Kohima: A two-day seminar at Pfutsero Government College wrapped up on August 6, bringing together scholars to discuss how traditional wisdom fits into the modern world. Sponsored by the Directorate of Higher Education, Nagaland, the event ran from August 5. Experts presented 21 papers during the session. These covered topics from ethnic food and ethnomedical practices to traditional architecture and agricultural systems. Fourteen faculty members and seven research scholars contributed to the work, with 18 people presenting in person and three appearing online.
Dr. Thungdemo N. Yanthan, the IQAC Chairperson, opened the event by stressing that ancestral knowledge acts as a vital resource for growth. He pointed to the National Education Policy 2020 as a framework that now formally recognizes these traditional systems. The seminar focused on the push to link modern science with ancient methods. Institutions must lead this charge.
Professor N. Venuh, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University, delivered a key address during the opening. He noted that integrating these lessons into the curriculum provides students with a vital sense of identity and values. He specifically pointed to the rising demand for organic food as proof that the world is looking back to old ways. He warned against the loss of local biodiversity, such as unique cucumber varieties being swapped for laboratory-grown alternatives. "Indigenous knowledge provides communities with identity, values and a sense of belonging," he said.
The final session featured Professor Zavise Rume, Director of International University. He tracked the migration history of the Nagas, noting shared cultural ties with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Rume argued that geography dictates how communities use local resources to survive. He called on researchers to document these traditions while staying connected to their own cultural roots. The event ended with a pledge to keep studying and protecting these systems for future generations in Northeast India.
Comments