Tawang: Dr. Sanjeev Chopra, Senior Fellow of the Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) and ex-Director ofLal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, called on the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Pema Khandu and briefed him about his research on the life and times of Padma Shri Major Bob Khathing. Chopra presented him his book ‘We The People of the States of Bharat:The Making and Remaking of India’s Internal Boundaries’. The two held wide ranging discussions on administrative reforms and governance, with special focus on the integrated and sustainable development policy for the mountain states.
It bears recall that when Chopra was the Director of the LBSNAA, he had proposed the training of civil servants from Arunachal Pradesh at the Indira Bhawan campus of the Academy under the auspices of the National Centre for Good Governance. Mr. Pema Khandu expressed his keen interest in reviving the partnership between the Arunachal government and the NCGG.
Mr. Khandu was appreciative of Chopra’s efforts in writing the detailed biography of Major Bob Khathing who was instrumental in getting Tawang and forward areas like Bun La as per the McMahon Line, signed in 1914 between India and Tibet back within the territorial framework of India. Mr. Khandu has played a salient role in the development of the Major Bob Khathing Museum at Tawang. Mr. Khandu also asked Chopra to conceptualise and plan an academic/literary and cultural programme at Tawang on the themes of Himalayan ecology and environment. Chopra complimented the CM for organizing the Deputy Commissioners’ conference, where officers were encouraged to share their views on development in a frank and forthright manner.
Chopra was accompanied by the DC of Twang Ms. Angmo Namgyal mentored by him as the Director of LBS National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie. Ms. Namgyal apprised him about the various development initiatives in Tawang, including universal access to health, education and financial inclusion. The government was very keen to encourage eco– friendly ‘home stays’ to ensure that Tawang emerged as a major destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.
