Knowing Arunachal with indigenous perspective

Jollang: “Some people are trying to dilute our cultural heritage on the basis of language, culture, tradition, ethnicity, belief and faith system. It is time to revisit the cultural roots of great nation,” said national convener of Prajna Pravah Shri J Nanadakumar while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the two day Gyan Sangam on November 24. The two-day event titled ‘Arunachal: Known to Unknown” was organised by Intellectual Forum of North East with the central theme of knowing Arunachal Pradesh from indigenous perspective.

Shri J Nandakumar speaking at the inaugural session of the Gyan Sangam 

 

The Sangam aimed at developing intellectual knowledge which is adequate enough to create indigenous narratives through discussions in the disciplines of Language and Literature, Worldview and Cosmology, Culture, Social System and Ethics, Figures of Historical importance Women, Indic Culture, Story of Struggles, and Science and Technology. About 250 delegates including academicians, professors, research scholars, post graduate students, participated from different institutions of Arunachal Pradesh including some premier institutions of the state like Rajiv Gandhi University, North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology, National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh attended the symposium.

 

Inaugurating the two-day discussion Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Chowna Mein highlighted the importance of indigenous cultural ethos and emphasised to preserve the various indigenous practices by documenting from the authentic sources. He assured that the government would provide all possible support for the documentation. He stressed on exploring the unexplored areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

 

The first plenary session focused on the theme “Cultural Ethos of Arunachal Pradesh” and was chaired by Prof. Tomo Riba, Registrar, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills. Padmashri Mamang Dai spoke on the festivals of Arunachal while the second speaker Shri Mohonto Panaging, Group Captain (VM) retd spoke on cultural ethos of Arunachal Pradesh. After the first plenary session two parallel technical sessions were organised. The first session was on “social system, ethics, science, and technology in Arunachal Pradesh. The second session was on Language, Literature, History, and Story of Struggles in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

The second day of the two day symposium started with second plenary session on historically important figures of Arunachal Pradesh. It was chaired by Shri Jishnu Dev Varma, Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura. Prof. Tana Showren, Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh spoke on History of Historiless: An Oral Construction of the State History in the context of Arunachal Pradesh. Shri Kameng Ringu, senior political analyst spoke on Pre-Colonial and Post-Colonial historical figures of Arunachal Pradesh.

 

Governor of Meghalaya Shri Tathagata Roy highlighted the important aspects of Northeast India particularly Arunachal Pradesh as potential tourist hotspot. He also said that due to lack of proper individual knowledge there are cultural and ethnic differences in India. He emphasized that we must protect the cultural ethos of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.

 

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju spoke on “Inclusive Cultural Ethos of Arunachal Pradesh” and emphasised on cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and importance of its preservation. He said tribal community has the strong indigenous knowledge system which we must document directly from ‘Nyibu’ not from the Western writer. The influence of Western culture has deteriorated the ceremonies of tribal festivals, which are identity of different cultures.