দেৱীকা বৰপূজাৰী

পবিত্ৰ ৰমজান মাহৰ ২৭ দিনটোক বহু নামেৰে বিভূষিত কৰা হয়, – Laylatul Qadr বুলিও কয়। এই ৰাতিক কয় — ‘ অধিসূচনাৰ ৰাতি, শক্তিৰ ৰাতি, গুৰুত্বৰ ৰাতি, অদৃষ্টৰ ৰাতি, ইছলামিক বিশ্বাসৰ ৰাতি । এয়াই ৰাতি- যিদিনা স্বৰ্গৰ পৰা কোৰান পঠিয়াই দিয়া হৈছিল আৰু প্ৰথমবাৰৰ বাবে কোৰানৰ বাণী প্ৰফেট মহম্মদ ৰ ওচৰত প্ৰকাশ কৰা হৈছিল। মুছলমান সকলে বিশ্বাস কৰে যে, কদৰৰ ৰাতিয়ে ঈশ্বৰৰ পৰা অনাবিল আশীৰ্বাদ আৰু দয়া কঢ়িয়াই আনে। এই ৰাতিতেই পাপীক ক্ষমা কৰা হয় ।

পবিত্ৰ বুলি ভবা এই মাহটোত, দিনটোৰ ভিতৰত পাঁচবাৰ প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰা হয় আৰু সেই কেইবিধ প্ৰাৰ্থনা বা নামাজৰ নাম হৈছে –
ৰাতিপুৱা — ফজৰ
দুপৰীয়া — জোহৰ
বিয়লি — আচৰ
সন্ধিয়া — মগৰিব
নিশা — ইছা
( মোৰ কিছু ভুল হবও পাৰে )

এনেয়েও দিনটো ৰোজা ৰখাৰ পাছত গধূলি ইফটাৰৰ সময়ত পৰিয়ালৰ লোকে ৰোজা ভাঙি খাবলৈ বহাৰ আমেজেই বেলেগ।অতীতৰ ইফটাৰৰ সময়ত চুবুৰীয়া সকল একেলগ হৈ এই অনুষ্ঠানৰ মজা লৈছিল কিন্তু আজিকালি নিজা পৰিয়াল আৰু কেতিয়াবা বন্ধু বান্ধৱ বা সম্বন্ধীয় লোকৰ লগত ইফটাৰ কৰা দেখা যায়।

সবে এ কডৰ ৰ ৰোজা মই বহু বছৰৰ পৰাই কৰি আহিছো। এই প্ৰথাৰ আৰম্ভণি হ’ল , মই মুম্বাইৰ কুৰলা ( Kurla ) ৰ মন্টেছৰী স্কুল এখনত কাম কৰিবলৈ লোৱাৰ পৰা। মোৰ সহকৰ্মী কেইবাগৰাকী মুছলমান সম্প্ৰদায়ৰ আছিল ; দুটা শ্বিফ্ট ৰ স্কুল খন ছুটী হয় আবেলি ছয় বজাৰ পাছত। যি কেইগৰাকীয়ে ৰোজা ৰাখে ঘৰলৈ গৈ ইফটাৰী কৰে কিন্তু এই বিশেষ দিনটোত আমি হিন্দু দুজনীমানেও ৰোজা ৰাখো বাবে স্কুলতে একেলগে ইফটাৰী কৰো।
প্ৰথমে আহো চেহৰি ( Sehri ) ৰ কথালৈ। চেহৰি ত খোৱা আহাৰৰ সময় সকলো ঠাইতে বেলেগ, মানে সূৰ্য্য উদয় হোৱাৰ আগতে আৰু ফজৰৰ নামাজ আৰম্ভ হোৱাৰ আগতেই চেহৰি ৰ আহাৰ খাব লাগে। খোৱাৰ আগৰ প্ৰাৰ্থনা — ” হে আল্লা ,তোমাৰ বাবেই মই আজি এই ব্ৰত ( ৰোজা ) ৰাখিবলৈ ওলাইছো, গতিকে মোৰ অতীত আৰু ভৱিষ্যতত হব লগীয়া পাপ কৰ্মৰ বাবে যেন ক্ষমা কৰা “।

ওঠৰ বছৰে স্কুলত কৰি অহাৰ দৰে, তাৰ পাছত মই স্কুল এৰাৰ পাঁচ বছৰ পাছত, আজিও মোক ৰাতিপুৱা মোৰ মৰমৰ প্ৰাক্তন সহকৰ্মী নাফিছা চুলতানাই চাৰি বজাত ফোন কৰি জগাই দিলে। মুম্বাইৰ চেহৰিৰ সময় শেষ হোৱাৰ আগতে- শোৱাৰ পৰা উঠি, গা ধুই মোৰ নিজৰ গোঁসাই থাপনাত ধূপ চাকি দি, বিশ্ববাসীৰ মঙ্গলৰ বাবে আৰু নিজৰ সন্তানৰ লগতে নাফিছাৰ পৰিয়ালৰ বাবে প্ৰাৰ্থনা জনাই একাপ ফিকা চাহৰ লগত অটছ গুৰ, কল, গাখীৰৰ খাই ললো। চেহৰিৰ শেষ সময় আছিল – ৪.৫৩..

অতীতৰ সোঁৱৰণি ……
মোৰ স্কুলৰ সময় – ৰাতিপুৱা সাত পঞ্চলিছৰ পৰা দুপৰীয়া এক বজালৈকে, গতিকে মই ঘৰলৈ গুছি আহো। সকলোৱে ভাগে ভাগে খোৱা বস্তু অনায়, মোৰ ভাগত পৰে মই নিজে বনোৱা খেজুৰৰ কেক, কেতিয়াবা তৰমুজ ।
ইফটাৰৰ সময় হোৱাৰ আগে আগে মই মোৰ ভাগৰ টোপোলা লৈ আকৌ স্কুললৈ যাওঁ।
ইফটাৰী ৰ সময় হোৱাৰ লগে লগেই আমি অজু কৰো, দোৱা কৰো, মোনাজাত কৰো।
ইয়াৰ পাছতে প্ৰাৰ্থনা জনোৱা হয়- ” হে আল্লা, তোমাৰ বাবেই মই এই ব্ৰত ( ৰোজা ) ৰাখিলো কাৰন তোমাৰ ওপৰত অসীম বিশ্বাস ৰাখো আৰু এতিয়া মই তোমাৰ বিশ্বাসতে পুষ্টিকৰ খাদ্য গ্ৰহণ কৰি মোৰ ৰোজা ভঙ্গ কৰিব খুজিছো ” ! লগে লগে আমি পানী আদা আৰু খেজুৰ খাই ৰোজাৰ অন্ত পেলাওঁ। খেজুৰত বৰ সুন্দৰ শক্তিমন্ত গুণ থকাৰ উপৰিও ইয়াত থকা পতাছিয়ামে আমাৰ পেশী আৰু স্নায়ুৰ কামকাজ চলাই থাকিবলৈ ইন্ধন যোগায়, আদাই হজম শক্তি বঢ়ায়।
ইয়াৰ পাছত আৰম্ভ হয় বিভিন্ন ধৰনৰ মুখৰোচক খাদ্য- এটাৰ পাছত এটা। কোনোৱে আনে বুট ভজাৰ লগতে পিয়াজ পাকুৰা, কোনোৱে চেৱই আৰু কাটলেট, কোনোৱে ফলৰ ৰস আৰু ৰু আফজা ইত্যাদি। সেই সময়ৰ আমাৰ প্ৰিন্সিপাল আৰু তেওঁৰ ভনীয়েক শাকাহাৰি আছিল বাবে নিৰামিষ আহাৰেই আয়োজন কৰা হৈছিল। ( মাংস নোখোৱা মুছলমান সম্প্ৰদায়ৰ লোক মই মোৰ স্কুলতেই প্ৰথম দেখিছিলো ) খোৱা সামৰি আমি ইজনীয়ে সিজনীক আকোৱালি লৈ বিদায় লওঁ। স্কুলৰ সেই ৰোজা ৰখাৰ দিনবোৰ মনলৈ আহিলেই মনটো ভাল লাগি যায়। আজি ইফটাৰীৰ সময় আছিল, সন্ধিয়া সাত বাজি এক মিনিট যোৱাত আৰু ৰাতিপুৱাৰ দৰে এইবাৰো নাফিছাই ইফটাৰীৰ সময় হ'ল বুলি ফোন কৰি সোঁৱৰাই দিলে। মই অকলে আছো বাবে আমাৰ বিল্ডিংত থকা বিউটি চেলুন খনৰ ল'ৰা ছোৱালী দুটামানে মোক সিহঁতৰ লগত ইফটাৰী কৰিবলৈ মাতিছিল কিন্তু এই ডেকা বোৰৰ মাজত মই নিমিলা অংক হৈ যাবলৈ মন নকৰি ঘৰতে যি আছিল, তাৰেই ইফটাৰী কৰিলো।

সিহঁতৰ মাজৰ জামাল আৰু নাচৰিনে মোৰ নামটো কালি সুধিছিল, মই মোৰ নাম কোৱাত কি উপাধি ,তাকো সুধিলত মই যেতিয়া কলো – বৰপূজাৰী , সিহঁতে চকু ডাঙৰ কৰি কলে – means big priest ? ময়ো হাঁহি কলো, yes I’m a brahmin with a secular heart !

আল্লা, ঈশ্বৰ, যীশু – সকলোৱে যেন সকলোকে ভালে ৰাখে, বিশ্বত যেন শান্তিৰ নিজৰা বয়। নাম প্ৰসংগ, নামাজ আদিৰ উৰ্দ্ধত যে মানৱ ধৰ্ম আছে, সেই কথাও যেন সকলো ধৰ্মীয় লোকে মনত ৰাখে আৰু কোনো প্ৰতিশোধৰ ভাব যেন মনত পুহি নাৰাখে !
আমাৰ গ্ৰন্থ সুবাস গোটৰ সকলো সদস্যও যেন কুশলে থাকে।

দেৱীকা বৰপূজাৰী
মুম্বাই । ১৯/৪/২০২৩

লখিমপুৰ মহাবিদ্যালয়ত হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱা জীৱন্ত বক্তৃতা অনুষ্ঠান

ড° হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱা প্ৰদত্ত বক্তৃতা অনুষ্ঠিত:
লখিমপুৰ বাণিজ্য মহাবিদ্যালয়ত যোৱা ৫ এপ্ৰিলত প্ৰথম বাৰ্ষিক ড° হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱা প্ৰদত্ত বক্তৃতা অনুষ্ঠান আয়োজিত হয়। লখিমপুৰ বাণিজ্য মহাবিদ্যালয়ৰ প্ৰতিষ্ঠাপক অধ্যক্ষ ড০ হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱাৰ নামত প্ৰতিষ্ঠা কৰা এই জীৱন্ত বক্তৃতানুষ্ঠানত সাহিত্য অকাডেমীৰ বঁটা বিজয়ী তথা তেজপুৰ বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ৰ অসমীয়া বিভাগৰ সহকাৰী অধ্যাপক ড০ সঞ্জীব পল ডেকাই “প্ৰব্ৰজন, ভূমি-প্ৰশ্ন আৰু নিম্নবৰ্গঃ পৰিৱৰ্তিত বৃত্তান্তৰ ৰূপৰেখা” বিষয়ক বক্তৃতা প্ৰদান কৰে। বক্তৃতাত ড০ ডেকাই অসমীয়াৰ মূলসুঁতিৰ সাহিত্যত অসমলৈ হোৱা প্ৰব্ৰজন আৰু ভূমি বিষয়ৰ আলোচনা সাহিত্যত প্ৰতিফলিত হোৱা ছবিৰ ওপৰত আলিজপাত কৰে। ঊনবিংশ শতিকাৰ শেষৰ দশকত আৰম্ভ হোৱা প্ৰব্ৰজন আৰু ভূমিৰ বিষয়বোৰ অসমীয়া সাহিত্যই বহু দিনলৈ আলোচনা আৰু প্ৰতিফলিত কৰা নাছিল বুলি উল্লেখ কৰি প্ৰব্ৰজনকাৰী আৰু থলুৱা লোকৰ কৃষি পদ্ধতিৰ পাৰ্থক্যই অসমৰ ভূমি বিষয়ত কেনেদৰে গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ ভূমিকা পালন কৰিছিল সেই বিষয়ে ব্যাখ্যা কৰে।
ইয়াৰ পূৰ্বে ড০ হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱা প্ৰদত্ত বক্তৃতা উদ্বোধন কৰে মহাবিদ্যালয়খনৰ পৰিচালনা সমিতীৰ সভাপতি ড০ মুহিধৰ পূজাৰীয়ে। বক্তৃতাৰ বাবে অনুষ্ঠিত হোৱা অধিবেশনত আয়োজক সমিতিৰ সভাপতি তথা মহাবিদ্যালয়খনৰ অধ্যক্ষ ড০ লোহিত হাজৰিকাই সভাপতিত্ব। সভাৰ উদ্দেশ্য ব্যাখ্যা কৰে আয়োজক সমিতিৰ সম্পাদক অধ্যাপক ছাজ্জাদ হুছেইনে। ড° হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱাৰ জীৱন আৰু কৰ্মৰাজীৰ চমু বিৱৰণী দাঙি ধৰে বিশিষ্ট শিক্ষাবিদ ড° মুকুন্দ ৰাজবংশীয়ে। তেওঁৰ ভাষণত ড° হেমন্ত কুমাৰ বৰুৱাই জীৱনকালত তেওঁৰ নামত বক্তৃতা আয়োজন কৰাৰ বাবে আয়োজকসকলক কৃতজ্ঞতা জ্ঞাপন কৰে।
বক্তৃতা অনুষ্ঠানত লখিমপুৰ বাণিজ্য মহাবিদ্যালয়, উত্তৰ লখিমপুৰ মহাবিদ্যালয় (স্বায়ত্তশাসিত)ৰ অৱসৰপ্ৰাপ্ত আৰু বৰ্তমানৰ শিক্ষক-শিক্ষয়িত্ৰী শিক্ষকসকল, বিশিষ্ট নাগৰীক, গৱেষক ছাত্ৰ, প্ৰাক্তন আৰু বৰ্তমানৰ ছাত্ৰ-ছাত্ৰী, মহাবিদ্যালয়ৰ কৰ্মচাৰী সকলে অংশগ্ৰহণ কৰে। সমগ্ৰ অনুষ্ঠানটোৰ আঁত ধৰে অধ্যাপক কুলদীপ নাৰায়ণ দত্তই আৰু শলাগৰ শৰাই আগবৰঢ়ায় উপাধ্যক্ষ গোপাল চেত্ৰীয়ে।

মণিপুৰৰ ইমা বজাৰ

মণিপুৰৰ ইমা বজাৰ । সম্পূৰ্ণ মহিলা দোকানী আৰু মহিলাৰে পৰিচালিত বজাৰ আছে ইম্ফলত ।

পুলক গগৈ আৰু নাই

বিশিষ্ট চিত্ৰশিল্পী তথা চিত্ৰনিৰ্মাতা পুলক গগৈৰ  আজি পুৱা ৮.৩০ বজাত গুৱাহাটীৰ নিজা বাসগৃহতে পৰলোকপ্ৰাপ্তি হয় । কিছুদিন ধৰি তেওঁ অসুস্থ হৈ আছিল । মৃত্যুৰ সময়ত তেওঁৰ বয়স আছিল ৮৪ বছৰ।

বিশ্বঅৰ্থনীতিৰ অন্যতম “এছিয়ান টাইগাৰ” হোৱাৰ পথেৰে বাংলাদেেশ

*চন্দন কুমাৰ দুৱৰাঃ চীন বা সংযুক্ত আৰব আমীৰ শ্বাহী নহয় ভাৰতত এতিয়া আলোচনাৰ বিষয় সমুহৰ মাজত গুৰুত্ব পোৱা বিভিন্ন বিষয়ৰ মাজত আছে বাংলাদেশৰ বাজেটো । এইখন দেশেই যে ভাৰতয ভবিষ্যতৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক বিকাশৰ মাধ্যম হ’ব পাৰে বলি নতুন দিল্লীয়ে কেইবাবছৰ পূৰ্বেই দূৰদৰ্শিতাৰেই অনুধাৱন কৰিব পাৰিছিল । কাৰণ চুবুৰীয়া আন সকলো দেশৰ লগত ভাৰতৰ বাণিজ্যিক সম্পৰ্ক বৃদ্ধিত আছে বহু জটিলতা । চুবুৰীয়া মহাশক্তিধৰ চীনে ভাৰতৰ লগত বাণিজ্য কৰে একপক্ষীয়ভাবে য’ত ভাৰসাম্য ৰক্ষা নপৰে । চীনে যদি ১৬ শতাংশ ভাৰতলৈ ৰপ্তানি বাণিজ্য কৰে, ভাৰতে কৰে ৪ শতাংশতকৈও কম । ফলত ভাৰতৰ যি বাণিজ্যিক ঘাটি হয় তাৰ প্ৰতি চীনে ভ্ৰুক্ষেপ নকৰে । দিল্লীয়ে বাৰম্বাৰ কৰা অনুৰোধক বেইজিঙে যথোচিত গুৰুত্ব দিয়া নাই । চীনে এতিয়া ভাৰতৰ প্ৰতি কৰি অহা আচৰণ হৈছে ধনীয়ে দুখীয়াক পুতৌ কৰাৰ দৰে । প্ৰতিৰক্ষাৰ দিশৰ পৰাও চীন বিশ্বাসযোগ্য নহয় । আনহাতে ভাৰতে পাকিস্থানৰ লগত বাণিজ্য বৃদ্ধি কৰিলে দুয়োখন দেশ উপকৃত হ’ব পাৰে । বহুখিনি বাণিজ্য চলিও আছে । কিন্তু পাকিস্থানৰ লগত সুম্পৰ্ক গঢ়াত প্ৰধান বাধা হৈছে দুয়ো দেশৰ মাজত সামৰিক উত্তেজনা বঢ়াই হেজাৰ হেজাৰ কোটি টকাৰ সমৰাস্ত্ৰৰ ব্যৱসায় চলাই থকা চক্ৰটো । নেপাল , ভুটান আৰু শ্ৰীলংকাৰ লগত বাণিজ্যিক সম্ভাৱনা সীমিত আৰু মোডী চৰকাৰৰ দিনত এই দুয়োখন দেশ ভাৰতৰ পৰা আঁতৰি অধিকভাবে চীনৰ কাষ চাপি গ’ল । আৰব দেশসমূহ ভাৰতৰ প্ৰতি উদাৰ, এই দেশসমূহৰ লগত ভাৰতৰ বহু ব্যৱসায়-বাণিজ্য চলি আাছে । মোডী চৰকাৰৰ উগ্ৰ সাম্প্ৰদায়িক কাৰ্যকলাপেহে আাৰবৰ লগত সামগ্ৰিক সম্পৰ্ক বৃদ্ধিত ভাৰতক পিছলৈ টানি থাকে । এনে পৰিস্থিতিত একমাত্ৰ বাংলাদেশেই ভাৰতৰ বাবে সহজ আৰু বৃহৎ সম্ভাৱনাৰ চুবুৰীয়া দেশ । অৱশ্যে এই দেশতো ভাৰতবিৰোধী দল সংগঠনসমূহ অতি শক্তিশালী । শেহতীয়াকৈ এনে কিছুমান শক্তিয়ে ভাৰতৰ কৰনা ভেকচিন লোৱাৰ বিৰুদ্ধে প্ৰচাৰ চলাই আছে । সমালোচকসকলৰ মতে নৰেন্দ্ৰ মোডীয়ে উপহাৰ দিয়া ভেকচিনেৰে বাংলাদেশীৰ ওপৰত ঔষধৰ পৰীক্ষা চলাব বিচৰা হৈছে । সেয়ে ভাৰতবাসীক নিদিয়া ভেকচিন বাংলাদেশীক দিব বিচৰা হৈছে বুলি প্ৰচাৰ চলিছে । যিয়েই নহওক, ভাৰতে বাংলাদেশ চৰকাৰৰ লগত সুম্পৰ্ক গঢ়ি কেইবাখনো বাণিজ্যিক চুক্তি কৰিছে । অসম, ত্ৰিপুৰা, পশ্চিমবংগ আৰু মেঘালয়ৰ মাজেৰে স্থল আৰু জলপথ মুকলি হৈছে । যাত্ৰীবাহী আৰু সামগ্ৰী কঢ়িওৱা ৰে’লৰ চলাচল বাঢ়িছে , নিৰ্মাণ হৈছে বন্দৰ আৰু সীমান্ত বজাৰ। ভূটান আৰু বাংলাদেশ এতিয়া পূৰ্বৰ দৰে অতি দৰিদ্ৰ দেশ নহয়, উজ্জীৱিত অৰ্থনীতিৰ প্ৰচুৰ সম্ভাৱনাৰে ভৰা দেশ । যিসময়ত ভাৰতৰ অৰ্থনৈতিক বিকাশ ঋণাত্মক হৈছে সেই সময়ত বাংলাদেশৰ জিডিপি ৯% হৈছে আৰু উচ্চ হাৰেৰে এই গতি আগবাঢ়িছে । এতিয়া বাংলাদেশৰ জনমুৰি আয় হৈছেগৈ ভাৰত আৰু পাকিস্থানতকৈ বেছি । ২০২০-২১ বৰ্ষত বাংলাদেশৰ জনমূৰি আয় বৃদ্ধি পাই হৈছে ২২২৭ ডলাৰ । ২০১৯-২০ বৰ্ষত এই পৰিমাণ আাছিল ২০৬৪ ডলাৰ আৰু বৃদ্ধি পাইছে ৯% হাৰত । জনমুৰি আয় এতিয়া ভাৰতৰ হৈছে ১৯৪৭ ডলাৰ আৰু পাকিস্তানৰ হৈছে মাত্ৰ ১৫৪৩ ডলাৰ । বাংলাদেশ এতিয়া পাকিস্তানতকৈ ৪৫% বেছি ধনী । এজন পাকিস্তানী অৰ্থনীতিবিদে ভবিষ্যদ্বানী কৰিছে যে ২০৩০ চনত বাংলাদেশে পাকিস্তানক সাহাৰ্য দিব পৰা অৱস্থাৰ গৰাকী হ’বগৈ । বাংলাদেশৰ আৰ্থিক বিকাশৰ বাতৰি দেশখনত বা বিদেশত গভীৰউচ্চাহেৰে প্ৰকাশ পোৱা নাছিল । ছচিয়েল মিডিয়াত বহুতে তাচ্ছিল্যসূচক মন্তব্যও কৰিছিল । অৱশ্যে অৰ্থনৈতিক বিশ্লেষকসকলে লক্ষ্য কৰিছিল বাংলাদেশৰ ক্ৰমবৰ্ধমান আত্মবিশ্বাস । বিশ্বৰ ভবিষ্যতৰ একাদশ মধ্যম অৰ্থনীতিৰ দেশ হিচাপে চিহ্ণিত হৈছে এই দেশখন ।২০১৯ ৰ হিচাব মতে ৮.৩ শতাংশ জিডিপি বৃদ্ধিৰে বাংলাদেশ হৈছে বিশ্বৰ সপ্তমখন দ্ৰুত উজ্জীৱিত অৰ্থনীতিৰ দেশ আৰু এতিয়াও দেশখন বিশ্বৰ অন্যতম দ্ৰুত অৰ্থনীতিৰ দেশ । উপমহাদেশখনত বিত্তীয় ক্ষেত্ৰত বাংলাদেশৰ স্থান হৈছে তৃতীয় । ঢাকা আৰু চট্টগ্ৰাম দেশখনৰ প্ৰধান বিত্তীয় কেন্দ্ৰ । বাংলাদেশৰ লোকৰ মাজত শিক্ষা আৰু কাৰিকৰী দক্ষতা বাঢ়িছে । বহু বাংলাদেশী ছাত্ৰছাত্ৰীয়ে বিদেশত শিক্ষা লৈ উভতি আহিছে । বাঢ়িছ দক্ষ শ্ৰমিক শক্তি । বিশ্বৰ আগশাৰীৰ ব্ৰেণ্ডৰ কাৰখানা আৰু উদ্যোগ স্থাপন হৈছে বাংলাদেশত । এই দেশখনৰ পৰা আমেৰিকা, ইউৰোপ, অষ্ট্ৰেলিয়ালৈ ৰপ্তানি হৈছে প্ৰস্তুত খাদ্য, বিভিন্ন সঁজুলি, কাপোৰ, জোতা, পানীয় আদি । -বাংলাদেশৰ আৰ্থিক উন্নয়নৰ ভেটি হৈছে : ৰপ্তানি, সামাজিক প্ৰগতি আৰু বিত্তীয় দূৰদৰ্শিতা । ২০১১ আৰু ২০১৯ চনৰ ভিতৰত দেশখনৰ ৰপ্তানি প্ৰতিটো বছৰত ৮.৬ শতাংশ হাৰত বাঢ়িছিল । অথচ এই কালছোৱাত বিশ্বৰ দেশসমূহৰ গড় ৰপ্তানি বৃদ্ধিৰ হাৰ আছিল মাত্ৰ ০.৪ শতাংশ । অৰ্থনৈতিক উন্নয়নৰ বাবে কিছুমান চৰ্ত পূৰণ হ’ব লাগে বা কিছুমান দিশলৈ মন দিব লাগে । যেনে- বাংলাদেশে ৰজহুৱা ঋৃণ আৰু জিডিপিৰ মাজৰ অনুপাত ধৰি ৰাখিছে ৩০% -৪০% ৰ ভিতৰত । কিন্তু কৰোনাত বিধস্ত ভাৰত আৰু পাকিস্তানৰ ৰাজহুৱা ঋৃণৰ পৰিমাণ জিডিপিৰ ৯০% ৰ ওচৰাওচৰি হৈছে । বাংলাদেশৰ বিত্তীয় নীতিয়ে ব্যক্তিগত খণ্ডকো ঋৃণ গ্ৰহণ আৰু বিনিয়োগৰ ব্যৱস্থা কৰিছে । ক্ষুদ্ৰ অৰ্থনীতিৰ দেশ আৰু কিছুমান বাণিজ্য সংস্থা (ইউ এছ জিএছ পি) ৰ অংশীদাৰ হিচাবে বাংলাদেশে বিদেশী বহু সামগ্ৰী শুল্কবিহীনভাবে বা অতি কম মূলত লাভ কৰি আহিছিল । কি ন্তু অৰ্থনীতি সবল হোৱাৰ লগে লগে এই সুবিধাসমূহ দেশখনে এৰিব লাগিব ।২০২৬ চনৰ ভিতৰত বাংলাদেশ বহু বিদেশী ৰাষ্ট্ৰৰ সাহাৰ্য এৰিব লাগিব – যিটো দেশখনৰ অথনীতিৰ বাবে এটা প্ৰতাহ্বান হ’ব । ফলত বস্ত্ৰ উদ্যোগক সৰ্বাধিক প্ৰাধান্য দি অহা বাংলাদেশে অন্যান্য খণ্ড সমূহতো গুৰুত্ব দিব লগা হৈছে । আনকি চীন দেশ কেন্দ্ৰিক আৰ চি ই পি (RCEP), ইউৰোপীয়ান ইউনিয়ন আদিৰ সহযোগত বাণিজ্য কৰা আৰু মুক্ত বাণিজ্যৰ চুক্তি কৰাৰ প্ৰয়োজন আছে । এইবোৰ কৰিবলৈ যাওঁতে চৰকাৰে বহূ সামাজিকআাৰু ৰাজনৈতিক বাধা পাব – বিটো যোৱা শতিকাৰ নব্বৈ দশকত ভাৰতত তৎকালীন প্ৰধান মন্ত্ৰী মনমোহন সিঙেে উাদাৰীকৰন নীতি গহণৰ সময়ত পাইছিল । এখন দেশৰ প্ৰচলিত নীতিক সলনি কৰি ৰূপানৰৰ পথেৰে আগবঢ়াই লৈ যোৱা কাম ইমান সহজ কথা নহয় । বাংলাদেেশে যিবোৰ ধুমুহা পাৰ হৈ আহি আাজিৰ অৱস্থা পাইছেহি তালৈ চাই কব পাৰি যে এই দেশখন হ’বগৈ অৰ্থনীতিত অন্যতম “এছিয়ান টাইগাৰ” । ইতিপূৰ্বে ভাৰতৰ বহু কোম্পানীৰ কাৰখানা বাংলাদেশত আছে আৰু কিছুসংখ্যক ভাৰতীয় লোকেও এইবোৰত নিযুক্তি লাভ কৰিছে । অসম তথা উত্তৰ-পূবৰ দক্ষ নিবনুৱাই বাংলাদেশত সংস্থাপন লাভৰ সুযোগ বাঢ়িছে । মোডী চৰকাৰে বঢ়াইছে শিক্ষা আৰু সাংস্কৃতিক সম্পৰ্ক । চুবুৰীয়া দেশখনৰ ব্যাপক সম্ভাৱনাৰ কথা নতুন দিল্লীয়ে বহু আগেয়ে বুজিব পাৰিছিল । ভাৰতে উত্তৰ পূব ভাৰতৰ মাজেৰে বাংলাদেশৰ লগতে দক্ষিণ পূব এছিয়া হৈ বিশ্বৰ বিভিন্ন দেশৰ লগত সম্পৰ্ক বৃদ্ধি কৰিব বিচাৰিছে । এই সুযোগতে অসমে নিজা সেৱা সামগ্ৰীৰে আন্তৰাষ্ট্ৰীয় বজাৰ দখলৰ কছৰৎ চলাই গ’লে ভবিষ্যতে অধিক বিকাশৰ নতুন নতুন পথ মুকলি হোৱাত সহায়ক হ’ব ।

China Jails Blogger Who Questioned India Border Clash Death Toll

• 

BY JOHN FENG 

A Chinese blogger who questioned the government’s account of last summer’s deadly border clashes with India has been sentenced to eight months in prison.null

Qiu Ziming, 38, becomes the first person to be prosecuted and sentenced under a new law prohibiting the defamation of Chinese heroes and martyrs. The guilty verdict and punishment were announced by Jianye District People’s Court in Nanjing, Jiangsu, on Monday.

Qiu, a former investigative journalist with a large social media following, was arrested on February 19 after he cast doubt on the government’s official death toll from the Galwan Valley clash last June. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said four People’s Liberation Army soldiers died and a fifth was seriously injured during the skirmish along the Line of Actual Control, but Qiu suggested there must have been more losses.

He was held and formally prosecuted on March 1, the same day an amendment to China’s criminal law came into effect, allowing courts to punish those who defame the country’s war dead with up to three years behind bars.

Weibo blogger Qiu Ziming (C) attends his sentencing at Jianye District People’s Court in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, on May 31, 2021. Qiu was charged and sentenced to eight months in jail for defaming China’s heroes and martyrs after he contradicted the Chinese government’s official death toll from the June 2020 border clash with Indian forces in the Himalayas.JIANYE DISTRICT PEOPLE’S COURT

A statement by the district court said the Weibo blogger entered a guilty plea and admitted to making two defamatory posts at 10:29 and 10:46 a.m. local time on the day of the incident.

Qiu “misrepresented the deeds of heroic frontier troops” and “defamed their heroic spirit, reputation and honor,” the announcement continued. The court found his posts “provoked public indignation and had an adverse effect on society.”

According to the statement, Qiu confessed his crimes and promised never to offend again. His confession and his acceptance of punishment led the court to show leniency.

He was handed a sentence of eight months and ordered to make a public apology through a major website or national media within 10 days of the verdict.

Following last summer’s border clash in the Himalayas, the Indian government said 20 of its soldiers had been killed and 76 were injured. China did not announce its casualties until eight months later.

Qiu, who posted from his Weibo account “Labixiaoqiu,” wrote at the time: “All four soldiers who died were trying to rescue [the officer]. If the rescuers themselves died, then there must have been more who couldn’t be saved.”

“This shows that there must be more than four people dead,” he added.

Qiu was among six people across Chinawho were arrested for making similar remarks. Local authorities were also pursuing a seventh, who they identified as a teenager living overseas.null

Qiu’s 2.5 million Weibo followers made him the most high-profile individual in the group. The others offenders were handed lighter sentences, measured in days and weeks.

After Qiu’s arrest, Weibo, which has more than 550 million active monthly users, said it would suspend the blogger’s main account for one year. The website would also remove his affiliated account—”Qiuyexing”—for the same period.

The former journalist has already made one public apology while in detention. On the day charges were announced, a video aired on CCTV’s prime-time news segment, Xinwen Lianbo, showed Qiu confessing to two prosecutors inside a police station.null

“I feel very guilty and very remorseful about my actions,” he was heard saying from behind metal bars.

Sundarlal Bahuguna: A Himalayan voice for ecological truth and social justice

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Generations of activists learnt from him about the connection between forests, livelihoods, gender inequalities, and the sheer injustice of ‘development’ that stole trees, soil and water away from villagers for the benefit of city-dwellers.

• Written By Ashish Kothari |

“Kya hai jangal ke upkar
Mitti, paani aur bayar 
Mitti, paani aur bayar
Yeh hain jindagi ke aadhar”

This slogan reverberated in the hills as we trekked through Tehri Garhwal, going from village to village, meeting the brave women of the Chipko Andolan. “What are the gifts of the forest? Soil, water and air. Soil, water and air, these are the foundations of life,” intoned Sunderlal Bahuguna as he greeted us in his simple ashram in Silyara, a 20-km walk from the town of Tehri.

Some of us, as school or college students, had met Sunderlalji in Delhi in the late 1970s, and been inspired by his earthy insistence on the need to protect the Himalayan forests. So when we agitated to save Delhi’s ridge forest from destruction for haphazard urbanisation and formed the environmental action group Kalpavriksh, we decided to learn more about Chipko. In the summer of 1980 and 1981, we went to Tehri Garhwal. For many of us, it was life-changing, as we were taught some basic home truths about the connection between forests, livelihoods, gender inequalities, and the sheer injustice of “development” that stole trees, soil and water away from villagers to benefit city-dwellers.

“Kya hai jangal ke upkar…” was not a slogan Sunderlalji devised. According to his old compatriot Vijay Jardhari, it came from Advani village in 1977 as part of the Chipko movement. What Sunderlalji did was to promote it — and other simple and effective slogans — along with that wonderful folk singer Ghanshyam Sailani, whose songs spread the movement’s ecological messages far and wide. In fact, it was his extraordinary ability to communicate as a journalist and activist, and as a Gandhian who could be gentle and firm, that made him the iconic figure he became.

With roots in India’s freedom struggle against British colonial rule, Sunderlalji was drawn to social work early on. Gandhi and Gandhians like Miraben, Thakkar Bapa, and Vinoba Bhave, as also his wife Vimlaji, inspired him to dive headlong into issues of justice. Parts of his life not so well known include his struggle against untouchability, setting up schools and hostels for the most marginalised children. Extensive traveling through the hills also brought home to him the devastation arising from large-scale commercial tree-felling and road construction. In the Chamoli area, women had begun taking this up as a livelihoods-environment issue, starting the Chipko movement in the early 1970s; Sunderlalji gave it his own flavour by stressing, in one of those characteristic Gandhian one-liners, “ecology is permanent economy”.

Vijay Jardhari, who initiated the Beej Bachao Andolan and led his own movements to save forests in villages like Jardhargaon, recalled several moments of his 50-year association with Sunderlalji when I called him up this morning. He spoke about Sunderlalji’s energy and infectious enthusiasm in their first long padayatra, Askot to Arakot in what is now Uttarakhand, in 1974. “This is when I was given deep lessons in the connection between environment, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, and the campaign against the liquor mafia,” said Vijayji. The two-month struggle in Badyarghat against tree-felling in 1978-79, including a 24-day fast by Sunderlalji (he was arrested on the 18th day), which brought intense media attention to the issue, was the trigger for the central government to accept that commercial felling needed to be stopped (it was banned above 1,000 msl and 30-degree slopes in 1981). He mentored people like Vijayji, Kunwar Prasoon, Dhoomsingh Negi, Saab Singh, Pratap Shikhar, and his activism drew from the ability to learn from people like Sudeshaben.

One of Sunderlalji’s most famous actions was the incredible 4,800-km long Kashmir to Kohima padayatra (foot march) in the early 1980s. These and many others were meant to create awareness about the huge issues the Himalaya faced. I recall with astonishment the weight of the pitthu (in Sunderlalji’s Garhwali pronunciation, “rooksack”) that he took on all his walks. It must have been at least 30 kilos, containing heaps of Chipko literature and even a slide projector!

Another famous action was his 56-day fast against the Tehri Dam, one of those monstrosities that only a hubris-filled, greedy, insane government could dream up. I remember meeting him somewhere around the 20th day, in his tiny tent just above the construction site of the dam. He was weak, but the voice and will were strong. Unfortunately, the combined might of the state and central government and construction company defeated the anti-Tehri Dam movement. Dozens of wonderfully productive and beautiful valleys and hills and settlements and agricultural lands and forests are now drowned out forever.

The passing of anyone is an occasion of sadness and grief — and we have seen too many of these in the last couple of months. But 94 years of a life well-lived is also a cause for celebration. Sunderlalji’s life was lived in simplicity — his clothes, mannerisms, sparse food, words, infectious smile and laughter. And so today I will celebrate it with having an extra handful of one of the foods he delighted in because it came without having to be violent to any life form — nuts. And while doing so, I will remember also his lifelong companion, the quiet, gentle and equally firm Vimlaji, who too is in hospital, and who I hope will recover soon and carry on her half of a partnership that has inspired countless thousands to tread the path of ecological truth and social justice.

Whitley Award Winner Nuklu Phom Envisions a Nagaland at Peace With Its Biodiversity

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SEEMA SHARMA

Photo: Y. Nuklu Phom

From the moment Y. Nuklu Phom’s name found mention in the list of winners of the prestigious Whitley Award for 2021, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Both print and online journalists, as well as acquaintances, have been ringing to speak to him and congratulate him.

The Whitley Award is one of the most important recognitions among people doing conservation work in the world’s developing and underdeveloped countries. It is funded by the Whitley Fund for Nature, and each laureate receives around Rs 40 lakh to support their work.

Phom is a 48-year-old conservationist from the Longleng region of Nagaland. His co-laureates this year include six others, from South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Kenya. He is the only Indian to receive the award this year. Previous Indian laureates include Purnima Barman, Aparajita Datta, M.D. Madhusudan and Romulus Whitaker.

Phom has received the award in recognition of his efforts in Nagaland. Thanks to the community conservation reserves Phom and his peers created, according to the Whitley Fund, the population of migratory raptor birds called Amur falcons (Falco amurensis) grew from 50,000 in 2010 to more than 20-times as many in 2019.

These reserves were built on land that Phom had convinced people to donate.

“A few years ago, many people from my ancestral village – Yaongyimchen in Longleng district – left and set up two new villages, called Alayong and Sanglu, with more access to land and natural resources,” Phom told The Wire Science.

“I convinced the people of these three villages to set aside around 800 hectares of common land in 2007 to allow the biodiversity of the area to prosper without any interference.” On this land, hunting, construction and the extraction of any natural resource is prohibited.

Community-centric conservation is an essential part of such work in India’s northeast simply because most of the forest land in this area belongs to the community, Neha Sinha, a conservation biologist with the Bombay Natural History Society, told The Wire Science. “And Phom has done that remarkably well – by convincing the local people to set aside some of their land to conserve the forest and to protect the flagship Amur falcon species.”

Sinha has been working in Nagaland’s Pangti village – the site of an infamous incident in 2012 when locals hunted and killed lakhs of Amur falcons. But conservationists like Sinha, Phom and others were able to convince the people in the area to stop hunting the birds by “setting up eco-clubs and promoting eco-tourism and homestays, to provide alternate livelihoods, and with an active mass-awareness campaign through the forest department”.

She said she counted around a million Amur falcons in Doyang reservoir, next to Pangti village, in 2017.

The interactions between the local people, the natural resources their ways of life and traditions are embedded in and their own aspirations are important to understand Phom’s work itself. His work isn’t limited to protecting the Amur falcon but involves a wider project to uplift his compatriots, to prosper sustainably and to conserve the flora and fauna.

As R. Suresh Kumar, a scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, put it, Amur falcons are helping connect various tribal communities and landscapes in India’s northeast.

The Whitley Award is an acknowledgment of his efforts. Phom said that various wildlife experts and scientists have been visiting the community reserves he helped set up, and their camera-trap images suggest the community reserves have only been becoming more biodiverse.

He plans to use the money he will receive to build a larger ‘Biodiversity Peace Corridor’ – a network of 16 villages, over 200 sq. km, each contributing a community reserve. According to the Whitley Award citation, in this super-corridor, Phom and his peers will “stop hunting, dynamite fishing, logging and slash-and-burn cultivation, provide eco-friendly alternatives to allow forest regeneration, … train villagers in sustainable land-use including fruit orchards, piggeries and ginger production” and “initiate conservation efforts for the Amur falcon”.

Why call it a ‘Peace’ corridor? “Owing to the conflict of humans with the environment, especially over resources related to forests and rivers, humans have been incurring the wrath of nature … as natural calamities. A number of new alien insects and worms have also begun destroying our crops,” Phom said. In his view, humans have to take the first step towards reconciliation – “by augmenting biodiversity conservation managed by indigenous people”.

He said it took him two years to convince the villagers, especially the elders, to “stop  shooting with guns and start shooting with cameras”, and to forgo their land for the project. He nudged them further with small cash prizes for those who clicked photos of new species visiting the area.

Phom also kept pushing them to consider other-income generating activities like ginger-farming, micro-financing and mobilising their own forest resources. And now that his work in Yaongyimchen, Alayong and Sanglu has gained international attention, he hopes it will translate to tourism. “There are a number of significant ancestral heritage sites in our area that may fascinate tourists. A limited number of visitors can also click pictures of wildlife in the community reserve,” he said.

“Thanks to Phom’s success story, communities in East Nagaland now want to emulate his example,” Kumar said. “The biggest challenge is to stop the conversion of forest land for agriculture and cultivation by local people.”People build a watchtower with locally available materials at the community biodiversity reserve in Yaongyimchen. Photo: Y. Nuklu PhomPIN IT

He agreed with Phom that members of local communities would have to be encouraged and incentivised towards other ways to make a living, and that once they are sensitised to conservation, it would be important to document the biodiversity in the area. “In a way, the holistic management of the landscape, where the people meet their sustenance, has to be evolved.”

Phom has a degree in theology and even taught the subject at a college in Dimapur – but he also volunteered to teach ecology, and designed the curriculum by himself for a decade. After this, he quit teaching and became the executive secretary of a local church and used his new, and powerful, platform to increase the churchgoers’ environmental awareness.

He was associated with the church until 2017 even though his conservation work was more than a decade old by this time, and has since devoted all his time to the reserves. He currently lives in his ancestral village, Yaongyimchen, with his wife Carolyn, an English teacher at a government school, and their three children.

“I worked without any support for 13 years but now I hope, with this [new] recognition and [funds], to enhance my vision and create more peaceful biodiversity corridors, and probably a new wildlife sanctuary with the support of  more communities, policymakers and experts,” Phom said.

by Seema Sharma . She is a Chandigarh-based independent journalist. She previously worked at The Tribune and The Times of India. She writes on forest, wildlife, environment, social and rural issues.

Road Trip To Mechuka In Arunachal Pradesh

By Anuradha Goyal–

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Visiting Mechuka had been a dream ever since I saw the beautiful posts from this pristine valley of Arunachal Pradesh on various social media platforms. However, I had not envisioned it to come true so soon. When my invitation for Basar Confluence was confirmed, I was ecstatic to know that I will also be heading for another festival hosted by Adventure @ Mechuka with the same travel bloggers group.

Where is Mechuka?

It is situated at 6000 feet above sea level in West Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh. It is also known as the Forbidden Valley of Arunachal Pradesh since it was inaccessible by road until 2003 when Dalai Lama visited the 400-year old monastery. About 30 KMs from the McMahon line separating India and China. It was previously used as a strategic military landing strip during the Sino-Indian War of 1962.Mechuka Valley, Arunachal Pradeshhttps://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-1854913374426376&output=html&h=343&slotname=8951996490&adk=4177034312&adf=359554318&pi=t.ma~as.8951996490&w=412&lmt=1622128430&rafmt=1&psa=0&format=412×343&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.inditales.com%2Froad-trip-mechuka-arunachal-pradesh%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&dt=1622128417540&bpp=59&bdt=3853&idt=12996&shv=r20210524&cbv=%2Fr20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C320x100&nras=1&correlator=8253268720810&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1607379822.1622128430&ga_sid=1622128430&ga_hid=1514596232&ga_fc=0&u_tz=330&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1339&biw=412&bih=712&scr_x=0&scr_y=2590&eid=44739548%2C31060615%2C31060474&oid=3&pvsid=1623480626398414&pem=984&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C712%2C412%2C712&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CEe%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&fsb=1&xpc=oehNMpFL4S&p=https%3A//www.inditales.com&dtd=13012

After spending a week and sharing such beautiful moments together in Basar, we all had become one huge family. Even though it broke our hearts to leave Basar, we were looking forward to our next set of adventures together at the forbidden valley of Arunachal Pradesh that we had heard so much about. A traveler bus was arranged for our entire tour. Thus we set off early morning towards our destination. Normally, it takes around 9-10 hours to reach Mechuka from Basar.

We stopped a couple of times on the way for Tea and Lunch. The road from Basar goes via Along. The journey was a comfortable hilly ride with moderate road conditions. The highlight of the journey was, however, the snow-capped mountain that showed itself more with every turn we took, indicating how close we are to our destination.Snow-capped mountains en route

How to reach Mechuka from Guwahati/Silapathar/Itanagar

• From Guwahati, one can board Lachit Express to Silapathar (9.5 hours journey) or Donyi Polo Express to Naharlagun.
• From Silapathar, shared taxis are available to Along (around 6 hours).
• And from Naharlagun, shared taxis are available to Itanagar (40 minutes ride). Then change over to taxis heading towards Along (around 8 hours). Halt the night at Along. Book another shared taxi from Along which usually is available in the early morning (8 hours journey).

We were about to reach the town when our vehicle broke down. The weather was getting cold. We had to lock ourselves up until the driver arranged another vehicle for the rest of the journey. It was dark by the time we reached the village. But the moon was shining and the mountains glittered in its light. We turned in for the night at the homestays arranged for us. Looking forward to the days ahead with beautiful vistas that we had heard so much about.Scenic village

Places to stay in Mechuka

Due to the recent influx of tourists in the valley, many families have opened up their homes as homestays with basic facilities. Some of them are – Gayboo’s traditional lodge, Grace homestay, Yargyap Chhu homestay, etc. All these are within walking distance from the town.

The team had organized a 3-day festival. It was inaugurated by Salman Khan and Honorable Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. The team had organized various adventurous activities like Rafting, Kayaking, Paragliding, etc during the day time. Evenings were reserved for cultural programs with performances by bands from different parts of the country. Since the days were very short (it gets dark by 4 PM), we decided to spend days exploring the valley. And enjoy the cultural shows at event grounds in the evening.Adventures balloon ride

Exploring Mechuka

The roads were beautiful with the myriad fall colors of the trees and followed the bluish Siyom/Siang river. The majestic river is one of the main tributaries of the mighty Brahmaputra and originates in Tibet.The Town Gate

Hanuman Camp

A viewpoint overlooking a hill with the natural formation of a face resembling Hanuman on it. Hanuman temple has also been built nearby. The natural architecture was possibly carved out due to erosion. But garnered the attention of all tourists as it truly resembled the face of the ardent devotee of Lord Ram in Indian mythology. This is also the last permanent camp of the army before the McMahon Line. The borderline separating the Tibetan region of China and the North-east region of India. Yarlung, the border village in India is 25-30 KMs from the Hanuman camp.Naturally formed Hanuman face on the mountains

Guru Nanak Taposthan & Gurudwara

The popular legend goes that Guru Nanak meditated on these spots on his way to Tibet. Two Gurudwaras were constructed in his honor (maintained by the Indian Army) by the Siyom river. There is a local story that Guru Nanak was once attacked by a wild bear while he was meditating. But the huge boulder under which he was meditating lifted him up and protected him. Another story goes that Guru Nanak once wanted to cross the river but there was a huge rock standing on his way. So, the rock got split into two, making a passage for him to pass. This thin passage is still available. It is said that only those true of the heart can pass through it, no matter what their body sizes are.Split Huge Rock by the Guru Nanak Taposthan

There is also a beautiful waterfall near the second Gurudwara in which the Guru was believed to have taken a bath. There was a small cavity filled with black and white pebbles, which lay hidden under the water. It is said that if a person picks a pebble and it turns out to be white, his wish is going to come true. And no matter how many times he tries thereafter, he/she will not be able to pick a pebble of a different color.Waterfall near the Gurudwara

Samten Yongcha Monastery

The monastery was built in the 14th century atop a hill in the western edge of Mechuka valley. We started our journey from the event grounds to the nearest base of the Monastery on a traveler. It is around 14 KMs from town. We had to get down near the bridge because the big vehicle could not drive up. Though smaller vehicles can go all the way. We walked up the hill though not strenuous it was a bit lengthy.Bridge over Siyom river en route Samten Yongcha Monastery

The road covered all the way with tall pine trees was beautiful which offered panoramic views at many points. We saw some blue colored berries which we found out to be edible (tangy in taste like gooseberry). Once we reached the top, the view took our breaths away. I climbed up the stairs of the monastery. Sat down facing the valley with the bluish Siyom river flowing through just like a painting. I sat there for a long time, under the prayer flags. Others got busy exploring the monastery.Blue colored berries found en route

Guru Padmasambhava

Soon, I had to drag myself away to see what is inside the monastery. The ancient monastery has beautiful statues of Guru Padmasambhava, masks, traditional musical instruments and prayers left by devotees.Guru Padmasambhava statue at Samten Yongcha Monastery

The 400-year old monastery is a two-storeyed building. Made entirely out of wood and has a divine old-world charm to it. There were some antique stone inscriptions stored inside. The monastery is believed to be older than the Tawang Monastery and is maintained by the local people. It is one of the most visited spots for locals and tourists alike.Samten Yongcha Monastery

Dzogchen Samten Choeling Monastery

The new monastery is situated close to the town. But failed to provide the charm of the older one.Dzogchen Samten Choeling Monastery

Dorjeeling

Located about 12 KMs away Dorjeeling is a picturesque village with little wooden houses, farms and blue streams. It is not a tourist spot. But a quaint little village where one can sit down and appreciate the surroundings. There is a small Buddhist Monastery in the village.

Sika Dido Waterfalls

The Siko Dido waterfalls in Irgo is a towering waterfall, surrounded by rocks covered in green moss. Though this waterfall lies on the way, it is worth stopping over.Siko Dido Waterfalls

Wooden Bridges and Wild Horses

Landscape view of Wild Horses grazing with a wooden bridge in the background

These are a common sight around. Wild horses can be seen grazing lazily over the valley. The wooden bridges, held by steel wires are an absolute delight for photographers. Often overlooking the beautiful hills over the Siyom river.

Tribes

Tribals of Mechuka, Arunachal

This place is home to the people of the Ramo (Adi), Memba, Bokar and Libo tribes. They are believed to have Tibeto-Mongoloid origins. They follow various religions like Buddhism, Donyi-Poloism, Christianity. And speak in Memba, Adi, Hindi, and English languages.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit is when the roads are not affected by the weather ie. post-monsoon months between October and March.

After spending three magical days, we set off for our return to our respective home cities. Since most of us had flights from Dibrugarh, we decided to leave for Pasighat and spend the night there. The Bogibeel Bridge, that was recently inaugurated by the Honorable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi was not operational then. Hence we had to cross over to Dibrugarh via ferry from Bogibeel ghat. Sun was just dipping over the mighty Brahmaputra river coloring the sky and the river in all hues of orange.Bogibeel bridge over Brahmaputra river

Transportation to Dibrugarh

Take a shared taxi heading towards Along. Then take another shared taxi to Silapathar. Local taxis are available to and from Bogibeel Ghat. Ferry to and from Dibrugarh ply at regular intervals. However, with the inauguration of the Bogibeel bridge, direct road transport options are also available between Dibrugarh and Silapathar.

Important points to remember

1. Inner Line Permits (ILP) are absolutely necessary to enter and travel in Arunachal Pradesh. They are easily obtainable on arrival or online.
2. Mobile networks are scarcely available. There is only a BSNL tower, which does not work sometimes. Only one PCO in the town in case of emergency.
3. Carry warm clothes and proper shoes. Mercury goes down to sub-zero temperatures in winters with snowfall.
4. Mainly Tibetan food is available. But one may get a few more options in the town. Recommended you carry some ready-to-eat meals if you have limited food preference.
5. It is better to carry cash before proceeding. There is only one State Bank of India ATM, which runs out of cash.

Pesticides killing Muga in Assam

No action has been taken against tea growers and companies who have been responsible for death of lakhs of Muga worms in muga produce dictricts of Assam .

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After massive loss in Muga rearing, the farmers of Dhakuakhana sub-division had filed case against a number of tea gardens years back. But no action was taken, no policy have been formulated yet.

Rampant uses of pesticides in nearby tea gardens killed Muga worms while they were feeding on Som trees last month. Muga is a unique and exclusive golden silk textiles produced in Assam.

Muga larva and worm rearing is outdoor activity and polluted air affects it easily.

Muga is very sensitive to the odour of toxic chemicals, temperature and humidity.

The phenomenon has been taking place in the past years also. But Muga farmers protested rampant uses of pesticides last month.

Affected Muga farmers had filed case against Duleshwar Gogoi, Pranab Gogoi, Min Gogoi, Hemanta Gogoi, Ruhiteshwar Gogoi and Nitya Gogoi, who are tea garden owners, in 2018. Ghilamora Police had processed the inquiry, but no effective action has been taken so far. Actually these are small tea growers, big tea companies are creating havoc for the silk heritage pouring tons if pesticides and chemical fertilizers every day across the state.

But police claim that they have no suitable law or act to take action against tea planters.  The farmers of Dhenukhona have a cultivation of Som trees covering an area of thousand hectares and Muga has been a traditional livelihood and occupation for many local people.

It has been mentioned in the FIR that around 5 million worm feed on Som trees have died. Muga farmers brought seed worth Rs 1 million and it could have produced silk of hundred crores.

Muga farmers at Dhenukhona . Photo credit Amit Paban Bora

Local people alleged that as soon as the case was registered it came to light that there is no government protection to save the golden silk heritage of Assam.

Tea planters have violated all norms of uses of pesticides and Muga cultivation is now in peril.

there is no government protection to save the golden silk heritage of Assam.

Tea planters have violated all norms of uses of pesticides and Muga cultivation is now in peril.

It may be mentioned that it was earlier a section of environmentalists had blamed only climate change, to be the main reason behind the death of Muga worms and ignored the effects of pesticides. Chandan Kumar Duarah, the science editor in Asomiya Pratidin says that use of toxic pesticide in tea gardens of Assam is the main culprit with immediate effects. Wherever tea garden grows in Assam the area loses muga rearing.

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Storm, heavy rain and heat (above 35 degree centigrade) have been killing muga worms. Pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers used in tea gardens, agiciltural farms and air pollution by brick kleens and other industries nearby are silent culprit which kills heritage worms, Duarah said. So. Government must firmulate policy to save the heritage of golden thread.