Guwahati, August 25 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the exceptional relationship between the Moran community of Barekuri village in Assam’s Tinsukia district and the endangered Hoolock Gibbons, the only species of ape found in India. During the 113th episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, the Prime Minister commended the villagers for their extraordinary commitment to preserving and living in harmony with these rare creatures.
The Hoolock Gibbons, classified as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are native to eastern Bangladesh and several northeastern Indian states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Despite their dwindling numbers, these gibbons have found a sanctuary in Barekuri, where the Moran community has woven them into the very fabric of their culture.
Prime Minister Modi shared an inspiring account of how the villagers, who affectionately refer to the gibbons as “Holo Bandor,” have not only welcomed these apes into their lives but have also cultivated a deep, nurturing relationship with them. “You must have seen many films about the love between humans and animals, but a real story is unfolding in Assam. In the small village of Barekuri, the people of the Moran community and the Hoolock Gibbons live together in harmony. The villagers have a very deep connection with these gibbons, and they continue to uphold their traditional values,” PM Modi remarked.
The Prime Minister praised the community’s innovative efforts to strengthen their bond with the gibbons. Understanding the apes’ fondness for bananas, the villagers began cultivating the fruit specifically for them. This gesture has further deepened the connection between the two. The gibbons have also been integrated into the villagers’ cultural practices, with rituals related to the birth and death of gibbons mirroring those conducted for human kin.
PM Modi also pointed out the extraordinary extent of the community’s commitment, noting that some members of the Moran community have even been named after the gibbons, symbolizing the profound bond between them. Recently, the villagers addressed a critical safety concern—overhead electric wires that posed a threat to the gibbons. In a collective effort, the community worked tirelessly to find a solution, ensuring the safety and well-being of their cherished apes.
Through his Mann ki Baat address, Prime Minister Modi has brought national attention to the Moran community’s unique and heartwarming relationship with the Hoolock Gibbons, a testament to the power of coexistence and the importance of preserving our natural heritage.
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