ITANAGAR, Nov 24: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein noted the need to carry out research and survey to make the as-yet-unexplored and unknown areas of the state known to the outside world.
Mein was speaking at a two-day national symposium titled ‘Arunachal: Known to unknown’ at the Art of Living centre here on Saturday.
He said the objective of the symposium “is to know Arunachal Pradesh from an indigenous perspective, and to develop intellectual knowledge which will be adequate enough to create indigenous narratives through discussions.”
The DCM assured his commitment to support the outcome of the symposium, and said the state government would “facilitate the outcome of the meaningful deliberations” of the symposium.
Stressing the need to document the state’s history, Mein urged the academicians of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) to initiate steps to carry out research work on the history of the state from the NEFA days to the present.
“It is the need of the hour that RGU initiates research work to document the rich history of Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
The DCM also sought introduction of Buddhist studies in RGU.
Citing the example of German research scholar Dr Gerhard Heller’s audio-visual documentation of the cultural heritage of the Mishmi tribe, especially of the indigenous healing practice of the Idu-Mishmi tribe, Mein said Arunachal is a hotbed for research scholars, “for it is here that many research scholars come to document and research their works.
“Today there is a lot of scope for our youths to carry out research work as our state is the melting pot of various languages, tribes, cultures and traditional beliefs,” said Mein.
He also sought feedback from the literary society, scientists and research scholars for incorporation in the next state budget.
Pointing out the historical relevance of Arunachal, Pragya Pravah national convenor J Nandakumar said, “Arunachal has been an integral part of Bharat Varsha and finds mention in ancient texts, despite which the British planted the binary of ‘tribal versus non-tribal’ as part of its larger design of ‘divide and rule’.”
He stressed the need to “unshackle the past designs of the British to ‘civilize the tribals’.”
Coordinators Prof Jumyir Basar and Dr Kaushalendra Pratap Singh also spoke.
The two-day symposium, organized by the Intellectual Forum of Northeast, was also attended by Environment & Forests Minister Nabam Rebia, MLA Biyuram Wahge, noted author Mamang Dai, Advisor to CM Tai Tagak, retired IAF group captain Mahonto Panging, and RGU Vice Chancellor (in-charge) PK Panigrahy, besides numerous academicians, research scholars and intellectuals.
The DCM also took part in the plenary session on ‘Cultural ethos of Arunachal’, which was chaired by RGU Registrar Prof Tamo Riba, with Dai and Panging as the key speakers. (DCMO)
