Moran people among early inhabitants of Brahmaputra Valley

*DCM attends Moran event in Assam* 

BORDUMSA, Dec 30: Assam Moran Sabha hosted the 20th central triennial session at Mohong village under Bordumsa in Tinsukia district of Assam from December 28 to 30, with the purpose of bringing focus on the need of preserving the indigenous rights of the Moran community members in the state.

On Friday, state Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein graced the event along with Assam Minister Bimal Bora, which was also attended by Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma, Sadiya MLA Bolin Chetia, Former Doomdooma MLA Dilip Moran, Assam Moran Sabha President Rajib Borah, General Secretary Durlav Gohain among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Mein acknowledged the indigenous roots of the Moran community saying that the community is among the early inhabitants of the Brahmaputra valley and descendants of the Bodo stock of the Mongoloids.

“Naturally they share their cultural heritage with the Bodos, Kacharis and other brethren of the region. In addition, the community also shares sociological and cultural relations since time immemorial with the Tais, Naras, Khamtis, Singphos and other collateral groups residing in the Brahmaputra valley,” he said.

From Balipara in Assam to Itanagar, Siang, Lohit, Namsai, Tirap and Longding in Arunachal, the age-old bond between the different ethnic groups pertaining to both states has remained unbroken to this day, the deputy chief minister said.

As such, the legacy of the past heritage and history of peaceful coexistence as established by the ancestors of both states must be carried forward with the same zeal, he advocated.

Reminiscing about the past glory stemming from the shared similarity between the Morans and the Tai Khamtis and Singphos, Mein recalled the tales he heard as a child about the unmatched expertise of the Morans in elephant catching and training; a shared common interest with his own ethnic clan.

He also spoke about the seven decades-long border conflict between Assam and Arunachal; a resolution for which at one time was almost unthinkable.

“However, circumstances are now favourable, owing to the support extended by the Centre and due to the shared willingness and proactive measures taken by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal counterpart Pema Khandu,” Mein pointed out.

Reaffirming the need for a peaceful resolution, Mein said that progress made by both states toward resolving the long-standing issue was made possible only after the BJP government came to power and paid special focus to the development of Northeast India.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mein reinforced the vision of a developed northeast, for a progressive India.

He said that visible progress has been made in the region under the current government and added that the increasing number of infrastructure projects being sanctioned by the Centre in both states is an indication of the commitment placed by the governments both at the Centre as well as in the respective states, towards achieving accelerated growth in Northeast India. (PRO)