Dear Editor,
It is seen that Arunachal Christian Forum (ACF) has been opposing the creation of the Department of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Affairs (DIFCA) by the state government which is uncalled for.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang (DPYK) appeals to the ACF to withdraw its roll back demand on DIFCA as DIFCA is aimed at preserving and protecting the age old faith, belief, culture and traditions of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang asks as to who are indigenous people of the state-either Donyi Polo Faith believers or ACF/Christians.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang makes it crystal clear that whosoever are the original residents of this state, be it Donyi Polo Faith believers or Christians, all are the indigenous people of the state. That’s why one can’t simply deny being indigenous people just because one has been converted to Christianity or other religions.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang intends to remind ACF to the effect that the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh do not comprises even a fraction of huge population of the world.
Does ACF intend to see the extinction of even this microscopic indigenous population and their faith, belief, traditions and culture? ACF’s demand is all the more disgusting and uncalled for because the indigenous faith, belief, culture and traditions are already on the verge of extinction in the wake of modernization and westernization and that ACF is trying to hammer the last nail to finish it.
Rather ACF should extend its cooperation and also be thankful to the state government for creation of DIFCA, Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang opines.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang clarifies that the creation of DIFCA do not amount to misuse of public money for promotion of any particular religion because the word ‘faith’ do not come under the purview of Article 27 of the Indian Constitution.
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang would also like to clarify that Donyi Polo is a faith and belief system and not an established religion at the moment unlike Hindu, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam.
Therefore, Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang wonders as to how come ACF is opposing the creation of DIFCA more so because other religions like Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhism and so on do not see any problem in the creation of DIFCA.
In fact, we are of the opinion that ACF is our own indigenous brothers and sisters of this state and their opposition to DIFCA is very very unfortunate and regretable.
Nevertheless, we are still hopeful that good sense and fellow feeling will prevail in the ACF so that our tribal unity and brotherhood are maintained at any cost for better future.
Meanwhile, Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang appeals to the state government of Arunachal Pradesh not to pay heed to the pressures being exerted by the ACF to roll back the creation of DIFCA. On the other hand, Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang urges the state government to again include the word ‘faith’ in the nomenclature of DIFCA which it had withdrawn recently.
Yours,
Talom Dupak,
President
Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang, Itanagar