THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF THE OLLO TRIBE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

This study explores the intricate social structure of the Ollo tribe, an indigenous community inhabiting the Laju Circle of Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh, India, and parts of Myanmar. The Ollo tribe, a subgroup of the Tangshang Naga, possesses a rich oral tradition, ancestral worship practices, and distinct cultural identity rooted in their connection with nature, kinship, and clan-based social systems. Despite external influences such as urbanisation and religious conversion, the community has remained resilient in preserving its ancestral customs, particularly those transmitted through folksongs and storytelling.The research adopts an ethnographic and historical approach, drawing upon oral histories, folklore (notably the Voorang folksong), clan records, and customary practices to document the social and familial systems of the Ollo people. Special attention is given to the tribes hierarchical organisation based on clan divisions, particularly the roles of the Lowang (chiefs) and Ngongpa (leaders), and the strict patrilineal inheritance system. The study maps out the 13 Ollo villages in Arunachal Pradesh and 5 in Myanmar, providing detailed insight into their demographic spread and sub-clan formations.Findings reveal that the Ollo society is deeply patriarchal, with well-defined roles based on gender and lineage. Family, kinship, and leadership are governed by strict traditional norms that prioritise male succession and property rights. Despite their isolation, the Ollo have preserved a unique cultural ethos through rituals, dormitory systems, marriage customs, and annual festivals like Voorang, which reflects their agrarian roots and mythic past.The study concludes that the Ollo tribes social structure, while rigid in some respects, serves as a stabilising force in maintaining community cohesion and cultural continuity. It highlights the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge systems, especially in communities with limited written documentation, and calls for further interdisciplinary research to support their cultural survival amid changing socio-political dynamics.