PTI
GUWAHATI, OCTOBER 9
For fostering friendship and fraternity between the two neighbouring communities, the Naga and Assamese civil societies today advocated for consistent dialogues at various levels to end the distrust, suspicions and the widening gulf between the two states.
The first-ever Naga-Assamese round table talks held here also asserted that while the civil societies should strive for enhancing people-to-people contact, both Assam and Nagaland governments and the Centre must seriously pursue the vexed issues that involve the two states for their amicable resolutions.
In a bid to begin a much needed dialogue process between the two neighbours, the day-long deliberation organised by the Nanda Talukdar Foundation (NTF) Guwahati, was attended by delegates from both sides who expressed serious concern over accumulated mistrust, animosity and mindsets conditioned through myths.
Both sides agreed that there should be some institutionalised mechanism from civil societies for effective interventions whenever some unwarranted incidents occurred in inter-state border areas and de-escalate tensions arising out from even a small incident.
The Naga delegation led by noted social worker and peace crusader Niketu Iralu comprised apex tribal council Naga Hoho’s president Chuba Ozukum, Naga Mothers’ Association’s adviser Prof Rosemary Dzuvichu, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) president Subenthang Kikon.Assam was represented by noted academic Prof Udayan Misra, Asom Sahitya Sabha president Dhrubajyoti Bora, All Assam Students Union Chief Adviser Samujjwal Bhattacharya, Purbanchaliya Tai Sahitya Sabha president Dayananda Borgohain, former Upper Assam Commissioner Sayad Iftikhar Hussein, among others.
The meeting, presided over by Editor of Asomiya Pratidin and NTF president Nitya Bora, was also attended by academics, senior journalists, columnists and social workers as invitees. Niketu Iralu said that both fears and hopes brought the two sides to talk to each other for finding a way forward. He expressed the hope that such a dialogue would definitely improve relationship between the Nags and the Assamese, but at the same time “we should not allow the criminals and lumpen characters to hold us ransom.”
Udayan Misra was concerned that it would be unfortunate for both the Assamese and the Nagas if they were allowed to be swayed by anti-socials and goons as well as by the indifference from the privileged sections. He maintained that the perceived differences and stands on contentious issues could be sorted out only through dialogues in a democratic environment.
Appreciating the initiatives for holding such a deliberation, Naga Hoho president Chuba Ozukum insisted on maintaining the age-old good relations between the two neighbours at any cost and prevent all unwarranted situations that might lead to misunderstanding and distrust.
Pointing out that the root of the Asom Sahitya Sabha lies in Kohima, its president Dhrubajyoti Bora said that such meeting of minds and hearts would “show us a way forward” towards resolving many conflicting issues.
Naga Mothers Association (NMA) adviser Rosemary Dzuvichu asserted that in any conflict situation the women could play a very pro-active role in resolving differences if they are united, and called upon Assamese women to work together with their Naga counterparts to create an environment of trust, friendship, love and compassion.
Highlighting the age-old relationship between the Ahoms and the Nagas, president of Purbanchaliya Tai Sahitya Sabha Dayananda Borgohain insisted on holding such dialogues on a regular basis for mitigating the present environment of entrenched suspicions against each other.
AASU Chief Adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya urged the organizers of the round table to continue their endeavour for a consistent dialogue process involving the two neighbours.
Speaking on roles of media in conflict situation, senior journalists Prasanta Rajguru and Bano Haralu appealed to media persons to be more sensitive and responsible while reporting any untoward incident which involves two states.
