The white pigeon symbolising peace being released during the second day of Changki–Tai Ahom Cultural Connect at Changki on February 10.
Morung Express News
Changki | February 10
“Let us write in golden letters in the annals of our history that today we make this pact of brotherhood and friendship that will stand the test of time,” stated Nagaland MLA and Advisor for Transport & Technical Education, Temjenmenba Pongen, calling upon the Tai Ahom and Changki communities to uphold peace, unity and shared responsibility across borders.
Addressing the second day of the Changki–Tai Ahom Cultural Connect at Changki on February 10, Pongen urged both communities to act as first responders during times of tension.
“It is not time to fight among ourselves for artificial boundaries. Let us be the harbingers of peace to the communities living across our borders,” he said, emphasising that the legacy left by the forefathers must guide present and future generations.
Referring to historical ties between the Tai Ahom and the Ao Naga, Pongen recalled accounts of trust and cooperation passed down through oral tradition. He cited the gifting of boatloads of salt by a Tai Ahom King to Changki villagers as an example of deep-rooted friendship, stating that “trust and friendship can only be earned” over time.
He also noted that Ahom royals had taken refuge in Changki during periods of crisis, reflecting the confidence and faith placed in the village.
Meanwhile, President of Ao Senden, Marsanen Imsong held that the gathering was not about creating a new narrative but restoring an existing one.
“We are not here to invent a new history, but to clear the weeds from the ancient path that our ancestors walked long ago,” he said, adding that the relationship between the two communities was built on shelter, trade and matrimonial ties rather than conflict.
“Our history is written not merely in ink, but in blood and relationships,” Imsong added, stressing that unity does not mean the loss of identity, but respect for differences while working together.
Prince of Tai Ahom, Rajkumar Alok Narayan Singha, meanwhile, stated that the Ao Naga hold a special place in Tai Ahom history.
“Our two communities have largely lived in peaceful harmony, with no record of major conflict,” he said, adding that freedom of movement, mutual refuge and cultural exchange defined the relationship.
He underscored the collective responsibility to carry forward the legacy of unity, with Changki standing as a witness to the enduring bond between the two peoples.
The second day event also included cultural presentations and an overview of the historical relationship between the Ahom and the Ao Naga by Padma Shri awardee and Tai Ahom historian Prof Jogendra Nath Phukan.
Earlier in the day, a ‘Testament of Friendship’ monolith was inaugurated at Changki to mark the enduring relationship between the Tai Ahom and the Changki Ao Nagas.
It also included a community feast, followed by a seminar on social and trade relations between the Tai Ahom and Changki communities in contemporary times.
The evening session featured a traditional bonfire, live music and a unity dance.
The Cultural Connect will conclude on February 11 with a trek to the Tai Ahom King Swargado Gadadhar Singha’s shelter site at Tzusasa, Changki.
