INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF SALT-MAKING AMONG THE NOCTE: INTEGRATING LOCAL ECONOMIES, LORES, AND CULTURAL NARRATIVES

The Nocte tribe of Arunachal Pradesh in India possesses a rich repository of natural resources intricately embedded in its ecological setting and cultural life. Among these, the brine springs locally known as sum phong occupy a central position in the historical economy and socio-cultural heritage of the community. During the rule of the Ahom kingdom in Assam, salt produced in the low hills of Tirap and adjoining Sadiya region was a highly demanded commodity across the Brahmaputra plains. The springs were popularly referred to as Nimok Pung (salt wells), reflecting their economic importance in regional trade networks. Drawing upon historical chronicles such as the Buranjis and colonial records, this study examines inter-tribal and hill-plains interactions shaped by control over these vital resources. Frequent conflicts between the Noctes and the Ahoms emphasize the strategic value of the salt springs amid widespread scarcity of salt in the plains. The paper further explores indigenous knowledge systems associated with salt extraction, including traditional techniques of well construction, methods of evaporation and processing, and the policies and rituals associated with local salt. It also documents the rituals, oral narratives, folktales, and folk songs intertwined with salt-making practices. By situating salt springs as both ecological assets and cultural symbols, the study highlights their enduring impact on the economic history, social organization, and intangible heritage of the Nocte community, even as the traditional salt-making industry has declined in contemporary times.