DAIMALU, Jan 24: Nyishi Elite Society (NES) president Bengia Tolum along with executive members of the NES attended the 58th annual conference-cum-cultural exchange programme of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS) at the playground of the high school here in Assam on 24 January.
The programme was held under the theme ‘Strengthening the unity and brotherhood’.
Greeting the Bodo people and the BSS, Tolum in his address expressed gratitude to the BSS president for having attended the decadal Nyishi Day celebration on 19 April, 2017, in Itanagar.
Reminding the gathering of the emotional relationship between the Nyishis and the Bodos since time immemorial, Tolum said, “This tempo of both the two great ethnic communities of the Northeast region must perpetuate for posterity.”
He said the Nyishi-Bodo Accords of 2002 and 2012 “further cemented our relationship deeper and stronger,” adding that “regional peace and order have been the centre-stage of both the historic summits.”
Describing the humanitarian services rendered by the Nyishis towards their Bodo brethren as “a manifestation of solidarity in hours of distress,” Tolum urged both the communities to “keep up this spirit of solidarity for posterity.”
He urged the Bodo community to fight “not only for Bodo nationalism but also for the preservation of their rich cultural heritage, under the able patronage of the BSS and the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU).”
BSS president Taren Bodo and general secretary Prasanto Boro showered praises on the Nyishis, describing them as “the real friends in times of distress of our people.”
ABSU general secretary Lawrence Islary in his address said cultural exchange programmes between the Bodos and the Nyishis living in the boundary areas of the two neighbouring states would strengthen their relationship and help maintain mutual trust and respect.
Islary offered apologies to the people of Arunachal Pradesh for the “atrocities committed by antisocial elements,” and assured to take care that such unpleasant incidents do not recur.
The celebration was attended by, among others, Assam MP (Rajya Sabha) Biswajeet Daimary, MLAs and members of the BTAC, educationists, and social activists.
Following the programme, the NES team interacted with the Greenfield Airport Land Affected Peoples Forum of Hollongi, led by Nera Techi (chairman) and Likha Taji (general secretary), and registered the forum’s objection to the Nabam Rebia committee report on the land acquisition for the proposed greenfield airport in Hollongi.
The NES president advised the landowners to part with their land for the “very important project,” and to take up with the appropriate authority any injustice meted out to the landowners.
In the evening, a ‘training of trainers programme on career counselling and drug abuse’ was conducted at Success Point in Itanagar by the NES’ career guidance cell. The trainers will later be deputed to all the Nyishi inhabited districts.
Thirty-five trainers in different fields from various Nyishi inhabited districts took part in the training, NES general secretary Heri Maring stated in a press release.
