Arunachal Pradesh: People unhappy after Bomdila Pass ‘renamed’ as Hawa More

Speaking to Northeast Live, a group of professors of the Government College in Bomdila expressed displeasure as they highlighted the importance of Bomdila Pass

By Prem Chettry

If one speaks about Arunachal Pradesh, the name of Bomdila Pass definitely crosses one’s mind. Considered to be a strategic location, the Pass at an altitude of 8,748 feet above the sea level carries a lot of social, cultural and historical significance for the people of the state.

But the renaming of the Bomdila Pass by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) as Hawa More does not seem to have gone down well with the people of Bomdila who have expressed dissatisfaction over this.
The civil society in Bomdila has expressed serious concerns over the matter after the 91 RCC of the BRO set up a sign board reading “Hawa More” instead of Bomdila Pass.

Speaking to Northeast Live, a group of professors of the Government College in Bomdila expressed displeasure as they highlighted the importance of Bomdila Pass and it’s name which is deeply connected to the hearts and emotions of the people.

Tashi Dorjee, Assistant Professor of Geography sharing his thoughts said, “We have been discussing this about the renaming of Bomdila Pass to Hawa More, we are not at all happy with this for the reasons best known to everybody. Our identity is connected to Bomdila Pass. We had submitted a representation to the Commandant 14 BRTF, GREF in Tenga Valley so that they change their nomeclature of Hawa More and reinstate the name to Bomdila Pass. Or at least they can keep the local names. This is our suggestion but everything depends on the higher authorities.”

Sonam Togey, who is an assistant professor in History at the Bomdila government college said,”Bomdila Pass is historically important, whether it is in terms of trade routes, it is also connected to the military aspects if we speak about the 1962 war (with China). Bomdila Pass has a lot of significance in history. It is also important in terms of religious activity (for Buddhism). The exile which took place in 1958-60s happened through this route. It will be good if the name Bomdila Pass is used rather than Hawa More.”

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