As I flip through the nostalgic pages, I feel glad to tread down the memory lane and find myself striving diligently like many others to accomplish the petite and simple concept called Pangsau Pass Winter Festival (PPWF) to reinstate the ‘Cultural Identity’ of the Tangsas as well to reinvent this picturesque precinct as the base for ‘Tourism Industry’. I presume, every individual involved will reckon the truth that the grueling itinerary of ‘Cultural Resurrections’ was an emotional journey mingled with pain, pride and pleasures. In fact, the year 2007 was an incredible phase of indigenous awakening and ethnic bonding, all the breathing souls of Tangsa community regardless of age, status and religion amalgamated with committed intentions to revive and celebrate the spirits of ethnicity as well to disclose the serenity of Tangsas Inhabitation. Gradually, PPWF has revolutionized the conventional mindsets and social taboos of a generation. Without any controversies, it has alighted to prove that any religion and many tribal traditions can commingle and co-exist together. As a result, the social merger of all the tribal communities without any religious differences has rejuvenated the social sentiments of unity, integrity and communal harmony, delineating the worthiness of tribal heritages.

Two remarkable years down the line, I’m in cloud nine because of the ripples the 3^rd edition of PPWF’09 is creating worldwide. The credit for this grand success goes to every members of the tribal society, the business fraternities and the Govt. Employees because they’ve toiled together to glide PPWF to the pinnacle. From a petite fete, depicting the Tangsa ethos to the colossal canvas, limning the many colorful tribes of the dawn lit mountains, the journey has been gorgeous and gratifying. Fortunately, the assiduous attitudes of the local inhabitants have coerced the utopian dreams as PPWF to transmute into pleasant reality. Now it sails upon the sea of changes, the Department of Tourism (DoT) has sponsored this to expand the perimeter of PPWF to the next level, signifying the beginning of a new era. I believe, with the fleeting years, under the aegis of Tourism Department it’ll rectify the past flaws and augment it’s horizon by transcending the unknown frontiers.

In fact, if exploited by the book the assorted aspects PPWF renders, then perhaps in the next decade it’ll change into an ample source of economic amplifications as the timely undertaking or change of guard has meliorated the vast scopes of commerce and culture. Optimistically, it is definite to influence the local economy as in the days to come; it is speculated that the economy will revolve around the several scopes created by it. Of course, the widening of commercial spheres will broaden the merry grins, demising the financial groans. “Winning starts with beginning”

This became apparent when after failure of police and district administration to act upon the FIR (First Information Report), the WSU (Wancho Students’ Union) wrote to the Chief Minister to secure safe release of 39 kidnapped students, some as young as students of primary standards, from the clutches of NSCN (K). However, when no effort seemed forthright from the government towards safe release of the abducted boys, the WSU stated in a press on 4th February that they [Wancho’s] are in a situation they don’t want to be in (where they are always under scanner of being supporting the UG elements) and that they have no other option left but to go for talks with the UG elements for the safe release of abducted boys and a protest rally on 10th of February.

One wonders, how abduction of such large number of youths could have been possible from right under the nose of the army? Where were the army, the police and the district administration when the demand notice for making available 227 youths for recruitment was in circulation? It may be mentioned here that Tirap and Changlang districts are the two districts that is declared ‘disturbed’ in this otherwise peaceful state and where the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958 is in force. The kidnapping of such large number of youths only makes you question the effectiveness of this ‘draconian act’.

The move for demand of safe release of abducted youths has ever since been joined by various students’ bodies and organizations and by the Apex Students’ body of the state, AAPSU (All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union) who had boycotted the ‘Statehood Day’ yesterday by giving a ‘Bandh’ call in the wake of failure of their 10-day ultimatum served to the government for securing safe release of abducted youths.(The ‘Bandh’ call at Ziro-Hapoli Township was total with business establishment downing their shutters and vehicles off the road. With this Ziro-Hapoli Township witnessed second ‘Bandh’ of the year).

On government’s part, the Khandu government has given a distress call to Prime Minister and union Home Minister for a concerted effort to drive out ultras out of the state and for securing safe release of the abducted youths, since the issue had assumed international dimension with the hostages being taken deep inside the forest of Myanmar.

Now, giving a twist to the story and contrary to what WSU (Wancho Students’ Union) had claimed, NSCN (K) has denied the kidnapping theory. They claimed that all the youths came voluntarily to them in response to their recruitment drive call for 227 members. And that reported as being managed to escape was actually sent back as because either they didn’t fulfill the recruitment criteria or they were minors and that they don’t recruit ‘minors’.

Whatever the case may be, the situation hasn’t improved for the Wancho’s and with government doing little to bail them out of the situation they are still under ‘Catch-22′ situation-join the outfit either voluntarily or under threat, bear the brunt of the army; if not, bear the brunt of UG outfit.

Footnote: – I’ve only tried to attire the Apatani protagonist as Wancho. In no way, the attire/costume of the protagonist may be construed as the true representation of attire of the Wancho’s.