stresses preservation of indigenous identity
ITANAGAR, Oct 14: Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said the Assam–Arunachal Pradesh inter-state boundary issue is moving towards resolution, with disputes involving 123 villages largely settled, while calling for a balance between modernisation and the preservation of the state’s indigenous identity.
On the boundary issue, Khandu said 31 of the 32 contested areas in Papum Pare district had been settled during recent joint field visits by regional committees of the two states.
He also said efforts were progressing to address other long-pending issues, including the Chakma question, adding that the public would be informed about developments at an appropriate time.
On cultural preservation, the Chief Minister urged the people of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly the youth, to safeguard their indigenous languages, traditions and cultural heritage as the state approaches its 40th Statehood Day on February 20, 2027.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Donyi Polo Multipurpose Hall at the Galo Heritage Centre in Tarajuli near Naharlagun on Wednesday, Khandu said the state’s development must remain rooted in its cultural values while adapting to rapid technological and economic changes.
He cautioned that the state’s tribal communities, given their relatively small populations in the national context, risked losing their distinct identities if their languages, customs and traditions were not passed on to future generations.
While the government could support heritage preservation through policies and programmes, the primary responsibility rested with the communities themselves, he said, urging elders and community organisations to ensure that younger generations remained connected to their ancestral knowledge and cultural practices.
Referring to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Khandu encouraged people to use technology as a tool for progress while preparing for its potential impact on employment. He stressed that technological advancement should not come at the cost of indigenous culture and identity.
Highlighting the principles of Vikas, Sewa and Virasat (development, service and heritage), he referred to initiatives aimed at supporting indigenous Gurukul schools, promoting Arunachal Pradesh’s GI-tagged products and strengthening the protection of indigenous faiths.
While inaugurating the hall, Khandu recalled that the Galo community had voluntarily handed over its Mopin ground at Naharlagun, in use since 1976, to facilitate the establishment of the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), the state’s first medical college.
The community subsequently identified and purchased around 11,217 square metres of land at Tarajuli through public contributions to develop a new cultural centre. More than 430 individuals contributed towards the initiative, while clan organisations constructed boundary walls and traditional gates.
The multipurpose hall sanctioned under the Centre’s Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment following an assurance given by the Chief Minister in 2022, was completed in about a year.
Named after Donyi Polo, symbolising the Sun and the Moon, the hall will serve as a permanent venue for Mopin celebrations and a centre for transmitting traditional knowledge, songs, dances and crafts to younger generations. Khandu said the Galo community’s initiative could inspire other tribes to take collective responsibility for safeguarding their cultural heritage.
Khandu said the Donyi Polo Multipurpose Hall reflected the importance of community participation in preserving cultural heritage and providing a space for passing traditional knowledge on to younger generations.
As Arunachal Pradesh prepares to complete four decades of statehood, he urged communities to reflect on their aspirations for 2047 and contribute to building a developed state while remaining rooted in their indigenous heritage.