North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) is hosting a two-day national conference indigenous knowledge, culture and media of the region, which began today.
Speakers today included Prof Manash P Goswami of NEHU’s Journalism and Mass Communication Department, Prof Moses M Naga, who emphasised the importance of documenting and legally protecting indigenous knowledge in the face of industrialisation’s encroachment on traditional wisdom, and Prof Streamlet Dkhar, who delivered the keynote address with an emphasis on the crucial role of mother languages in the cultural fabric of the North East.
“Media plays a vital role in promoting indigenous knowledge and also entertaining and educating people, bridging the gap between modernity and tradition,” she added.
Noted author and former director of the Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research, Prof Sanjoy Hazarika, who was present as 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, emphasised 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 Goswami, Kamaljit Chirom, Barath N, and Karen L Donoghue.
