Semir on tribes of Asia held in Shillong

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Nov 4: The two-day intertiol semir on “Understanding the tribes of Asia” concluded at Synod College here today.

Organized by the Departments of Education and History of the Synod College in collaboration with the P.A. Sangma Foundation, the semir saw the participation of various scholars and academicians from abroad and other States of India. Today’s valedictory function was graced by Prof. Henry Lamin, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Synod College Principal Dr. D. Wanswett, resource persons of the semir, teachers and students.

During the two-day semir, academicians and researchers from different countries presented papers on topics concerning tribals, such as rituals and practices, conflicts, social and cultural heritage, concept of indigenous people, exposure to foreign culture, impact of globalisation on the tribals, sustaining tribal/minority languages in education, tribal in India and the role of education in empowering them, understanding the tribes of Laos, the tribes and their future status in India, indigenous people and their development, legal and constitutiol safeguards, among others.

Delivering the valedictory address, Prof. Henry Lamin noted that such programmes provide an avenue for the participants to “know, understand, share, and learn” in order to build a “better place”.

“I think you had an open mind when you came here. I think you wanted to know, to understand, to share, to learn and to build a better place. You must have done extensive work and shared your experience, views and opinions on how to understand and know each other,” Prof. Lamin said. Speaking about the tribes of Meghalaya – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo – Prof. Lamin said, “We are in a matrilineal society. As a society, it is a challenging society because we are surrounded with a patrilineal society.” However, he added that, “We are living in an egalitarian society, we are living in a society where there is no hierarchy system, we are living in a society where there is no distinction between king and subjects, where there is common understanding, where honesty is very important, and where trust is relied on words and not on any written document. These are the things you got to learn from the society.” It may be mentioned that the intertiol semir was iugurated by Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram on Thursday in the presence of Lok Sabha MP Conrad Sangma and besides other dignitaries and a host of academicians.