The Mikirs

In the late nineteenth‑century Assam, a young civil servant named Edward Stack throws himself into the world of the Mikir people, learning their language with the help of a bright convert, Sārdokā. Their partnership produces a rich collection of folk tales, vocabularies and grammatical notes that reveal a vibrant culture hidden behind colonial reports. As Stack records daily conversations and legends, listeners hear the rhythms of a language on the brink of documentation, and the quiet determination of a scholar whose health falters amid the humid hills.

Beyond the meticulous linguistics, the narrative offers glimpses of daily life along the Brahmaputra: markets, rituals, and the natural landscape that shapes Mikir identity. Stack’s dedication, his bond with Sārdokā, and the unfinished promise of his work create a portrait both scholarly and intimate, inviting listeners to step into a world where language and tradition intertwine.