NARRATIVE DESIGN
BEFORE THE LAND FOUND US
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Purpose: Awareness | Duration: 8 Weeks (2025) | Software: Photoshop
Set against the breathless vastness of the Himalayas and the unforgiving wrath of the Brahmaputra, this is the untold story of the indigenous Mising tribe of Assam, India. Once wanderers from the highlands of Tibet, now rooted in the soil of Assam.
Blending ancestral memory, myth, and lived struggle, this graphic novel traces their harrowing journey through clan wars, failed migrations, religious beliefs, and the desperate need for unity. When mountains pushed them back and rivers threatened to drown them, it was faith, sacrifice, and the whispered dreams of the Mibu (Priest), that pointed the way forward. At its heart lies an answer, part prophecy, part salvation, that became the bridge to their future.
This project reimagines oral histories into a visual epic. It is not just a retelling, but a tribute to survival, kinship, and the land that finally whispered, “You are home.”
THE SEARCH
The project began with field visits to the Mising inhabited regions of Assam, where we spent time with local communities, listening to their stories, observing their rituals, and exploring the folklore that shapes their identity.
Guided by Dr. Pabitra Kumar Pegu, a respected scholar and cultural researcher of the Mising community, and faculty mentor Titu Milli, the journey became more than research, it evolved into a rediscovery of a living heritage. Alongside oral accounts and cultural documentation, we traced and reconfirmed the tribe’s historical migration route by mapping the locations mentioned in local narratives and archival sources.
Through conversations, sketches, and secondary research, we pieced together fragments of their history, mythology, and movement, weaving them into a visual narrative that celebrates their resilience and deep connection with nature.
THE ANSWER
The Mising tribe’s history is quietly fading. For generations, their stories, songs, and beliefs were passed down through spoken word, alive in memory but never written down. As time moves on, this oral tradition has begun to fade, leaving younger generations distanced from the roots that once defined them.
This project aims to preserve and reawaken that heritage through a visual narrative experience. Inspired by initiatives like Prasar Bharati Archives and Studio Zeng, it seeks to tell the Mising story in a way that young minds can see, feel, and connect with helping them understand the journey that shaped their people and honour the legacy of their ancestors.
VISUAL ITERATIONS
TAP TO VIEW
NARRATIVE DESIGN
BEFORE THE LAND FOUND US
THE AWAKENING
As the project evolved from early sketches to refined visuals, the focus shifted toward capturing the finer details, the distinct climate, the rhythm of the landscapes, and the everyday attire and features of the Mising people. Every visual element had to feel lived in and true to its place. It wasn’t just about aesthetic accuracy, but emotional authenticity portraying the tribe’s strength, displacement, and harmony with nature in a way that could resonate deeply with the viewer.
THE CONCLUSION
Blending multiple narratives, historical, cultural, and personal became central to the storytelling. The challenge was to weave fragments of myth, migration, and memory into a cohesive visual experience that was both informative and heartfelt. Designed especially for the younger generation of Assam, the narrative sought to connect them with their roots, helping them see the Mising journey not as distant history, but as a living story of resilience and identity.
