Abor

Abor refers to a designation historically used for several related indigenous communities in the Abor Hills region of Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. In late 19th and early 20th century ethnography, the term Abor appeared in British and other colonial writings to describe groups sharing linguistic and cultural links that are now often encompassed within the broader Adi or Abor-related subgroups. In contemporary classification, these communities are typically understood as part of the Adi linguistic and cultural cluster, rather than as a single, uniform people.

Geography and population data point to the Abor-speaking communities inhabiting the Abor Hills and surrounding areas along river basins in northern and central Arunachal Pradesh. Population figures vary by source and sub-group, reflecting the region’s diversity and the evolving usage of local identifiers.

Language remains a key link among Abor-related groups. The Abor languages are generally considered part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family, often grouped with the Adi languages. Dialects and varieties can differ between villages and subgroups, with some communities bilingual in regional linguae francae.

Culture and social organization traditionally center on village life with clan-based kinship and customary practices tied to the agricultural calendar. Subsistence has historically included shifting cultivation, along with crops such as millet and maize; modernization has altered some traditional economic practices. Indigenous religious beliefs emphasizing nature spirits and ancestral reverence have coexisted with later religious conversions, including Hinduism and Christianity, in various communities. Artisanal crafts such as weaving and wood carving have long been important cultural expressions.

Today, Abor-associated groups are part of Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse indigenous population, with many communities recognized within broader Scheduled Tribes frameworks and integrated into modern state structures while preserving distinct cultural identities.