Symposium held on Arunachal Pradesh's 50-year journey at Dorjee Khandu Hall

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: As a part of 50 Years of Arunachal Pradesh Celebration, a symposium on the topic 'Development and Change in Arunachal Pradesh in 50 Years: The Youth Perspective' was organized on Friday in collaboration with the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here at the Dorjee Khandu Hall of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.

The distinct subject experts, ranging from academicians, journalist and practicing lawyers, took part in the deliberation. The symposium was aimed to provide an academic platform for three target groups, namely undergraduate students, post-graduate students and research scholars, to make them aware of the rich heritage of Arunachal Pradesh and encourage them to carve a way ahead for future of the State. It was also aimed to facilitate the generation of ideas and engagement with the existing ideas in order to exhort the participants to apply and propagate the same.

Participating in the discourse, Dr Taro Sindik, Assistant Professor, Department of Hindi in Dera Natung Government College (DNGC) here, opined that the literature in Arunachal has taken a back seat in 50 years of the State's journey, unlike other sectors.

"In 50 years though others sectors must have changed a lot, but literature has taken back seat in Arunachal," said Dr Taro Sindik. Dr Taro further said that though the State has rich oral literature, the oral literature did not get any space in the academic platforms.

. "We are reading foreign literature in our universities and colleges; we do not read our State's oral literature," he said, urging the youths to read own literature to understand their own State better.

Dr Doyir Ete Taipodia, Assistant Professor, Department of English, RGU also argued that no society is completely comprehended if the literature is left out. "When we are celebrating our State's 50 years and mapping the journey of our State, celebration will not be complete unless we take into account our literature. No society can be completely comprehended if we leave literature out," Dr Doyir said.

"Literature is mirror to ourselves, but literature is also a memory of our past, our ancestors, our roots and also envisions our future. Now time has come we need to encourage our literatures and read our writers' books," she added. Dwelling on topic 'Retracing Roots in Traditional Practices amidst the Woke

Culture', Assistant Professor, Arunachal Institute of Distance Education RGU, Zilpha Modi opined that tribal identity is fragile to women. She further added that tribal women in Arunachal are being marginalized because they do not have right to private properties or ownership of land. "Idea of tribal culture is itself is hooked on a patriarchal set-up. It is only about a man," Zilpha added.

Deliberating on 'social media versus mass media, transition and future perspective', senior journalist Ranju Dodum did not agree about competition between social media and mass media. Rather, Dodum said that both have to exist together. Dodum further opined that advent of social media brings democratization of journalism. He also stated there is nothing wrong in growth of overnight journalists, provided it is responsible enough to put out good content, sensible news rather than jingoist contents.

"What is wrong in asking questions? Day you start regulating news, it would be not less than media situation in Middle East and Communist China," Dodum said. He also of opined that media need to equip themselves with better tools and greater skills and present news and views in a manner that audiences and readership are willing to accept them.

Assistant Professor Department of Botany in DNGC Itanagar, Ajum Bagang drew attention to rampant devastation of biodiversity in the State. She cautioned that exploitation of natural resources, urbanization and deforestation pose a great threat to the State's rich bio-diversity. She added that the youth must be concerned about unabated earth cutting in and around the Itanagar Capital Region.

Advocate Reken Ingo deliberated on 'Students Politics in Arunachal Pradesh; Their roles and impact'. Ingo pointed out that the students' organizations have been instrumental in growth of the State. The students' organizations have been always guiding the State in constructive approaches, Ingo said.

In her deliberation on the topic, 'Regaining Self-Sufficiency in Agriculture. Post Covid Realization', Dr Pema Khandu Goiba, Assistant Professor Department of Agricultural Science, RGU said that self-sufficiency is only way to face COVID-19-like situation by focusing on the agriculture sector.

Earlier, Legislative Assembly Speaker Passang Dorjee Sona, in his speech, laid stress on the responsibilities of youth in shaping the State and nation. Sona stated that the Government of Arunachal Pradesh is focusing on quality human resource.

He highlighted Chief Minister Pema Khandu's reformative steps like streamlining of the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and instruction of APSSB as major boost to quality human resource.

"Youths are future of the State and you have lots of responsibilities. Don't depend only on Government, commitment and dedication from youths are expected," Sona said, urging the youths to be determined.

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