Tracing the journey of the Bogum clans through oral traditions and ancestral memory
Like most tribal clans, the Bogum clans lack a written history. Instead, they have preserved a rich and vibrant oral tradition, encompassing myths, legends, folk tales, and ancestral narratives passed down faithfully from generation to generation.
These oral traditions serve as invaluable sources for reconstructing the early history of the Bogum people — their origins, migration routes, and settlement patterns. Each tribal clan has its own version of migration, as different groups followed distinct routes at varying times.
According to oral tradition, the Great Ato Bogum had five brothers — Boh, Boka (also known as Bakang), Botu, Bomi, and himself. He had two wives, Yakam and Ribo, from whom were born three sons — Ato Gumdin, Gumle, and Gumi — and one daughter, Gumne.
Ato Bogum and his brothers are believed to have begun their migration from places known as Taro Hango, Didum, and Sirang, located in present-day Tibet (China). From there, they moved to Geiling and subsequently to Ringo in present-day Tuting.
Some descendants moved from Miging toward Gaseng, Payum, Kaying, and the southern regions. The majority proceeded from Dite Dime to the present Pangin area near the Siyom–Siang confluence. From Pangin, they migrated to Rotung and then moved northward to Nyik-Artu.
From Nyik-Artu, the Bogum clans gradually dispersed in search of permanent settlements to accommodate their growing population. Some Bogum clans continue to reside in Upper Siang and East Siang districts from time immemorial.
