National People's Party descend upon the young minds with awe-inspiring and outstanding conclave on Regional Aspirations and National Outlook

By Jon Pebi Tato

Nation-State: On the 19th of October the state capital of Arunachal Pradesh experienced a jolting, awe-inspiring, and outstanding conclave organized by the National People's Party unit of the state. The Conclave witnessed the presence of many young minds, masses of intellectuals from across the state and elsewhere, students, leaders, and many other participants. The conclave was organized to give an insight into regional aspects while maintaining the balance between the National Aspects. 

In-Depth:

The hullabaloo of the conclave spread wildfire on social media after the video pertaining to the debates and discussion on "Interplay of religion and Politics-evolving scenarios in Arunachal Pradesh" came to the limelight. However, the conclave witnessed various other important panel discussions with the presence of eminent personalities and learned individuals.

The conclave had two sessions, with  Panel discussions like "Striving for Regional Aspirations through Political Aspirations" and "NE's Regional Politics and  Challenges", "Interplay of religion and Politics-evolving scenarios in Arunachal Pradesh" and "Naga Peace Process, Politics of it and Regional ramifications", "Refugee influx, a challenge to Identity" 

1." Striving for Regional Aspirations through Political Aspirations"

The first panel discussion saw the presence of the Maharaja of Tripura and chairman of TIPRA Pradyot Manikya , and Journalist Makepeace Sithiou.

Journalist Makepeace Sithiou while discussing the Regional aspirations through political aspirations expressed that she had always heard about Tripura while residing in Guwahati city, The news about Tripura had made her think a lot about it, which ultimately let her reach the state of Tripura and then meet the Maharaja of Tripura.  Her words reflected how the regional aspirations actually responded to the political aspirations, citing the examples of CAA, how the region reacted to it, and what was the nature of the protest  Sithiou expressed how the news which was not laid out properly was actually different when she met the Maharaja's family.

The Maharaja of Tripura, Pradyot Manikya equally delivered an astounding and rhetorical speech that awe-inspired many young minds and learned intellectuals present at the auditorium.

He began with a statement, "Tripura is one of the most ignored states, we are always taken as an example, Everyone says that we should go  Shillong, be like Guwahati, let us visit the beautiful region of Arunachal, etc but when it comes to Tripura, everyone gives a statement like "we don't want to be another Tripura "

Manikya further stated, "one should know the rich history of the Tripura, ages ago when one could see Tripura, it was 90% inhabited by the indigenous demography but unlike today, this is because we were given lesser importance, or it is the failure of the Politician to give us an equal importance"

"The leaders who reside in Delhi having no emotional connections with our region makes policies for us"__ added Manikya

"Today we fight for a space in our own state because of ignorant since last seven decades" he further expressed.

While speaking on the language as an identity of being Indian, Maharaja astonishingly stated, "In Arunachal many claims that We speak Hindi so we are Indian, but excuse me if anyone of you speaks in Nyishi, Galo, Adi, Tripuri, Garo, Khasi, Naga, Mizo, etc you are still an Indian"

Further citing examples of the Mopin festival he stated that while attending the Mopin festival in the state, his friend while having served Mithun meat started bellowing give me Indian food, whereas the Manikya overrun his word and said Mithun is also from India, it is equally an Indian food"

The Maharaj further expressed, "Today when some person speaks against our leader, we are together, when Nido Tania was murdered, we were together, we react but we forget, but what is the problem?  It is because we are trying too hard to be somebody who we are not"

Citing the examples of Conrad Sangma, Manikya stated, "when he himself has had his education from the US but he doesn't try to be them, but he is a proud Garo"

Why should we forget our identity while trying to prove we belong to the same nation.

We tend to give the Political parties from Central or southern Indian utmost respect, today if Arvind Kejriwal comes to the state, everyone will jump in, problem is that we have deliberately downtrodden our own people while praising the ones from across the nation" added Manikya.

Further speaking on the regional aspirations he further said, "History has proved that whenever we were together with confidence and belief we have done great things, be it the signing of the Assam accord, statehood or anything which was agreed by the central government after a vigorous protest from us"

"kahi na kahi humne apna aap ko khoh dia he" added Manikya.

He further reminded" Politics is not only about survival, my friends but also something we can offer to our people, talking to our people, Politics is not only about elections but also about policy, we have to be brave and resilient"

2. NorthEast's Regional Politics and  Challenges

This section panel had a presence of National Affairs Editor, The wire Sangeeta Baroah Pisharoty and Lurinjyoti Gogoi, President Assam Jatiya Parishad.

The discussion went on by encouraging the people of the North-East in particular, in focussing and emphasizing more on taking our own regional aspirations while making progress in taking the National aspirations.

Miss Sangeeta expressed her opinion on the North-East as a regional politics and challenges  "what has remained unsolved, what is it that's still burning, what have we achieved then, this brings me the question of regional politics, First thing that I noticed is that for a regional politics to thrive is that  you also need to be allowed by New Delhi to be, the main reason I feel is that India shares the mostly international border on this side, and the presence  of insurgency etc I always feel that regional parties tend to not go beyond the scale because New Delhi pulls the string"

Acknowledging the Maharaja of Tripura's statement  Sangeeta further stated that," you have to keep proving that you are Indian, you are Nationalist, why should I prove? only because my eyes are small, my language is different"?

Sangeeta while keeping her stand outrightly stated, "Regional parties are always on the back foot, because of Money, why would anyone pump in money on regional parties, but time again we have seen that the basic never changes, we are always asked to compromise at the end, yesterday there was congress today it is BJP, it  makes no difference"

"The need for the regional parties at par with the National parties must start acting like a pressure group in New Delhi, for that, we must have a common agenda or policy" added The wire, editor of National Affairs.

she further asked the regional parties must come together.

"Lurinjyoti outrightly said," after the CAA movement the people of Assam have decided to come together to fight against the communal and centralized agenda of the central government to destroy our culture and civilization "

Gogoi mentioned the reason behind the formation of his new regional party while speaking on the need of the Regional political parties and their challenges.

"Protection of our culture and identity is the prime agenda of our party" added Gogoi 

Speaking on challenges, He vehemently spoke against the BJP for polarizing the whole of India in the name of Hindu,  whereas the country persists with diverse culture, Trying to entitle those speaking against the BJP as Anti-Nationalist, etc.

The guest of honour James Sangma further addressed the gathering, He expressed his opinion of the belief that this conclave shall open up interest and inquisitiveness among the youths and like-minded people. 

Mr. Sangma encouraged the unification of the North-East for an interplay in the National Politics, this he claimed as one of the main agendas of the National People's Party.

3. Interplay of religion and Politics-evolving scenarios in Arunachal Pradesh

The panel discussion had witnessed the presence of Pai Dawe and Toko Teki the President of the Christian Forum.  The promo video in connection to this particular event was one of the main reasons for many people who had gathered in the conclave.

The representative from the indigenous side Mr.Pai Dawe claimed that allegations of the Christian or other religion on the indigenous side for delusion in the indigenous belief are totally wrong citing "Transformation" as the phenomenon which Dawe expressed that it has been the paramount natural thing which had occurred in every aspect since ages.

Toko Teki who represented the Christian forum clarified that the Christians in the state have always been in support of the regional aspirations but never had their base on the politics. 

Both the side had a befitting discussion which one can watch it on the live-video session of the Space media.

4. Naga Peace Process, Politics of it and Regional ramifications

The discussion saw the need for political peace in the region, with Nagaland in particular for the future regional ramifications.

The panels witnessed the presence of the Nagaland NPP President Mr.Andrew who emphasized being more regional and than Global.

"The MPs in the North-East should also be increased" expressed Andrew.

He further stated if Nagaland has final peace the entire North-East will be in Peace.

5. Refugee influx, a challenge to Identity

The Panel discussion was graced by the presence of two intellectuals viz Ms.Patricia Mukhim, Editor Shillong times, and Mr. Sandeep Phukan, Deputy Editor, India Today.

Mr.Phukan mostly emphasized that the Inner Line Permit which prevails today is not the final solution in the long term solution against the refugee influx but in fact, the Assimilation shall bring forth a positive sight and a solution.

On the contrary, Ms. Mukhim expressed that the region should use its available resource more profoundly rather than taking them from the people across the border.

She lucidly mentioned the threat and the challenges that the North-East is facing. 

she further stated that "we need to exercise our minds, we need to constructive brainstorming within us, till today no regional leader have sat together and talked about this issue, henceforth there seems to be no solution.

Patricia stressed that the people of North-East are not working within themselves hence the refugees keep on getting influx.

The presence of HCM Conrad Sangma brought in a spark of light among the tired eyes of the audience with an astounding speech.

"We must first understand the crux of the issue before start putting in our position and a stand on it," said Sangma while expressing the gathering on his take citing the unprecedented tensions like inter-state boundary dispute.

He further added, "Solutions doesn't come in a day but from the discussions and debates"

"I know there are many issues where any individual or political party are not in a situation to come eye to eye , but such braveness and a complete stand on one's ideology should be there" stated Sangma.

Sangma further mentioned that in the near future programs more such topics would be taken and discussed, which would bring in more insight and a sense of inculcation among the North-East regionals.

Sangma thanked his overwhelming response to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the NPP unit.

The state NPP President and Hon'ble MLA Roing, Mutchu Mithi ended the conclave with his humble, kind, and heartfelt thanks to all the personalities who arrived and participated in the conclave.

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