OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Wangkap Lowang — the Political Assistant during the erstwhile NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) days and Chief of Panshumthong village in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh — passed away on Wednesday after prolonged illness, informed family sources.
He was 110 years of age; and was the oldest man in the district.
Born at Laptang (Longthan) village on December 15, 1910, Wangkap breathed his last at around 1:30 am on Wednesday in his residence at Pansumthong village, 15 km from Khonsa — the district headquarters, an official communiqué informed.
He is survived by two sons and three daughters besides scores of grandchildren.
Lowang did his primary education in the Assamese medium at a private school at Joypur in Assam; and went to Sadiya for further studies after reading up to Class-III. He left school at Class-IX and returned home in 1928; and got married. He has five daughters and three sons.
On being repeatedly approached by the British officers of Saidya, he worked as 'Political Jamadar' under the 'Political Officer' during the British regime. He also participated in the British-Japanese War during 1944-1945. He served as 'Political Jamadar' for eight years (1938-1946) under the British government.
After Independence, the Indian government appointed him as 'Political Superintendent' in 1948; and later, he was promoted to the post of 'Political Assistant' in 1959. He retired from service in 1981. During his tenure, he was instrumental in eliminating the practice of head-hunting among various communities of the district.
Popularly known as 'Tedong' (great grandfather), Wangkap Lowang was the first person from the erstwhile undivided Tirap district to work under the British Raj before India's Independence. His last rites would be performed on August 20 at Pansumthong.
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