PAMLUK, Nov 24: The Aye-Boa and Hari Kalung Welfare Society organised its maiden ‘unity summit’ here in Lower Subansiri district on Saturday in a bid to promote communal harmony and mutual coexistence.
The summit was aimed at reviving the age-old institutionalized social and economic relationship (bur manyi/baro manyang) between the Nyishi inhabited (Aye Boa) and Apatani (Hari Kalung) villages.
The people of the two villages are making efforts to create a social bridge based on mutual trust, love, peace and fraternal affection for each other.
Ziro-Hapoli MLA Tage Taki, who attended the summit, termed it “a historical event,” and called for strengthening the relationship between the neighbouring tribes.
“Such summits should be organized by the apex bodies of all the tribes, beyond clan- and community-based organizations. Such inter-tribe societies will go a long way in fostering peaceful coexistence of all the tribes,” he said.
Taki said reviving the age-old friendship based on the barter system alone would fail to ensure a lasting alliance. “What is required is retrospection and working out strategies to strengthen the friendship based on modern demands,” he said.
The MLA requested the leaders and seniors of both the villages to initiate the process of district border demarcation.
Raga MLA Tamar Murtem commended the initiative and assured all assistance to strengthen the bur manyi/baro manyang tradition. He suggested installing geo-tagging mechanism to demarcate the districts’ boundaries, based on the already existing traditional boundary.
Tani Supun Dukun president Hage Tado and Nyishi Elite Society president Bengia Tolum also spoke. They expressed joy that the Nyishi-Apatani summit of 2015 paved the way for alliances between sections of the community.
Among others, Chief Election Commissioner Hage Kojeen, Power CE Bar Takum, PWD CE Hage Appa, Skill Development Director Subu Tabin and senior members of both societies presented their views and suggestions for strengthening the ties between the two communities.
A volleyball competition, a singing competition, and cultural presentations by troupes from both the tribes were organized.
Earlier, the ‘unity pillar’ was unveiled in the presence of all the dignitaries, and an MoU was signed by Aye-Boa and Hari Kalung interim president Hage Tara and its general secretary Taw Shalla. (DIPRO)
