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Don’t mess with us or else face the music!

By AG | Published: October 1, 2007
I don’t know what exactly transpired during the 8th September Freshers Meet at Rajiv Gandhi University or at 20th September University elections, where 2 first semester students of the University were made to tender public apology (which was splashed over all the state dailies) for their remarks on Nyishi Community at these two occasions. Apparently, one had remarked, “Nyishi’s are wild, inferior and lethargic” while the other had questioned during election platform speech “Why only the Nyishi should always hold the office of the President and the Secretary of RGU student’s union?” (quoted from their public apology letters). The two events disturbed me a lot and set me thinking.

No doubt, the first remark was racist and shouldn’t have been made in the first place, but then shouldn’t the Nyishi students’ community have shown some maturity and tried to solve the issue amicably without pressurising the students’ to tender public apology? Shouldn’t they have tried to find out why that particular student harbour such negative view about their community and tried to remove it with understanding and maturity? I’d say, the student who tendered public apology, even if under duress, has shown greater sense of maturity to diffuse the tension than his counterpart.

Secondly, since the university is not a domain of any particular XYZ community, I feel there was no point for such hullabaloo when the question was asked-why only XYZ community is holding the office of President and the Secretary of the University Students Union? Their answer would have been simply-may be we are much eligible than others, that’s why, instead of just pressurising other to tender public apology. Or is it that they wanted to send a message across-Don’t mess with us or else be ready to face the music!

C’mon guys, we need to grow up and give room for understanding and mutual respect instead of just trying to suppress others; after all, we are Arunachalees and not the Apatanis, the Adis, the Nyishi’s, the Mishmi’s, the Monpa’s, etc., etc.

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh | 16 Comments

2nd Pangsau Pass Winter Festival 2008, Nampong

By AG | Published: October 1, 2007
To showcase the rich tradition of Tangsa’s and to promote eco-tourism, the annual fete- Pangsau Pass winter Festival is returning again.

Nampong, 20 sep’ 07: A meeting was held on 20th Sep’ 07 at the office of Extra Assistant Commissnor, Nampong chaired by Hon’ble Speaker, Sri. Setong Sena, APLA, attended by all the Public Leaders, Govt. Department Heads, Panchayat Leaders, the Villagers and the Youths of Nampong, Manmao and Jairampur Circles to discuss the ensuing Pangsau Pass Winter Festival which is held annually from 20th Jan to 22nd Jan. As the venue, Nampong and its vicinity is famous for the historical monuments like the Stilwell road stretches that ends at China, the World War–II cemetery, the Hell Gate, the Lake of No Return, the Pangsau Pass and above all the one and only of its kind in India, the Butterfly Conservation Site. The Pangsau Pass Winter Festival is organized annually to promote eco-tourism along with the culture and cuisine of this region. It’s been couple of year since the commencement of this mega event and so far the response from the foreign and domestic tourist has been overwhelming. The Namchik Valley Society for Eco-Tourism & Wildlife Conservation, an NGO who had organized successful Butterfly India Meet event in 2006, the first ever in entire North East, furthermore involves in organizing nature trails, Butterfly watching events for nature enthusiasts who are interested to witness the rare flora and fauna of the region. This time the committee has decided to experiment and include Living with Nature accommodations for guests from abroad. If this experiment succeeds than it will be a major boost for the economy of the region. As the Living with Nature accommodations will be provided in co-operation with the interested villages and villagers.

According to the Additional Deputy Commissnor, Jairampur, who is heading the steering committee of organizers “Large numbers of domestic and European tourists are expected to visit as numerous established tour operators from Kolkata and other state has already sent their special packages for the program,” he added that various NGO’s working for eco-tourism has sent their consent to participate in this event. The last year event was successful according to the officials of Pangsau pass winter festival committee; he also includes that major part of the tourist was captivated by the charms of the Tangsa culture and cuisines. The traditional sports were the other attraction along with the track and trail of rare flora and fauna of the region that has fascinated the tourist. He added that the ensuing winter festival 2008 will attract more tourists from the neighborhood state and abroad. The main attraction of the event would be the ethnic cultural teams from Myanmar.

For details of the festival contact: -

Arif Siddiqui
Media & Publicity In charge
Pangsau Pass Winter Festival 2008
Land – 03800-222770, Hand – 09436057366

Email – arunachal.arif@gmail.com

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Jairampur, Pangsau Pass Winter Festival, Tourism | 2 Comments

Is the Eruption site still emitting heat and smoke?

By AG | Published: October 1, 2007
When the residents of the Kimin area reported that the eruption site still emits heat and smoke-contrary to what we observed during our visit, there was no reason not to believe them. We decided to substantiate their report by paying yet another visit to the site. So did we visit the eruption site, but contrary to their report the site was as it was during our last visit-no heat, no smoke. The only change and a welcome change indeed, which we observed was, the shop for collecting entry fee was pulled down and no fee collector was at sight and the numbers of visitor were almost reduced to none. Perhaps, the curiosity of the people fizzled out just like the eruption of 21st August night that fizzled out after erupting lava like matters or melting of electric pole; whatever, making the shop to be pulled down.

The entry to the site

Entry Fee Counter (Pulled Down)

Entry Fee Collection Counter (Another angle)

Related readings:-
Volcanic (?) Eruption at Arunachal-An Update
Eruption (?) at Arunachal-A Photo Feature
A Volcanic activity or…..?

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh | 3 Comments

Would the Nyishi’s get their right nomenclature?

By AG | Published: September 28, 2007
Since the last three decades, Nyishi’s of Arunachal has been putting in their efforts to change its nomenclature from Dafla to Nyishi, and has been demanding scrapping of the term Dafla from the constitution and replace it with Nyishi. And finally, it seems that their long felt demand would see the light of the day. A 2-member Central Team headed by Union Tribal Affairs Secretary G.B. Mukherjee and Joint Director Dr. N.K. Ghatak had toured the state from 20th-23rd of September and interacted with the people to take stock of the demand, peoples view on changing of nomenclature and the administration issues that may arise due to this nomenclature change.

Why Nyishi’s want nomenclature change from Dafla to Nyishi?

It is believed that the term Dafla is derogatory, used for ‘wild man’ or ‘barbaric’ and the Nyishi’s detested it. The Nyishi’s have never associated themselves with this term Dafla- a term given by the Ahom rulers whose origin and real meaning is not known; but always called themselves Nyishi­- which is a generic term derived from two words Nyi or Nyia and Shing or Ashing meaning ‘Hunam Being’ or ‘People dwelling at highland regions’. However, this nomenclature has been passed down from Ahom rulers to the Britisher’s to the Indian’s. Though lately, from the evidence garnered from various sources, the Nyishi intellectuals believes that the term Dafla may not be derogatory, after all. In fact, they seem to believe that it might have been derived from Nyishi term ‘te-dofalak’- meaning ‘to be an up there my residence’ (loosely translated)

“It is said, during the time of meets, the plains people[stranger] asked the Nyishi, what is your name? So, the person responded, assuming asking his residential location and quickly replied; ‘te-dofalak’ meaning ‘to be an up there my residence’ [place]. Taking cue of onomatopoeic sound, the Nyishi was identified with the name dofalak which later on got corrupted into dafala, and during the British period further altered to an anglicized phonetic spelling form dafla.”


Yet, the true meaning and origin of the term has to be ascertained but nevertheless, since the Nyishi’s have never associated themselves with the term Dafla and has called themselves Nyishi from time immemorial, they have been demanding scrapping of term Dafla- which has an imperialistic tinge and replacing it with Nyishi.

Would the Nyishi’s get their right nomenclature?

Going by the reactions of the visiting central team, it may very well be presumed that the Nyishi’s may finally get their due and the term Dafla would be scrapped and Nyishi replaced instead. However, the Central team declined to comment anything on it yet, though.

“I’ll not make any statement now, you will know later”-G.B. Mukherjee, Union Tribal Affairs Secretary.

But it is hoped that outcome would be positive.

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Nyishi | 8 Comments