Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today said that the national educational curriculum has very little mentions about our war heroes and freedom fighters from the North East.
He was speaking at the Purvottar Swabhiman Utsav in Guwahati on the topic ‘Measures to promote greater integration of the North East Region with National Mainstream’.
Lamenting that the national educational curriculum has very little mentions about freedom fighters from the North East, Sangma said, “Towards this, the Government of India has laid focus on promoting stories of our freedom fighters from the region,” Sangma said.
Stating that this will connect our people from the rest of India towards the North East, Sangma said that more stories from the region should be included in the educational curriculum, which will further promote national integration.
He also mooted the idea that from a young age children should be introduced to cultural exchange programmes, so that their vision can be moulded.
Sangma also told the gathering about his visit to Holocaust museum in Israel where the Israeli government ensures that children visit the museum to understand what the Jewish people went through.
“The content of the museum was so powerful that it ensured that the children develop the feeling of patriotism from a very young age,” he added.
Talking about North East and its rich resources which positions the region in a strategic advantage as gateway to Southeast Asia, the Chief Minister stressed on the need for better connectivity between Northeast and Southeast Asia through better road and air connectivity, culture and people to people connect.
“Improved air connectivity to the North East states, with the rest of India and world, will provide the necessary boost to the tourism sector, investments and overall development of the region,” Sangma said.
He further said that proximity of the North East to the international markets makes this region a potentially important base for foreign and domestic investors.
“It is imperative to take necessary steps to integrate the region better with the international markets through India’s Act East policy,” he added.
Advocating that people of North East should also learn about the rest of India, the Chief Minister said, “Not only the people from the rest of India learn about the North East but we from the North East should also learn about the rest of India. It is through cross promotion of our cultures and rich heritage that we can build a vibrant India and a country that is inclusive.”
He also mooted an idea that if MPs from different parts of the country make a joint road trip and visit several places throughout the nation, which is documented on cameras and projected, will go a long way in ensuring that people get to learn about the country, its people and its diversity.
He also spoke at length on political will and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it mandatory for a central minister to visit different parts of the North East.
Sangma said that the move is very important as ministers from the Government of India are getting first hand information about the region, which is enabling the formulation of better policies and its implementation.
The event was organised as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army to celebrate the contribution of the North East in nation building.
