Tato Ampolung

The legend of Tato (grandfather) Ampolung is very popular among the Misings. It is said that Ampolung was a great hunter and he used to spend most of his times roaming about in the deep forests. One fine day, Ampolung killed a rare species of bird. Seeing the beauty of the bird, two non-human beings, a male and a female jog (Water-spirits) stopped Ampolung on his way home and asked for it. When Ampolung refused to give his hunt, they started troubling him. But he was brave and intelligent. He knew that the power of jog lay in their bag without which neither can they live nor can they get it back by force if it is taken away from them. Ampolung somehow, managed to seize the bag from the male jog and made it his captive. Immediately, the jog assumed the form of a human being and begged Ampolung to return its bag as he started walking. On seeing the plight of the male jog, the female also joined it in imploring. But Ampolung did not turn his ear to their pleadings and kept moving on. At last, however, he took pity on them and was ready to return the bag only on one condition. Both of them agreed to do anything for Ampolung but he just wanted a promise. He asked them not to trouble his race as well as him again. They promised him and left the place with the bag happily saying “Ampolung, your name will always be remembered by us”. Since then, Mising people started uttering Ampolung’s name as Tato Ampolung to keep themselves away from jogs or spirits.

Source~

Book- Role of mising folk tales and folk songs in developing moral values among children a critical study.

Researcher: Doley Pritilata Pegu

Guide: Boro Anil Kumar

Link- http://hdl.handle.net/10603/72266