Biate Nature

The Biates are meek and gentle. This nature very well compliment their language, which also is a very sweet language. Their fellow tribes and neighbours recognised them as a soft spoken tribe because of their nature and the softness and sweetness of their language.

The Biates are reserved and undemanding.They do not easily express their emotions and do not easily vent their anger and dissatisfaction. They do not even demand which is rightfully theirs. They strongly believe in a just society. They have a strong character embedded in justice and peace. Because of this they can peacefully co-exist with their neighbours. They are peace loving and believe in peaceful and diplomatic resolutions to conflicts.

The Biates have a sense of civility. They have polite, reasonable and respectful behaviour.

The Biates have the attitude of “Tlomringaina” (selflessness or altruism). They are concern for the welfare of one another and selflessly contribute towards this.

The Biates stand for the principles of good citizenship. They are responsible community members. They faithfully and obediently contribute to the nation building.

The Biate Pioneer Statesman

Mr J.C. Nampui the Biate pioneer statesman (IAS Officer through UPSC Direct Recruitment in 1955) was amongst the first Chief Secretaries of State Governments in India from the Scheduled Tribes. He served in this position in Meghalaya for two term during 13/05/1980-26/08/1983 & 01/07/1985-13/02/1986. In Meghalaya, he was the first Scheduled Tribe Chief Secretary. He was also the first Sheduled Tribe Deputy Commissioner of Cachar District during 20/10/1960-20/12/1960 and 05/0/1961-30/09/1963. He was also the second Scheduled Tribe Deputy Commissioner of the Mizo District during 3/3/1961-29/9/1961.

An Intro and Some Observations on the Biate Tribe

Intro:

Though the Biates are less in numbers, they have their own identity through their language, custom, traditional religious beliefs, traditional dresses, dances, songs, musical instruments, folktales and so on. Like the majority of the hill people of Northeast India, the Biates belong to the Indo-Mongoloid group. Their language belongs to Tibeto-Burman language group. Though of Mongoloid race, they have a dark-brown-yellowish complexion, broad and round face, high and prominent cheekbones, small and narrow eyes with flat and short nose. The Biates have a reserved nature. They are soft spoken and their language is very sweet.

Observations:

1)      The Biates are an old hill tribe who has a rich historical heritage.

2)      The Biates are peace loving community from the beginning of their history. The history of their migration is the history of their alienation from their hostile fellow tribes.

3)      The Biates loved to live in community. In the course of their nomadic history they have travelled in compact communities as far as possible.

4)      In spite of the many difficulties and problems the Biates faced from hostile and assimilative forces and elements in their nomadic and migratory history they have developed and preserved their culture.

5)      The Biates in their present settlement are good citizens who contribute to the nation building.

6)      The Biates have been neglected by the concerned Governments, because; their land is remote, their population is less and they have reserved nature in never revolting, protesting and taking up violent means in their search for development.