From our Correspondent

Itanagar, Jan 7: The Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh and the Bodos of neighbouring Assam have renewed their commitment to share each other’s burden by strengthening trust and mutual understanding among both the communities residing in inter-State boundary areas.

The ‘commitment’ was made good during the annual conference of Sonitpur district unit of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) at Bodo National Academy, Borphukuri near Gohpur in Assam yesterday.

Addressing the conference, Nyishi Elite Society (NES) president Bengia Tolum called for continuing the strong bond between both the communities, NES sources said here today.

“The Nyishis and Bodos have been living in complete harmony since time immemorial with mutual trust and confidence. This must go on,” he asserted.

Describing Nyishi and Bodo as competent communities, Tolum said Assam and Arunachal governments must include both the communities in all aspects of development process if the respective States are to make progress.

Emphasizing on cultural exchange between the people of Assam and Arunachal as a true harbinger of peace, he felt that through such mode the bonding between the two neighbours would get stronger.

All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) president Sikka Gapak, who was appointed as the speaker of the conference, stressed on the importance of peace and security as the pre-requisite of any developmental activity to be brought about especially in the boundary area.

All Bodo Students’ Union president Promod Boro while advocating for stronger ties among the two large ethnic populace said both the communities are different administratively but similar in all other aspects.

While tendering an apology to Arunachal Pradesh for any inconvenience caused by extremists in the name of Bodo, he assured such thing would not happen in future.

It is pertinent to mention here that both the communities have signed two accords –February 11, 2002 at Itanagar and February 16 last year at Seijosa in East Kameng district – that cleared all the misgivings and cemented their commitment for peaceful co-existence especially in the boundary areas.

During the communal riots at Udalguri in 2008 and Kokrajhar and Chirang districts last year, the NES and ANSU while sharing the sufferings of Bodo community had dispatched a team with relief materials for the victims.

The cordial relation between the two communities, as a matter of fact, dates back to Assam turmoil of 70s and 80s when the Nyishis living in the foothills provided shelter to the Bodos when they were persecuted.