Siang River
Context: Intense opposition to a proposed mega-dam on the Siang River has sparked widespread protests against hydropower projects across Arunachal Pradesh.
Important Pointers:
Origin and Naming: The Siang River is the name given to the Yarlung Tsangpo (China) after it enters Arunachal Pradesh.
Geography: The river forms a U-shaped bend around Namcha Barwa peak before entering India as the Siang (or Dihang).
Course: After entering Assam, the Siang is joined by the Dibang and Lohit rivers and is then called the Brahmaputra.
Siang Sub-Basin States: The Siang River sub-basin spans Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
Adi Tribe:
Location: The Adi tribe primarily inhabits the Siang belt and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
Composition: Comprising 14 sub-tribes, including Minyong, Padam, Pasi, and Tangam, among others.
Features: They are a Mongoloid-featured, patriarchal society with rich traditional forest knowledge.
Belief System: They practice Animism, particularly the Donyi Polo faith (worship of the Sun and Moon).
Agriculture: Follow traditional jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn method).
Language: Speak the Adi language, part of the Sino-Tibetan family, distantly related to Chinese and Tibetan.