12th Nyishi Day celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh

A Correspondent

ITANAGAR: The Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 12th “Nyishi Day” here at Nyishi Elite Society (NES) secretariat office, Richi Jollang on Friday. The “Nyishi Day” is celebrated to commemorate the historic constitutional amendment of replacing the nomenclature – Dafla to the original nomenclature Nyishi.

After a decade of struggle by the seniors of the NES and the community, the word (Dafla) which was considered alien and derogatory was whipped out by a constitutional amendment (Schedule Tribe) order 1950, modifying the list of ST by an Act – the Constitution (ST) Amendment Act -2008 under the part – XVIII relating to the State of Arunachal Pradesh.

Addressing the community on the day, former state Chief Minister Nabam Tuki wished and congratulated the efforts made by the seniors of the community to eradicate the ‘Dafla’ word which was considered as derogatory.

He asked the fellow brother and sisters of the community to stay strong and united. “Like we did eradicate the derogatory word, we have to fight for the all-round development of the community in terms of education, employment, livelihood and other basic needs,” he said.

Meanwhile, NES president Bengia Tolum seeking all-round support from the community urged all to preserve the age-old tradition, culture, dialect and practice of the Nyishi community. He requested the NES executive members to spread love among each other irrespective of district and area. “We as an Arunachalee first should eradicate the feeling of jealousy and difference among other tribes too. We should respect the tradition and culture of other communities and at the same time should do the same to our own,” he said.

Also read: Arunachal news