AYIMA, May 17, 2021: It was the month of April, the year 2021, a season of freshness, hope and new lease of life. Though ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic with all its gargantuan challenges to mankind, the world witnessed the dawn of an opportunity like never before to be happy and hopeful together. ‘Can you put in place a virtual platform for us to re-ignite the dreams and passions of Adivasi youths all over again?’ Gomke Louis Aind, IPS, (Rtd), asked Gomke Bimal Lakra, SDB. Both understood each other well, not much discussion was required and took to the idea like fish to water, coz they have been mentoring youths for decades in addition to competently discharging their core duties. Not surprisingly therefore, the first ever AYIMA webinar was rolled out on the 16th of May 2021. And what better way to launch such an initiative than to lead from the front and show the way forward! With 32 years of youth mentoring experiences behind, Gomke Aind himself volunteered to be the guest speaker for the 1st ever AYIMA webinar inspiring and igniting the dreams in 96 students particularly from the Northeastern part of India, via zoom meet platform. And the number only keeps rising with each passing webinar since that historic beginning.
Gomke Aind, in his individual capacity, in his inimitable way, forever engulfed as he always is by an indomitable spirit, has, for decades, inspired, mentored and guided a number of youngsters who dared to turn their cherished dreams into reality. Today there are many civil servants (ACS, APS, ALRS) and other ground breakers in their own chosen fields who stand tall as beacons of light to Aind’s tireless effort both within and outside India.
Gomke Bimal Lakra, sdb, founding member of Don Bosco College, Golaghat, Assam, has, in last 30 years, mentored over 600 youths across Northeast India without seeking any applause from any quarter. It would be no exaggeration to say that his total dedication to empowerment is nothing short of unparalleled. To him, life is a daily adventure to be discovered and to be thankful for to the Creator. It is a song to sing along with the people around oneself. No wonder therefore, youth from all across the region see in him a trusted friend who would be always by their side in their most challenging times. He is their last hope when all else fails.
There are no coincidences. Nature destined these two individuals to come together on a single platform to get the bandwagon, as it were, of hopes and dreams back on track on a global journey. And what an empowering journey it has been! Though this platform, at this nascent stage, is primarily focused on the Adivasis of Assam, who are officially referred to as the Tea and Ex-Tea Tribes in the state, gradually it will be a colorful workspace for all. The reason why this has been chosen as an area of focus is because the Adivasis of Assam are one of the most backward communities with literacy level of just 46% as against Assam’s 72% overall literacy rate. This is despite the fact that the Adivasis have lived for more than one and half centuries in Assam, contributed to 55% of Assam economy through tea industry, their human development index is one of the lowest in the country. In the year 1983-84 the Government of Assam established a full-fledged "Tea-tribes welfare department" for overall socio-economic development of the community. There are also "Adivasi Development Council" and "Tea & Ex-Tea garden Tribes Development Council” to look after specific development needs of Adivasis. AYIMA is an additional contributor to these initiatives.
AYIMA has a vision to achieve upward social mobility for these Adivasis in Assam and in the entire country by showcasing their individual achievements to the community, particularly the youth. Not surprisingly therefore, AYIMA webinar has already caught the imagination of the people who see in these flag bearers and achievers their own hopes being realized. The perceived impossible seems suddenly possible now. That alone, AYIMA believes, is half the battle won. Rest of the journey is only a matter of time. Success therefore, is given. AYIMA is already on a song and the echoes of it are beginning to be heard from distant shores.
It was not all. In fact, it was only the beginning of the trailer of a box-office hit movie. AYIMA soon connected continents heralding the advent of young dare devil Adivasi adventurers, who, on their own, had already made it big and had been living their dreams across the globe. But what took AYIMA to a whole new level is the joining of these young guns and experienced field generals from Adivasi community at home and abroad who expressed their willingness to be part of the close knit “Aind-Lakra” duo. Obviously it was a big shot in the arm as they came up with their individual plans, projects and domain expertise to bolster the AYIMA dream of inspiring the community as a whole. Thaddaeus Jude Xalxo, Dy. Project Director, MBMA, Meghalaya, with over 20 years of working experience in externally aided projects of state and central governments; Pores Aind, based in upper Assam, with over 18 years of working experience as a Journalist with Assam Tribune, a daily with a balanced worldview; Livio Joseph Kujur, an established web designer with over 24 years of working experience and based out of Mauritius and Rose Merlyn Nag working as a Senior Fraud Analyst with the Bank of Montreal in Canada added a fresh flavor and a touch of aura to the already popular weekly show. But much is yet to come.
With that brief narrative may we say, with all due respect and love and with a sense of inner satisfaction ‘Picture Abhi Baki Hai Mere Dost’?