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Would we see Pradeep Thakur Issue finding logical end anytime soon?

By AG | Published: September 6, 2011

The so called “Pradeep Thakur imbroglio” has given, so far three “Bandhs” to the residents’ of Twin Capital City of Naharlagun and Itanagar; and going by the developments in this issue, the solution seems nowhere near the horizon. Atleast not until, NES and ANSU are ready to accept solution other than their laid down demands which are:

  1. Immediate arrest of Pradeep Thakur
  2. Unconditional apology from Pradeep Thakur
  3. Revelation of Source of derogatory remark
  4. Detailed call records of his two phone numbers.

Source-The Arunachal Times dated Sep 2, 2011

So far, the Times of India Group has pulled down the content that offended the Nyishi Community of the State and had given an apology on the issue on 26th of May, 2011. Further, the journalist in question, one Pradeep Thakur is suppossedly on anticipatory bail over the issue and has tendered his unconditional apology; the video footage of which is available online on social networking sites like Facebook etc. For wider circulation, the tendered video apology is embedded herewith, if it helps mitigate the issue.

However, all this effort by Times of India group and the State Government who went ahead and brought the video footage of apology of Pradeep Thakur did not help to resolve the issue once and for all. Apparently, may be because so far the source of remark has not been divulged or the details of call records has not been given.

But the question is, would all these “Bandh Calls” be enough to make the ToI Group or one Pradeep Thakur to divulge the source of remark? What if ToI group declines to reveal the source of remark? What if they invoke “Reporter’s Privilege“? In that case, are there any alternatives to bring the issue to the logical end other than to accept the fact that ToI has pulled down the content and has apologised and Pradeep Thakur has issued a video apology? I guess not. Or are there any?

By dragging the issue, the remark, over which the NES and the ANSU started this fight for their community, would be re-quoted again and again while reporting about the issue, thereby defeating the sole purpose of fighting for the issue. Further, the people, who initially emphatized with the Nyishi Community over the derogatory remark by one Pradeep Thakur may start believing that the whole issue is not about the remark on Nyishi Community but entirely political, as is being discussed in some pockets.

While the issue may not come to logical end soon, (not until NES and ANSU accept the solution other than their demands) it would surely make the reporter, who was a non-entity prior to May 4th, 2011, (In) famous; let that “derogatory remark” alive forever and subject the resident’s of Twin Capital City of Naharlagun and Itanagar to further hardships as they are being subjected to for 48 hrs since 0500 hrs of 5th of September, 2011.

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Itanagar, Naharlagun, Nyishi | 13 Comments

Army Recruitment Rally at Tawang and Rupa from 9-18 September 2011

By AG | Published: August 29, 2011

The dynamic and energetic youth of Arunachal Pradesh is being offered a great opportunity by the Indian Army to become disciplined soldiers of the country. For this Army will be conducting recruitment rallies for eligible candidates from 9th Sep to 18th Sep 2011 at Tawang and Rupa, for Tawang, East Kameng and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The candidates from Tawang, East Kameng and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh can report at Higher Secondary School Ground at Tawang on 9th Sep 2011 and at Gyaptong Regional Sports Stadium at Rupa on 13th Sep & 14th Sep 2011. The candidates of Technical/ Nursing Assistant/ Clerks categories and sons of serving/retired soldiers, NCC Certificate holders & sportsmen who have represented at State or National level will be tested on 9th Sep 2011 at Tawang and on 14th Sep 2011 at Rupa.

Written Test for candidates who are found fit in physical tests, documents check and medical examination will be held on 18th Sep 2011 at Higher Secondary School, Rupa. The final results may be expected by the candidates within three weeks.

It may be worthwhile mentioning that Army offers attractive pay and perks to its soldiers; for example a Sepoy with 1-2 years of service draws around Rs 15000/- per month besides free rations, house rent, medical & canteen facilities, children educational allowance, field area allowance etc.

If selected in the physical and medical tests, a candidate should be prepared to stay under his own arrangements till 18th Sep, 2011.

The interested candidates for Soldier (GD) should be at least 160 cm tall with class VIII as minimum qualification and should bring along with them their original educational documents, birth certificate, PRC and character certificate. The educational documents should be countersigned by the DDSE.

For more details, contact ARO Jorhat at 0376-2310830.

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Recruitment | 8 Comments

The Quintessence of Apatani Language (Prelude)- Book Released

By AG | Published: July 10, 2011

The Quintessence of Apatani Language

-Dr. Hano  Hailang

A book on Apatani Language titled “The Quintessence of Apatani Language (Prelude)” was launched by Hon’ble Minister for Power, Forest, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs, Setong Sena on Dree, July 5 last at Ziro.

The Book is authored by Nending Ommo, a young Linguist serving as Assistant Professor at Rang–Frah Government College, Changlang. He has two Masters of Arts in English and Linguistics and an MPhil in English. He is registered for PhD at Deccan College Post Graduate & Research Institute, Pune.

Hon’ble Minister for Power, Forestry, Environment and Parliamentary Affairs, Setong Sena releasing the book on the occasion of Dree

The book underscores on the importance of preserving Apatani language, talks on the linguistic affiliation of Tani Languages, spotlights on the dialectal variations in Apatani, highlights on the provisional phonetics of Apatani language, accentuates on the exigency to standardize orthography, discusses the limitations of Tani Lipi with regards to Apatani etc.
The writing of the book is sociolinguistic in nature and it challenges the readers to contemplate on saving of one’s mother tongue. The copies of books are now available in all leading book stands in Arunachal.

Posted in Apatani Society, Arunachal Pradesh, My Hapoli | 1 Comment

The Mystery Caller at Large

By GTallo | Published: May 6, 2011

Was there conspiracy behind Khandu’s death?

The air crash that led to death of five people including CM of Arunachal Pradesh awaits inquiry. Whatever comes out of inquiry, Dorjee Khandu is no more so are the other four onboard in the ill-fated helicopter.

Government machinery together with India’s premier organization ISRO, Indian Air Force and Indian Army were clueless for five days to locate the crash site. One doesn’t expect people at helms of affair to be embarrassed. There were plenty of excuses to save their faces: inclement weather, difficult terrain… Fact remains that ISRO’s tall claims of the state of art technology and having all weather surveillance capability are all shallow; the IAF aircraft cannot operate in Arunachal skies as it is cloudy and covered with fog most part of year; and the eastern border of India is only as safe as it was in 1962.

This author overheard some people, sitting in a tea stall, discussing about the possibility of conspiracy behind Khandu’s death. It seems quite an unlikely thing in Arunachal Pradesh. But when one goes through the turn of events since the news of missing helicopter carrying CM of Arunachal was aired on news channels the April 30 last, one can’t help but actually thinks there might have been.

Now looking back:

April 30, 2011, Pawan Hans helicopter carrying CM Dorjee Khandu and two passengers took off from Tawang at 9:56 am and lost radio communication after 20 minutes. By around 12:30 pm news of the missing chopper was broke out in news channels. Search operations were pressed on. Meanwhile, Principal Secretary to CM received a call informing him about the safe emergency landing of the chopper somewhere in eastern Bhutan in a place called Tapurejho. Similar information is reported to have received by IG SSB and IG Law and Order Assam. Then around 3 pm interviews were given by top brass of the state, including Governor Gen (retd.) JJ Singh, to various news channels about safe landing of the choppers. Later Sources from Bhutan denied having any report of emergency landing of the chopper in Bhutan. Thereafter, in following days based on the images taken by ISRO satellite and IAF Sukhoi 30, search operations were finally zeroed in to Nagajiji area in Indo Bhutan border west of Sela Pass. On the fifth day, some villagers spotted the debris of the chopper some kilometers east of Sela Pass.

Appears like a plot of mystery movie.

Who is this anonymous caller? Did he have prior information that the chopper is going to crash on its route? Did he call all these important persons to misguide and delay the search and rescue operations so that the survival possibilities from the crash are minimized? Whoever be this anonymous caller, he doesn’t appear to be an ordinary mischief monger who made crank call for fun. He knew the contact numbers of persons who matter. The Principal Secretary to CM even thought he was Khandu himself.

How could the likes of the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the Principal Secretary to CM and others be so easily duped by the anonymous call? Have any effort being made to trace the caller? Indeed the inclement weather and the terrains of Tawang and West Kameng districts made ISRO’s satellite and IAF aircraft so difficult to trace a helicopter which crashed only few kilometers away from where it lost the radio communication?

Indeed, was there conspiracy behind the chopper crash which killed the CM of Arunachal Pradesh? Or is it just a wild speculation?

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, G. Tallo's Take | 3 Comments