By A O News Service
ITANAGAR | Apr 16 | Arunachal Pradesh is a living testimony of heritage besides bravery of Army heroes; many known and many unknown, like 2 JK’s rifleman Shere Thapa, who had killed 180 PLA jawans in tama Chung Chung ridge.
Thembang Fortified Village and Apatani Cultural Landscape, whose proposals were submitted by GoAP on 15.04.14, are among six NE monuments and sites identified by United Nation Educational Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for listing under World Heritage Site.
Such enlisting is as per special cultural or physical significance. Moreover, Union MoS (Culture) Mahesh Sharma, in a written reply had informed Lok Sabha that total 83 monuments and sites of NE are centrally protected under Archaeological Survey of India, as reported by this daily on April 4 last.
Thembang, the settlement of the Monpas, is a village within a fortified area measuring approximately 3.2 acre. It is a host to several ancient and historical structures and has drawn the maximum attention for the fortified Dzong built by using traditional technology of the region. Due to the richness of heritage structures found in the village, locals consider the village of Thembang itself as a monument.
Thembang Dzong is located approximately 55-km northeast of West Kameng district HQs Bomdila and east of Tawang-Bomdila road. Thembang village and Dzong are surrounded with majestic beauty of lush green hills, steep gorges and snow clad peaks. River Dirang cascades down the gorge running along the western side of Thembang gorge in the south-east direction.
Thus, Thembang Culture & Heritage Festival, a three-day maiden event is being organized from April l8 next in collaboration with research department and supported by tourism department and Health & Family Welfare Parliamentary Secretary-cum-Dirang MLA Phurpa Tsering with Arunachal Observer as media partner, the organizing committee’s coordinator
This village has been instrumental in helping its inhabitants to inherit culture and tradition to earn the sobriquet Living monument of Thembang. The event would include local cultural potpourri, traditional games & sports, local handicrafts to showcase Thembang spirit, he said.
As present State Govt led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu is well aware of state heritages to sanction Rs 10 crore to develop Itanagar village, it would be prudent to draw its attention toward other heritage sites though not enlisted till date.
Bongal Yapgo (1893-94), a stockades wall, located at Dambuk along Roing-Dambuk road. Made out of random rubble masonary, it was built by the Padams during their war with the British in the last part of the 19th century.
Bhsimaknagar located 30-km away from Lower Dibang Valley district HQs Roing. Ruins of a fort built by a Chutiya king in 8th century and later rebuilt by King Gaurinarayan still exists as symbol of past glory and indicating high standard of civilization that once prevailed. Lord Krishna is believed to have eloped with Bismak prices Rukmini from this fort of legendary King of Bhismaknagar. The fort under tourism department is totally uncared for now.
Culture & Research Minister Dr Mahesh Chai, when his Attention of was drawn, said that the GoAP was keen to do so but because of fund pauicty.
Moreover, villagers of Lemiking aware of brave Thapa had gone to the ridge after the war and recovered that mortal remains of the martyr to build his memorial in the village. Though Army authorities from their deep slumber to lay wrath on his memorial in 2013 and renovated the memorial in 2017 but BRO Arunank chief engineer S K Tripathy on request by editor of this daily has consented to develop the ride from where occupying a tactical position the jawan had butchered 180 PLA jawans.