ITANAGAR: Chief Minister Pema Khandu and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti inaugurated “The Hump WWII Museum” in Pasighat, East Siang district, making it the second museum in Asia dedicated to the fallen airmen of the Allied forces during World War II.
The inaugural ceremony witnessed the two dignitaries commemorating the occasion with gratitude and recognition of shared history.
Ambassador Garcetti remarked, “We come here today not just to mark history but to make history. To see the ways with which each one of us is called not just to witness the past but to do something to change the future.”
Expressing heartfelt appreciation, Ambassador Garcetti thanked the Indian government, the Arunachal Pradesh government, and the museum team, led by its Director Oken Tayeng.
He highlighted that the museum was a gift not only to Arunachal Pradesh but to India and the world.
Highlighting the historical ties between the United States and Arunachal Pradesh, Garcetti acknowledged the immense support received from the people of the state during WWII.
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He stated, “Such human values bind the two countries together in friendship.”
Chief Minister Pema Khandu welcomed Ambassador Garcetti and his delegation, portraying the museum as a tribute from the people of Arunachal Pradesh to the fallen heroes of WWII.
Khandu emphasized the importance of preserving history and expressed optimism that the museum would remind younger generations of the Allied forces’ valour in defending democracy and freedom.
Acknowledging the remnants of WWII aircraft scattered across approximately 30 locations, Khandu urged the US ambassador to facilitate exploration and retrieval of these remnants, assuring full support from the state government.
Ambassador Garcetti also conveyed the United States’ commitment to its friendship with India and shared plans for enhanced cooperation, including a meeting between NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and top space officials of India.
He disclosed that NASA would facilitate an Indian to be a part of space exploration from its station in the US this year.
The museum’s theme resonates with the historical “Hump” air route, where Allied forces flew from Assam to Yunnan in China, navigating challenging terrains.
The pilots nicknamed the route “The Hump”, symbolising their daring flights through deep gorges and towering mountains.
In 2016-17, the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency deployed a team to search for the remains of unaccounted-for US airmen, approximately 400 of whom are believed to be missing in India, with most remains thought to be located in the Himalayan mountains, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh.
