USTM Hosts the Living Heritage of the Northeast through ICSSR-Sponsored National Seminar on Folktales

 

9th Mile, Khanapara, Ri-Bhoi, Tuesday, November 11, 2025:  The Department of Rural Development, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), brought stories to life with a Two-Day ICSSR-Sponsored National Seminar on “Exploring Folktales of the Northeast: Themes, Motifs, and Meanings” held on November 11–12, 2025, at the NKC Auditorium, USTM.

The seminar opened a window into the vibrant oral traditions of Northeast India, offering a platform for scholars, storytellers, and researchers to rediscover how ancient narratives continue to shape the region’s cultural and social fabric.

Organized under the ongoing two-year ICSSR-funded research project titled “Narrative Analysis of Naga Agricultural Folklore: Themes and Motifs,” the seminar was led by Dr. Papiya Dutta (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Lilika K. Zhimomi (Co-Principal Investigator). The initiative seeks to document and interpret indigenous stories that reflect the deep relationship between communities, nature, and tradition across the region.

The Inaugural Session was graced by Dr. R. Murugesan, Director, NIRD & PR–NERC, Guwahati; Professor G.D. Sharma, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, USTM; and Professor Sambit Mallick, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati. Welcoming participants, Prof. Sharma highlighted that “folktales are not just stories of the past—they are living philosophies that continue to teach us resilience, ethics, and coexistence.”

Over four technical sessions, more than 30 academicians and research scholars from universities across the Northeast and beyond presented papers that delved into oral storytelling traditions, symbolic motifs, ecological wisdom, gender narratives, and the socio-cultural meanings of folklore. The lively discussions revealed how the region’s folktales act as repositories of indigenous knowledge, reinforcing the need to preserve, document, and revitalize these stories for future generations.

The Valedictory Session saw the presence of eminent personalities including Professor G.D. Sharma, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, USTM; Padma Shri Professor Anil Boro; Professor Polly Vauquline; Dr. Parbin Sultana, Director of Research, USTM; and Dr. Elizabeth Kharkongor, Principal, Ri-Bhoi College.

Speakers collectively emphasized that folktales are powerful instruments of value-based education, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness. They underlined that these oral narratives foster intergenerational bonds, moral consciousness, and community harmony, while also carrying lessons of sustainability and respect for nature – values deeply relevant to contemporary society.

The two-day seminar concluded with a renewed call to integrate folklore studies into education, research, and community initiatives. Participants reaffirmed the importance of storytelling not only as an art form but as a foundation for sustainable and inclusive development.