Writing slogans for a tourism campaign is not, I imagine, ever an easy task. In Arunachal Pradesh the government has long used “Arunachal Pradesh: Gateway to Serenity” as its core message. Apparently there is a controversial history behind it.
Slogans aside - for better or for worse the tourist industry has never really taken off in the state. Of course, travel to all parts of Arunachal Pradesh is still subject to relatively strict permit regulations that are designed to control the movement of all non-Arunachalis. This means that many casual visitors, particularly domestic tourists, are discouraged from jumping through the necessary bureaucratic hoops. From time-to-time, one does hear murmurs that the permit system will be abolished in the medium-term.
It is an issue on which there will probably remain starkly divided feelings for years to come.
12 responses so far ↓
1 jonfernquest // Mar 3, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Thanks for the link on the “controversial story” behind the tourism slogan that is actually a lot more interesting than the slogan itself.
The other entries in this blog have fascinating photos and narratives:
http://arunachaldiary.blogspot.com/2008/03/construction-of-lapang-and-erection-of.html
2 AG // Mar 3, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Though the state government has off-late started taking initiative to put the state in tourism map of the world by organising ‘Buddha Mahotsava’, ‘Siang River Festival’, ‘Pangsau Pass Festival’ et. al. but as long as there is this entry formalities the inflow of domestic as well as foreign tourist would be low and the tourism industry wouldn’t take off in a way it is/was envisaged by the state government. So, there is the need to review the entry formalities-may be scrap it for good-after all scropulous visitors do manage to get in the state by evading all the entry formalities, nullyfying the purpose for which the entry formalities was adopted. It has only served as a hindrance to genuine visitors to the state.
@jonfernquest,
Thanks for finding the photos and narratives fascinating.
3 Chandan Nugyal // Mar 18, 2008 at 10:25 am
Dear Sir
Why does Arunachal have an Inner Line Regime? Are you not part of India?
So why do other Indians need an Inner Line Permit to visit Arunachal?
Why does a foreigner having an Indian visa need a restricted area / protected area permit?
Do please reply.
Chandan
4 Chandan Nugyal // Mar 18, 2008 at 10:30 am
Why does Arunachal have an Inner Line Regime? Is it not part of India?
So why do Indians need an ILP?
So why does a foreigner with an Indian Visa need a RAP / PAP/
Please respond
Chandan
5 AG // Mar 18, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Dear Chandan,
First I guess, one needs to understand what is meant by ‘Inner Line’ and ‘Outer Line’ in order to know why Arunachal have an Inner Line Regime even though it is an Indian State?
During the British rule, British drew a line along the foot of the hills of now Arunachal Pradesh, which was to be called the “Inner Line” under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. This Inner Line was the line upto which Britishers administered and beyond which no administrative control was there and one needed a permit to go beyond this line.
The ‘Outer Line’ was the International Boundary of the then British India which was not clearly defined and which finally led to the present Indo-China border dispute. For more on the history of Arunachal and the border dispute, I would recommend you to go through this article by Cho.
When India became free, Arunachal (then NEFA) was administered under the Ministry of External Affairs and the Inner Line Permit regime introduced by Britishers’ was carried forward by the Indian government even when NEFA was rechristened as Arunachal Pradesh and made Union Territory of India and later an Indian State-the reasoning being the fear that the tribals of this area would be exploited by the mainland Indians and to allow the tribals to grow in it’s own pace without any external influence-see Nehru’s Philosophy on NEFA here.
Hope I was able to make you understand why an Indian or Foreigner having Indian Visa needs additional permit to visit Arunachal.
6 chandan // May 8, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Today in the space age in the 21st century India still has “Inner Lines”…indeed sad….
It still continues with the legacy of the Raj … despite time having moved on…even after 60 years plus after independence…
So Nehru wanted to create tribal zoos by continuing with the “Inner Line Concept”!!!
The MEA dealt with these belt(s)…so they were not part of India….great ….we do support the Chinese claims & justify many aspirations for breaking away from the Indian Union…
Has the culture of these simple folks survived with:
– Chrisianity & Hinduism creeping in, shouldering out nature worship.
– Hindi-iasation and consequent loss of their languages.
– Dominating influence of visual media.
– Inevitable change with roads, upcoming dams & near total deforestisation.
– Saturation of alchoal bends.
– Massive ongoing presence of security forces?
Please Powers that Be …it is time you erase “Inner Lines”..
Least do away with the massive non productive beaurocracy that is siting plump “managing” inner line, restricted areas & protected areas permits….just have it net processed instantaneously.
Chandan
7 reggie // Sep 5, 2008 at 2:42 am
I worked in AP on a Tea Estate for some time.
The locals are obnoxious after their evening tipple.The inner line permit is full of crap as the gate guys find it an easy way to feather their nests.
However the elders are very loving and caring.
8 atoniya // Oct 12, 2008 at 11:46 pm
i’m a student of lass 9 reading in AP . I have read what chandan have written and i would say that you non arunachalies need ILP cuz if we let you people cover our ancestors land an let you exploit its potential natural resources then our tribe, our language, our culture and heritage and our states natural flora and fauna will be destroyed !
9 Chandan // Oct 21, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Dear Atoniya
I deeply appreciate your sentiments. Tell me how often have you sat down and listened to the tradition and mythology of your people from your elders? What type of school do you attend…a Hindu missionary or Christian missionary? Where have the beautiful forests and wild life of your land gone?
The Chinese have a historical claim over your land. They haven’t given it up. Please continue with your Inner Line system to lend support and strength to their claim.
Which tribe do you belong to? What does it have in common with the other tribes of Arunachal?
How come there are so many Nepalese settled and working in Arunachal? And the Bengalis running your offices? and the Bangladesi servants? and your own Sholung slaves?
I love your land and people but we need to accept that change is inevitable. Your people cannot live in the past forever and are not doing so.
Then why the ILP?
10 Taru // Dec 7, 2008 at 9:48 pm
May be too lately,but its gud see this debate.It was nice clarification on behalf of chandan.But I wonder,how many of indians does know about Arunachal.I m an arunachalee,studying in south.U know!Almost everybody(i mean everybody) tease us as nepali or chini and stare us as we are an alien.
It really sucks.Leave rural people,even some educated urban people doesnt know the existence of arunachal.Only thing we hear about Arunachal is when China claims her.
11 dr y.s.khobragade // Feb 20, 2009 at 3:33 pm
this inner line pass for mainland indians and permit for foreigners is very good system, otherwise mainlanders will not only hinder natural growth of tribals over there but also spoil the ecosystem of beautiful land of arunachal pradesh as
happened in mumbai, goa and delhi
12 AG // Feb 21, 2009 at 4:41 am
For once the ILP and PAP system appears to be a very good system in that the beautiful state and it’s people are allowed to grow in it’s own pace without any external influence. But on a second thought, does it really help the state and her people? Isn’t it hindering the development of the State? The case of point is the post itself which says the tourism industry in the State has never taken off as envisaged due to strict inner-line regime.
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.