Rukmini and Krishna is repeated twice and King Bhismak mentioned many times in the book. Editing and removing duplications can make it shorter and more readable. The book needs photographs of the colorful region, lot more maps and a short diagram showing the different tribes, origins and locations.These comments notwithstanding, the book is an impressive attempt to portray changes in a remote corner of India, by someone who clearly loves the place and its people.Strongly recommended reading