Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav speaking at Nagaland University Merima on May 22.
Kohima, May 22 (MExN): Nagaland Governor and Chief Rector of Nagaland University, Nand Kishore Yadav, on May 22 stressed the need to preserve and reinterpret the tribal heritage of Northeast India in ways that remain relevant to contemporary society.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the national seminar on ‘Revisiting Tribal Heritage of Northeast India: Challenges and Opportunities’ organised by the School of Humanities and Education at the university’s Meriema Campus, the Governor said the region’s diversity of tribes, languages, traditions, customs and indigenous knowledge systems forms “an invaluable part of India’s collective civilizational and cultural legacy.”
He observed that rapid globalization, modernization, urbanization and technological advancement have posed serious challenges to traditional institutions and cultural practices. Expressing concern over the gradual decline of indigenous languages and fading oral traditions, he said younger generations were increasingly becoming disconnected from their cultural roots.
Yadav stressed on the importance of academic discussions and seminars focused on preserving and promoting tribal heritage. “Preservation of heritage should not be viewed as resistance to progress, but as an effort to ensure that development remains culturally sensitive, inclusive and sustainable,” he stated.
The Governor further called upon academic institutions, researchers, policymakers and civil society organisations to work collectively towards documenting, preserving, promoting and reinterpreting tribal heritage.
He said Nagaland University could play a transformative role through interdisciplinary studies, strengthening indigenous knowledge systems, promoting local languages and bridging traditional wisdom with modern scholarship.
He also said tribal communities possess immense traditional wisdom in areas such as environmental conservation, sustainable living, community harmony and coexistence with nature, adding that these knowledge systems offer valuable lessons in addressing contemporary global challenges.
The programme included a welcome address by Prof N Venuh, Pro Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University Kohima Campus, keynote address by Prof Jano S Liegise, Dean of Humanities and Education, a folk song presentation by Thukuvelu Sakhamo, Research Scholar, and an address by Prof Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University. Concluding remarks were delivered by Prof Pangersenla Walling, Head of the Department of Linguistics.
