The Kameng Culture and Heritage Museum (KCHM) celebrates the rich cultural diversity and heritage of Arunachal Pradesh. Pema Khandu, the chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated it on Wednesday.

The museum, built by the Indian Army as part of Operation Sadbhavana, is being touted as the first community-oriented institution of its nature in the region. Among the others present at the inauguration ceremony were Kamlesh Paswan, union minister of state for rural development, Lt Gen Gambhir Singh, General Officer Commanding Gajraj Corps, Maj Gen Neeraj Shukla of the Blazing Sword Division and Phurpa Tsering, MLA, Dirang. Over 500 people had gathered at the scenic village of Nyukmadung, Dirang, for the ceremony. A senior official said that Nyukmadung is located along the route to the popular tourist destination of Tawang, and KCHM will play a pivotal role in preserving the cultural legacy while contributing to the region’s socio-economic growth.

“The museum aligns with the Central government’s Vibrant Village Programme and has been developed with the Indian Army’s initiative and strong support from the local community and the state government. The Museum embodies the rich ancient traditions and heritage of Arunachal Pradesh. It stands as a symbol of peace, security, and the collaborative spirit of nation-building through the integration of local communities,” he added. Chief Minister Khandu, during his address, cited ancient texts such as Kalika Purana and the Mahabharata to highlight the region’s profound cultural, historical, and religious significance.

He described KCHM as an essential institution to preserve the past while inspiring future generations. At the same time, Khandu commended the efforts of the Army for setting up the Museum and overall border area development through Op Sadbhavana. He added that the Kameng Museum is a reflection of the Indian Army’s commitment to transform the border areas through initiatives such as model villages, border tourism, and enhanced infrastructure that aligns with the Centre’s ‘Vibrant Village Programme’. He referred to the inauguration as an achievement of the comprehensive vision outlined for border areas, focusing on inclusivity, sustainability, and economic development of the region through ‘border tourism’ and ‘cultural revival’.

Khandu also thanked the Indian Army for synergised efforts with the state government for the overall development of the people and the creation of a ‘Viksit Arunachal’. He also complimented Manvi Seth and her team from the Indian Institute of Heritage for aesthetically curating the Museum and adding digital artefacts. The Chief Minister also commended the efforts of Praveen Chaturvedi, CEO, Moonlight Pictures, for capturing details of ancient traditions and contemporary life of people in Arunachal Pradesh for a captivating movie that will be screened for the whole world.

Kameng Museum metamorphosed as a community-driven, community-oriented project with a voluntary donation of land and houses a collection of 343 traditional heirlooms dating back to the Neolithic period by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. In addition to the artefacts, the museum features a modern movie hall, a souvenir shop, a cafeteria, a children’s park, a tourist facilitation centre and a medical emergency setup for transients, making it an ideal destination for tourists and locals alike.

–IANS

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Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan reviewed the flood situation in Eluru district on Wednesday. Rising water levels in the Godavari River prompted authorities to issue a danger alert at Dowleswaram Cotton Barrage.

Rajahmundry District Collector P Prasanthi said that people in areas along the river banks have been alerted as the Godavari River is in spate. The irrigation officials are releasing 13 lakh cusecs of water downstream.

People have been cautioned against bathing in the river, and fishermen have also been warned against venturing into it.

The authorities have also advised people not to immerse Ganesh idols in the river for 48 hours as the river is in spate. They have been urged to postpone the immersion.

Dy CM Pawan Kalyan spoke to Eluru District Collector K Vetri Selvi over the phone to review the district’s flood situation.

The District Collector informed him that due to heavy rains upstream, Eluru and Thandava reservoirs received huge inflows, and as a result, crops over 62,000 acres in the district were submerged.

Breaches and overflowing canals inundated roads, affecting vehicle movement in the Pithapuram and Peddapuram constituencies.

Traffic came to a halt on Pithapuram-Raparthi, Peddapuram-Gudivada, and Samarlakota-Pithapuram roads. The flood water overflowed the national highway at Gollaprolu, diverting vehicular traffic.

The Collector informed the Deputy CM that boats and rescue teams were pressed into service for rescue and relief operations in the affected areas. The Collector said the intensity of floods in Eluru reservoir was receding.

On Wednesday morning, the inflows were 12,567 cusecs. The storage in the reservoirs stood at 22.16 TMC, compared to its full capacity of 24.11 TMC.

The authorities have opened four gates of the reservoir. Pawan Kalyan directed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army teams be used for rescue and relief works in the affected areas.

He also asked officials to provide food, drinking water, milk and other essentials to people in the flood-hit areas.

He said the officials should speak to farmers affected by the floods and assure them that the government will extend all possible help to them.

This story is based on an IANS wire feed. 

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In Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district 65-year-old widow from the Mishmi tribe, an indigenous group mostly found in the northeastern region of the state has been persecuted by the village’s Presbyterian Christians for upholding her long-held traditional faith. 

According to a report in the Goa Chronicle, Sodyanglu Polong, a resident of the Mekailiang village in the Tezu tehsil—a region famous for the Parashuram Kund, which Hindus regard as sacred—has written a letter to the pastor of the Tezu Church pleading with him to ask the Presbyterian Church members not to harass her on account of her religion and to allow her to practice her long-standing customs and faith in peace.

The elderly woman described her struggle in her letter, including the tragic occasion when her Puja room, which had been used as a prayer centre without her knowledge, was desecrated by the missionaries. In the letter, Polong added that the missionaries had disrespectfully handled the animal’s skull, which was precious in her religion.

The letter also describes how Polong’s daughter-in-law became a Christian on 17 September 2023 on the grounds of the local Presbyterian Church. However, the elderly woman has also stated that she has no objections to her daughter-in-law’s recently embraced religion; all she asks is that the missionaries respect her traditions and beliefs. In the end, the old widow in her letter urged the pastor to ensure that the missionaries do not perform any prayer ceremonies at her house without her approval.

The native tribes living in the mountainous region of Arunachal practice Animism; yet, many of these groups still trace their origins to the ancient Sanathana heritage and culture. Arunachal Pradesh is also known as the Land Of The Rising Sun and the Mishmis, who can trace their origins to King Bhismak and his daughter Rukmini, who married Bhagwan Krishna.

According to reports, brisk conversions are being carried out by Christian missionaries in Arunachal and other neighbouring regions and the area is facing a serious danger to their traditional rituals and religious beliefs. Although the majority of the clan adheres to animism and reveres animal capabilities, an increasing number of them have decided to adopt Christianity in place of their long-standing customs.

In just five decades, the situation in the lower Arunachal is specifically of concern.  Districts like Longding and Tirap have been the epicenter of conversion, and the missionary footprints are spreading in central eastern regions like Lohit where the Mishmis live in significant numbers.

In 1971, the percentage of Christians in the state was less than 1%. According to a report in the Hindu Post, the Christian population of the state rose to 5% only in a decade, registering a 600%.

(with inputs from Organiser)

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Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju during his visit to Arunachal Pradesh took part in a traditional welcoming ceremony while visiting a village.

He had gone to Kazalang village to monitor the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Projects. At that time, people of the village had organized a traditional welcoming ceremony in which people do a merrymaking dance to welcome the guests. This is the tradition of the Sajolang people.

Minister Rijiju had posted a video in which he and a few other people can be seen shaking a leg.

Responding to this video, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to have a lighter moment and called the Law Minister a ‘decent dancer’.

Our Law Minister @KirenRijiju is also a decent dancer!

Good to see the vibrant and glorious culture of Arunachal Pradesh… https://t.co/NmW0i4XUdD

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 30, 2021

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Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday (September 6) that the Indian Army has sent a hotline message to its counterpart in PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh about the 5 missing Indians reportedly abducted by the Chinese Army.

The Arunachal Pradesh police on Monday (September 7) said that the whereabouts of the five youths from a village in Upper Subansiri district along the India-China border is yet to be known.

The men had been engaged as porters and guides by the Indian Army.

Families of these missing men filed a report with the police on Friday (September 4) as they had gone for hunting in the jungle, part of a 7-member group.

China has completely denied any hand in these abductions and has asserted that it has never recognised the northeastern state which China claims is part of its south Tibet region.

“China’s position on the east sector of the China-India boundary, or Zangnan (the southern part of China’s Xizang (Tibet) ), is consistent and clear,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a media briefing in Beijing, adding the Chinese government has never recognized the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh”.

When asked about the abducted Indians, the spokesperson said, “I’m not aware of the situation you mentioned about the missing Indian nationals.” However, the Chinese argument does not hold water because the two members from the group who had managed to escape informed the families of the other five that they had been kidnapped by the Chinese troops from Sera-7, an Army patrol zone located about 12 km further north of Nacho.

The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) condemned the Chinese statement: “The people of the State outrightly reject the dubious statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry dubbing our state as part of ‘South Tibet’.

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter on Sunday to say the Indian army has already sent a hotline message to the PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh and that a response is awaited.

The Indian Army has already sent hotline message to the counterpart PLA establishment at the border point in Arunachal Pradesh. Response is awaited. https://t.co/eo6G9ZwPQ9

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 6, 2020

Tezpur-based Defence spokesman Lt Col Harshvarshan Pande said, “We have alerted our teams and are in constant touch with the civil administration.”

Earlier, talking about the incident, the SP Taru Gussar had said, “We came to know from local sources that five people belonging to the Tagin community were abducted by the PLA from a jungle near Nacho when they were out hunting”.

“We are trying to verify the fact and are in touch with the Army since there have been past instances of the PLA capturing locals from the LAC and releasing them,” the SP said.

The missing men have been identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri.

AAPSU president Hawa Bagang and General Secretary Tabom Dai in a joint statement said, “People of Arunachal Pradesh are proud Indians and staunch nationalists. We don’t need any recognition or validation from a foreign entity.”

“The recent incident is not an isolated case as time and again the PLA has been repeatedly indulging in similar antics whereby innocent civilians living at the inhospitable border areas are taken captive at regular intervals,” the union said in its statement.

In March, a 21-year-old man was abducted by the PLA from Asapila sector near the McMahon line while his two friends managed to escape as Togley Sinkam was taken away at gunpoint by the PLA, his family had said.

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Indigenous religious believers have filed an FIR against Pentecostal Church of Seppa pastor, Chatung Sopung for hurting religious sentiments by burning the symbol of Supreme Goddess Ain Donyi (Mother of Sun), a tribal Godess.

The Supreme Goddess Ain Donyi is worshipped by followers of indigenous religion Donyipoloism practised in East Kameng district.

In the video shared by a person named Pai Dawe, the pastor with a raised hand can be seen saying “In the name of Jesus, we will burn the enemies of the lord” interspersed with gibberish like “rikalava rabarabarabaraba”. Through the video, the pastor can be heard saying “Praise the lord.. In the name of Jesus”. One of the goes on to pour fuel and set the symbols on fire. One can also see an idol resembling Lord Shiva being burnt.

Mr. Pai Dawe in his Facebook post said “Whosoever tries undermining indigenous Faith sentiment and believe shall have to face the law of the land. This is why we always advocate for the strict implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. 1978. Such brutal proselytization are the result of the lackadaisical attitude of State Govt on the preservation of Indigenous Faiths and culture.”

According to the complaint, the pastor has violated sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978 and also Sections 295A, 298 of the Indian Penal Code.

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The Central Government has approved the admissions of girl children from class (VI) at Sainik School, Niglok in East Siang district, from the academic year 2021-2022 onwards, informed the school Principal Lt Colonel Rajesh Singh, on Saturday.

“Dream of Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Arunachalee girls is going to materialize and all the dedicated staff members of the school are ready.” said Singh.

Sainik schools are well known and stand apart because of its unique vision of making and reshaping of young minds to join premier National Defence Academy.

Singh added that the parents and girls can participate in a survey at a mobile-based link https://forms.gle/WQzkyWwC8jV8noP89 on the online portal from 1^st July to 31^st July 2020.

He further added that parents and girls who want to join Sainik School would be enquired and reviewed through a survey intending to create interest among young girls to prepare for All India Sainik School Entrance Examination 2021-2022, which is to be held tentatively on 3^rd January 2021.

“The incredible emerging possibilities in Arunachalee girls would turn into fact to join the Indian Armed Forces. The school promises to administer in making and moulding young girl cadets profoundly to grab an opportunity of becoming future flag bearers of the state and to wear the most coveted uniform,” he added.

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