Sorry!

Never got back to writing for last couple of months... hope to be back soon. 

AITF, a ray of hope for peace and harmony

[This article was published in The Sentinel Arunachal on April 11, 2011] Last Saturday Anna Hazare’s victory march was matched by another thumping foot march, by the people and for the people of Arunachal on the run-down roads of capital city, Itanagar. Perhaps for the first time, under the banner of Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Forum (AITF) - the apex forum of 26 major tribes and 100 sub-tribes, a successful rally was organized. Though there were countless similarities and dissimilarities between the two victories. At New Delhi, they were striving for higher order goals for larger society and here at Itanagar, it was an appeal for basic requirements of life: safety and security. That too, the people were demanding protection against policemen. We know life could not have been more ironical and paradoxical but that’s the reality today. Arunachalees have learnt to live with such ironies and now they have started raising their voice against such paradox. “This is just the beginning,” said visibly excited Publicity Secretary of AITF, PG Tago.   Known social activists, Bengia Tolum and Jarjum Ete-led team of AITF had every reason to be delighted and content with massive response and solidarity to their clarion call for expressing ‘Voice in Unison for Justice’. It was not just those one thousand plus participants that made it a success; it was the fact that ninety-nine per cent were volunteers who had showed up on their own to shoo-away the evil forces in the society. It was the ‘youth-force’ who dominated the show as volunteers. “Much water has flown down and we should not take it anymore,” said an unknown young face in the crowd. “Besides expressing my gratitude to everyone, my special thanks go to the young boys and girls who expressed themselves through this silent protest march,” said Bengia Tolum, who is currently heading AITF as chairperson. It was supported by apex organizations like AAPSU, APWWS, APUWJ and APC etc in solidarity against repeated failure of state’s administrative machineries especially the police force. I erred here. It was not against the failure; rather against the perpetrators of ‘atrocities and human-rights violations’ in the form of ill-trained police personnel of the state. Passion, intensity and magnitude during foot-march for ‘Voice in Unison for Justice’ was an expression of pent-up feelings and emotions of helpless souls against the might of powerful ministries especially the Home Ministry. Haven’t people haplessly watched the video in YouTube hundreds of time as Home Minister nonchalantly went on record not only to condone the drinking binge of farouche cops but encourage the act of drinking while on duty in the name of ‘age old tribal tradition and culture’? Is Arunachal Pradesh’s home department a conventicle? Here I reckon how true it was when one of the agitated senior politicians from Tirap-Changlang confided in me, last month before the Assembly session, that ‘grey hair is not necessarily a sign of wisdom’. Need I say more; nay, not today. Today is for AITF and its core team members for conceiving the concept itself. Although it goes without saying, yet for record it is worth noting that AITF had been formed on September 2003 last with various community based organizations (CBOs) under its umbrella to promote peace and harmony amongst all the tribes, protect their basic rights, and collectively work for welfare of all the tribes and, for their progress and prosperity. The basic objective of the society is to provide a common platform for healthy growth and preservation of Arunachal indigenous tribe’s interest and in particular: (1) to promote unity, integrity, cooperation and brotherhood among all indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, (2) to preserve, encourage and promote pan Arunachalee culture and identity, and to be accountable only to the indigenous tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh, (3) to deal with conflict situations/issues of all kinds and all levels and to deliberate and settle them in the collective pursuit, (4) to take up such other activities so as to create and promote social harmony and peaceful atmosphere and to prevent any such activities by any group or community that may be detrimental to the existence of healthy general welfare of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and, (5) to work for general welfare and development and to represent the Arunachalee people affected by inter-state boundary and other such related problems. Indeed true to its objective, AITF has started doing yeoman service to the people here and would indeed help restore peace and harmony in the state.  Some people are blessed with grey hair and grey matter, not all.

My Son's Poem

This is a poem written in the Summer of 2010 by a small boy, Pumdee Gamlin, all of 8 years old while he was on vacation after appearing for his Std III final examinations. 

Although, it was part of school's Summer Holidays' assignment yet I really liked the way he expressed his thoughts and feelings as a young boy of 8 years, given the fact that last year was one of the wettest period that Arunachal Pradesh witnessed in so many years- all of 9 months!! [Remember: it started raining on March 21, 2010 and it continued upto late November, 2010.]

Just to introduce this little budding poet-Pumdee. He was born at Umkal Hospital, Gurgaon on December 04, 2001 as first child to Jarpum Gamlin (that's me!) and Dr. Lingam Ete.

Pumdee seen herewith his mother (Lingam),
sister (Pumgum) and grand-father (Sokjar)

He started his schooling from Amity International School, Sector 46, Gurgaon and studied there till Std-II. Thereafter he moved back to his home state with his parents and joined Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 located at Chimpu, Itanagar.

By nature, Pumdee is more of an 'arm-chair-research-kind, not an outdoor kind. He is adventurous with his wits and wisdom; sharp yet very soft spoken. Sharp are his eyes and much sharper is his analysis which is reflected in the questions that he asks later! So far so good. As father to this little boy, it makes me feel proud and good every time I look at him and think of him.

Games people play in Arunachal

[This article was published on August 29, 2010 in The Sentinel Arunachal] It is show-time once again! But what is the next scene? Who is blinking first? Is it All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) or Home Minister (read Congress led government)? These are not the questions one is interested in. Discerning Arunachalees are interested in knowing where the legislatures are? Aren’t legislatures supposed to keep an eye on functioning of the Government? Are the MLAs and MPs forgetting that Rs 17.15 crores and Rs 16.22 crores respectively were spent to elect them besides unaccounted man-hours of officials and voters worth crores? Haven’t they understood their responsibilities towards the electorates?  MLAs and MPs would do well to remember that sourcing FDR, SPA etc from Government is not the only job they have been entrusted with. Therefore, if ANYA has taken the lead to confront the Government, Opposition legislatures do not deserve to be in the august Assembly. Do we really need Opposition legislatures or parties? What choice does the organizations like ANYA has?  Pledging to take-on ANYA with iron-hand is far too strong a word in a democratic setup. Isn’t that so reminiscent of the Chief Minister calling the anti-dam protestors as anti-Arunachalees? As long as Arunachal is part of democratic India, everybody has right to opinion and right to express it. No one can be threatened and man-handled for airing one’s view as long as it is within legally permissible limits. One hopes that people are not mistaking Arunachal to be part of any communist set up. Although one doesn’t disagree with such democratic ‘expressions’ and ‘demonstrations’, yet one tends to grow cynical about such moves because of the past records. For instance, not a single organization have had focused and sustained campaigns on any of the issues since the current government came back to power. On an average at least 3-4 organization raises concerns for at least 2-3 issues every month. ‘Outstanding’ is the least word to describe the way they raise it with passion, zeal and intensity. But that’s it. Period. Over. Within a fortnight, they tend to lose out steam: distracted and diluted; and issues are left wherever it was, without an outcome. Flip of chart in the calendar is followed by change in themes and tones of protest too. Laundry lists of such issues/ concerns and organizations can be prepared by even a child of 8 years old, without asking even 9 years old to wreck their memory.  Claiming itself to be the voice of majority in the State, too many organizations have taken too many stands and thereby creating confusion amongst Arunachalees at the cost of crippling the lives of weaker and poorer section of society who doesn’t have the luxury of having refrigerators or two wheelers at home and are solely dependent on daily shopping and public transport. But one is given to understand that ‘bandh call’ is the cheapest, easiest and most effective way of democratically registering its protest: announce bandh call, sit back at home and watch the show without a penny spent. Other forms of protest cost money, time and energy.  Evidently protest is carried out in corporate style where cost of organizing is taken into account. And understandably, in business, there is no space for emotions and sentiments - that’s a fair call but aren’t these organizations responsible to their stakeholders who approve their actions, passively or actively?  Larger questions are: aren’t protest registered in the name of larger interests of society? Why not share and show the benefits of such protests to the larger society (read stakeholders) to garner their support for future endeavors? Can any organization show us an evidence of successful outcome? One doubt if there has been any. What business is it where there is never an outcome, forget successful outcome? It is high time that civil society organizations, unlike political parties, should be more accountable to the general public and keep public updated about the outcome of their demands and protests, not just let them suffer.

Fifth Legislative Assembly: Shammed Democratic Institution

[Published in The Sentinel Arunachal on Mar 29, 2011]

Merriam Webster dictionary defines ‘patronage’ as (a) the support or influence of a patron (b) kindness done with an air of superiority (c) business or activity provided by patrons (d) the power to make appointments to government jobs especially for political advantage. Having defined patronage, it is pertinent to put this particular word in the right perspective: Sleekness and smoothness with which resolutions are adopted and bills are passed, almost without any discussion, with ‘Ayes’ is an indicator to the ‘patronage’ democracy; thereby reducing Arunachal Pradesh into a banana republic, with shammed democratic institution called ‘legislative assembly’. Before I go on, let me invoke the point number four that deals with parameters of the right of the press to comment on the acts and conduct of public officials under chapter called ‘Principle and Ethics’, Norms of Journalistic Conduct issued by Press Council of India (PCI). Now let me state that it pained almost all the journalists sitting in the media gallery to watch the proceedings of the recently concluded session of fifth legislative assembly. In general and beyond a point, no law-maker could press the treasury bench to respond to their queries. Treasury bench could respond the way they desired, with utter disregard for parliamentary norms and proceedings, inside the hall. Concerned ministers’ repeated indulgence in ‘beating about the bush’ in responding to the queries forced a veteran legislator and two times parliamentarian, Laeta Umbrey to quip, “Please answer in ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If you don’t know, do come prepared. But don’t give evasive response.” That prompted Speaker Wanglim Lowangdong to rule that henceforth government should give specific reply to the questions put forth by the members. Unmistakably, government’s policy of ‘Iron-Fist with/beneath Velvet Gloves’ framed for underground elements has been put into action against lawmakers cutting across party lines inside the assembly hall. Is string attached funds worry the legislators more than queries they raise in the floor of the house? Not sure about it but having witnessed couple of sessions of the fifth assembly, one can vouch that factor behind unity amongst the members of ‘Team Arunachal’ is beyond a layman’s comprehension; thus, it should be a subject of study for social and political scientists. Full credit goes to the few legislators who kept the discussion lively, meaningful and engaging. There are few who could be counted as potential supernovas in years to come like Ralom Borang, Pasang Dorjee Sona, Bamang Felix, Lokam Tassar, Likha Saaya and Phurpa Tsering. Of course, there were matured and seasoned orators like Wangki Lowang, Thangam Wangham, Punji Mara and Laeta Umbrey. But unfortunately, in the treasury bench, we have few master chefs, or should we call them ‘evaders’, with specialization in making ‘Jalebi’ like Tanga Byaling, Tako Dabi and Bosiram Siram, who kept serving platter of sermons, without answering the questions. Without discrediting the young and new elected legislators, it is amply evident that they are yet to read the ‘manual’ of parliamentary proceedings of the house. One can vouch for it with confidence, or where could a concerned minister mislead the floor of the house all the time without being penalized? Be it ‘question hour’ or ‘Zero Hour’ or be it ‘Calling Attention Motion’, none of the ministers responded to a single query to the satisfaction of anybody inside the house. Think of it, Home Minister misled the house about ‘Daporijo MMS Scandal’ but got away with it without being reprimanded. Where is the privilege committee of fifth legislative assembly? Isn’t there a single legislator who could file complaint of ‘breach of privilege’? Are the eighteen legislators good enough to be sitting there on opposite side of treasury bench? Alternatively, shouldn’t they join the treasury bench without fooling the public? Last and most uncanny question is who runs the show in the assembly hall? Let’s not defend the indefensible.

Bloody Indians vs Chinkees!

Bloody Indians vs Chinkees!

(Published in The Sentinel Arunachal, dated March 10, 2011)

Jarpum Gamlin A yogi of Baba Ramdev’s stature got emotive just because ‘bloody’ was prefixed with the word ‘Indian’! At least he was referred to as Indian. Think of another scenario where people of mongoloid looks are slurred racially with the term ‘Chinkee’. A cuss word used to abuse a person of Chinese origin. Was it Ramdev’s pride or his prejudice? Or was it the ‘Chinkee’s’ frustration that took avatar in Ninong Ering, or one of his colleagues (the MP has since denied saying the b****y word)? Or was that a reaction to the Baba’s claim of indigenous faith as Hindus? Irrespective of whether it was his pride or prejudice, it is evident that Ramdev was not accorded the kind of media attention which was showered on His Holiness Dalai Lama during the Nobel laureate’s visit to Tawang. But Ramdev got the national media’s attention over a petty issue which a teenage Arunachalee, Naga or Manipuri would have ignored, like they do it every day in the streets of mainland India. Irrespective of whether Ninong Ering said those words or not, it was shocking to witness the reaction of a trained and revered yogi of Ramdev’s stature. Was Ering fair in asking Ramdev to stick to yoga and not beyond it! Or was the MP wrong? There emerge some issues here. The racial slur on each other by us Indians is a public knowledge. Our national conscience is stricken only when something similar happens outside the country. Shane Warne, and the racial slur on Indians in Australia, are recent examples. This is perhaps the first time that it has happened in a public place, between leaders, one political and another religious. Will there be public introspection on this ‘Chinkee’ usage hereafter? Second, every ordinary Indian agrees with Ramdev, and therefore the BJP, on the issue of bringing back money from Swiss Banks and ending corruption in governance. But can issues of public propriety and governance be raised from a religious platform by a religious leader? Will other religious leader be accorded the same liberty, a Christian proselytizer for example, to raise such issues publicly? Isn’t this yet another issue on the unending debate on secularism?    Ramdev’s visit would be remembered for other reasons also. His exclusion of Christian-dominated Patkai region is one. Being a preacher of Sanatan dharm, one would have expected the yogi to go to the trouble-torn eastern districts and convey his message of love and brotherhood. Recall, that before the ongoing factional fights started, there were reports of forcible religious conversion which the Indigenous faith leaders protested. Question is, if he could land in Mon region and in Tani belt, why did he skip the Patkai region? Most people in Arunachal eat pork. That doesn’t make them non-believers in Islam. Most relish beef, and that does not make them non-believers in Hinduism. The dual fact of being a beef and pork-eater does not make them Christians either. Sadly, in the tug-of-war between the expanding Cross and the restive Trident, native faiths are being tossed around like in a ping-pong game. While Church leaders dream of making Arunachal a ‘Christian State’, the Baba hurriedly did his part to stake claim beforehand. In the resulting melee, the roots of native faiths are painfully uprooted. One does so overtly, the other covertly. ‘Love’ and ‘ethics’ have long gone missing from the religious debate in the State. Violence and moral turpitude are therefore the growing order of the day in the State. The top of the mind recall of Ramdev’s visit would be his claimant over followers of indigenous faiths as Hindus and muted response from a cross-section of society. This was the first such open proclamation by any of the Hindu leaders. Is Arunachal a Hindu State?

Ceremonial broken tapes played yet again

Ceremonial broken tapes played yet again

Published in The Sentinel Arunachal on February 08, 2010

The Governor the head of State and head of Government, the Chief Minister have yet again played their ‘ceremonial’ broken tapes on the occasion of 62nd Republic Day. This annually staged and reiterated ceremonial speech has started stinking of demented ‘think-tank’ to the heads. When the commoners expect sincerity and honesty from their speeches of relevant schemes and interventions, parroting away about the same old ‘trans-Arunachal highway’, PM Package, PMGSY is a sad affair. Fair to say that progress and prosperity is a reality today but how many sections of our society are actually benefitted and can this progress be sustained without peace?

Is it not apparent that the Government is acting deaf as well as dumb when it comes to problems of the neglected and weaker sections of the society like in Tirap and Changlang? Just a passing reference about the problems in Tirap-Changlang with specifics on number of dramatized surrenders, mostly of dubious nature, won’t serve any purpose, lest events leading to such ‘ceremonial’ surrenders and follow up of such surrendered cadres are made public and laid bare for scrutiny by independent observers such as quasi-judicial bodies, community-based organizations and human rights organizations.

As published in The Sentinel Arunachal, it is an open secret that a bunch of army officials are involved in setting up the ANLF against the NSCN (IM) and these same officials are involved in carrying out ceremonial ‘surrenders’ for which an official has been rewarded with a rare honour, that is, an extension to his deputation period which is rare in the Army. Why it is that the State Government is afraid to confront the Union Home Ministry on the issues related to Tirap-Changlang?

It is an open secret and has been widely publicized in the media that the Army has played one against the other in Tirap-Changlang. As commoners, we have no say on such policy matters but why should village folks in Patkai Hills be made the human shield and scapegoats for their benefit. For instance, the recent factional fight between NSCN (IM) and ANLF-NSCN (K) resulted in a couple of deaths. Would the Chief Minister or his cabinet colleague, the Home Minister or for that matter, the Government spokesperson bother to make an official statement regarding the causes of the recent violence and measures taken to secure the lives and properties of people in Patkai Hills?

That was the other side of Patkai Hills. What is happening on the other side of the hills in Changlang? Discerning Arunachalees would like to know the whereabouts of Sanjay Kumar, an employee of Namchik Colliery, who was kidnapped in the penultimate week of November 2010. It’s been almost a quarter of a year since, yet the Government in general and the home ministry in particular, is yet to make an official statement on the case. But the larger question isn’t it an open secret that the top officials of the State home ministry visited the Colliery yet maintained muted silence all through these months? Isn’t it a fact that one of the officials spent a week and another spent three days in a guest house at Kharsang to ‘monitor’ the incident? Law-abiding citizens expect that lawful activities were carried out during those periods.

The last official statement in this particular case blamed it on unorganized miscreants. If that’s the fact then the current situation raises more questions than answers. Why did the family members and his business associates arrange for the ‘ransom money’ to the tune of about half a crore rupees? Isn’t it a fact that the money was handed over to one highly-placed personality? However, till date there is no trace of Sanjay Kumar. Whom did he pay that kind of money? Why is the Government not making an official statement whether he is alive or dead? Agreed that Sanjay Kumar is a non-Arunachalee but isn’t it the responsibility of the Government to ensure safety and security of the people residing in the State? Isn’t the Government and its machineries duty bound to ensure his safety?

As on today, one’s reading about the attitude of the Government is that governance is just about progress and prosperity. It goes without saying that progress and prosperity cannot be sustained without peace as its foundation. Today, our State needs a road-map for peace along with prosperity and progress. One hopes that people working as ‘think-tanks’ to the heads of the State and the Government would play a new tape next time. Can we hear that on February 20 which will mark the silver jubilee year of statehood, not just another statehood day?

Songs of the Siang

Songs of the Siang -A book on Pasighat Centenary Celebrations and its review

(This was published in the ‘The Sentinel Arunachal’ on February 04, 2011)

The book, Songs of the Siang published by the Directorate of Tourism, GoAP to commemorate the Centennial Celebration of Pasighat is and will remain one of the most cherished memorabilia in days and years to come, much after the euphoria dies down; for it captures the essence of the importance attached to this beautiful town — Pasighat.

Songs of the Siang, an anthology in coffee table book format begins with a poem, Missing Link by none other than Padma Shri Mamang Dai and ends with another of her beautiful poems, Birth Place. In between, there are many more beautiful stories including renditions of oral histories of clans by Onyok Panyang, academic accounts of Igul Padung. Joining them in chorus for Songs of the Siang is T Mize, stalwarts like Oshong Ering and Jonaying Rukbo, Oyin Moyong and the historical collections of Tobuk Dai. In their own right, each piece in the anthology is a classic and has been deftly edited by Bandana Deori (IRS), Secretary Tourism and Rolex awardee, Moji Riba.

As mentioned in the prelude by the editors, Deori and Riba, “...the contributions that have been included in this anthology come from a wide spectrum of people; persons who have had a deep sense of attachment to the township that we know today as Pasighat. These writings bring out from the mists of history an account of how the township came about, about people who have lived out their lives here and of monumental events that shaped its destiny…’.

The hundred-page book to mark the completion of a hundred years is perfect and priceless, no wonder there is no price tag attached to this book. As the editors put it, “...when a township completes a hundred years and more of its existence, there emerges almost an equal number of stories that call out to be told. Personal histories, official records, archival images and memoirs become miniature windows through which life’s rhythms get reflected… Even as we began to conceptualize it, we realized more and more that publications brought out at times like these are not just reflections of what people think about their homeland, but they also become a mirror of the times we live in”.

Priceless are the black and white timeless pictures of the Raj era and early administrative days; but my favourite of all the pictures is a citation to one Mollem Daiye.

The citation is dated May 12, 1937 and reads “By Command of HIS MAJESTY THE KING-EMPEROR the accompanying Medal is forwarded to Mr. Mollem Daiye to be worn in commemoration of Their Majesties’ Coronation”.

Before concluding, it must be mentioned that last but one piece called Citadel of Wisdom by Oyin Moyong is a must read for the Generation X to know where they have come from and to measure the time-distance that we, as a tribe, have travelled in a socio-administrative journey.

For the sake of being critical, the only flaw that one could dig out in this beautiful anthology is that despite varying accounts and versions to the stories, contributors are mostly from the old generation. Including contributions from the younger generation with a futuristic perspective could have made this potpourri complete in all sense. As said in the beginning, Songs of the Siang is a ‘time capsule’, which can be opened up again after another hundred years to relive the evolutionary history of a township called Pasighat.

Big Dams and Assam

Brihat Nodi Baandh aru Asom

(This was published in the ‘The Sentinel Arunachal’ on February 03, 2011)

On December 14, 2010, a book titled Brihat Nodi Baandh Aru Asom was formally released by columnist Nitya Bora which has been published by the Nanda Talukdar Foundation and Bhawani Print and Publications. In this book, there is an open letter by an Arunachalee on dam issues which is translated into Assamese. Therefore, for the benefit of the Arunachalees, the original transcript which was in English is shared herewith.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Friends from Assam,

I really don’t know how many of the Arunachalees are glued to your discussion on dam issues. Though I am not claiming to be writing or speaking on behalf of the entire people of Arunachal but I would like to speak my mind. Let’s remind ourselves that the Subansiri Project was pushed forward by the AGP leaders, who emerged out of AASU’s anti-foreigners movement in the second half of the 1980s. Remember, that at the time also, Assamese leaders never bothered to consult the Arunachalees! Now the very bunch of people and their off-shoots are opposing it; again without any consultation. I find this attitude of the Assamese brethren akin to India’s ‘BIG BROTHER’ attitude vis-a-vis its neighbouring countries. Why are you people wrecking your brain over the dams in Arunachal? All the dams that you all are discussing are in Arunachal; and I don’t know how many of you have actually spoken to Arunachalees. I wonder who has authorized all of you to speak on whether Arunachalees need dams or not. I find all of you like a caricature of Hanuman but atleast Hanuman was authorized by Lord Rama to burn down Lanka. However, I wonder as to who authorized you all?

Neither it is the 1950s nor is it the 1980s; our fate cannot be decided by either political leaders or by activists from Assam. We don’t need unofficial spokesperson in Assam to voice our concerns. Today Arunachal Pradesh is as vibrant as any State in India; we do have our set of thinkers, social and political leaders of national and international standards. These leaders are capable of deciding our fate — present and future. We will decide our own fate.

I invite that young leader from Assam to come to Arunachal more often; travel with us to the border towns of Arunachal-Assam and help us solve the problems there and then talk about other issues. Would anyone volunteer to travel with us and help us solve the issues? It is also a fact that with the Assam assembly elections round the corner, people are hunting for problems and are pretending to be championing the causes of Asom. Please stop being problem hunters.

It would be a lie if you are saying that you are discussing the dam issue without a motive, a goal or an objective to achieve! If at all you are actually doing so then you have boarded the wrong bus and you may like to get off. Further, it would be an idealistic situation, it would be an utopian thought and a reverie to discuss dam issues without taking into account the ‘variable and non-variable’ extraneous factors, which is impacting the decision making process. And my response would be incomplete if I don’t express my amazement at your authority, your assertion and your clarity of thought that the answer lies in micro hydels for Arunachalees.

Let me run you through another recent historical fact about the dam story in Arunachal. Remember, first mega-dam in Arunachal was planned over the Siang somewhere near Pasighat. Do you know who was working on it? How long did it take? Why was it planned? Wasn’t it the Brahmaputra Board with zero employment of Arunachalees? I guess it was an Assamese-dominated organization then, and even now.  Wasn’t it done to check floods in the plains of Assam? Who demanded for the Gerakamukh Project when it was in doldrums? You all know about it. Need I say more on it?

But as I said earlier, I am neither pro-dam nor anti-dam. But I am opposed to the very idea of you people sitting in prosperous Assam hijacking our ‘assets/liabilities’ and discussing it as if there is no Arunachalee to raise the concerns on dams. I am not appreciative of such ‘hijacks’ because you all have been using different yardsticks for ‘common issues’. Why is it that you all never discuss Assam-Arunachal border problems? Arunachal Pradesh is a State which has been surviving on alms doled out by the Union Government for ages. I guess the story is same for all the NE States. So there is need to generate revenue, therefore there is nothing wrong if at all the State manages to do so. Not necessarily through dams, though.

There is nothing personal about what I am saying. Those are facts; present day realities; interpretations of discussions that has been going on and reactions from an Arunachalee. Today it is just me who has spoken out; but tomorrow there would be many more Arunachalees. I had to register my thoughts and views, which I have done — the rest is all for you to take it or leave it. But do remember that an Arunachalee has raised his concerns.

Thanks

Jarpum Gamlin                                                                                Camp: Itanagar

(The writer is an entrepreneur working in the media sector and is the president, Arunachal Press Club (APC). After working for various multinational companies, he is settled in Arunachal)

(In this book there are excerpts from the expert committee report, NHPC’s reaction, besides comments on the aforementioned report. Thought provoking articles by Dr Hiren Gohain, Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, social activist Akhil Gogoi, foundation president Nitya Bora, Tarun Chandra Bhattacharyya, Niraj Baghelkar, Debojit Barua, Lakhi Hazarika and Keshav Krishna Chakradhara form parts of the book and has been edited by senior journalist, Mrinal Talukdar).

Perhaps a defining moment in Arunachal's Media

Assault-Black out-Pen down-Surrender-Bail-Ban: All in 10 days of media outburst!!

Two young lady journalists- Appu Gapak and Nyapi Bomjen- who are working with local english daily, The Sentinel Arunachal- have had to go through trying times since 8 pm on the night of December 12, 2010; but little did they realise that their defiance against a rogue who was drunk with 'male chauvinistic ego' of a patriarchal society would shook the media fraternity to a new height represented of unity and stubbornness to punish the culprit.

 Even that drunk cop, who has been working as personal security officer (PSO) to one of the political big-shot may have never dreamt of such huge public opinion that swayed in favour of two young girls and media fraternity.

Even now most of us in the media have not yet realised the gravity of our actions; Entire media fraternity of the region and nation stood by us on their own and highlight our grievances.

We all have set the record straight for entire rogue elements who appears and disappears from media offices in the form of leaders and office bearers of 'x,y, z' union and association in most unruly manners, many a times.

As the incumbent president of the Arunachal Press Club, I am humbled by the response that we received from journalists fraternity but also from the owners of the media houses. And I am appalled by the slow response of the captains at the helms and their tentacles at ground level. 

As a matter of reflection, December 16 was another high points when senior journalists like Pradeep Kumar and V Ravindran stood shoulder to shoulder with Editors of other papers like Nani Kojin and Audrey Apang. Perhaps, for the first time, many of us were face-to-face  with each other. That day heralded a new dawn of which dusk shall never set-in lest 'stupidity' engulf all of us.

Another high point during this entire agitation period was the support that we received from couple of civil society groups in the state who stood by us and gave us their assurances to be us for any decision and any eventuality in our agitations.

Although culprit is still out on bail and yet to be punished in this particular case; yet it is a solace to know that state government has already suspended the culprit from its job in police department. Our fight for space in the society still continues and we continue to crawl one step at a time!
This note is to say, " Thank you all and we are indeed highly indebted to all of you." Last but not the least, this note would be meaningless if I don't sign-off with the hope  and prayer that in future too, you would stand by our stands.

Happy New Year To All and God bless Appu & Nyapi!!

  

Indrajit Namchoom: Unsung sporting hero of Arunachal Pradesh

[This was published in The Sentinel ARUNACHAL (www.sentinelassam.com/arunachal)]

Many youngsters of today’s generation may not know Indrajit Namchoom and those who knows him as ‘pathfinder in sports’ may also have chosen to ignore him but fact of the matter is that Indrajit Namchoom is still the first ever sporting hero of Arunachal Pradesh in truest sense. Yes, maybe he is the unsung sporting hero today. He is the first Arunachalee to represent India in an international football tournament, way back in 1964. And perhaps, he is the first one from Arunachal Pradesh to represent India in any international event. His chequered career across different fields reflects his passion for exploring new avenues and shows streaks of never-say-die attitude. Career in football to bureaucracy and then to politics, he has done it all. In many ways, he may have lost few battles of life here and there, but he has won the war of life with courage and determination like legendary ‘King Bruce’. Sipping tea in his cozy living room of a modest home at Vivek Vihar in Itanagar, Indrajit vividly remembers the Asian Youth Football Championship held at Saigon, Vietnam in 1964 as if it was played yesterday. His narration of that international football tournament is flawless. “Eight countries participated and even then India ended up last but one at rank 7 in the tournament,” he shares with a chuckle and mischievous smile on his face.  With pride and nostalgia, he shares, “In our pool we played well to draw with Malaysian and Vietnamese team but lost to Burma.” Sharing his journey from small village to big city of Gauhati during NEFA days, Indrajit says, “In 1956 I went to Don Bosco High School, Gauhati and in 1960 I completed my matriculation and then joined Cotton College.” This was the period when he got introduced to football for the first time and it was a God gifted footballing talent that got embellished and meteorically, within 3 years of introduction to the game of football, he played the most prestigious tournament of then and of even now-Santosh Trophy in 1959. For 8 years, between 1960 upto 1968, he played club football in NEFA; and his loyalty was tied to the best known football club of that era, Guwahati Town Club. But as he puts it ‘ paradigm was completely different and football was not a lucrative career option those days like today’. Given the practical situation and options in life, Indrajit chose a career in bureaucracy; he joined as Circle Officer with NEFA government and took up his first assignment at Anini in 1969. “Those days, I tracked for days to reach Anini….once I reached Anini I never left the station for 3 years,” he said. In 1972 he entered into nuptial bond and the very same year, he along with his newly-wed wife went to meet Chief Commissioner of NEFA, KAA Raja at Shillong. Impressed with his pedigree and that of his wife who is the first Arunachalee woman to possess MA degree, KAA Raja offered jobs to both of them at Shillong itself. Later in 1973 he moved his base to Itanagar along with rest of KAA Raja’s bureaucrats which included luminaries like JM Tangu, Takap Ringu and Jikom Riba. And he served government of Arunachal Pradesh till 1994. That was the very year when he opted for voluntary retirement from GoAP to enter electoral fray for legislative assembly from Chowkam. Though he lost the election that year but he came out victorious in his second attempt in 1999 from the same constituency. At later stage of his tenure as MLA between1999-2004, he handled Sports and Youth Affairs portfolio too. Once again, he became the first sportsperson to handle this ministry!           Although much older and is confined to his wheelchair today yet his indomitable spirit is awe-inspiring despite the fact that many officials in state’s football federation and Olympic Association may not remember him. It would have made a perfect picture to have legendary sporting heroes like Indrajit and Gumpe on the same dais during events like Queen’s Baton Relay. Wishful thinking, may be!

Arunachal's Ruskin Bond

TAGANG TAKI, 
FIRST POST GRADUATE from Minyong (ADI TRIBE)

When I set off for Pasighat to attend a review meeting for preparation of 'Pasighat Centennial Celebration' on December 10, I was told that we would be heading off to Pangin the next day, that is, December 11. 
As we sat in the vehicle the next morning, I was told that there would be a picnic at river bed of Siang, near the historic site of Kekar Monying, where 'Anglo-Abor War of 1911' was fought between Adis and British troop-mostly comprising of Assam Rifle soldiers. 
That wasn't so interesting till I met this old gentleman, Tagang Taki. 

As we were settling down in the picnic spot; an unassuming old gentleman dressed impeccably in his 'darkish' suit walked towards the sitting area with assured steps; came closer and gave me a firm handshake and introduced himself as "Tagang Taki" ( meaning I am Tagang Taki). Then, he started briefing about the significance of the site in which we were sitting. Gravity of the importance of the site  started sinking on me as he  narrated the history eloquently; narration was so vivid that I could visualise how our ancestors in Adi belt resisted and fought with 'bows & arrows' against the well-armed British troops. Pointing at the opposite side of the river bank he said,  "That steep hill side, on left bank, which is overlooking us is where Britisher soldiers camped and fired  with their rifles." " And you see that spot. That's where our forefathers were camping to fight the soldiers," he said while pointing to a place which was about 500 meters of aerial distance from where we were sitting under a improvised tent, made out of a parachute which are normally used for air-dropping sacks of rice in inaccessible areas.

Highly impressed with his sense of history, his eagerness to share the past, his passionate voice of concerns and ofcourse his knowledge and command in English (which I actually did not expect in an interior place), I asked a young man sitting next to me," who is this Abo*?'(*Abo means father but usually used to refer to older people). That boy, with pride, responded, ""He is Tagang Taki, perhaps the first post graduate from Minyong community (Adi tribe)." 

After we finished listening to his narration of this important place, I walked over to his side and  got to converse with him for a while. Then I figured out that he did his graduation from prestigious Cotton College, Guwahati way back in the early 70's and by 1972 he did Master in Arts (History). 
'Why did you decide to stay back in this village?'- was my next obvious question. My question was based on the fact that these days, even a matriculate would board the bus to be in Itanagar-Naharlagun in search of job or better opportunity!

Ever unassuming, he responded, "I felt that I could be of some use to the masses in the village; therefore decided to become a public leader. I contested elections too but lost!" 

" Abo, did not you think of doing government job? I am sure job for a post graduate like you would have been easy to get those days." I asked.  

"I refused job of Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) then; the then Lt. Governor of NEFA KAA Raja had personally asked me to join the service but I refused because I believed and still believe that I could do much more and much better in public service," he shared. He writes, though I am yet to read any of his books. But he did give me a small book which is basically a school text book, titled 'Adi Agom Ke'nnane-III' in which he has written 4 chapters.

There are similarities between him and Rukin Bond: both are highly educated, both settled in sleepy hamlets, Read and Write and indulge in story telling! O, I almost forgot both of them dresses up impeccably too. And yes, there are differences: Tagang doesnot have access to publishers; he does not have modern amenities to support his writings; and he does not get publicity.

Polygamy shadow looms large over 5th legislature

Published on 23rd November, 2009 in The Sentinel Arunachal (www.sentinelassam.com/arunachal/)

The Sentinel carried the profile of the newly elected and re-elected 59 legislators in public interest. However, this daily could not carry the profile of only one legislator, Gojen Gadi. It is informed that Gadi could not find time to share the details due to his busy schedule, despite a month long follow-up by the reporters. However, in the statistic presented below, his family details have been included as informed by various sources. The marital statistic presented about the law-makers gain importance in the light of census 2001 report, which stated the sex ratio of Arunachal to be 893 per 1000 males. And the polygamous status of law-makers is much more significant in the light of a report on 'Educational Development in the NE region of India' by Arun C Mehta. According to this report, sex ratio is projected to further drop down to 859 per 1000 males during census 2011.

For the record, customary practices need protection and promotion but least of all - polygamy.  Polygamy practice in the days of yore cannot be relevant in the context of current environment and lifestyle. But if statistics on marital status of law-makers are indicative of anything, then polygamy still is very much in vogue. This undoubtedly is a misplaced practice, wrongly promoted by the right people!

Statistically, 42 INC legislators lead the pack with 56 wives, which translate to 75% across parties, against party's legislator's share of 70%.  It is obvious that INC has the highest number of monogamous and  polygamous legislators with 32 and 9 respectively. In between 5 senior cabinet ministers [i.e. Dorjee Khandu (4), Jarbom Gamlin (2), Atum Welly (3), Tanga Byaling (3) and Takar Marde (3)], have 15 wives.  Another 7 legislators, cutting across party lines, have 15 wives too! In other words, 20% (12) legislators have 40% (30) wives to themselves. From a larger perspective, ten legislators of western parliamentary segment have 26 wives. Whereas, eastern parliamentary segment can boast of a clean slate with no polygamous legislator, if not for one legislator each from East Siang and Upper Siang district respectively. From political party perspective, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) is the only exception with no  polygamous representative.

In a society with skewed sex ratio,  polygamous practices of law makers are not a healthy sign, perhaps it is a sin from the perspective that that they are leaders and role models for many in the State. It is high time, the society woke up to the reality that wherever sex ratio is skewed, the crime rate has shoots up, especially against the vulnerable groups in society like the young boys and girls as well as women. If negative trend of sex ratio continues and deteriorates further as projected, then rape, molestation; as well as 'not-so-natural' acts of same sex and unnatural act of paedophiles etc., are bound to take place.

It may not to be too wrong or too extreme to state that in a society with skewed sex ratio,  polygamous status of law makers could be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of crime against vulnerable sections of society.  That the State government has constituted eight juvenile justice boards (JJB) as mandated by an Act of Parliament, (significantly enough, all in the western segment of parliamentary constituency), does not absolve the legislators of the tremendous dis-service they have been doing to society by promoting polygamy. But nonetheless it proves the point that polygamy do give rise to crime and criminality, verging on anti-social activities among the young men and women.

Nevertheless, it is felt that government must review functioning of the existing commissions and boards particularly, the one that deals with born and unborn children and other vulnerable sections of society like juveniles and girls/women. Reportedly, most of these bodies are defunct in real terms except for utilization of perks and benefits from the State exchequer. It is high time the Government ensured that delivery mechanism is in place, not just left on its own after constitution of boards and commissions. But more than anything else, it is the civil society and the Government, which must together launch a sustained campaign against the unhealthy practice of polygamy so that this is rooted out of the society within a definite time frame before it is left too late

Party-Wise:  Numbers  & Percentages of Spouses
In Absolute Numbers						In Percentage
Parties	Total MLAs	Total Number of Wives	Number of monogamous legislatures ( with 1 wife)	Number of Polygamous Legislatures (with < 1 wife)				% Distribution across Party	% of Monogamous Legislatures ( with 1 wife)	% of Polygamous Legislatures (with < 1 wife)
AITC	5	5	5	0				7%	100%	0%
BJP	3	4	2	1				5%	67%	33%
INC+	42	56	32	9				75%	76%	21%
NCP*	5	5	3	1				7%	60%	20%
PPA	4	5	3	1				7%	75%	25%
Overall	59	75	45	12				100%	76%	20%
+Pasang Dorjee Sona is single/ married / not married *Bamang Felix is single/ married/ not married NB: Lone Independent MLA, Nang Sati Mein, is the spouse of INC legislature therefore she has not been counted in this report.