New Delhi, Dec. 1: Arunachal Pradesh is seeking one of its ?roots? in Thailand. Chief minister Gegong Apang, who led a five-member delegation from the state to the Southeast Asian country recently, is keen to re-establish the ties that bind the two peoples.
The state delegation has returned with ?requests? from a Buddhist association in Thailand willing to tour the hill-state.
?The members of the Thai organisation have expressed their willingness to visit our state. This will open the doors for cultural interaction between the two peoples who have similar customs, but separated by political barriers,? Apang said after his return from Bangkok.
He said a formal invitation to the monks in Thailand would be sent shortly.
Rev. Pharpisantathatathom of Thavornchittathavaro-Wongmalai Foundation of Thailand had invited the state delegation including two ministers.
Besides participating in a meditation programme there, they also attended the Pravarana Mela, an annual festival of Buddhists held after the end of the rainy season.
The Tai community, which is believed to have originated from one clan, began spreading to countries of Southeast Asia from China in the 13th century after invasion of Thailand by Kublai Khan.
Some of them entered the northeastern region and settled in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
As of now, the Khamti tribe in Lohit district of the state is representative of the Tai culture, with similarities in the language, religion and customs. The Ahoms of Assam are another group that originated from the clan in China.
Apang?s efforts may prove to be a booster for the tourism industry in the state, which has immense potential but lacks an effective marketing policy.
?In fact, apart from establishing the cultural linkage, the other benefit could be in terms of the tourist inflow which the region so badly needs,? a senior official of the state administration said.
Citing the example of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the official said the states earn an annual income of around Rs 360 crore from the visit of tourists and the donation by various foundations to the Buddhist institutions.
?Arunachal Pradesh could in fact surpass these states in terms of the tourist inflow, both on account of the rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty,? he said.
Apart from Tawang, which is the second oldest monastery in the world, the state has a plethora of Buddhist temples hardly known to the outside world.
The chief minister said monks and scholars from other countries have also shown interest in the state?s Buddhist culture. ?We know of scholars from London who are interested to travel to our state,? he claimed.
The state government has also petitioned Delhi to liberalise the Restricted Area Permit regime for the state. Foreign tourists need the permits to visit the border state.