00:00The Brahmaputra is more than just a river for the missing people of Assam.
00:07It's a lifeline, a teacher, and also a threat.
00:11For generations, they have adapted to its changing modes.
00:15The word missing itself translates to man of the water.
00:21Here, life begins early.
00:24Rajen Millie, a farmer from the missing community of the Biswanath district,
00:29sets out towards the Chapori, a riverine island.
00:35The Chapori provides a natural and abundant grazing area,
00:39supporting the cattle rearing of the missing community.
00:45We are one of the few communities to live very close to the Brahmaputra.
00:51Because of erosion from the Brahmaputra, the river changes its way
00:55and when it meanders to the settlement, then, during floods, we dispantle
01:01and move our houses to a new place.
01:07It is almost impossible to survive here without Changhar.
01:13Changhar, or stilt houses, are a unique architecture of the missing community.
01:20They are made using bamboo.
01:22Because of bamboo's lightweight and flexibility, these elevated houses are flood resistant.
01:27We need a lot of bamboo to make a Changhar.
01:35From making the pillars, walls, the raised platform, to a false ceiling.
01:42Long grasses to make the roof.
01:48The fireplace is our main area.
01:54We eat here and we sit here in groups to discuss.
02:01We make promises before the fire as a sacred witness.
02:09The average Changhar can cost between 80,000 to 1 lakh rupees to be built.
02:15That is, around 900 euros.
02:17The effectiveness of the Changhar has been recognized by the government as well.
02:22The National Social Welfare Programme to provide housing for populations below the poverty line
02:27also finances the building of Changhar's in flood-prone areas.
02:31Floods make our land fertile, so farming feels rewarding.
02:40We grow a flood-resistant paddy like ao and bao here,
02:44and also rare animals like cows, goats, chicken and ducks.
02:52Fish is our staple.
02:53We missing people deeply rely on it.
02:56With a population of over 680,000, the missing are one of the largest tribal communities in Assam
03:10and are vulnerable to climate change.
03:13Despite the increasing frequency of floods and erosion,
03:16they continue to rely on indigenous knowledge, especially in relation to the Changhar.
03:26When the flowing water becomes muddy and full of sand,
03:35it's a sign that there has been heavy rain in the hills,
03:38and a flood may be on its way in a few days.
03:43When monsoons come, then you see the real benefits of Changhar.
03:47We mark our houses to ensure the water level stays below it.
03:53But the story of resilience isn't only told by men.
03:59For women of the missing community, living with the river brings its own daily challenges.
04:06Sometimes the raised platform floods, so we build another one on top.
04:14For women, it's not always easy. Not everyone can take a boat to the river.
04:18I have been using a boat since I was 15.
04:23Like Hunumati, many families depend on boats as much as their homes.
04:28For Rajen too, the canoe is as essential as the stilted house.
04:33Flood preparedness isn't just about housing.
04:39It's woven into the missing way of life.
04:42From storing food and learning to swim early to survive the Brahmaputra's powerful currents,
04:47to planting cycles, to the shared knowledge passed down through generations,
04:52this community has long practiced what the world now calls climate resilience.
04:57Sanghor is emerging as one of the significant practices in climate change adaptation at the community level.
05:06During a disaster point of time, people are able to stay within their own houses,
05:12instead of moving beyond their houses to the other communities.
05:16For missing women and youth, the floods mean more than displacement.
05:24They disrupt education, health and safety.
05:27Still many young people remain rooted here,
05:30working with elders to preserve their culture while finding new solutions.
05:35For centuries, the missing people have lived not in defiance of the Brahmaputra,
05:42but in rhythm with it.
05:45The Changar is not just a shelter.
05:47It is memory, knowledge and resistance stilted above the tides of change.
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