Guwahati, Oct 09, 2015: The Naga and Assamese civil societies today agreed that there should be consistent dialogues and build a permanent mechanism to strengthen friendship between the twoneighbouring communities.
After a day-long deliberation on exploringpossibilities to enhance goodwill, co-operation and friendship between the people of Assam and Nagaland in the backdrop of present complex realities and challenges, both sides made a joint declaration at Khanapara, here.
The members from civil societies of Nagaland and Assamgathered at a Round Table towards building friendship and fraternity, organized by Nanda Talukdar Foundation (NTF), a Guwahtibased non-profit dealing in research, documentation and publication.
The declaration endorsed by all present in the meeting unanimously resolved that there should be a permanent mechanism to continue the dialogue process between the two neighbours.
In this regard, Assam SahityaSabha and Naga Hoho will initiate to form a Co-ordination Committee to build up a permanent Dialgue Forum between the two sides, and the NTF would co-ordinate between the SahityaSabha and the Naga Hoho, a statement issued by NTF general secretary Mrinal Talukdar said.
The meeting was attended by Naga Hoho president ChubaOzukum, Naga Mothers Association adviser Rosemary Dzuvichu, Naga Students Federation president SubenthangKithan, BPCC (Assam-Nagaland)co-ordinatorTemsuwatiAo, AsomSahityaSabha president Dr Dhrubajyoti Bora, All Assam Students Union (ASSU) adviser SamujjwalBhattacharjy, Purbanchaliya Tai SahityaSabha president Dr DayanandaBorgohain, NiketuIralu, Prof UdayanMisra, BanuHaralu, PrasantaRajguru among others.
NEC member Chandra Kanta Das is an independent observer of the meet.
The meeting was also of the opinion that the groups and individuals should make endeavours to enhance co-operations between the two states in areas of art, literature, culture, sports, trade and commerce and environment protection at their individual capacities, the statement said.
Expressing serious concern over increasing cases of violence in border areas due to unresolved border disputes, all the speakers, both delegates and invitees,were of the views that whatever might be the future political relations between Nagaland and New Delhi, the Nagas and the Assamese have to co-exist as friendly neighbours, and there is no alternative.
Earlier, welcoming the delegates, NTF president and editor of AsomiyaPratidinNitya Bora said that the dialogue process which began today would be a challenging one for its sustenance, but asserted that if the civil societies seriously pursue this process it would turn into a win-win situation for people on both sides.
Mentioning that AsomSahityaSabha was formed in 1895 at Kohima by late PadmanathGohainBoruah,DrDhrubajyoti Borahoped that today’s bold initiative would open up a new chapter of mutual respects, trust and co-operation between the people of the two states by ending long years of accumulated mistrust, suspicions and vast gulf in societal levels, the release said.
ChubaOzukumsaid that the civil societies should vigorously endeavour for enhancing people-to-people contact at various level because neither the Nagas nor the Assamese could leave each other. They have to live as friendly neighbours whatever might be tomorrow’s political futures for the two communities, he asserted.
Naga Mothers Association (NMA) adviser Rosemary Dzuvichuasserted 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.
