Arunachal Pradesh is the farthest state in the North-Eastern region and It is a treasure house of hidden places, tucked away in the northeastern tip of India. There are numerous small and hidden territories in the region. According to the Government of India's data, there are 1,555 villages in border fences, administrative units that are smaller than districts in Arunachal Pradesh. These small settlements are located at ranging distances from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which is supposed to confine the boundary between India, China and Myanmar. And in recent years, the Indian Air Force has inaugurated a newly resurfaced runway at the easternmost village named Vijaynagar or Vijoynagar in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Vijaynagar is the remotest territory in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Its local name is ‘Daudi’, which is called by the Lisu or Yobin people. According to the 2011 Census, Vijaynagar's population was 4,438. It is a cluster of around 16 villages including Ramnagar, Chididi, Daragaon, Hazlolo and many more. This remotest territory is not connected by roads and thus, the major mode of transport to Vijaynagar is helicopters only. Nearby cities to Vijaynagar are Miao which is 157 km, Hayuliang and Tezu in India and Putao with 40 km is the nearest city in Myanmar.

Vijaynagar is a unique place for numerous reasons. This place was discovered by the Assam Rifles Paramilitary Force during an expedition named ‘Srijit II’ in 1961. This expedition went on under the leadership of Major General AS Guraya, IG of Assam Rifles and the valley was named by AS Guraya after his son ‘Vijay’. It was an unexplored valley without India-Myanmar border declaration at that time. And after the Srijit II expedition, around 200 Gorkha families of ex-servicemen of Assam Rifles were inducted in this remote area on the line of duty through a settlement scheme. The border conclusion was administered in 1972 after the completion of settlement of Assam Rifles families in multiple batches. The strategy was to settle the servicemen who would retire by 1971 and remain in the valley for years to come. Accordingly, the absolute objective of colonising the region was to assure protection and resilience in the remotest border part of India.

Vijaynagar is surrounded by Myanmar on three sides, and its fourth side comprises spans of Namdapha National Park. The entire region is rich with various flora and fauna and holds the possibility of becoming a major tourist hotspot. The Namdapha park lies at the International border between India and Myanmar within Changlang district. It is the only park in the world to have the four Feline species of big cat namely the tiger, leopard, snow leopard, and clouded leopard. The Hoolock Gibbons are the only ‘ape’ species found in India, and they are also found in the Namdapha National Park.

Tribes like Yobin and Gorkha inhabit the land of Vijaynagar. The Yobins have adopted Christianity and they remain close to nature. Yobins meet the daily necessities of life through agriculture produces. Some Mizo families are residing in this area, but the Yobins are the indigenous inhabitants of Vijaynagar, and the Gorkhas, which are the ex-servicemen were settled here by the Government of India to strategically dominate the Vijaynagar area as it was no man's land. At the time of their settlement, the families of ex-servicemen were taken in good health and confidence to a place that had no roads, electricity, communication tracks, or school and instead had a dense forest. The Indian government promised these soldiers that they will be given 50 acres of land, but instead, they got only 11 acres. Since then, the soldiers and their families have been working in various farming activities. A few decades have passed to this unusual settlement concept, but the situation of Vijaynagar has not changed yet.

The families who settled in this place were promised of adequate services, but today they have lost every hope. People have no option left but to live with limited resources and double expenses. It is not just about the prices of essential food items like salt and sugar, which costs around Rs 200 per kilogram, but even when they have to make calls from local PCO's, it charges them Rs 3 to 5 per minute. However, when urban industries of India are planning to launch 5G services, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched its 2G services in this area in August 2020.

The per-day income of the people out here is just Rs 200 and they buy goods at Rs 150 per kg, and nearly every commodity is charged thrice it's maximum retail price. The medical facilities are similarly not reasonable, and the nearest hospital is 200km away and the patients can reach their only via airways. The Assam Rifles provide constant help to these people. However, pregnant or ill patients have to either wait or meet death. Education is similarly a huge problem because there is just one primary school which charges Rs 500 per student and sometimes even teaches for free only to serve for a social cause to society.

Even after so many issues, life in Vijaynagar is incredibly peaceful. However, lack of communication and invasion of outsiders sometimes make things uncertain. Recently, violence erupted in Vijaynagar from the people who were furious at Panchayati Raj provisions being extended to ex-Assam Rifles personnel and it also included the demand for removal of outsiders from the Vijaynagar.

This unharmed place is a land-locked area, but it is still strategically very significant to India, in terms of the nation's security. As India has adopted the Look East Policy, this place is incredibly crucial because of its proximity in Myanmar. India needs Vijaynagar to counter China's influence in Myanmar and nearby border areas. It is also a powerhouse of establishing various flora and fauna reservations, and it can be easily developed into a major tourist hotspot. However, a large amount of negligence of our nation towards such significant part needs to change, so that a place like Vijaynagar and it's people can live a more comfortable life, just like all of us.

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Reference:

• www.changlang.nic.in
• www.arunachaltimes.in
• www.wikipedia.com