They are not the contestants in the greatest event of the nation’s democratic life, nor they are a part of ECI, the most respected public institution of the country. Yet, they are very much a part of the festival of democracy in this part of the land. They are the porters of Arunachal Pradesh, the unsung heroes in truest sense who ensure the unstoppable march of democracy, year in, year out.
The news about them and their indispensability in making the election process happen in quite a large number of pockets in Arunachal have caught the focus of country’s mainstream media and have startled many a democratic mind. Amid the high pitch of rhetoric and free flow of innuendos all across, which sometimes are boring , this atypical news have stirred the emotions of many, who must have also completed the act of thanksgiving by now, albeit silently.
The word porter invariably conjures up a picture of a red shirt clad man in a railway station premises carrying unbelievable chunks of load. The Arunachal version of a porter and his life is different from his ‘man in red’ counterpart, since the settings are largely dissimilar. There are mountains, jungles, snakes and all imaginable difficulties, making the going arduous and perilous manifold.
The Britishers gave them a more refined title - Auxiliary Labour Corps (ALCs) and although they are now in limelight due to the paramount roles they are about to play for April 11 & May 23 showdowns, their relevancy transcends well beyond this. For transporting public distribution system materials, for opening of new administrative centres, for supplementing rescue initiatives during natural calamities or for carrying ration items dropped by choppers to CPO godowns, there are no vehicular logistical support. The services of these indefatigable porters are sine qua non for getting things done.
It would also be a crime if we fail to recognize their patriotic contributions in augmenting national security which largely go unreported. Very recently in January last year, it transpired that road construction machines from China had entered the Line of Actual Control in Bishing village in Upper Siang district. It might have snowballed into something major, but the timely tip-off from a porter who brought it to the notice of security apparatus saved the day for the nation.
Who could also forget their contribution in 1962 Sino-Indian war, a saga of bravery& belligerence, all for nation’s sake. Jawans would have starved and militarily paralysed if the porters hadn’t transported rations and ammunition to the hill-top forward posts.
Elections will end and they will be forgotten. It’s time to have a break from this pattern and give a little more regard they deserve-the unsung sentinels of the world’s largest democracy.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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