Abstract: Rivers exist all over the world and have been an integral part of cultural identity in ways that engage with the social system. It has also been a subject of enquiry and inspiration across the ages, engaging men of science, men of faith, and men of poetry alike. In indigenous literature, water imagery appears in the trope of rain or rivers acting as an entity of their own. However, the affinity between the two runs deeper than simply co-existing in a shared space, and what is often overlooked is understanding matters of interaction and, consequently, the construction of relationships. Therefore, this paper will study the portrayal of rivers in literature, particularly in Mamang Dai’s collection of poems titled River Poems (2013), to understand the role of rivers and their significance in the cultural tradition of the people of Arunachal Pradesh. When the world is facing catastrophic events such as the global climate crisis, this paper will allow a better comprehension of how tribal cultures will be affected as well. It will also attempt to identify how rivers can contribute toward our understanding of the abiotic elements and locate their importance in the human-nature continuum. Additionally, Dai’s poetry collection will also add to the repertoire of where knowledge about rivers is produced. 

Keywords: Rivers, Culture, Identity, Tribal worldview.

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