CANCHIPUR, NOVEMBER 8: The governor of Manipur Dr Najma A Heptullah inaugurated the 46th annual conference of the Indian Anthropological Society and an international seminar on anthropological research in north east India.
The event was conducted at the Court Hall of Manipur University, about 5 km south of Imphal.
Education and Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Adya Prasad Pandey and the Indian Anthropological Society’s Prof. Rajat K Das besides foreign and Indian delegates attended the program.
The event was conducted under the aegis of the department of Anthropology of Manipur University in collaboration with the IAS Kolkata in association with the Anthropological Society of Manipur and Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, of Bhopal.
Addressing the inaugural function, Governor Dr Heptulla said ‘We are fortunate to live in an era of scientific and technological advancements which are unprecedented in human history.’
“The knowledge of such advancements,” she said, “should not be limited to being subject matter only for the scientific journals.”
“It should percolate down to the society at large for improving the quality of life of the people as a whole and ignite the young minds to dream for a developed India.”
Lauding the IAS’s effort, she said that the north-eastern region, a 70% hilly area, had been home to as many as 220 diverse ethnic communities. The region is often considered a mini-India because of its social, cultural and linguistic diversity.
‘Under such socio-cultural circumstances, NE remained, still remains and will remain a fertile field for social research,’ she observed. Anthropologists are keen about understanding various social problems and to seek remedial strategies.
The finding from the deliberations will be of great value to planning and policy making for the region, the governor said.
‘Based on this concept, it can be said with conviction that the future prospect of anthropological research in the region is of paramount importance and need of the hour. I am confident that the seminar will provide an academic platform and practitioners of allied disciplines to analyse, discuss and disseminate different anthropogenic issues,’ she added.
Other academicians including the state education minister also spoke during the occasion.
Besides releasing a souvenir, the TC Roy Choudhury Memorial Award for 2016 was given to Prof. A.C. Bhagabati. The Jyotirmoy Chakraborti Memorial Award for 2016 was given to Henry Konjengbam of MU during the day’s function.
