The custodians of law and order, pioneers of every advance into the interiors, the guardians of our borders and, above all, the friends of the hill people. Modestly, without fuss, they have faced every possible hardship and difficulty, and thousands of villagers in the wildest areas think of them with affection and gratitude. May they long continue to provide the foundations of security and order in our border areas. " - Verrier Elwin* * Verrier Elwin was nominated by the Government of India as adviser on Tribal Affairs to North-East Frontier Agency