Holy Pilgrimage – Arunachala Pradesh State at 10:11 PM

Arunachal Pradesh ( Pilgrimage Places)

Arunachal Pradesh ( Pilgrimage Places)

 

 

Arunachal Pradesh /) is a state of India. Located in northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east and the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the north. Itanagar is the capital of the state.
Arunachal Pradesh means "land of the dawn-lit mountains" It is also known as "land of the rising sun"^[6] ("pradesh" means "state", "territory" or "region") in reference to its position as the easternmost state of India. Like other parts of Northeast India, a majority of the people native to the state are of Tibeto-Burman origin.^{[citation needed]} A large and increasing number of migrants have reached Arunachal Pradesh from many other parts of India, although no reliable population count of the migrant population has been conducted, and percentage estimates of total population accordingly vary widely. Part of the Ledo Burma Road, which was a lifeline to China during World War II, passes through the eastern part of the state.^{[citation needed]}
The northern border of Arunachal Pradesh follows the McMahon Line, a border delineated in the Simla Accord that was signed by the United Kingdom and Tibet in 1914 but not by China (since Tibet was not Chinese-controlled at that time). Both the Republic of China (ROC) and the PRC claim the northern portion of Arunachal Pradesh as part of the former provinces of the Tibet Area and Xikang (for the ROC), respectively the Tibet Autonomous Region (for the PRC). The PRC often refers to the claimed areas as South Tibet.

Early history

The history of pre-modern Arunachal Pradesh remains shrouded in mystery. Oral histories possessed to this day by many Arunachali tribes of Tibeto-Burman stock are much richer and point unambiguously to a northern origin in modern-day Tibet. Again corroboration remains difficult. From the point of view of material culture it is clear that most indigenous Arunachali groups align with Burma-area hill tribals, a fact that could either be explainable in terms of a northern Burmese origin or from westward cultural diffusion.
From the same perspective the most unusual Arunachali group by far is the Puroik/Sulung, whose traditional staple food is sago palm and whose primary traditional productive strategy is foraging. While speculatively considered to be a Tibeto-Burman population, the uniqueness of Puroik culture and language may well represent a tenuous reflection of a distant and all but unknown pre-Tibeto-Burman, Tai and Indo-Aryan past

 

 

According to the Arunachal Pradesh Government, the region was mentioned in the Hindu texts Kalika Purana and Mahabharata, and is attested to be the Prabhu Mountains of the Puranas, and was where sage Parashuram washed away sins, the sage Vyasa meditated, King Bhishmaka founded his kingdom and Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmin

 

Recent excavations of ruins of Hindu temples such as the 14th century Malinithan at the foot of the Siang hills in West Siang are somewhat automatically associated with the ancient history of Arunachal Pradesh, inasmuch as they fall within its modern-day political borders. However, such temples are generally south-facing, never occur more than a few kilometers from the Assam plains area, and are perhaps more likely to have been associated with Assam plains-based rather than indigenous Arunachali populations. Another notable heritage site, Bhismaknagar, has led to suggestions that the Idu (Mishmi) had an advanced culture and administration in pre-historical times. Again, however, no evidence directly associates Bhismaknagar with this or any other known culture. The third heritage site, the 400-year-old Tawang Monastery in the extreme north-west of the state, provides some historical evidence of the Buddhist tribal people. The sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso was born in Tawang.

 

Much of Arunachal Pradesh is covered by the Himalayas. However, parts of Lohit, Changlang and Tirap are covered by the Patkai hills. Kangto, Nyegi Kangsang, the main Gorichen peak and the Eastern Gorichen peak are some of the highest peaks in this region of the Himalayas.
At the lowest elevations, essentially at Arunachal Pradesh's border with Assam, are Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests. Much of the state, including the Himalayan foothills and the Patkai hills, are home to Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests. Toward the northern border with China, with increasing elevation, come a mixture of Eastern and Northeastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests followed by Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows and ultimately rock and ice on the highest peaks.

The Himalayan ranges that extend up to the eastern Arunachal separate it from Tibet. The ranges extend toward Nagaland, and form a boundary between India and Burma in Changlang and Tirap district, acting as a natural barrier called Patkai Bum Hills. They are low mountains compared to the Greater Himalayas.

Climate

The climate of Arunachal Pradesh varies with elevation. Areas that are at a very high elevation in the Upper Himalaya close to the Tibetan border have an alpine or tundra climate. Below the Upper Himalayas are the Middle Himalayas, where people experience a temperate climate. Areas at the sub-Himalayan and sea-level elevation generally experience humid, sub-tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters.
Arunachal Pradesh receives heavy rainfall of 80 to 160 inches (2,000 to 4,100 mm) annually, most of it between May and September. The mountain slopes and hills are covered with alpine, temperate, and subtropical forests of dwarf rhododendron, oak, pine, maple, fir, and juniper; sal (Shorea) and teak are the main economically valuable species

 

 

The state has several reputable schools, colleges, and institutions. There are also trust institutes like Pali Vidyapith run by Buddhists. They teach Pali and Khamti scripts in addition to typical education subjects. Khamti is the only tribe in Arunachal Pradesh that has its own script. Libraries of sciptures are in a number of places in Lohit district, the largest one in Chowkham.

Demographics

Arunachal Pradesh can be roughly divided into a set of semi-distinct cultural spheres, on the basis of tribal identity, language, religion, and material culture: the Tibetic area bordering Bhutan in the west, the Tani area in the centre of the state, the Mishmi area to the east of the Tani area, the Tai/Singpho/Tangsa area bordering Burma, and the "Naga" area to the south, which also borders Burma. In between there are transition zones, such as the Aka/Hruso/Miji/Sherdukpen area, which provides a "buffer" of sorts between the Tibetic Buddhist tribes and the animist Tani hill tribes. In addition, there are isolated peoples scattered throughout the state, such as the Sulung.
Within each of these cultural spheres, one finds populations of related tribes speaking related languages and sharing similar traditions. In the Tibetic area, one finds large numbers of Monpa tribespeople, with several subtribes speaking closely related but mutually incomprehensible languages, and also large numbers of Tibetan refugees. Within the Tani area, major tribes include Nishi, which has recently come to be used by many people to encompass Bangni, Tagin and even Hills Miri. Apatani also live among the Nishi, but are distinct. In the centre, one finds predominantly Galo people, with the major sub-groups of Lare and Pugo among others, extending to the Ramo and Pailibo areas (which are close in many ways to Galo). In the east, one finds the Adi, with many subtribes including Padam, Pasi, Minyong, and Bokar, among others. Milang, while also falling within the general "Adi" sphere, are in many ways quite distinct. Moving east, the Idu, Miju and Digaru make up the "Mishmi" cultural-linguistic area, which may or may not form a coherent historical grouping.
Moving southeast, the Tai Khamti are linguistically distinct from their neighbours and culturally distinct from the majority of other Arunachali tribes; they are religiously similar to the Chakmas who have migrated from erstwhile East Pakistan. They follow the same Theraveda sect of Buddhism. The Chakmas consist of the majority of the tribal population. Districts of Lohit, Changlang, Dibang and Papumpare have a considerable number of Chakmas. They speak a linguistic variant derived from Assamese and Bengali. Assam also have a large population of Chakmas who reside in the district of Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Kachar. They also exhibit considerable convergence with the Singpho and Tangsa tribes of the same area, all of which are also found in Burma. Finally, the Nocte and Wancho exhibit cultural and possibly also linguistic affinities to the tribes of Nagaland, which they border.
In addition, there are large numbers of migrants from diverse areas of India and Bangladesh, who, while legally not entitled to settle permanently, in practice stay indefinitely, progressively altering the traditional demographic makeup of the state. Finally, populations of "Nepalis" (in fact, usually Tibeto-Burman tribespeople whose tribes predominate in areas of Nepal, but who do not have tribal status in India) and Chakmas are distributed in different areas of the state (although reliable figures are hard to come by)

The state has several reputable schools, colleges, and institutions. There are also trust institutes like Pali Vidyapith run by Buddhists. They teach Pali and Khamti scripts in addition to typical education subjects. Khamti is the only tribe in Arunachal Pradesh that has its own script. Libraries of sciptures are in a number of places in Lohit district, the largest one in Chowkham.

 

Tourism

Tourist attractions include Tawang (a beautiful town with a Buddhist monastery), Ziro (which holds cultural festivals), the Namdapha tiger project in Changlang district and Sela lake near Bomdila with its bamboo bridges overhanging the river. Religious places of interest include Malinithan in Lekhabali, Rukhmininagar near Roing (the place where Rukmini, Lord Krishna's wife in Hindu mythology, is said to have lived), and Parshuram Kund in Lohit district (which is believed to be the lake where Parshuram washed away his sins). Rafting and trekking are common activities. A visitor's permit from the tourism department is required. Places like Tuting have wonderful, undiscovered scenic beauty. Over the years, the Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Itanagar has also become an important tourist destination in the state capital.^[35][36]
The state is rich in wildlife. Perhaps the highest diversity of mammals in India is in Arunachal Pradesh (200+ species).^[37] The diversity of birds is also very high, 700+ and is second only to Assam.

 

 

Transport

Air

The state's airports are Daporijo Airport, Ziro Airport, Along Airport, Tezu Airport and Pasighat Airport. However, owing to the rough terrain, these airports are small and are not in operation. Before the state was connected by roads, these airstrips were originally used for the transportation of food. A green-field airport serving Itanagar is being planned at Holongi at a cost of Rs. 650 crore.

Roads

Arunachal Pradesh has two highways: the 336 km (209 mi) National Highway 52, completed in 1998, which connects Jonai with Dirak, and another highway, which connects Tezpur in Assam with Tawang.^[34] As of 2007, every village has been connected by road thanks to funding provided by the central government. Every small town has its own bus station and daily bus services are available. All places are connected to Assam, which has increased trading activity. An additional National Highway is being constructed following the Stillwell Ledo Road, which connects Ledo in Assam to Jairampur in Arunachal

Missionaries' role in Arunachal draws ire

 

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NAGPUR, SEPT 18, 1998: Christian missionaries are hell-bent on turning Arunachal Pradesh into a `Christian state' and unless urgent steps are taken immediately, the situation would spin out of control, warns Balkrishnan, national general secretary of the Vivekanand Kendra.

Speaking about the gravity of the situation while delivering a lecture on `Arunachal ki pukar' organised by the Vivekanand Kendra, Nagpur, Balkrishnan said Christian missionaries, after having successfully converted a majority of the people from the other North-Eastern states have now turned full attention to Arunachal Pradesh.
Talking about the work of the Christian missionaries in the North-East, he said as many as 92 per cent of the people in Mizoram had already taken to Christianity. Christians now formed 87 per cent of Nagaland's population and 72 per cent of Meghalaya. Cent per cent population of the hilly regions of Manipur is already Christian. Hindus have been always been in the majority in Arunachal Pradesh. But slowly themissionaries have managed to turn 30 per cent of the population into Christians. If the present rate of conversions continue, then Arunachal too soon would be a Christian state, he warned.
Blasting the missionaries for their role in the North-East, especially Arunachal, Balkrishnan said they are not just converting people, but also destroying the culture. This has already happened in Nagaland. Arunachal is next in line, he said.
It is only a myth that the problems of Hindus get solved after their conversion to Christianity. In fact they become victims of a new system of oppression. If Christianity was the answer to all woes, why is it that AIDS is most prevalent in Christian-dominated states there? Why does the nightmare of drugs haunt the populace, he asked.
Revealing the sustained efforts of the Christian organisations towards conversions in Arunachal, Balkrishnan said it had put 10,000 missionaries on the job. Compared to this the total number of Hindu missionaries there was not more than 250.
Thechurches in the country have issued circulars to the Christian missionaries to make Arunachal completely Christian by the year 2000 AD. The Hindus are poorly equipped to face the onslaught of Christian zealots, he lamented.
Balkrishnan warned of an international conspiracy hatched by China with the help of the US to grab Arunachal. But first the population has to be converted into Christianity, he said. Arunachal has a 1700 km international border with Nepal and China. Arunachalis greet each other with either `Vande Mataram' or `Jai Hind' which is something unique, he said. But the situation might change if the conspirators have their way, he said.
Insurgency is the biggest problem facing the North-East. Smuggling is another. Myanmar is the biggest training centre for insurgents. So far the government has managed to contain the secession problem, but for how long would it be able to do so in the face of international designs on the country is a point to ponder.
Balkrishnan appealed to the youths andothers in the country to lend a helping hand in saving Arunachal. It is with this motto that the Vivekanand Kendra has decided to form `Arunachal Bandhu Parivar'. The organisation would officially come into existence on September 29. It would work towards stopping Christian conversions in Arunachal and other states. It would hold seminars, exhibitions in various parts of the country to make the people aware of the gravity of the situation where Christian missionaries are active, he informed.
Balkrishnan informed the Vivekanand Kendra has been active in Arunachal for a quarter century now. It has earned the goodwill of the local people there because of its good work in education and social work, he said. Its main mission in the country now is to `save Arunachalis from Christian exploitation', he revealed.
From  1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd

The peculiar position of swamis from the N-E

Anand Sundas

AHMEDABAD, FEB 7, 1999: In a sea of saffron, they stand apart. Their clothes and their physical features give them enough distinction, even before they begin talking. They are the dondeis, nibos and sadhus from the northeastern states -- Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya -- that rarely get a mention in reportage on Hindutva.

Their problems are similar to those faced by sadhus elsewhere, but yet are peculiar. The problems they face are two-fold and apparently contradictory. In some areas, the presence and reputation of the missionaries; in others, the influence of tribal culture.
The VHP has already begun distributing stickers that say, ``Preserve your culture, preserve your identity'' to Arunachali households, unable to ``see the youth dancing to western beats'' and the fear of witnessing ``Christians wiping out Hinduism in Arunachal and other North Eastern states.''
In a scathing attack on Christians, Swami Kripalanandji of Giri Parampara in Tripura alleged thatmissionaries were behind extremist activities in the Northeast states and that there were 19 outfits conducting activities in the region, mainly targeting Hindus. ``Those who refuse to convert are tortured or killed,'' he alleged. ``In the past few years, more than 18 Vaishnav ashrams run by Hindus in Tripura have been demolished by the Christians, while those who dominate the upper classes, force people to adopt Christianity,'' he asserted.
The saint also denied any Government support and said that the Communist Government in Tripura offered no help to them. And while it was impossible for Hindus to live in Kohima, labourers in the tea gardens there have to follow the diktat of the missionaries. Apart from that, in Mizoram, where the Christians are the majority, 35,000 were ostracised from their caste for not adopting Christianity.
Supporting his claims was Bamangtato, a priest of the Donyi Polo sect in Arunachal Pradesh, who is convinced that Christians the world over have a devious agenda in Arunachal-- may be even a pan-Indian agenda. However, he -- and his colleagues -- were pleasantly surprised to see nearly 200 people in Ranip (a small village in Gujarat) run to touch their feet. This is because they were told in their village that very few Hindus remain in India today! Stepping out of Arunachal Pradesh for the first time, they were emboldened to ``see so many Hindus''.
It does not matter to them that they are Donyi Poloks, worshippers of the sun and moon, and not Hindus. ``Why aren't they Hindus?'' asks Dr Sunil Karan, who has been based in Arunachal for quite some time. ``They have all our mantras and the religion has its roots in the shastras. Tell me, which other religion worships the sun?''
Saints from Assam, spoke of their hapless condition due to the activities of extremists. Criticising VHP ignorance in the region, Swami Banagovind Parampanthi of Assam, who runs ashrams at Dibrugarh and Guwahati, said the organisation was yet to discern the problem of Hindus. ``Only social work forthe upliftment of poor and backward would help VHP build its image''.
The Arunachalis claim that 60 per cent of the people have already converted to Christianity, and that ``terrorists like those belonging to the NSCN are busy trying to convert the rest''. They maintain that the NSCN, which is trying to include the Arunachali districts of Tirap, Changlang and Lohit in `Greater Nagaland', wants to convert the whole of the Northeast into a base camp for terrorists. Christianity is the binding factor!
-- With inputs from Rajendra Sharma
From 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)                                                                                                                              

(My humble  salutations to the great devotees ,  wikisources  and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the collection )