Fazl Ali College and CKB Commerce College held a cultural exchange in Mokokchung under “Bridging Borders, Celebrating Heritage,” strengthening academic and cultural ties between Nagaland and Assam.
MOKOKCHUNG — Fazl Ali College (FAC), Mokokchung, and Chandra Kamal Bezbaruah (CKB) Commerce College, Jorhat, held a cultural exchange programme at the FAC auditorium on August 29 on the theme, “Bridging Borders, Celebrating Heritage.”
The programme was organised under an Institutional Partnership Agreement for Academic Cooperation (IPAAC) signed by the two institutions in April 2026, establishing a five-year collaboration.
In his welcome address, FAC Principal Dr. Wati Imchen underscored the importance of enduring neighbourly ties between Nagaland and Assam.
“We can change our neighbours, but we cannot change our neighbour’s state. Our two states will live forever as neighbours. No one can change that,” he said.
Dr. Imchen said cultural exchange goes beyond showcasing traditions and provides an opportunity to understand others while recognising shared strengths.
Although customs may differ on the surface, he noted that core human experiences such as love, celebration, community and hope remain largely the same.
He also stressed that diversity should not merely be tolerated but celebrated as a rich tapestry of ethnic cultures and traditions that makes society more vibrant.
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Dr. Kironmoy Chetia, IQAC Coordinator of CKB Commerce College, expressed satisfaction over the partnership and described it as a commitment to shared learning, mutual growth, friendship and collective responsibility in higher education.
He said the partnership brings together two institutions from neighbouring states that share geographical proximity as well as historical and social connections, creating significant opportunities for academic collaboration.
Dr. Chetia highlighted areas including faculty interaction, student exposure, academic discussions, exchange of ideas, seminars, workshops, research initiatives and sharing of best practices. He described cultural exchange as one of the most meaningful aspects of the partnership.
“Culture is one of the most powerful forms of education. A textbook can tell us about a community, but experiencing its music, dance, traditions, food, language, customs and stories allows us to understand it at a much deeper level,” he said.
He noted that the cultural traditions of Nagaland and Assam share values such as respect for elders, community spirit, hospitality, celebration of nature, artistic expression and collective identity.
Such exchanges, he said, help young people develop cultural sensitivity, mutual respect, confidence and a broader outlook.
“We want our students to become not merely degree holders, but thinking, confident, compassionate and culturally sensitive human beings,” Dr. Chetia stated.
From the perspective of CKB Commerce College, he said the partnership would also contribute to continuous quality enhancement in higher education.
He proposed that counterpart departments identify areas of common academic interest and pursue collaborative initiatives in research, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development to strengthen capacity building and institutional growth.
FAC, one of Nagaland’s oldest higher educational institutions, was the first government college in the state to receive NAAC accreditation in 2009.
It was re-accredited with an “A” Grade in 2022.
CKB Commerce College, a premier commerce institution in the North-East, holds a NAAC “B++” accreditation.