NAHARLAGUN, 15 May: Stating that “Northeast has a rich biodiversity and a very rich cultural diversity,” Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Sunday mooted having a “Northeast cultural exchange programme, including games and sports.”
Attending the Kristi Kendra Rongali Bihu Sammelan here, Mein also advocated creating a “Northeast tourist circuit, apart from the state-specific tourist circuits.”
He said that the people of Arunachal and Assam share age-old cultural ties and “we have a heart-to-heart relationships,” adding that “every tribe of Arunachal has a special and peaceful relationship with the people of Assam, which must be maintained in the coming years too.”
Paying tribute to legendary singer and music composer late Bhupen Hazarika, he stated that Hazarika “unified the entire Northeast through his singing and his songs on Arunachal Pradesh.
“‘Arunachal Hamara’ is very popular and loved by every Arunachali. The song is played and sung in every important occasion,” Mein said.
He further said that eminent literary personalities like late Lummer Dai and Padma Shri awardee YD Thongchi have further strengthened the ties between the people of Arunachal and Assam through their writings.
“Most of their literary works were in Assamese language, which helped to popularise Assamese language in the state and also endeared themselves and the people of Arunachal with Assamese people. They were also given equal love, affection and honour by the Assamese community,” the DCM said.
IMC Mayor Tame Phassang and Sailaja Sankalp Trust chairman Uday Aditya Goswami also spoke.
Among others, Thongchi, NES general secretary Heri Maring, ACCI secretary Toko Prakash, former AAPLU chairman Jalley Sonam, and GoAP Joint Secretary Mamta Riba were also present on the occasion.