Indigenous people’s day observed

Churachandpur, Aug 11 : The Indigenous People`s Day was observed at Synod Hall located at Churachandpur’s IB Road yesterday from 1.30 pm in a huge and impressive function organised for the purpose.

The function was attended by all leaders of students` organisation based at Churachandpur, mothers` associations apart from senior citizens. The programme was organised by the Zomi Human Rights Foundation, ZHRF.

The main speaker of the observation, Zamlian Ngaihte said the culture of the indigeneous people has been on the verge of extinction due to their inability to have political autonomy.

Dwelling on main topics of the observation, Zamlian leader of the ZHRF said they have their own God given culture which is much better than all other cultures, but that was endangered due largely to proper safeguards and are either merged or assimilated to others.

He said `it is not bad to emulate cultures of others which are good but is unwise to wholly copy them for it led to the loss of their pristine values.

On the occasion there was a show of many traditional practises like music, sports and others. The most sought after and eye pleasing show was music by one Jamkholun, a lover and preserver of old age musical instruments of the tribals.

He said there are 12 musical instruments which they have but only two have been shared with others, adding the rest 10 are purely used by them and are necessary to preserve.

Later, a declaration and pledge of the people was read out by Siamzading Valte, an advocate, pertaining to maintaining and preserving the rights and privileges of the people which those gathered affirmed by raising their hands.