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This deposit documents the process of making pvdu [pədu], a traditional fabric crafted from a nettle plant variety among the Nyishi tribe of East Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, India, in the light of narrative, beliefs and socio-cultural significance. The project that has resulted in this deposit was designed and conducted by TABA Yami, with contributing assistance from Roni Natung, through a 2024 FLICR Fellowship awarded to Yami Taba by the Centre for Cultural-Linguistic Diversity (Eastern Himalaya) (Co-Directors Mark W. Post and Yankee Modi, Associate Directors Kellen Parker Van Dam and Zilpha Modi). Financial support for the 2024 FLICR Fellowship program was provided by the Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research, through a grant administered by the University of Sydney. The project was mentored by Thomas Smith.
The project consists of 21 audiovisual files in an Upper variety of the language of the Nyishi people. All files are transcribed and translated into English, and are further supported by set of photographs with metadata. This deposit presents an invaluable opportunity to capture both the material and cultural significance of this practice, not just in its technical aspects, but also in the stories, songs, and communal experiences that are woven into this fabric.
Once widely worn by tribes across the eastern Himalayan region, pvdu is now a rare commodity, with synthetic yarn and mass-produced fabrics overshadowing its use. Yet, pvdu holds historical and cultural weight—more than a garment, it represents a connection between people and their environment. This effort to preserve the knowledge of pvdu production is crucial for reviving traditional practices and ensuring that future generations can access this cultural heritage.
This project also contributes significantly to the documentation of Nyishi language varieties, which are among the richest and most diverse and yet least well-documented among the Tani group of Trans-Himalayan languages. The variety of Nyishi documented through this project is most widely spoken in the area around Seppa. It is highly significant for its use of voiced and voiceless labial fricatives.
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