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JAIRAMPUR, Changlang, Arunachal Pradesh
Are you a botanist? Or may be you simply like trekking !! Well!! Jairampur-Nampong-Manmao triangle is a unrivalled repository of many of the world�s most sought after range of orchids. Enjoy the thrill of trekking these blooming orchids acclaimed worldwide by Botanists. May be watching 500 different species of birds in the woods would enthuse you better!! If you are a historian, you could wander along Gen Stillwell road of Second World War fame until you come face to face with mysterious�Lake of No Return� across Pangsu Pass.
People: Unassuming yet intelligent, with enduring beauty, gifted with talents, hospitable to the core and merged with the nature, the people of the triangle are Tikhaks and Pangwas sub tribes of Tangsa which is one of the prominent major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. They are of Mongloid descent who migrated from erstwhile Burma (Myanmar).Traditionally they are believers of Bon faith which is characterized by spirit and open air animal sacrifice. However, over the years many have become followers of Buddhism and Christianity. Agriculturist by occupation, the place and serenity of their land are imbued with beautiful and friendly people of the area. Despite hard life in hills and mountains they lead an enviable colorful social life free of caste/creed conflict that prevails in other so-called more advanced societies. Free from Caste conflict, easy social mix amongst have and have not, collective help to those in need, unity of efforts, freedom of action for all and respect and regards to elders are pillars of social foundation.While keeping pace with modernization in all aspects of life, people generally prefer handloom over fashionable clothes. Experts in handicrafts particularly in wood carving, about 14,875(Census 2001) inhabitants of the area relish traditional nonspicy food which is the secret of their energetic and glowing good health. Being part of nature, preservation of their rich natural treasures and conservation of Biodiversity is their way of life. Main source of income are agricultural, horticulture, Pisci culture, animal husbandry and other forest products. Present day environmental pollution and ecological degradation is inimical to their culture.
Lake of No Return : The famous � Lake of No Return� is just 15 Kms away from the beautiful hill Station of Nampong across Pangsu pass on Myanmar side. The legend has it that during World War II, The Allied forces used the lake for soft emergency landing and in the course of this many aircrafts and their crews perished into the lake. Hence the name, �Lake of No Return�.
Stillwell Road : In early part of 1942 during world war II, the Japanese occupied Burma and the Allied Army was driven to India (Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur).Consequently battles of Kohima and Imphal are famous in military history. Chiang kai Sak �s Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) Army was a major force fighting against the Japanese following latter�s invasion of mainland China. Thus, KMT Army became a natural ally of the Allied forces. South East Asiatic Command headed by Admiral Lord Mountbatten was formed to drive the Japanese out of the region. The Allies consisting of Chinese Nationalist forces to the North, the American and British forces to the south had their tasks clearly cut out. Field marshal Slim of British Army the commander of the famed 14th Army was responsible for Southern then Burmese sector while the American General Stillwell was responsible for northern Burmese sector .His responsibility also included supplying war like materials to KMT forces whose weapons and equipments were comparatively obsolete. While Field Marshal Slim trained the 14th Army at the present day MHOW (Military Headquarters of war) in Madhya Pradesh because of similarity in jungle environment in MHOW and Burma, Gen Stilwell was busy in constructing landing grounds in upper Assam namely at Ledo, Dinjan, Doom Dooma and Misamari etc .The objective was to maintain a continous chain of supply to KMT army across Patkai ranges to Northern Burma and Chinese Yunan Province. Due to extremely difficult nature of terrain across which the air operation was maintained, it was called, �Hump Route�. Maintaining a major force by air can only be for a short term and in long run it is not militarily and economically sustainable. With this perception in view, Gen Stillwell commenced construction of a road from Ledo through Jairampur, Nampong across Pangsu Pass. Ultimate objective was to link it with Chinese Yunan Province. He made considerable progress in the road construction. However, Field Marshall Slim drove the Japanese out of Burma through combination of land, air borne and sea borne operations. Thus Stillwell road construction came to a halt. The roadwork, which started in April 1942 with a length of 1079 miles, was completed by Oct 1944. The road connected many important places between Ledo in Assam and Kunming in China. While 36 miles fall in India, 646 and 397 miles fall in Myanmar and China respectively. Kunming was linked by Railway to Chinese Nationalist Capital of Chunking. After the war India and Burma became independent of British rule. Mao�s Communists China drove out Chiang Kai Sak�s Nationalist China to Formosa (Taiwan). Due to new political equations in the region this famous road was consigned to history rather than progressing it for the benefit of the area and commerce in the region. History now is being reversed.
World War II Cemetery : During the construction of Stillwell road many laborers from China, Burma and India were engaged. They were also engaged as non-combatants by the Allied forces for various jobs such as building camps, clearing jungles etc. Besides laborers there were fighting soldiers. Patkai range in Indo Burma border is one of the most difficult of terrains in the region. Apart from ground and air action, a heavy toll of human lives was taken by various jungle and water borne diseases like malaria, dysentery, snake bites and other various calamities such as flood, landslides and forest fire. Like in all wars,casualties are evacuated by air and land route depending upon the degree of seriousness. Base Hospitals were set up by Allies at Ledo and adjoining places. Possibly, mortal remains of aforesaid casualties were buried in the cemetery. Many of them were Chinese Nationals whose resilience for survival in these tropical forests was much less. The Cemetery located on Stillwell road at Lal Pul today is a major tourist attraction of National fame.
Changlang District
Arunachal Pradesh
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