Shillong, May 16, 2024: The U Kiang Nongbah Guest House (Old Guest House) at North
Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, transformed into a mini galaxy of academic
luminaries as academicians, scholars and experts from across the northeastern region and
other parts of India descended on the university campus for scholarly discourse and
intellectual fervor as the two-day ICSSR-sponsored national conference on "Indigenous
Knowledge, Culture, and Media in North East India" kicked off today (May 16, 2024).
The inaugural session commenced with a warm welcome address by Prof. Manash P
Goswami, the Head of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at NEHU,
followed by the SEMIS Dean's address by Prof. Moses M. Naga. Prof. Naga highlighted the
relevance of the conference theme, emphasizing the importance of documenting and legally
protecting indigenous knowledge in the face of industrialization's encroachment on
traditional wisdom.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Streamlet Dkhar, Head of the Khasi department,
NEHU, underscored the multifaceted nature of indigenous knowledge, particularly
emphasizing the crucial role of mother languages in the cultural fabric of the north-eastern
region. Prof. Dkhar emphasized the need to document and archive indigenous knowledge,
advocating for media's pivotal role in preserving and promoting indigenous wisdom through
various forms of storytelling, mentorship, and knowledge exchange.
“Even the world has advised to document the Indigenous knowledge and also archive them.
Media plays a vital role in promoting Indigenous knowledge and also entertain and educate
people, bridging the gap between modernity and tradition,” she said. She further stressed
that Media can play a vital role in preserving the Indigenous knowledge through visual
narratives and art. She suggested to conserve and preserve the Indigenous knowledge
through knowledge exchange, through media, storytelling, mentorship, among other ways.
Noted author and former Director of Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research, Prof.
Sanjoy Hazarika, who was present at the inaugural of conference as the Guest of Honour,
highlighted the rich tradition of passing down knowledge through generations and stressed
the importance of oral history in preserving indigenous knowledge. He lamented the
contemporary journalistic focus on daily events, urging for a more profound engagement
with indigenous knowledge and its dissemination to the wider public.
Acting Vice-Chancellor of NEHU, Prof. Nirmalendu Saha, emphasized the role of media in
disseminating indigenous knowledge and called for its proper documentation, especially in
the scientific domain.
The session culminated with the release of a seminal book titled "Indigenous Knowledge,
Culture, and Media in North East India," edited by Prof. Manash P Goswami, Kamaljit
Chirom, Barath N., and Karen L Donoghue. The book promises to be a significant
contribution to the discourse on indigenous knowledge preservation and dissemination in
the region.