Faculty along with the resource persons during a seminar held at Pfutsero Government College on August 6.
Pfutsero, August 9 (MExN): A two-day national seminar on “Sustainability, Innovation and Development of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Northeast India” concluded at Pfutsero Government College on August 6, with academicians, researchers and scholars deliberating on the relevance of indigenous knowledge in contemporary society.
Sponsored by the Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland, and organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and Department of History, Pfutsero Government College, the seminar was held from August 5 to 6.
A total of 21 papers were presented, including 14 by faculty members and seven by research scholars. Of these, 14 were single-author papers and seven jointly authored. Eighteen presentations were delivered offline and three online.
The papers covered nine broad areas, including Indigenous Ethnic Food, Decolonising Indigenous Knowledge, Deconstructing Indigenous Historiography, Oral Narratives, Ethnomedical Practices, Performative Practices, Marriage Systems, Traditional Art and Architecture, Hunting and Fishing, and Agricultural Systems and Natural Resource Management.
In his keynote address during the inaugural session, Dr Thungdemo N Yanthan, IQAC Chairperson and Chairman of the Organising Committee, said indigenous knowledge was not merely a legacy of the past but a living resource for sustainable and inclusive development.
Highlighting Nagaland as an example of enduring indigenous wisdom, he noted that Indigenous Knowledge had received recognition in national and global policy frameworks, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
He emphasised the need to bridge modern science and traditional knowledge through innovation and underlined the role of educational institutions in advancing such efforts.
Delivering the inaugural keynote address, Prof N Venuh, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, described the seminar as a timely initiative to understand indigenous knowledge and its contemporary relevance.
He said NEP 2020 had accorded significant importance to Indigenous Knowledge by integrating it into the curriculum, adding that indigenous knowledge provides communities with identity, values and a sense of belonging.
Prof Venuh cited the growing global preference for organic food as evidence of increasing appreciation for traditional knowledge systems. He urged scholars and researchers to intensify efforts to document, preserve and promote indigenous knowledge for future generations.
Referring to a local cucumber variety known for its distinctive taste and flavour, he observed that indigenous varieties were gradually being replaced by laboratory-produced alternatives, highlighting the need to preserve local biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
The valedictory session was addressed by Prof Zavise Rume, Director, International University, who stressed that understanding indigenous knowledge requires an understanding of the historical and cultural roots of the communities from which it emerges.
He spoke about the migration history of the Nagas and highlighted cultural affinities shared with communities across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar.
Prof Rume said geography and topography form the foundations of indigenous knowledge, as communities creatively utilise locally available resources to meet their needs.
He encouraged participants to explore and learn from other indigenous knowledge systems while remaining rooted in their own traditions. Calling for continued dialogue and engagement with nature, he said such efforts were essential for preserving and enriching indigenous knowledge and ways of life.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment among participants to document, preserve and promote Indigenous Knowledge Systems as valuable resources for sustainable development and cultural continuity in Northeast India.
