Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Tuesday inaugurated the newly-established ‘Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko’, an indigenous tribal tradition and cultural school, at Mwya village in Lower Subansiri district in the presence of Education, Cultural, and Indigenous Affairs Minister Taba Tedir and MLA cum advisor (Home, Tax, & Excise) Nyamar Karbak and others.
“The Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko will play a major role in the preservation and promotion of Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous culture and traditions. The school is aimed at providing quality education to the tribal children in an environment that respects and promotes their culture, language, and traditions,” the Deputy Chief Minister said in his address to the gathering on the occasion.
“It is heartening to see such efforts undertaken for the preservation of our culture and language, as the school will serve as a platform for the tribal children to learn and understand their cultural roots outside of the normal classroom setting. It is our vision to see our children carry forward the rich heritage of the state,” Mein wrote on his official Twitter handle.
He also said that the government of Arunachal Pradesh is making every effort to establish more gurukuls and heritage centres for the preservation of our indigenous value systems across the state.
Lauding the efforts of the local community in setting up the school, the deputy chief minister, in his speech, urged the locals to take full advantage of the school to ensure that the rich heritage of the state is preserved for future generations. He also emphasised that “every child should learn about their cultural heritage from a young age and that “every Gurukul in the state should be a centre of learning where traditional values and ethos are taught.”
In the same line, he advised the school’s faculty to provide modern education in addition to knowledge of indigenous culture and heritage.
Such learning centres should adopt efficient mechanisms that incorporate both the NCERT syllabus and rich cultural heritage and literature so that their students not only grow up to become doctors and engineers but are also well equipped with traditional knowledge for becoming Nyubu (priests) or taking up any other indigenous role in society if they choose the path.
Mein went on to say that the teaching of third languages in public schools should be monitored, and that it should be introduced in private schools as well, so that future generations can speak fluently in their native tongue without mixing it up with other languages.
Mein assured to provide Rs 1 crore as grant-in-aid for Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko, Mywa, besides giving the assurance to facilitate grant-in-aid to all the indigenous teaching schools of the state and to enhance grant-in-aid for Donyi Polo Charitable Society.
Education Minister Taba Tedir, MLA Karbak, Nyishi Elite Society (NES) president Prof. Tana Showren, Indigenous Faith & Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP) president Katung Wahge, and chairman, Nyubu NyvgamYerko, Mywa, and Likha Tongum, also spoke on the occasion.
