NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Dec 10 - Emphasising on the immediate eradication of superstitions among the Mising community, the 14th annual session of Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK), the All Mising Students� Union, was organised at Dhakuwakhona recently.
The four-day annual event was held at Charu Chandra Doley Kshetra in Bokulguri, Dhakuwakhona, in Lakhimpur district from December 3 to 6. The session began with the inauguration of the delegate�s camp on the first day.
The session began formally on December 4 with hoisting of the flag by Naresh Kumbang, the president of the central committee of the TMPK. In his inaugural speech, he said that the student organisation was formed not for securing the political autonomy of the Mising community, but for the creation of a progressive and democratic society by retaining the unique traditional culture of the community.
He also said that the TMPK�s success would be achieved if they could unite the differences among the sons of the soil and sustain a healthy inclusive society. After the flag hoisting ceremony, rich tributes were paid to the community people who made sacrifices during the Freedom Struggle of the country like Boga Medak, Naresh Taid, Anjana Pegu, Sailen Pegu etc.
Prominent environmentalist Sanjay Basu Mallik of Jharkhand participated in a symposium organised to mark the session. Addressing the people, he spoke on the threat posed by mega dams. He opposed the proposed construction of big dams on rivers and also criticised the corporates for destroying the lives of tribal populations of the country by starting big hydro power projects.
On the third day of the session, a delegate�s meeting was held under the chairmanship of Naresh Kumbang. On that occasion, the president of Mising Sahitya Sabha, Dr Jawahar Jyoti Kuli, stressed the importance of eradicating age-old superstitions and religious dogmatism from the Mising community for their march towards progress.
He asked the leadership of the TMPK to initiate steps to end superstitions affecting the community. The meeting was attended by Paramananda Chayengiya, Chairman of Mising Autonomous Council and TMPK secretary Sonadhar Patir. Former Jonai MLA Bhuban Pegu delivered a lecture on Right to Education.
On the fourth day, an open session was held which was presided over by Naresh Kumbang. The advisor of the AASU, Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya, attended the session as the chief guest. In his speech, he appealed to the TMPK to work for the promotion and uplift of the mother tongue in schools from pre-primary level. He also laid stress on better cooperation among all the student organisations of various ethnic groups of the State for protecting their rights and existence of the indigenous people.
