Shillong: Shillong's Martin Luther Christian University landed a research grant from the British Museum. The funding comes via the Endangered Material Knowledge Programme. It targets the documentation of traditional fishing tools and ecological data across Meghalaya. Researchers expect the study to protect indigenous ways.
The project, titled Documentation of the Production of Traditional Fishing Tools and Their Use in Freshwater Environments of Meghalaya, India, hones in on the Pnar community. Fieldwork takes place in Sohmynting village, located in the West Jaintia Hills district. Dr Rajindra K. Puri of the University of Kent leads the team. Dr Larilin Kharpuri and Dr Pranjal Dubey from MLCU serve as co-investigators.
They will catalog implements fashioned from bamboo, cane, and other natural resources. These items represent long-standing indigenous innovation. The university noted that these practices still sustain rural livelihoods today. The project addresses the loss of traditional methods caused by modern technology and environmental decay. According to the university, these tools "continue to support rural livelihoods while contributing to the preservation of local cultural heritage."
The team will study the construction and cultural weight of each tool. Their goal involves boosting biodiversity conservation and managing freshwater resources. MLCU says this work blends academic rigor with deep community engagement. The partnership aims to shield indigenous heritage while promoting sustainable development.
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