Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday visited Nyedar Namlo in Itanagar, a sacred place of worship and community centre associated with the indigenous Donyi-Polo faith of the Nyishi community and other indigenous groups of Arunachal Pradesh.
During his visit, the Vice-President offered prayers at the prayer hall and was briefed on the Nyishi indigenous faith, its beliefs and prayer practices, as well as the Yerko indigenous Gurukul system, traditional knowledge and medicinal practices, and initiatives to promote the mother tongue.
Addressing a community gathering, V-P Radhakrishnan said he felt blessed to visit Nyedar Namlo during his first visit to Arunachal Pradesh. He described the site as a place “where traditions become modern thinking, and modern thinking is not destroying traditions.”
He said Arunachal Pradesh represents India’s unity in diversity, where ancient traditions and modern aspirations coexist. He also praised the people of the state for standing as proud sentinels of India’s territorial integrity.
Highlighting the values of the Donyi-Polo tradition, the Vice-President said its emphasis on nature, truth, harmony and community continues to hold relevance in the modern world. He stressed that development should go hand in hand with the preservation of cultural identity and heritage.
V-P Radhakrishnan appreciated the work of the Nyishi Nyidung Mung-jwng Rallung in documenting and researching indigenous traditions, organising traditional festivals and cultural activities, and preserving customary laws and social values. He said such efforts were making an important contribution to safeguarding the community’s cultural heritage for future generations.
The Vice-President also highlighted the Yerko Gurukul system, describing it as a model for integrating contemporary education with indigenous knowledge. Such an approach, he said, can enable children to take advantage of modern opportunities while remaining connected to their cultural roots.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi”, V-P Radhakrishnan said tribal communities were not merely custodians of India’s past but important partners in building its future. He said the recognition of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas had brought renewed national attention to the invaluable contributions of tribal communities.
He also linked the preservation of indigenous traditions with the spirit of Vocal for Local and Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, emphasising that cultural diversity is an important strength of the nation.
“Preservation of indigenous culture is not about resisting change. It is about ensuring that change does not come at the cost of identity,” the Vice President said.
Calling upon the youth to embrace modern science, technology and global skills while remaining connected to their mother tongue and traditions, V-P Radhakrishnan said India should be modern in its aspirations while remaining deeply rooted in its civilisational and cultural values.
He extended his best wishes to the Nyedar Namlo movement and expressed hope that the sacred site would continue to inspire peace, harmony, respect for nature, social unity and a strong sense of community.
Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Member of Parliament Tai Tagak, Minister for Home and Indigenous Affairs Mama Natung and Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta were among those present on the occasion.
