ITANAGAR, 4 Sep: Dr Prem Taba, a researcher from Arunachal Pradesh, has been invited to speak at the International Conference on Advances in Educational Research, Humanities, and Social Sciences (ICAERHS), to be held in Madrid, Spain, from 4-8 May, 2026, on his paper ‘Exploring indigenous knowledge systems’.
Dr Taba, who holds a PhD in mass communication from Rajiv Gandhi University, will present his paper titled ‘Spirits of the forest: Uyu-based knowledge systems and shifting ecologies in Nyishi cosmology’ at the prestigious international forum.
His research investigates the co-evolution of human-forest relations and the agency of spirits, known as ‘uyu’, among the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal. The study examines how the Nyishi belief system, particularly the concept of uyu, provides a unique framework for understanding traditional forest management practices and addressing contemporary ecological challenges.
According to the research, uyus are categorized into benevolent and malevolent classes, with the ‘dohjung uyu’ playing a central role in narratives about human interactions with forests. The paper explores how traditional practices like jhum cultivation and hunting are conceptualized as forms of exchange with the uyu, with ethical considerations deeply embedded within the Nyishi belief system.
The study also addresses the ongoing transformation of the region, marked by out-migration, economic shifts, and Christianization, and examines how these changes present both opportunities and challenges for the future of human-uyu relations and forest sustainability in the Nyishi highlands.
The ICAERHS is recognized as the premier multidisciplinary forum for presenting new advances and research results across multiple disciplines, including sociology and anthropology, politics, law, philosophy, psychology, language and literature, history, and education. The conference brings together leading academic scientists, researchers and scholars from around the world.
The conference organizers will provide comprehensive support to invited speakers, covering flights, accommodations, and visa processing, while ensuring accessibility through multilingual presentations in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Arabic.
Dr Taba’s selection, following a rigorous peer review process, underscores the international recognition of his pioneering research on indigenous knowledge systems, and marks a significant opportunity for Northeast Indian scholarship to contribute to global academic discourse.
