Governor stresses on border development

FROM OUR

CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, March 27: Aruchal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma has advocated for strengthening Indo-Sino relation through cooperation but not by confrontation.  Addressing the closing day of the two-day tiol semir on ‘Voices from Aruchal:  India-Chi Border Problems and related Aruchal Folklore’ at Rajiv Gandhi University near here yesterday, Sharma said that the benefits of cooperation were far outweigh than any presumed gains from containment.

“India and Chi’s dreams of being strong, developed and prosperous tions are interconnected and mutually compatible,” he added The governor commended the collaborative initiative of the semir to understand the local perspective at the grassroots of the border state by documenting the folklores and oral history. “We must listen to the issues that matter to the people of the state and appreciate them. The opinions, outlook, experiences, historical perspectives and social memory of Aruchalees are valuable in knowing their vision for the development of the state and lending a perspective to solving the boundary dispute,” he added.

Underlining the relevance of recording cultural aspects and folklore, the governor said that that along with recorded history, local folklores of the various ethnic groups of the state help shed light on the past besides providing a credible geo-political identity of the tribal communities of the frontier state.

The former Army chief pointed out the economic and vital strategic significance of Aruchal Pradesh and the NE region and its potentials in terms of its proximity to eight Asian countries as doorway to the South East and East Asia.

Highlighting on demographic connectivity, he said that Aruchal Pradesh has ancient linkages with places like Tibet and Myanmar through human migration over the ages. Buddhism spread from India to different cultures, particularly to Asian countries, he said.

However, he said that such factors cannot be the basis of a tion or state as religious and cultural affinity is beyond borders.

Stressing on pursuing security and development, Sharma said, “We must work towards matching infrastructural capacities.”

“Infrastructural development in the border region can also boost economic linkages,” he said while referring to revitalization of old Silk Route and Stilwell Road.

“The Centre is working on strengthening bi-lateral relations on the basis of Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Inch Towards Miles’, he added.

The semir was organised by Research Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regiol Studies, Kolkata and Maula Abul Kalam Azad Intitute for Asian Studies, Kolkata in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi University.