Arunachal Pradesh is today celebrating its statehood day. On this day, 20th February 1987, it has become full fledged state. Previously, it was a union territory. It was also known as NEFA ( North East Frontier Agency) and was administered through Ministry of External Affairs by political officers and Governor of Assam, till 1972. In 1972, it became a union territory and was placed under a chief commissioner.

After 3 years, in 1975, it acquired a legislature. And finally, on 20th February 1987 Statehood was conferred on Arunachal Pradesh when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister and it became the 25th State of the Union of India.

Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in North East India area wise. It has many tribes and sub tribes. Many of its tribes come under Tani tribe which comprises of major tribes like Adi, Nyishi, Tagin, Apatani etc. who trace back their roots to Abo Tani. Other major tribe like Monpa, is Buddhist. Tani tribes follow Donyi Polo religion, though many have converted to Christianity, Hinduism.

Arunachal Pradesh

Defence Minister A K Antony is on a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh, will take part in the silver jubilee celebrations of the state there. The Defence Minister was invited there by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, who had met him in his office earlier this month, they said. During the visit, the Minister is also likely to review the operational preparedness of the troops and formations deployed there.

Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China as its southern province or Zangnan and it has been a bone of contention between India and China. They also fought a war over boundary disputes in 1962 where Chinese Army reached Tezpur, Assam.

Presently, Congress is a majority party and rules the state by its CM Nabam Tuki.

What could be music to the ears of CM Tarun Gogoi of Assam, KMSS ( Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti) has extended support to it for forming North East Water Resource Authority (NEWRA). KMSS has also insisted on effecting an amendment in the National Hydro Power Policy 2008.

In a statement issued to the press, the KMSS said that unless it was ensured that Assam enjoyed equal benefits of inter-State river waters, all construction of dams over inter-State rivers should be opposed.

Government of Assam has been demanding to form a water resources authority and recently Assam CM Tarun Gogoi met prime minister Dr. Manmohn Singh regarding this issue. Arunachal Pradesh, which has the most potential for hydro power generation, has been opposing such authority.

“If necessary, the Government of Assam should take the initiative to form a tribunal under the Inter State Water Dispute Act 1956 to stop construction of dams,” said the KMSS.

The KMSS also demanded that a cumulative impact assessment of all proposed dams in Arunachal Pradesh be carried out. The KMSS also called for a specific study of geological and seismic vulnerability aspects of the region. “Work on all ongoing and proposed big dams in Arunachal Pradesh should be kept in abeyance pending a thorough study of every possible adverse impact, including downstream concerns,” said the KMSS.

TripEngineers.com is an Online Travel Portal, which offers its customers a range of customisations which were till date unavailable on any other portal of its kind. What we strive to do is connect our customers to the hundreds and thousands of offline travel agents who are capable of providing them a tour exactly as per their specifications.

How are we unique?

We hope to explore a new very less understood domain of travel- student travel. Students require trips that do not take a toll on their wallets and are fun, yet convenient. We take all of this into account and directly deal with travel agents to provide students with the best possible prices for trips, and with a huge number of possibilities for customisations.

The North East is a paradise unexplored and we wish that people from all over country visit this region and realize this for themselves.

Currently, we offer trips to destinations only in the North East as being in this part of the country we have realized how much potential this region has of becoming a top tourist attraction for people all over the world.

And why we are specifically targeting youth studying in colleges, is because we feel that they would be ready to explore places that offer them a sense of adventure and allow them to let loose the enthusiastic traveller in each of them.

A lot of our trips are designed specifically for students like one day excursions, getaways and short trips which they could avail of without significantly disrupting their academic life.

We are probably one of the only companies in the North East who have keenly focussed on providing adventure trips. From scuba diving (Yes, one can scuba dive here in the NE), rappelling, rafting, rock climbing, cliff jumping and trekking; our itineraries include a comprehensive range of adventure sports.

Each of our founding members has a relentless passion for travelling and adventure and this coupled with the fact that we currently live in a region which has such a lot to offer to satiate any traveller’s needs resulted in the formation of TripEngineers.

TripEngineers also plans to introduce a host of innovations which include an online bidding forum where in customers will mention their requirements for a trip and they will get to choose travel agents who best suit their needs and their budgets.

And we also seek to introduce the concept of ‘Symbiotic Travel’ to the travel industry wherein customers can go for substantially expensive tours at nominal amounts by getting their tours sponsored by companies and firms.

Visit TipEngineer at: www.tripengineers.com
Follow TipEngineer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TripEngineers

Watch TipEngineer YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsWBCfvdDGM

Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Tarun Gogoi has recently met Prime Minister of India and requested him to expedite the formation of North East Water Regulatory Authority (NEWRA). The formation of this authority has been delayed as Arunachal Pradesh has been opposing it.

The Assam Government, facing lot of agitation against big dams in Arunachal Pradesh, had suggested to set up the North East Water Regulatory Authority (NEWRA) which will control all hydro power projects in the upper reaches of the river Brahmaputra.

Arunachal Pradesh is opposing such move and it is delaying formation of such regulatory authority. Arunachal Pradesh has potential to generate more that 55000MW hydro power and could be power house in the North East India as well as Eastern India. It says that formation of such regulatory authority wold have serious socio-economic implications for the state! Most probably, Arunachal Goverment is afraid that it would lose hold on the hydro power projects and may lose revenue.

Assam being the largest state in North East India, in terms population, it has maximum number of MPs in Loksabha and would be able to put pressure on such regulatory authority while smaller states like Arunachal Pradesh would be marginalised.

On the other hand, population of Assam faces the danger for any dam built in Arunachal Pradesh as it is on the downstream of the rivers in Arunachal Pradesh.

So, it is a difficult situation!

Addressing the International Conference on Myanmar at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi jointly organised by Jamia Millia Islamia University and Tampadipa Institute, Yangon on 31 Jan 2012, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said that open border policy with Myanmar should not be disturbed, as it is working well.

Nagas like to build their houses at the top of the hills and as Indo-Myanmar border was drawn on the basis of water-shed, many Naga villages were cut into two halves by the international boundary,” the Nagaland chief minister said.

Although the Ministry of Home Affairs have been advocating introduction of border passes, I am strongly of the opinion that issuing of passes by Government officials would be cumbersome and impracticable.

The people living in these areas have taken the international boundaries in their stride, but there has been practically no migration across the border because of the Naga’s land holding system.

Hence, we should not disturb the present peaceful situation and create new problem where it does not exist,” Rio further stated.

Mentioning about the Naga population spread over in India and Myanmar, Neiphiu Rio said the Indo-Myanmar region along the international boundary between India and Myanmar is populated by an ethnic and indigenous population that has been living in these territories since time immemorial.

The Naga population on both sides of the border share a common heritage, culture, traditions, history and religion.

One million of Naga population are placed in Myanmar while four millions of the Naga population are within the Indian Union, and are further divided into four states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, he stated while adding, “The Naga population has gone through a period of strive and struggle for more than six decades.

It may be mentioned that whole of North East India is connected to mainland India by 2% of its total border while other 98% borders are international border with Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Source : E-PAO

Today ( 31 January ) is one of the most auspicious festival of Ahom community in Assam. Me-Dam-Me-Phi is a very sacred ritual of the Ahom community in Assam and literally it means oblations offered to the dead and sacrifices to the gods.
This festival of the Ahoms in honour of their ancestors also answers questions pertaining to the immortal soul of man, the Supreme Soul and union of the immortal soul with the Supreme Soul. This ritual was also observed by the Ahom kings on many occasions for averting any imminent danger, commemorating victory and desiring longevity of life.

This festival is observed every year on 31st January across Assam by Ahom community. Ahom is the community after which Assam has got its name. They ruled Assam from 1228 to 1826 continuously. They are the only community to have defeated mighty Mughal Army in famous Saraighat war in 1671 decisively.

northeastblog.in Blog best wishes all on this occasion!

Recent reports in news papers suggest that, anti-talks factions of insurgent groups are forging ties with each other and China is acting as chief interlocutor among them. With recent reverses by China at international levels by India, we had opined that China might step up ‘Insurgency in North East India’ card very soon.

It may be mentioned that, around 1600 cadres of nine insurgent groups have laid down arms recently in Assam. ULFA has also suffered great setback recently due to formal divisions among its top ranks and Paresh Barua Led anti-talk factions constituting new central body.

After Bangladesh Government has started acting against insurgent bases in Bangladesh, North East rebel groups have started shifting their bases to either Myanmar or Myanmar-China borders. It is widely rumoured that, China has been putting pressure on all insurgent groups to work together against Indian government. China has been now supplying arms and ammunition to NE rebels. Though violence has gone down in North East India, Security agencies are worried about China’s engagement with North East Militant groups like Pakistans in Kashmir.

China has always been opposing hosting of Dalai Lama and Tibetan Government in Exile by India government and periodically let its displeasure known to Indian government. With forging alliance of all North East insurgents, China must be trying to form a formidable insurgent group to trouble India put pressure on India.

So, recent reports indicate that China is trying to resurrect insurgency in North East India. Only time will tell how India responds to such threat.

All North Eastern states except Tripura are unlikely to get Aadhar Cards ( An identity card issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India or UIDAI). It was decided after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Unique Identification Authority of India related issues (CC-UIDAI) chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, held on 27 Jan 2012 in New Delhi.

Briefing newsmen, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that in all cases the NPR data base would prevail. However, Aadhaar numbers would prevail in those States where it has been issued. And in rest of the States, the NPR exercise would continue.

It is learnt that, the security concern and fear of falling these cards into the hands of illegal immigrants in Assam and other North Eastern States are the main reasons why Aadhar Cards will not be issued this time. Assam and North Eastern states are prone to illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Recently, UIDAI has been in the midst of controversy wih some objections from Ministry of Home affairs due to security concerns of the safety of the data. Many people also feared that UIDAI Aadhar cards would intrude into privacy of a citizen.

Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Paban Singh Ghatowar and Union Minister for Culture, Kumari Selja had inaugurated North-East Cultural Centre, located at Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Dwarka, New Delhi on 24th Jan 2012. The centre is the outcome of an assurance made by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to a delegation of youths from the North-East on October 10, 2009.

This is an effort by North Eastern Council and CCRT and facilitated by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region to promote and educate rich cultural heritage of North Eastern India.

naugurating the centre Selja said one of the important objectives of CNEC under the aegis of CCRT is to increase awareness about the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the North East. She said, CNEC will evolve to be a vital platform in this part of the country for dissemination of knowledge about culture and heritage of North-east.

The Union Culture Minister said that her Ministry attaches great importance to the preservation and promotion of the unique, rich and diverse art and culture of the North East Region (NER). She said, as part of its efforts to preserve cultural traditions of the region, Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) has set up its North-East Centre in Shillong. The Akademi has documented many of the traditional theatre forms of the region. It has also set up a Sattriya Kendra in Guwahati which looks after the Sattriya tradition of Assam.

Source : Assam Tribune