Attending the Achiever’s Award 2021 by the Sadin Pratidin Group at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra as Special Guest, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein spoke about the civilization, culture and history of North East India in Guwahati today.
Mein in his speech have said that the North East India have a very rich history of civilization and freedom struggle. Mentioning specific about his home State of Arunachal Pradesh, he said that Arunachal Pradesh has many places of mythological and archaeological importance like Parashuramkund, Bismaknagar and Malinithan which has mentioned in Mahabharata as well. He also mentioned of the presence of tallest Shivaling at Ziro and more than 400 years old Tawang Monastery.
Thanking the Govt of India and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi for giving an opportunity to recognise the unsung war heroes or the freedom struggle during the celebration of 75th years of India’s Independence as ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, he said that the tribal people of North East also revolt and fought against the Britishers during the colonial rule and said “it is nowhere reflected in the books of Indian History”. He said that it is high time we must re-write our history in our own perspective saying that “we have been reading the history written by the Britishers in their own perspective.” “What they viewed as traitors and punished where actually our freedom fighters and our war heroes”, he added.
He also spoke of Chowpha Planglu alias Ronua Gohain who ruled Sadiya once upon a time during the year 1826 and said that it has been mentioned in the 175 years old first Assamese Megazine ‘Orunodoi’ which was first published in the year 1846 from Shiv Sagar in Assam by the British Missionary couple, Nathan Brown and his wife Eliza Brown. He also spoke about the Tai Khamti-British War of 1839 where 80 soldiers of British along with Colonel Adam White were killed by the Tai Khamti’s in the war and requested Govt of India to declare it as the first war of India’s Independence against the British.
While speaking about four Anglo-Abor Wars fought by the Adi’s during the years 1858, 1859, 1894 & 1911 and the Wancho-British War known as ‘Ninu Massacre’ at Ninu (in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh) in the year 1875, he requested the Govt of India through Speaker of Lok Sabha who was present in the award function to include these histories of freedom struggles of North East India in the School Curriculum and the NCERT Textbooks so that next generations may read about it.
He also informed about the efforts of Arunachal Govt to identify and recognise the unsung heroes of the State and added that books will be published after thorough research and documentation is done.
He also lauded the initiative taken by the Assam Govt on Assam Ethnic Cultural Harmony & Exchange Mission to promote cultural exchange among different communities to unify the diversity of the land and requested to extend it to the neighbouring State of Arunachal Pradesh which would help to further srengthen the cordial relations and brotherhood.
Among others, the award function was attended by Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla as Chief Guest, Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma as Guest of Honour, Chairman Pratidin Group, Jayanta Baruah and many prominent personalities of Assam.
In the 7th edition of the Achievers’ Award, personalities from the region who have excelled in their foray of service from various categories like sports, art & culture, science, journalism, media, corporate, business, public service etc. were felicitated.
