Arunachal: Singpho Youth Organization Outraged at Tribe’s Omission from Pangsau Pass Festival

OUR CORRESPONDENT

DIGBOI: The Singpho Youth Organization (SYO) of India expressed profound disappointment and outrage at the glaring omission of the Singpho Tribe from the Pangsau Pass International Festival in both the cultural event and mural art painted on the wall of the festival area in Arunachal's Nampong in Changlang district.

“The Pangsau Pass holds immense historical and cultural significance for the Singpho Tribe. It is an integral part of our heritage, yet we are relegated to spectators in our own cultural celebration. This blatant disregard for the Singpho Tribe is not only insulting but also a grave injustice,” said Gumshong Lagang, President of the SYO, during an exclusive with the North East Now here today.

“We have rounds of talks held among the community leaders, community's apex body Singpho Development Society (SDS), and students body to oppose the step-motherly attitude of the civil administration trying to segregate the Singpho Tribe and their cultures in such an event which is deeply intertwined with the Singpho history, culture, and geographical entity,” said one of the former presidents of the SDS.

It may be recalled here that the Singpho Tribe had played a significant role in the construction of the Stilwell Road. They were employed in the arduous construction works beside providing crucial manpower for tasks such as clearing jungle, moving earth, and carrying supplies.

Their intimate knowledge of the terrain, including the challenging Pangsau Pass, was worth rewarding. The local Singpho people guided the engineers and troops through the dense jungle and treacherous mountain passes, helping them navigate the difficult landscape.

“The Singpho communities also often provided food, shelter, and other support to the Allied forces working on the road,” informed one of the members of the Singpho royal family based in Assam.

“The festival, intended to showcase the rich cultural tapestry of the region, cannot be considered complete without the active participation and representation of the Singpho Tribe. Our unique traditions, music, dance, and crafts are an invaluable part of this cultural heritage and deserve to be showcased prominently,” said one of the office bearers of the Singpho Student Union, Bordumsa.

“The house, in its several rounds of talks, finally decided to demand of the organizing committee of the festival to rectify this grave oversight immediately,” informed Mr Lagang.

When contacted for cross-checking the validity of the allegations, one of the officials of the civil administration Jairampur acknowledged the lapse terming it as a ‘technical error’ and said that they would soon do the needful to rectify the same. The Pansgsau Pass International Festival will kick start on January 20, 2025 and culminate on January 22 at Nampong, close to the Myanmar border.

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