Smt. Indira Gandhi whose Birth Anniversary fell on 19th November is the lady of millennium. She was known all over the world and admired by one and all for her dynamic leadership qualities and also for her concern for the poor and the downtrodden. She dedicated her life for the upliftment of the people of the country. She had great attachment to the people of North East and showed genuine concern for their development and welfare.

People of Arunachal, from where I come, have happy memories of Smt. Indira Gandhi's many visits to the state. They recall her wearing local dresses and easily mixing and dancing with people. It was during her tenure as Prime Minister that Arunachal Pradesh became Union territory and later upgraded to a full-fledged State by her son Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

It is not only Arunachal Pradesh but the entire North East which received special attention from the Nehru-Gandhi family. Grant of statehood to Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya was the result of deep knowledge of the people of North East and their aspiration by the family. The special attention they had for the region and the contribution they made towards the political and economic development of the area is still fresh in the hearts of the people of the region.

I recall Indiraji's visit to NEFA (now Arunachal Pradesh) during Chinese aggression in 1962. She went all over Arunachal Pradesh assuring people that the territory will get all help. She knew my father and many tribal families. I met her as a young girl at Pasighat. I attended the AICC Congress session in 1974. I was appointed as first Mahila Congress President in Arunachal Pradesh. She nominated me for Rajya Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh Congress party in 1984.

Her premature death shocked everyone all over the North East. I was assigned the responsibility of immersing her ashes in Dikrong River in Arunachal Pradesh. People's love for her was evident during the recent visit of our Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi to Arunachal Pradesh.

People had tears in their eyes when they saw the resemblance between Soniaji and Indiraji. Soniaji looked graceful in Tribal dresses, spoke Hindi in the same accent and emotion as Indiraji and mingled with the people. Soniaji, was mobbed as people wanted to have a closer look and shake hands with her. Older people who had seen Indiraji were reminded of her and recalled her services to the State of Arunachal Pradesh and the love and affection she had for the people. I am confident that Soniaji will accomplish all the perceptions of Indiraji and Rajivji to build up modern India.