Arunachal nominees to work together for Unesco heritage tag

Itanagar: Two places in Arunachal Pradesh, Ziro in Lower Subansiri district and Thembang in West Kameng district, which have been shortlisted for UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites (WHS), have in principle agreed to cooperate and put up a joint effort to achieve the coveted tag.
While Thembang has been shortlisted under the category of “Living Monument Heritage”, Ziro, known for the hospitality of the Apatani tribes, has been shortlisted in the cultural landscape category.
The 15-member Thembang WHS team, under the patronage of parliamentary secretary (hydropower) and Dirang MLA Phurpa Tsering was led by Thembang ZPM Jam Tsering, ASM and gram chairperson of Thembang, women and youth volunteers. The Ziro team comprised volunteers Tilling Takker, Gyati Kacho, AYA president Taku Chatung, Niiti ZPM Tilling Sambyo and Punyo Tangu and Kago Habung. A special invitee and the main resource person was director research Tage Tada.
Acknowledging that Tawang and West Kameng were the main centres of Buddhist culture, Tada advised them not to destroy the age-old Buddhist structures and give them an “aesthetic touch” in case of modernization of Monpa architecture.
He also said an archeological/national heritage act for Thembang already exists, which makes the case of Thembang getting the UNESCO recognition easier.
Appreciating the warm Apatani hospitality, Thembang ZPM Jam Tsering credited the inclusion of Thembang in the tentative list because of the personal contribution of Tada and the research department. He further said inclusion of these two sites from the state out of 55 sites from India is a matter of great pride.
“We should cooperate and work together as nominees from Arunachal Pradesh,” he said. Everyone present supported the move.
Later, the Thembang team was shown the famed Apatani cultural landscape and familiarized with the popular “home stay” culture of Ziro. Both teams agreed to share ideas, cooperate and help each other in promoting tourism in their respective places.
Later at Itanagar, the Thembang team also met research and IPR secretary Dani Sullu, who also assured help to the team in every possible manner to achieve the tag.
Welcoming back the team, Phurpa Tsering said he would make every effort to ensure these two nominations reached Paris within the scheduled date. “As and when needed, we will request the state and the Centre to send the nominations to UNESCO at the earliest. Till that time, I urge both nominees to cooperate and help each other,” he said.