[ Prem Chetry ]

BOMDILA/TEZPUR, 22 Jun: Tourism veteran Tsering Wange, his better half, Padma Shri awardee Dr Anshu Jamsenpa, and Everester Tongchen Nimsonga from West Kameng district were felicitated by Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, during the 12th International Yoga Day celebration at Meghna Stadium in Tezpur, Assam, on Sunday.

The trio from Arunachal Pradesh were presented with a special military brooch in the presence of Lt Gen VMB Krishnan, General Officer CommandinginChief of the Eastern Command, Lt Gen Neeraj Shukla, General Officer Commanding of Gajraj Corps, and other dignitaries.

Expressing gratitude to the Indian Army, Wange, with more than 25 years of experience in the tourism sector, said the recognition would inspire young people, support education, and strengthen community integration.

He emphasised that the Army has reinforced its role as a catalyst for social cohesion and youth empowerment in remote and strategically important regions.

Wange, who is the president of the North East India Tourism Confederation, highlighted that relations and camaraderie between the Army and civilians have improved significantly over the years, describing it as a positive development.

An alumnus of Sainik School Imphal, he urged more youths from the Northeast to join the Indian Army and serve the nation with pride. He underscored values such as unity, discipline, and resilience as essential for shaping the future generation of this strategically important frontier region.

He also fondly recalled the ‘Army Day At Home’ celebration in New Delhi, held at the invitation of the then Army chief, Gen Manoj Pande, on 26 December, 2022. The event, which was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and several dignitaries from different embassies, reflected the Indian Army’s stature as a pillar of national unity and international goodwill, Wange said.