Mizoram Minister Calls for Youth to Guard Northeast Cultural Roots

Aizawl: Mizoram Public Health Engineering Minister Lalnilawma opened a two-day national seminar on October 8 to address the intersection of youth and culture in Northeast India. The event, held in Aizawl, explores how the region can protect its traditions while keeping pace with modern shifts. Organised by Government Aizawl North College and Christ University, Bengaluru, the meeting brings together researchers and academics from across the country.

Lalnilawma identified indigenous communities, diverse languages, and communal bonds as the region's primary assets. He told attendees that young people now drive cultural change through fashion, music, literature, and social media. The minister warned that while artificial intelligence and digital tools offer clear benefits for research and education, they also carry dangers like misinformation and manipulated content.

He urged the next generation to handle these tools with care. He said, "Youth are shaping society today."

Prof Kandarpa Das, Vice Chancellor of Girijananda Chowdhury University in Assam, echoed these sentiments. He argued against the common view that youth represent only the future. He insists they are active participants in the current landscape. Author and columnist Mitra Phukan joined the discussion, pushing for a model where young people revive heritage while leaning into innovation.

The seminar agenda covers critical topics ranging from digital media and civic engagement to psychological challenges and global competencies. Participants aim to build academic networks and study how regional identity survives in an increasingly globalized world.