Editor,
There are moments when a person is forced to stop and ask a simple question: why can't this happen every day?
I had one such moment recently.
Arunachal Pradesh takes great pride in its hospitality. We believe in Atithi Devo Bhava - the guest is like god. We welcome visitors warmly and take pride in showing them the beauty of our state. But somewhere along the way, perhaps we have forgotten an equally important thing - what about the people who live here every day?
The recent visit of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan to Arunachal brought this thought to mind. With an important dignitary visiting the state, roads were cleaned, drainage was attended to, and public spaces were properly maintained. Seeing the difference was encouraging - but honestly, it was also surprising.
Why does it take the visit of an important person for our surroundings to receive this level of attention?
Consider the roads around Naharlagun and the wider capital region. For ordinary commuters, poor roads, potholes, drainage problems, dust and waterlogging are not occasional inconveniences. They are part of everyday life. A student travelling to college, a patient going to a hospital, or a worker travelling to work does not have the luxury of waiting for a VIP visit before the road becomes usable.
And yet, we have also seen what happens when there is urgency.
The preparations for the Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League in Yupia provide an interesting example. The level of commitment shown on the ground was noticeable. Engineers, contractors and workers were putting in long hours, even working late into the night, to ensure that the venue and related arrangements were completed properly.
It made me wonder: if we can work with such urgency for an important event, why can't the same spirit be applied to the basic infrastructure that people depend on every day?
This is not about blaming one department or one individual. It is about the larger culture of development.
Arunachal certainly needs development, but development should not become something we display only when an important guest arrives. It should become a continuous process. Perhaps there is also a role for the Centre. I would make a simple request to union ministers and senior officials: visit Arunachal regularly, perhaps once a year, and travel beyond official venues. See our towns, roads and villages. See the conditions in which ordinary people travel and live.
Such visits should not be necessary for basic work to happen. But they can bring attention to problems that otherwise remain unnoticed at the highest levels.
The people of Arunachal deserve the same standard. They deserve good roads when no VIP is coming. They deserve clean drains when no convoy is passing.
Our hospitality should remain our strength. But perhaps Atithi Devo Bhava should not mean that only the guest receives our best roads, clean surroundings and attention.
Karto Ete