Essays on Primordial Religion
Author: Prof. Gangmumei
Published by: Akanksha Publishing House Darya Ganj
New Delhi – 1100 02

Professor Gangmumei’s book titled ‘Essays on Primordial Religion’ consists of four important essays of significance covering the tenets of tribal religions of their indigenous beliefs, customs and philosophy of life i.e. Maori people of New Zealand, Zulus of South Africa, the Cherokees of North America (American Indians), and Sankyos of Korea which leads to uncover the eternity - breath and still relationship of living and the dead – a spiritual –soul – super soul relationship.

This super soul high God, Super God, Supreme God, King of the Pantheons is similar to Atman & Pramataman of the Upanishads, Akalpurukh of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Father Soul of the Christians and Ilahi of the Muslims.

The systematic study of the essays gives an inquirer a deep dip into spiritual thoughts and aesthetic explanation of the intricacies of the Great.

The study of indigenous religions of the variety spread over continents with no inter-communications in the remote past establishes the theory of intrinsic connection of man with nature to gods pantheons to one Supreme God dictated by revelations and progressive natural manifestation’s is clearly inherited, generation to generations & built upon by revealed and the enlightened - transforming medieval religions & with march of civilizations, and as it is, with so many philosophic – anthro-historic renderings of the indigenous thoughts that evolutioni-sed into a global search of man urging him to understand importance of a Man to Man in cosmic realization of Nature’s dictations on code of conduct for fulfilment of life on earth.

As such there is razor thin difference between heathenism, animism, and pagan’s mytho-superstitions since pagans have also had faith somewhere, the author has very successfully & boldly taken upon the anthropologists and the Christian missionaries who had written on religious beliefs, customs & practices of the indigenous tribal people with bias, prejudice and contempt painting them as pagans, heathens, barbaric devoid of wisdom and knowledge.

He has given explicit depiction of difference between animism and the faiths so involved. Progressive study of the essays with special emphasis on Seng Khasi, Donyi - Polo, Ting Kao - Rangwang, Sana Mahi and divergent faiths from Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim reinforce the observation of Dr. Hanlet Barh that the traditional divinely belief of the indigenous beliefs is a plural manifestation of the divinity to universal faith in one God which probably had led to birth of Zoroastrian & Vedic stored knowledge both and finally to modern religions (too) state & status - God as the Almighty in his omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent – transcendental sought as ever.

Dr. Naval Viyogi, D Litt (USA) – Director, Indian National Historical Resource Council in his book ‘The Native Culture of India (The wonder that was) mentions that T.W. Ryhs David was the first Scholar who after an in-depth study of Buddhist Pali literature concluded and unveiled the secret that in ancient times the indigenous republican people were most civilized.

He passed a remark to this effect in the introductory part of his valuable venture which is being reproduced in full below, “It is significant that this important factor in the social condition of India in the sixth and seventh century B.C. has remained hitherto un-noticed by scholars either in Europe or in India. They have relied for their information about the Indian peoples too exclusively on the Brahmin books.

And these partly because of the natural antipathy felt by the priest towards the free republic.” But in the third decade of this century, while ancient town of Indus Valley Civilization was explored by the British archaeologist’s like Marshall, Mackay and Wheeler, the picture emerged in full and it was fully proved that civilization of indigenous people was very high in the remote past.

These two historical treatises support each other so for primordial organization of people into Sanghs and religions are concerned and so are the development of philosophies on religions & beliefs, Prof. Gangmumei’s book is a marvellous blend of historical and religio- philosophical search of indigenous faiths.

This is enchanting reading for those who are genuinely keen to explore the layers of cosmology. Apart from guidance to scholars, these thoughts once understood and interpreted in political languages will lead to eliminate dissensions, and parochial thinking’s communities to tribes & region to religion based, to achieve peace in humanities for a true global living and understanding. Each library must possess this book.

In the next edition it will however be nice if all the four signs on the jacket cover are marked to which group they belong to for quick identification by the readers and the print errors taken care of. The work of Prof. Gangmumei deserves appreciation and recognition by lovers of religions, philosophy and history.

This concept of primordial may set in motion the existence of life on earth to millions of year as depicted in various religious thoughts of Yugas in Indian thought contrary to 3000 to 5000 years of known history learnt from published historical records