Northeast study centre launched at Miranda House

New Delhi, Feb 27: Manipur Governor of Dr jma Heptulla today iugurated the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustaible Development (IBSD) Miranda House Centre for North East Studies.

IBSD, Manipur is a premier institute under Union Biotechnology ministry and Miranda House is a distinguished women’s college of University of Delhi.

This Centre plans to focus on scientific research and education outreach on all aspects of biodiversity and sustaible development in the Northeastern states. The Centre aims to conduct research projects with special emphasis on knowledge production in the form of multimedia documentation and publications, thus impacting policy and development of the Northeast.

During the iuguration, the Governor stressed that the Centre will create a better research-based understanding of the ethos, challenges and opportunities in the Northeastern states in a culturally sensitive manner.”

She announced that the collaboration between Miranda House, a distinguished institution for women and IBSD was just the right step towards a two-way process of education and engagement with the Northeast.

Dr Heptulla invited all to visit the Northeast and realise the need to appreciate and utilize its resources in a judicious manner aiming for inclusive growth for the people in the region.

She concluded saying, “Look East, Go East, Study East”.

Professor Dibandhu Sahoo, Director, IBSD, spoke about the establishment of this Centre as a historic moment for the institution.

He reiterated that the main mandate of this Institute is conservation and sustaible utilization of bio-resources for the socio-economic development of the region’. He said that North East is amongst the top 10 biodiversity hotspots in the world and in this age of globalisation and knowledge economy, the Centre will offer the opportunity not only to explore the region but also train the students of North East who can bring economic prosperity to the region.

Dr Pratibha Jolly, the Principal of Miranda House emphasised that as a college with more than 300 women students from the Northeast, the Centre will be a research centre that will look at the Northeast through the prism of various academic disciplines.

She added that the Centre will provide experiential learning through field visits and exchange programmes. It is not limited to students of North East or just Miranda House. We hope that students from other Colleges, both women and men will join the activities.’

The iuguration was followed by Leirang, the North East Society Annual Festival of Miranda House to celebrate the unique culture and diversity of the North East. The Festival saw beautiful renditions of folk, fusion traditiol music and dance such as Manipuri Leima and the traditiol Ras Leela and Mizo Bamboo Dance. Large numbers of students and faculty from colleges across Delhi were part of the audience, who were mesmerized by the performances by Miranda House Northeast students. (Agencies)