Kohima, February 12 (DIPR): A team from Kohima Science College (Autonomous) Jotsoma visited Surindra Rajabhat University, (SRRU) Surin, Thailand to participate in the 11th Surin International Folklore Festival and Symposium (SIFFS) held from January 15 to 25, 2016.
A second MoU was signed during the visit. The major components of the MoU are cooperation in remote sensing application for the study of severe weather, capacity building by promoting training, faculty and student exchange and joint publications of research papers in journals. The Kohima Science College hope that this academic-cultural relationship would not only grow stronger but most importantly be helpful to young college students.
The first MoU was signed between the Surindra Rajabhat University, (SRRU) Surin, Thailand and Kohima Science College (Autonomous) Jotsoma on November 30, 2015 when the President, faculty and students of SRRU visited the college.
The MoU broadly covers areas of cooperation in natural science and cultural exchange. Their visit – which included a trip to Hornbill Festival, Mt Pulie Badze, and Jotsoma village – was reciprocated when a nine-member team from the college visited SRRU and participated in the SIFFS.
Surin International Folklore Festival and Symposium
The SIFFS is an annual programme of the SRRU held in January. Right now 21 countries are members of SIFFS. India is well represented with Gujarat, Delhi, Manipur University and Kohima Science College (Autonomous) Jotsoma as members. Dr. Lily Sema and Sungtinaro Jamir represented Nagaland as members of the 11th SIFFs Board meeting.
Dr Sanjay Sharma, Department of Physics, KSCJ, representing India (Nagaland), presents a paper on “Role of Weather Satellites in the Study of Spatio-Temporal Variability of Rainfall: Fundamentals, Science and Applications.” Dr Sharma also runs an ISRO-funded research project in the college. The team participated in the 3rd Surin International Storytelling Festival with Dr Seyiekhrielie Whiso, English Department, presented the popular Mehouviu and Morusa, a Naga folktale from Mima village. The college also presents Easterine Kire’s Naga Folktales Retold – 1 to Director, Asia Studies Institute, SRRU.
The Parade & Key of Surin City
The Parade is one of the highpoints of the festival. All participating nations in their traditional attire (and musical instruments) take the parade which starts from Surin Railway Station (which still runs on metre-gauge and the platform so clean you could eat off the floor) to the Governor Place. The Governor of Surin personally meets all the troupes and presents gifts to them followed by a photo opt.
Deo Nukhu, Parliamentary Secretary, Higher Education was the Guest of Honour. He was later presented with the prestigious Key of Surin City and made honorary citizen of Surin. He was accompanied by Alempokba Imsong, Director, Higher Education.
Surindra Rajabhat University
This university started as a college of Teachers’ Education in 1976 and upgraded to a full-fledged university in 2007. The sprawling campus has, among others, Academic Resource Center and Information Technology, Department of Public Health, Asia Studies Institute, Academic Services and Technology, Research and Development Institute, Intellectual Property Office, Museum of Ethnography, Textile Museum, and a Museum of International Costumes.
