Chiru Students' Union Golden Jubilee begins in Cachar with cultural grandeur

The 17th session of the Chiru Students’ Union (CSU) and its Golden Jubilee celebration commenced on January 27 at Budun Chiru village in Assam’s Lakhipur Assembly constituency. The Chiru tribe, an indigenous community of Manipur and Assam, is spread across just 13 villages nationwide, with Budun Chiru or Chiru Punjee being the sole Chiru settlement in Assam.

Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev attended the event as the chief guest, alongside dignitaries such as CSU founder Pu Alor Thoithak, its founding President Pu M.S. Neichang, and Namadin Kamai, the Lakhipur Block president of the Trinamool Congress. The celebrations began with a flag-hoisting ceremony led by Dev, followed by vibrant performances of traditional Chiru folk songs and dances by the community.

A football tournament was also inaugurated at the village playground, which was developed with ₹4.10 lakh from the Social, Cultural, Education, and Sports Development Trust established by the late Santosh Mohan Dev, a former MP and father of Sushmita Dev. Dev emphasised the need for government attention to the challenges faced by the Chiru community, such as inadequate drinking water, poor roads, and lack of electricity. She also lauded the talent of the community’s youth, particularly in football, promising to advocate for better infrastructure and opportunities.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Sushmita Dev said, “I am so happy to say that people from far-flung areas of Manipur have travelled 12 to 14 hours to take part in this conference and celebration here in Cachar. This conference is for a micro ST community. There are probably less than 10,000 people, and in our valley, there are hardly 500 families. These people have problems with potable drinking water, electricity is an issue, and also the road. I have been visiting the Chiru Punjee area for two years now, and I have seen that in the rainy season, the road gets blocked.”

She added, “Those who say ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ need to see this community and treat them with importance as well. There are some fantastic footballers from this community, and they must be given the opportunity to play. If not, their talent goes to waste simply. I assure them any help they need. I will try to get them the road and electricity as per their demands.”

CSU founder Pu Alor Thoithak expressed gratitude for Dev’s contributions, saying, “This is the biggest playground in our community, and we thank her. It was her thought and goodwill that made this football ground possible. Her late father, too, was a lover of this game. This marks the 50th year of the establishment of this union. We have got contributions from all communities, and people from Manipur’s different districts and far-flung areas have come to take part in this. We are proud of being a microscopic Scheduled Tribe, and many people are suffering. We look forward to getting the attention of the government for this small community’s upgradation.”

The five-day session, showcasing the cultural and sporting spirit of the Chiru tribe, has brought together participants from neighbouring regions, reflecting the unity and pride of this small yet resilient community.