A Naga clan that helped to build historic Stilwell Road during WWII
Celebrated Ahuna, a post-harvest festival, with a message of peace
IH News Desk
REGIONAL, November 16, 2024: The Upper Assam Sumi Community Leaders, Church Leaders and community members celebrated Ahuna, a post-harvest festival in Arunachal Pradesh, Saturday. The event, organised by Sumi villages in areas beyond Nagaland, highlighted the hard work and dedication of the Sümi community.
This community was placed in the territory by the British in 1882 and was recruited by the Assam Railway and Trading Company Limited. They worked in the Digboi Oil Refinery, participated in the Anglo-Abor war and helped construct the historic Stilwell Road (1726 Km) during World War II.
The first village, Longtong (Atuphu), was established in 1904, and eight more villages were established before Indian Independence. Despite surviving without basic needs such as roads, electricity, schools and healthcare for a long time, the Sumi community's sacrifices enabled the celebration of the Ahuna Festival.
Guests at the event encouraged the Sümi community to maintain peaceful co-existence and serve as ambassadors of peace for the Nagas and Sümi people in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
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