Itanagar: The Indian Army, under Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) and the Vibrant Village Programme, has launched a spiritual tour for 22 senior villagers from West Kameng and Tawang districts in Arunachal Pradesh.
This initiative seeks to promote border area development, cultural preservation, spiritual enlightenment, and national integration.
The tour, which was flagged off on January 10, offers participants, including village headmen and ex-servicemen, with an opportunity to explore beyond their remote villages, thereby fostering socio-cultural ties.
Beginning in New Delhi, the group will explore the World Buddhist Centre and Rashtrapati Bhavan before travelling to Dharamshala and McLeodganj to visit the Kalachakra Temple and Dalai Lama Temple. The journey will culminate in Bodh Gaya, where the participants will experience the spiritual significance of the Mahabodhi Temple and other sacred sites.
Along the way, the group will also visit Tibetan monasteries and Buddhist temples, showcasing India’s rich spiritual diversity and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
This initiative highlights the Indian Army’s unwavering commitment to empowering and uplifting remote communities while strengthening the ideals of unity and national integration.
By reconnecting border villagers with India’s cultural and spiritual heritage, the Army reinforces its role as both a guardian of national security and a catalyst for socio-cultural integration.
Operation Sadbhavana continues to exemplify the Army’s commitment to fostering development, harmony, and national pride through this pioneering initiative. It symbolizes the enduring bond between Arunachal Pradesh’s border regions and the rest of the nation.
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Notably, from building schools, providing healthcare, and developing sports infrastructure to addressing the locals’ concerns, the army, under ‘Operation Sadbhavana, is not only securing the borders but also working for people’s welfare and easing their day-to-day struggles.
In Bene village in the West Siang district of the state, more than 300 km from the capital Itanagar, the army installed fencing around a government school for the safety of the 50 children who study there.
Similarly, the Eastern Command of the army constructed a community centre, gifted swings to government schools and built a fence around one of them in nearby Darka village in the district, paying heed to the requests of the local villagers.
The army, over a period of time, has managed to forge bonds with the local residents.
